Most Trusted Online Casinos for USA Players
With so many online casinos accepting USA players again for real-money, trust and experience becomes more important than ever. I’ve tested the best casinos for Americans and this is what you need to know.
Following the UIGEA, Black Friday, and other coordinated attacks on US-facing gambling sites, the climate has really changed for American players. The number of trusted and regulated USA online casinos has been drastically reduced due to a number of big-name players leaving the market.
Many large online casino brands had decided that withdrawing from the USA was their best option when weighing risks and rewards. This created an environment where a number of smaller online casinos figured they’d chance their hand and take on the risk.
So, despite the fact many casino brands are no longer available in the States, there are still numerous online casinos for American players out there, many of them offering a good selection of games, reasonable withdrawal times, and fair gaming conditions.
However, knowing which US casinos are legit and trustworthy can be somewhat tricky, so this page aims to bring you the information about legit US online casinos and help you find your way around in this uncertain environment.
Table of Contents
- Find the Best US Online Casinos You Can Trust
- Bonuses Available from Trusted US Casinos
- Trusted Legal Online Casinos Accepting USA Players
- USA-Friendly Casino Deposits
- USA-Friendly Casino Deposits
- Games Available at Real-Money USA Online Casinos
- My Criteria for Reviewing Trustworthy Online Casinos
- You still have casino options in the US
Find the Best US Online Casinos You Can Trust
The fact that all of the well-known brands had to leave the United States puts USA players in a peculiar position when looking for an online casino they can trust. There are so many question marks that pop up when deciding if a site is reliable enough for you to put your money in.
Problems may start as early as making a deposit, since many US-facing casinos haven’t really come up with adequate solutions, but the real nightmares usually start at the point of withdrawal.
In an unregulated and murky environment that is currently the online casino space in the USA, there are many websites just looking to take advantage of the situation. Some casinos are simply looking to make a quick buck from the players who are left with no way to complain or raise a dispute in the event that anything goes wrong.
Fortunately, there are still casinos that are looking to run an honest business in the midst of all the difficulties.
The best American online casinos understand the kind of hurdles and concerns players from the United States are facing and are actively looking for and offering solutions.
Common issues with even the best USA casinos relate to deposit methods, withdrawal times, and casino game fairness, which preoccupy users who are looking to have some online gambling fun without hassle.
Where Are Online Casinos Legal in the USA?
The states in which online casinos are regulated by local gambling authorities are Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Connecticut. Many other states are on the verge of adopting similar iGaming laws, including Maryland, Illinois, New York, Tennessee, Kentucky and Rhode Island – so, it’s worth keeping your eyes on the news to find out where US online gambling expansion will spread to next.
Outside of these states, American residents must play at either sweepstakes casinos like Pulsz, Funrize or McLuck – or at gambling sites that are operated by offshore operators and licensed in areas like Curacao and Panama.
Online Sportsbooks
If you prefer wagering on sports to playing casinos, your options are a lot less limited, as the legality of sports betting is much more open across the states. 29 states have a law in place which permits sportsbetting to be run by local gaming operators now, including Arkansas, Ohio, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and North Carolina. In these states, DraftKings, BetRivers, Caesars Palace are the main bookmakers that offer their services to bettors.
So, while state-regulated online gambling is on the rise, there is still a long way to go, especially if you live in a location like Texas, California, Alabama or Oklahoma – where there is no level of online gambling available due to incredibly stringent restrictions.
Bonuses Available from Trusted US Casinos
At online casino sites, players are provided with the opportunity to claim special perks. Operators offer up a wide range of casino bonuses that allow you to claim free spins and bonus money, so you can essentially play their games for free.
Match Bonuses and Deposit Bonuses
The vast majority of USA online casinos offer match bonuses are part of their welcome package. When you make your first deposit, the casino site will match the bonus by a certain percentage (usually 100% or more).
No Deposit Bonuses
As its name suggests, a no deposit bonus doesn’t require you to fund your account at all. You just have to meet certain criteria (such as verifying your account or using a specific bonus code), and the bonus amount will be credited to your account instantly.
No deposit bonus offers usually provide a lot less bonus cash. You can normally only receive about $5 or $10 but there are some sites that offer more – for example, the $40 no deposit bonus at Las Atlantis Casino. However, don’t let the small sum deter you; no deposit bonuses offer some great benefits as they allow you to experience an online casino without having to spend any money at all.
Reload Bonuses
These are simply match bonuses that are available to existing players, usually with a promo code. Their match percentages tend to be much lower than are available from welcome offers, ranging from 25% to 50%.
