Not every state in the US is allowed to gamble online. There are legal restrictions to prevent websites from advertising or users in those states from accessing their platforms.
If you have a VPN, you can accidentally break the law by playing casino games while in one of these states.
To help you avoid these mistakes, we have a list of all US states where online casinos are legal.
A list of states that allow online gambling
Not all states have the same laws around online gambling.
The 6 States That Allow Online Casinos
There are only 6 states that allow online casino games. These are West Virginia, Delaware, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and New Jersey.
In this context, online casinos are websites that allow you to play casino games such as slots, roulette, blackjack, craps, poker and more.
The 6 States That Allow Online Poker
While some states allow online casino games, they may reject games like poker because of their addictive quality. However, other states do not allow simple casino games, but do accept the sport of poker.
So that you don’t get confused, here’s a list of the states that allow online poker: Delaware, Nevada, West Virginia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
As you may have noticed, Nevada is a new addition to the list, while Connecticut has changed its tone when it comes to poker.
The 1st state to refuse online sports betting
While online casino games are not legal in every state, online sports betting is largely accepted. There is only one state that considers online sports betting illegal and that is surprisingly Delaware.
The 4 States That Allow All Types Of Online Gambling
To make this even less confusing, we have compiled a list of the 4 states that allow all types of traditional online gambling.
They are New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan and West Virginia.
Details in the 6 states that allow online casinos
For a little more detail, here’s a brief history of the 6 states and their connection to online casinos.
New Jersey
You can find more online casinos in New Jersey than in any other state. This is largely because New Jersey was the first state to legalize online casinos in 2013. Since then, more than 20 different gambling apps have been created and offered in the state.
The top 3 are FanDuel, DraftKings and Golden Nugget.
Any online gambling site must be approved and regulated by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement to be legal. So to make sure that your chosen website is fair, look for the NJDGE certification.
Michigan
Michigan only allowed online casino games in 2021, yet it is one of the few states in the US to allow online poker, general casino games and sports betting.
Since the 2021 change, more than 10 online casino apps have been promoted in the state. Taking over the new demographic is the already popular FanDuel and DraftKings. They have also become popular in Michigan, but so have the local brands like Four Winds and Firekeepers.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania allowed online casino betting in 2019. It only accepted 2 brands at the time, but more than 10 new apps have become available since then.
Look out for the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board certification to make sure your app is approved by state laws.
West Virginia
Although West Virginia followed New Jersey and quickly made online casinos legal in the state, it has the fewest casinos to choose from.
FanDuel and DraftKings still made the list, but Four Winds and Firekeepers didn’t.
Governor Jim Justice owns one of the 5 accepted online casinos, suggesting that the state monopolizes the trade. To make sure your game stays fair, we recommend sticking to national websites.
Delaware
Delaware only allows state casinos. This means that three options are executed and secured through the government. The options are Casio Delaware Park, Dover Downs and Harrington Raceway & Casino.
Due to the lack of competition, the apps aren’t as detailed or adventurous as other states, but rest assured that your money is safe.
We recommend that you try all three apps before choosing one as your choices are already limited.
Connecticut
Connecticut changed its laws in 2021, allowing both online casinos and online poker. So far, only two have been accepted, and those are FanDuel and DraftKing. However, in this state, FanDuel is re-skinned and called Mohegan Casino.
Either way, you will receive the same premium experience at both casinos. However, due to the change in skin, FanDuel (now known as Mohegan Casino) has a limited list of slot machines, classic games and no access to online poker.
Access to online poker should change soon.
If you want lots of choices, go with DraftKings. If you want to use something simple, go for Mohegan.
Overview
When you log into an online casino website, you will be asked what state you are in. The website asks you this question to ensure that no state laws are being violated.
Only 6 states allow online casinos, and those are West Virginia, Delaware, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and New Jersey.
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