Concerns about online casino legitimacy are as old as online gambling itself. People are suspicious of Internet transactions, and even though millions of people now shop and bank online, there are some holdouts who are scared to trust any financial transaction online.

Reputable Online Casinos. When it comes to online casinos there is one word that can make or break them and that is reputation. When money and people are involved there is a great need to have a good reputation and the top online casinos have attained their success not only by providing wonderful gambling environments but they are also reputable online casinos. GamblingSites.com is perhaps THE most comprehensive online gambling resource. This website is a genuine goldmine for gamblers, with information and expert advice on just about every gambling-related topic under the sun. Our main objective is to ensure you enjoy safe online betting and gaming at reputable and trustworthy gambling sites.

Since online casinos give you the chance to win (or lose) real money, a little bit of suspicion is a healthy thing. When shopping for a new online casino, you should look for a legitimate online casino with a history of doing business with gamblers and accepting wagers from people in your country.

But that isn’t all you can do to determine if a site is a scam or not. Finding legitimate online casinos means using common sense and looking out for a few different features, like a customer service line, certification and licensing information, and generally good reviews at legit online casino review sites.

List of the Most Trusted Online Casinos in 2020

What Makes an Online Casino Legitimate?

An online casino is considered “legitimate” if it pays out winnings properly and in a timely manner, has a transparent set of terms and conditions for all bonus and promotional offers, and is legally allowed to do business as an online casino site.

An illegitimate online casino site can be anything from a real online casino that’s having trouble paying out winnings to a scam website set up to capture a few credit card numbers, never to be seen or heard from again. To protect yourself from illegitimate online casino, follow these helpful tips for locating legitimate online casino websites.

Tips for Checking an Online Casino’s Legitimacy

Because it isn’t always easy to tell if a casino site is legitimate or not just from a brief glance, it’s important to know what to look for before you start shopping for a legitimate online casino.

Right off the bat, you can know something about an online casino’s legitimacy simply from the online casino software they run. Online casino software companies that have a good reputation tend to not do business with illegitimate online casinos. That means when you see a site that runs Microgaming, RTG, or Cryptologic software, or a handful of other major software design companies, you can safely assume the site is doing fair business. Other reputable online casino software providers include Playtech, WagerWorks, and Rival Gaming. Having said that, simply using a legitimate casino software package does not guarantee a site is doing due diligence.

The next thing to look for are seals from regulators and gambling licensing entities. Most online casinos display some seal of legitimacy from an independent regulator, usually accompanied by audited payout percentage certifications and other material related to a site’s legitimacy. Of course, a seal on a website is no guarantee of legitimacy, though seals from eCOGRA and any auditing or testing by PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) or TST are usually a good sign that a casino is legit.

You can learn a lot about an online casino by finding out what gambling jurisdiction they hold licensing from. The best jurisdictions in terms of licensing legitimate casinos are Gibraltar, Australia, the Isle Of Man, Malta or Alderney. These jurisdictions are known for having strict regulations and keeping a close eye on casinos that earn licenses from them. New laws in the UK and other European countries, like Spain and Italy, mean that licensing from those countries is probably also a sign of a site’s legitimacy.

Other gambling jurisdictions aren’t as sure of a sign of good business practices: Antigua & Barbuda, Costa Rica, Curacao, the Philippines, Kahnawake, and Vanuatu are all examples of jurisdictions that don’t have a strong reputation in terms of licensing legitimate online casinos.

While you’re at a casino’s website, look for a page called ‘About Us’ or something similar. A legitimate online casino will post the kind of information here that helps establish their reputation, describing their casino operations and other information. What you’re looking for is transparency. The more transparent an online casino is about the way their business operates, how they payout winnings, and how their bonus and promotion program works, the more likely they are to be a legitimate online casino site.