Refer-a-Friend Promotions
When you play at real money casinos, you can earn extra bonus funds by spreading the word. At most online casinos, you’ll have your own refer-a-friend link that you can share with your contacts. When one of your friends clicks on the link and makes the minimum deposit required, you’ll receive a bonus in your account.
Trusted Legal Online Casinos Accepting USA Players
I’ve tried out dozens of sites to discover some of the best and more reputable online casinos available to US players at the moment.
During my research, I’ve made sure the casinos ticked all the relevant boxes, such as ease of deposits, speed of withdrawals, solid software and game selection, and good player reviews.
In a shaky and unstable market that is the online gambling in the US today, this wasn’t an easy task. However, I’ve been able to uncover some really good online casinos that I can recommend to US-based players:
Ignition Casino
At Ignition Casino, you’ll find an impressive collection of Rival Gaming slots (over 150), as well as many table games and live dealer casino games. The site has been around in the gambling market since 2016 and has become one of the most reliable names among USA players as well as gaming experts during this time. It is one of the leaders in the industry, providing fair wagering requirements and fast withdrawals.
Planet 7 Casino
Planet 7 is known for its great selection of games with hundreds of titles to choose from. However, the main draw here is that it features slot tournaments – something that you don’t often see at US casinos.
The site has gained a stellar reputation among USA players thanks to its top-notch customer service and commitment to play satisfaction – as demonstrated by its $50 no deposit bonus.
This casino launched in 2009, making it one of the oldest casinos on this list. Planet 7 Casino has definitely stood the test of time, thanks to its trustworthy reputation.
Slots.LV
Launched in 2013, Slots.LV has enjoyed longstanding success in the US online casino market. Players appreciate the brand’s commitment to providing a high-quality gaming experience in a safe environment. It is considered one of the most trusted gambling destinations, where players can enjoy over 160 top slots, specialty casino games like scratch cards, bingo and keno, live dealer games and more.
Cafe Casino
Cafe Casino made its debut in the online casino world in 2016, and has remained a top choice as a reliable US casino operator ever since. The brand’s sign-up bonus is hard to beat along with its game selection that consists of over 200 online slots, 30 progressive jackpot games 15 video poker variants and dozens of classic table games.
Diamond Reels
With a simple browser-based casino platform, Diamond Reels is a reputable online casino players in the United States. It is a trusted brand which handles all gambling transactions and gambler data with care. Diamond Reels also offers up an impressive welcome bonus worth up to $5000 (along with many other generous ongoing promos) and provides over 100 Real Time Gaming slots, including progressive jackpots, and 60 video poker variants.
Wild Casino
Launched in 2018, Wild Casino is one of the newer USA online casinos but, in its short time in the market, it has gained the trust and respect of players. The site is licensed by the Panama Gaming Commission and is owned by BetOnline (a leading online sportsbook) CEO Eddie Robbins III. Here, players can enjoy all sorts of great slots, table games and video poker variants.
Slot’O Cash
Slot’O Cash online casino has been around 2007 – making it the most well-established site on our list, and there’s a reason why. The brand has managed to maintain a leading position among US online casino players due to its commitment to player safety and security, as well as its large collection of games and generous welcome bonus. The site is licensed in Curacao and owned by DeckMedia, a renowned online gaming brand.
All of these online casinos offer American players a safe and reliable environment in which they can enjoy their favorite games.
Additionally, these US casinos actually do their best to ensure quick payout speeds and their customers are kept happy and satisfied across the board. This really makes these casinos stand out and earns them my recommendation.
USA-Friendly Casino Deposits
The biggest issues players from the United States are facing when looking for an online casino to play at has to do with deposits and, even more so, withdrawals.
Credit and debit cards are often blocked, payment methods used by the rest of the world players like PayPal or Skrill aren’t an option (although we provide some alternatives here), and even when they are successful depositing, things can get complicated at the withdrawal point.
So, leading casinos accepting USA players are primarily focused on addressing these issues with banking options. Some of them find ways to go around credit and debit card blocks, increasing the approval rate of deposits made using this banking option.
Others find alternatives such as Bitcoin, giving players a completely new way to bank online, avoiding many traditional hurdles.
Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum or Litecoin, have really opened up a new world of possibilities for online casinos catering to US players. Decentralized and still out of reach of large financial institutions, these enable a free flow of cash once again.
USA-Friendly Casino Deposits
The biggest issues players from the United States are facing when looking for an online casino to play at has to do with deposits and, even more so, withdrawals.
