Not every state in the US is allowed to gamble online. There are legal restrictions to stop websites from advertising or permitting users, in those states, from accessing their platforms.
If you have a VPN, you may 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 the 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 just 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
Although some states allow online casino games, they might reject games such as poker due to their addictive quality. Other states, however, don’t allow simple casino games but do accept the sport of poker.
To make sure you don’t get confused, here is a list of the states which 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 tune when it comes to poker.
The 1 State That Refuses Online Sports Betting
Although online casino games aren’t legal in every state, online sports betting is largely accepted. There is just one state that considers online sports betting illegal and that’s surprisingly Delaware.
The 4 States That Allow All Types Of Online Gambling
To make this even less confusing, we have gathered a list of the 4 states which allow all types of traditional online gambling.
They are New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and West Virginia.
Details Into The 6 States That Allow Online Casinos
For a bit more detail, here is 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 back in 2013. Since then over 20 different gambling apps have been created and offered in the state.
The top 3 are FanDuel, DraftKings, and Golden Nugget.
Each online gambling site has to be approved and regulated by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, to be legal. So to ensure your chosen website is fair, search for the NJDGE certification.
Michigan
Michigan only allowed online casino gaming in 2021, and yet it’s one of the only states in the US to allow poker, general casino games, and sports betting online.
Since the 2021 change, more than 10 online casino apps have been promoted in the state. Taking on the new demographic is the already popular FanDuel and DraftKings. They have gained popularity in Michigan too, but so have the local brands such as Four Winds and Firekeepers.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania allowed online casino betting in 2019. It only accepted 2 brands at the time, but since then over 10 new apps have become available.
To make sure your app is approved by the state laws, look out for the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board certification.
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, which suggests the state is monopolizing the trade. To make sure that your game stays fair, we suggest sticking with national websites.
Delaware
Delaware only allows state casinos. This means that three options are run 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, however, you can be sure your money is safe.
We suggest trying all three apps before settling on one, seeing as your choices are already limited.
Connecticut
Connecticut changed its laws in 2021, allowing both online casinos and online poker. Only two have been accepted so far, and they are FanDuel and DraftKing. However, in this state FanDuel is re-skinned and named Mohegan Casino.
Either way, you will be receiving the same high-class experience from either casino. However, due to the change in the skin, FanDuel (now known as Mohegan Casino) has a reduced list of slot machines, classical games, and no access to online poker.
The access to online poker should change soon.
If you want lots of choices, go with DraftKings. If you want something easy to use, pick Mohegan.
Summary
When you log in to an online casino website, you’ll be asked which state you are in. The website asks you this question to ensure no state laws are broken.
Only 6 states allow online casinos, and they are West Virginia, Delaware, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and New Jersey.