One final way to hunt down legitimate online casinos on the Internet is to read the reviews and recommendations written by other online gamblers. Online gambling forums are by no means in short supply; there is plenty to learn by searching forums and message boards. These forums have “complaints” sections where gamblers can tell on casinos for bad behavior, though you should take what you read with a grain of salt, since a mad customer might be upset about something and trying to discredit the site out of anger. Generally, though, the less you read about a casino in forum “complaints” sections and bad reviews, the more likely they are to be legitimate.

Contacting an online casino’s customer support service is a quick way to test the site’s legitimacy. Online casino rip-off sites don’t generally have customer support; they may list a phone number or an email address, but the likelihood of a scam website operating a real customer service program is low. If you can contact a site’s customer service team and you have a good experience with them, you can be pretty sure of the site’s legitimacy.

If you don’t mind doing a little more research, you can check financial reports to find legitimate online casinos. Many online casino properties, especially those based in the UK and Europe, are publicly-traded on stock and commercial exchanges. A publicly-traded company is forced to abide by certain rules and regulations; when an online casino company begins trading on a stock exchange, they are making a case for their legitimacy. Publicly-traded companies that run online casinos can be trusted, thanks to oversight by both the company itself and the stock exchange they take part in.

When the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) became a reality in 2006, it changed the online casino USA industry. Fortunately for American casino fans regulation is on its way, and if you live in a regulated state you have plenty of options. Here at CasinoTop10, you'll find an extensive list of casinos which have been tested and approved by our staff in all regulated states.

Our Online Casino USA Reviews

Although Las Vegas and Atlantic City are widely thought to be the largest and most well-known gambling meccas across the lands in America, the internet can also be regarded as a gambling mecca in its own right. Why? Well, simply because the list of online gambling sites to play at that can be found on the net is growing with new regulations and licenses in place in some states. And of course, similarly to land-based casinos, there’s a mixture of internet casinos which basically consists of the good, the bad and the downright ugly. The problem that’s obviously presented here is distinguishing between them in order to find the right fit for you as a gambler, and make sure they are legal in a regulated state. You can check out all the new online casinos in your regulated state and be updated on new offerings.

Expert Reviews of Online Casinos in the USA

Luckily for all you gamblers out there, our experts at CasinoTop10 are here to swoop in and save the day. We know the industry like the back of our hand and have dedicated many years to reviewing online casinos USA to provide you with the cream of the crop in online gambling entertainment. So leave your fear of playing at a rogue and unlicensed casino at the door and opt to play at one of the online casinos USA in our list instead that are regulated and safe.

CasinoTop10's Best Online Casino USA Sites need to:

Be approved online casinos which are regulated and approved by a reputable gambling authority in a licensed and regulated state

Run on a safe, secure and trusted casino platform;

Provide a phenomenal array of online casino games;

Have large casino bonuses and other fantastic online casino promotions for US players that are regulated for safe and easy play.

Our Selection of Desktop & Mobile Casinos USA

Our selection of online casinos USA includes ones that are compatible with both desktop and mobile. Most online casinos within the legal states have mobile versions with software for Android and iOS devices such as the iPad, different tablets, and mobile phones. However, just like when you play on desktop, the same geo-restrictions will apply on your mobile. Your location will most likely be required by most mobile casinos as you need to be confirmed as being within the legal Mobile Casino operating states. Similarly, if you are playing games online which you usually leave running, this won’t be possible on a mobile that is turned off as the geo-tracking needs to be activated in order for you to be allowed to play. Having said this, there are still many mobile casinos for you to choose from – just keep your location switched on and you’ll be accepted in no time.

The Legal Hemisphere for Online Casinos USA

Before 2006 there were no legal limits for online gambling; however in 2006, the then president George Bush enacted the SAFE Port Act which also incorporated restrictions for online gambling in the United States. The gambling law, Title VII of the SAFE Port Act is known as the ‘Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006’ – more commonly referred to as UIGEA.