Credit and debit cards are often blocked, and the methods used by the rest of the world like, Neteller PayPal or Skrill aren’t an option, and even when they are successful depositing, things can get complicated at the withdrawal point.
So, leading casinos accepting USA players are primarily focused on addressing these issues. Some of them find ways to go around credit and debit card blocks, increasing the success rate of payments made using this method.
Others find alternatives such as Bitcoin, giving players a completely new way to bank online, avoiding many of traditional hurdles.
Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum or Litecoin, have really opened up a new world of possibilities for online casinos catering to US players. Decentralized and still out of reach of large financial institutions, these enable a free flow of cash once again.
For these reasons, many of the leading US-facing casinos have expanded to include cryptocurrencies in their banking methods, primarily Bitcoin but other smaller coins as well.
As things stand right now, Bitcoin is the US casino players’ best, safest, and quickest way to make their deposits and cash out their winnings.
Although the whole idea of cryptocurrencies may have been obscure a few years back, these days more and more people are starting to understand and adopt the concept, with large cryptocurrency exchanges out there making it easy for anyone to buy and sell cryptocurrency in a matter of minutes.
How to Use Bitcoin and Cryptocurrencies to Play at USA Online Casinos
Online casino USA real money operators have made it easy for players to make deposits and withdrawals using Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Here is a quick overview so you can see just how convenient it is to start playing at US casinos with crypto.
Opening at Crypto Wallet
The first step to playing with cryptocurrency at an online sports betting site or casino is getting a wallet. Coinbase and Copay are the most widely-used options among online casino players. This is a very easy process, similar to opening a PayPal account.
Security checks will take place, so make sure you have your ID and documents to verify your address to hand. This will make the verification process much quicker.
Depositing into Your Wallet
Next, you’ll need to purchase some cryptocurrency which you will use to fund your online casino account. Using a debit card, debit card or bank transfer, you’ll be able to put money into your wallet.
The amount of cryptocurrency that you receive from your deposit will depend on the exchange rate.
Funding Your Online Casino Account
Once you have purchased cryptocurrencies and a wallet, head over to your chosen casino operator and visit the Cashier. Select the Deposit option, and choose the cryptocurrency that you want to use to fund your account.
Then, head over to your Bitcoin wallet and copy its address. Paste it into the required field of the online casino cashier along with the amount of money you want to deposit. Your deposit will be processed instantly, so you can begin playing with cryptocurrency right away.
Games Available at Real-Money USA Online Casinos
In terms of game selection, online casinos accepting US players aren’t usually as rich as their counterparts operating in the rest of the world. The reason for this lack of game variety is mainly because big game developers, such as NetEnt and Microgaming, don’t want to do business with casinos operating in any gray areas, limiting their own exposure.
As a result, most US casinos offer games developed by companies such as Real Time Gaming and Rival, which are probably the two leading software developers in the American online casino market.
Although these companies may not be in the same rank as some of these leading developers, they are still businesses with years of experience in the online casino industry and capable of providing quality products.
This means that US casino players still have access to a wide range of slots and video poker machines as well as a variety of electronic table games like roulette, blackjack, baccarat, Casino Hold’em, and many other popular games.
If there is one segment missing from US-facing casinos, that’s the live dealer segment. Unfortunately, there are very few sites where players from the States will be able to find live tables although there are some options out there.
Casino Software and Mobile
A majority of the top US online casinos offer players a chance to play through web-based interfaces, often called instant play. Some of them still do have a downloadable option for desktop computers as well for those who prefer this venue, but very few actually force players to download and install the casino software.
In terms of mobile casino gaming, every US virtual casino I review, such as Planet 7 Casino, has this option – either through separate apps or through optimized mobile sites. The most popular way to experience mobile games is by accessing the online casino using your mobile device’s web browser. However, if the site offers a casino app, you’ll get a much better casino experience by playing through that.
Mobile US casinos are readily available for all devices so players from the United States on Android or iOS can play on the go just like the rest of the world.
My Criteria for Reviewing Trustworthy Online Casinos
Having worked in the online gambling industry and been an active member of many online casinos for quite some time, I know exactly what to look for when reviewing sites to let players know about the safest, most trustworthy casinos.
These are the questions I ask when I carry out my reviews and gaming guides – and, you should also also bear these issues in mind when browsing destinations for playing real money games. Here is everything you need to know about how we review each casino at BeatTheFish.
What Software Providers Are Available?