The UIGEA Law's Impact on USA Online Casinos

The UIGEA's law which,'...prohibits gambling businesses from knowingly accepting payments in connection with the participation of another person in a bet or wager that involves the use of the Internet and that is unlawful under any federal or state law', clearly restricts online gambling in the US and is now strictly regulated and varies from state to state. The law is indicative of the fact that it is the processing and acceptance of player’s payments to online casinos by banks and financial institutions that is illegal.

Online Casinos US State Laws Summary

Online casinos are officially legal in the states of Delaware, Nevada and New Jersey. You need to be within these states in order to access online and mobile gambling opportunities. Prior to signing up at casinos, CasinoTop10 recommends that you check the laws which govern where you live in order to determine whether to sign-up to a site or not, as those states which do allow online gambling are usually heavily regulated. The States of Nevada and New Jersey, for example, had declared that non-state regulated gambling is illegal, but online gambling per se is not.

The licensed casino operators will also take many measures to check the physical location of all those who wish to play online and on mobile. If you have changed your IP address for privacy reasons or to access news sites abroad this will affect your ability to play at online casinos within these states. Even if you are close to the limits of a bordering state your location may indicate that you are no longer in the legal casino playing area and you won’t be allowed to play.

Future Changes for the Real Money Online Casinos USA Industry

Despite the fact that only three states have legalized online casino gambling in the United States, more states are now in a debate in order to have the online casino world more regulated and are attempting to legalize it. You will have to follow the relevant state discussions surrounding online gambling legislation in order to keep updated on the latest attempts for legalization.

Online Casino USA Gambling Restrictions by Entity

There are different restrictions associated with playing casino games online – we have outlined the different kind of restrictions for the different entities within the online gambling industry and for different actions taken so you can be absolutely sure of the legalities and illegalities within the industry.

Restrictions for US Casinos & Other Entities that Accept Casino Game Bets

Any online casinos within the United States that are outside the states of New Jersey, Delaware, and Nevada and are accepting payments and operating are doing so illegally and at very high risk of prosecution. Online casinos within the legal states and offshore in legal countries are within the legal frameworks and may operate freely.

Restrictions for US Online Casino Companies Operating From Outside the States

Online casinos that are outside of the legal states are prohibited from accepting betting payments from customers. This has moved many online casinos to operate legally in other countries, but they cannot accept any US players as this is illegal.

Restrictions for Payment System Companies

The bulk of the law is a charter of obligations of ‘non-exempt’ participants and designated payment systems and requires such participants and systems to “identify and block or otherwise prevent or prohibit the processing of restricted transactions”. Assisting in the transfer of funds to online casinos inside and outside the US is how the US government has tried to stop online gambling from occurring – by attacking the source. If money can’t be sent around between players and online casinos, nobody can play the games and the online casinos can’t benefit from player’s money or transfer winnings back to players. Without money that can be freely moved, the online casino industry doesn’t work.

The United States Treasury and Federal Reserve Board have outlined five different payment systems that fall under the act as a payment participant that will have to block betting payments: card systems, ACH systems, wire transfer systems, check collection systems, and money transmitting businesses.

There are specific participants who are responsible for blocking the payments and monitoring illegal activity within each payment systems – not everyone will be prosecuted. In the case of ACH systems, it’s the financial institution that makes the deposits and any third party that receives credit or processes the debit on behalf of the commercial customer. In the case of cards such as VISA or MasterCard, it is the card company that will be in the red if the process online casino payments. For check collection systems and wire transfer system it’s not actually the system company itself but the depositary and beneficiary’s bank, respectively. And finally, in the case of money transmitting businesses, it’s the operator itself that will be charged for illegal activity. The act makes it clear that any back-office support provider to any of these payment systems and services is not considered a third party and will not be prosecuted.

However, you as an end user is always the one responsible for our action and you need to confirm your state's regulations to be on the safe side.

Within the legal states, processing payments for online casinos and their players is legal. You will find that there will always be a payment option available to you when you play online, we have only listed the best and most reputable casinos that accept payments and transfers between US citizens and the casinos.