You can tell a lot of things about any online casino based about the software that they offer. During the casino review process, I always pay close attention to the software providers that are available on the site. As mentioned before, Rival Gaming, Betsoft and Real Time Gaming are the most popular software studios at USA online casinos, so platforms that feature games from smaller, lesser-known brands raise some red flags.
As part of evaluating a site based on its software, I also take a look at the RTP (also referred to as payout percentage or return to player) of individual games offered by these providers – especially if the games don’t come from well-known software developers like Real Time Gaming or Rival Gaming.
In the online casino world, RTPs for online slot games should never fall below 90%. Progressive jackpot games are the only exception, as they tend to have much lower payout percentages due to the fact that a portion all bets contributes to the prize pool.
Are the Wagering Requirements Fair?
In my casino reviews, I cover the important details of the terms and conditions of the operator’s bonuses. I look for any terms that seem unfair, especially when compared to what other gambling site operators have.
When you claim real money bonuses at casinos, wagering requirements can range anywhere from 20x to 60x. I examine these requirements and let you know if they are attainable within the timeframe available before the casino bonus expires.
Does the Operator Prioritize Fairness and Safety?
A trustworthy online casino operator will never ask its players to do anything that is even remotely unsafe. So, never play at an online casino that uses dodgy banking methods such as Western Union or one that doesn’t use SSL encryption.
I also take a look at how often the casino has its payouts and RTPs audited. This shows that the site is committed to providing players with fair games and stay on top of it.
How Reliable is the Customer Support?
Even if you’re not going to be contacting customer service often, the quality of the service is indicative of how trustworthy an online casino is. In today’s market, telephone support is not incredibly common but players should still have access to least email and live chat. If these details aren’t readily available on the site, it’s not an online casino that you should be playing at.
What Do Players Have to Say?
Reputation is important in the online casino world, so I always keep my ear to the ground to listen to any rumblings of suspicious activity. When reviewing a casino, this information is incredibly important and I will always be completely transparent about any complaints that are common among players at that gaming destination.
If a site is completely untrustworthy, I will always make sure that you know about it.
You still have casino options in the US
Although things have changed quite radically for American players looking to gamble online, there is still a great number of solid real-money casino alternatives out there. The trick is weeding out the bad apples and giving your business only to honest casinos that do things by the book and treat their players right.
As with all things online, your best bet is always to do some of your own due diligence as well. For US casinos, it is always a good practice to check out player reviews and try to get in touch with their player support prior to depositing.
That way, you can get answers to some of the questions that are important to you and get a general feel for how they treat their players.
As long as you stick to this advice and stay with the casinos with the proven track-record, you should be fine. Withdrawal times can still be a bit longer than what I’d like them to be, for example. However, an extra day or two don’t make that much of a difference as long as the casino delivers on their promises.
✅ What is an online casino?
The first online casino was launched in 1996, allowing players to engage with games like slots, roulette, craps, baccarat and blackjack over the internet. Online casinos are typically regulated by a gaming commission or other governmental body, such as state gaming commissions and lottery operators, or in international gaming jurisdictions like Curacao or Antigua.
✅ What casino games can I play online?
Players can typically choose from a variety of casino games to wager on, including video slots, blackjack, roulette, and poker. Game developers are always introducing new titles, so you’ll be able to find some interesting table game variants that aren’t available in land-based casinos. There are also plenty of speciality games like keno and scratchcards that you can find at many online casinos.
✅ How do I fund my online casino account?
At USA online casinos, players are able to use Visa, Mastercard and other debit/credit cards, bank transfers and cryptocurrencies as payment options.
✅ How do I know the games are fair?
Online casino games run on Random Number Generators (RNGs), which ensure that the outcome of every spin or round is completely randomized. Gambling operators have their RNGs audited regularly to ensure that their games remain fair.
✅ Is it safe to play at an online casino?
For the reasons mentioned above, it’s fair to play at online casinos – but only when they are regulated by a reputable gaming commission and hold a valid license.
✅ Can you win real money playing at online casinos in the USA?
At real-money online casinos, you can play slots and table games for the opportunity to win actual cash. To access the money from your bank account, you can head to the cashier and complete a withdrawal. It can take up to one week for the money to reach your account.
Bethany has been working in online gambling for over 13 years. She got her start in the industry as her first job after graduating from the Professional Writing Program at York University. Having written for many online gaming publications and worked with top casino operators, she has unique insight into the gambling market. Bethany maintains a personal interest in iGaming as she continues to play poker online as a hobby.