Advertising Restrictions For Casino Online USA

Advertising Restrictions for Major Media Outlets

Accepting advertising for internet gambling in major media corporations is not allowed. Major online media conglomerates google and yahoo have prohibited the advertising of online casinos since they received a government warning. Although there is no specific legislation surrounding casino advertising, most major media outlets have now prohibited it themselves. Although some fines have been imposed, no further action has been taken.

Popular Online Casino Games Real Money USA

Similarly, to other countries, the types of online casinos games that Americans play for real money is generally a reflection of the culture and society present in the U.S and above all what players enjoy playing the most. Whilst Slots online games hold a rightful place in the hearts of many online gamblers, Americans are also fond of the virtual replicas of table games such as Blackjack online, online Roulette and in the case of many high rollers also online Baccarat. A few other popular games which are widely renowned as being casino favorites in the United States include the dice game online Craps, the machine-like game Video Poker, online Keno and Bingo.

Remember to check games offered by a legal and licensed casino in your state. Our recommendation is based on free, social and real money play.

US Online Slots

Slots are definitely the most popular online casino games that have gained a huge fan base ever since their release. They’re not simply limited to Fruit Slots machines. There are so many different themes on the net that it’s absolutely insane. If you’re interested in learning all about Slots, we highly urge you to have a look at our Slots online guide where we delve into all the nitty-gritty details about the game.

US Online Blackjack

Blackjack is a popular table game with many US players. The classic game can be found at virtually all US regulated online gambling sites and some even have several variations of the game too. You can find out more about the digitalized version of the game in our Blackjack online guide.

US Online Roulette

The red and black wheel of chance has been played for centuries and has also been transported to the majority of regulated online casinos in the United States. The game is loved for its simple rules and easy inside and outside bets. Additionally, there have been many betting systems developed to use on the game over the years too such as the Martingale system. If you’d like to learn how to play the game, head to our online Roulette guide where we delve into all you need to know before you head off and dive into a game of Roulette online.

Online Baccarat USA

Baccarat online is one of those casino games which is renowned for its glamour, especially in Vegas. The game has simple rules and involves making very limited decisions and is available to play at the majority of regulated online casinos in the USA. Essentially, the aim of the game is to get as close as possible to the number 9. Learn all you need to know about the online casino game by reading our online Baccarat guide.

American Casino Tv Show

Online Craps Real Money USA

The dice game, Craps, is immensely popular at most USA regulated gambling sites. And although at first glance, the table might lot a tad bit look complicated, it’s not as hard to comprehend as you might initially think. The game basically involves placing bets on the different parts of the table. Learn all you need to know about Craps online by visiting our guide where you can get the full gist of the game.

Online Video Poker Real Money USA

A fantastic game to play at many an regulated online casino USA is none other than Video Poker. At land-based casinos, the game meshes 5-card draw poker with a Slots machine. The one you’d find online is the same game in its digitalized form. Although the most popular of the games is Jacks or Better, you’ll be able to find many other variants such as Joker Poker, Tens or Better and Deuces Wild Video Poker. Provided that you’d like to learn all about the game, we recommend heading to our online Video Poker guide to get to know exactly how to play and the strategies you can use when playing the game.

Online Bingo for money USA

At regulated online casinos in the USA, Bingo is available to play round the clock. The game is super easy to learn and can lead you to win real cash prizes as a result. And the best part is you can do so while having tons of fun in the process. If you’ve always stuck to brick-and-mortar bingo halls for most of your life and would like to learn more about how to play it, the strategy involved and so forth, head to our online Bingo guide where to get into all you need to know.

Online Keno Real Money USA

Keno online strongly resembles the game of Bingo and Lottery. Like the aforementioned games, the main premise of the casino game involves predicting which numbers will be drawn. Learn more about Keno online by reading our guide on rules and strategy.

Other Types of Online Casino Games for Real Money USA

Although the aforementioned casino games are principally the most popular games in the regulated States in US, players can also find a wonderful array of other games at US-state regulated online gambling sites too. Among the lot are casino games such as Scratch Cards, Caribbean Stud Poker, 3-Card Poker, Sic Bo, Texas Hold’em Poker and Pai Gow Poker which provide a world of fun.

Free Online Casino Games Real Money No Deposit USA

If you’re used to playing casino games for real money in Vegas or Atlantic City and you feel a bit apprehensive in regards to making the switch from a land-based casino to an online one, you can always test out the waters by playing a few free casino games. Many online gambling sites for US players have a number of American favorites you can play at. Typically, you’ll have to sign up to play the games, but this is not always required. Provided that you don’t want to go through the hassle of browsing through a mélange of different websites to find one that hosts free games, you can also play a few casino games at CasinoTop10 instead by visiting our free casino games page. All of our games can be played via browser and won’t require you to download or deposit anything. So you can simply load the site and start gambling by using your free money today.

Deposits & Withdrawals at US Online Casinos

Each US Online Casino Has its Own Array of Payment Options

Each online casino USA that are licensed has varying online casino payment options. An important thing to note about each one is that each payment method offered has its own minimum and maximum amounts that can be deposited and withdrawn. Sometimes online gambling sites will also charge fees. However, this is not always the case. And you need to check what payment options that are regulated and safe to use in your state.

Recommended Deposit Methods to Use at Casinos Online USA

You’ll be able to find an array of deposit methods at online casinos that are licensed in USA. Yet, some are definitely more common than others. Among the best ones you’ll be able to find are credit card options, e-wallets and cryptocurrencies. As credit card options, the best ones to use in order to deposit your funds are Visa and Mastercard. You can learn all you need to know about using cards at online casinos via our Visa Casinos and Mastercard Casinos guides. Provided that you prefer using an e-wallet instead, you can choose to use at several casinos that have their license in place in a regulated state.. Other popular options that are offered include the cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, which you can learn about in our Bitcoin Casinos guide.

Recommended Withdrawal Methods at Online Casinos USA

The most popular withdrawal methods at online regulated gambling sites are Check, and Bank Transfer and the E-wallet.

Most Reputable Online Casino

In the United States, the legal gambling age for online gambling differs from State to State and sometimes even the types of casino games that are played. Generally speaking, the gambling age is usually either 18 or 21. We always recommend reading up on the gambling laws by visiting a government website prior to signing up at a casino.

Gambling laws vary in different states. You are allowed to gamble in some US states and not others.

Online gambling is legal and regulated in the states of Delaware, Nevada and New Jersey. So, provided that you’re of legal age, you can sign up and play at online.

Online gambling is illegal in a number of different States currently. Currently there are fewer regulated states than allowed. So check your local state for up to date regulation information.

In order to find the best online casino USA to meet your needs, it’s always best to read some online casino reviews. Bear in mind that whilst all the online casinos in our list are licensed and regulated, not all of them have a variety of online casino games which might appeal to you. Thus, we definitely recommend having a look at the selection of games at the casino you’re interested in playing at prior to signing up at the online casino.

Yes, on signing up at an online casino USA, you’ll be able to claim an online casino bonus on signing up and making a deposit at an online gambling site. Of course, the internet casino you’re signing up at needs to be offering an online casino bonus in the first place for you to be able to claim it.

You’ll be able to find the best online casino bonuses in our list of ‘Best Online Casinos USA’ above. Each of the online casino bonuses are listed right beside the casino’s brand name. In order to find out more terms about each casino bonus, you’ll need to visit the review page as well as the online casino's site.

You can typically find new online casinos for US players in our dedicated page for new casinos at CasinoTop10. The process we use in order to identify suitable new online casinos is the same as the one we use for other online casinos we place in our toplist above.

All the online casinos we’ve listed in our toplist have some of the fastest payouts in the USA. Payouts are typically displayed in percentage form and can be found in the information box in each online casino review.

Reputable Online Casinos Usa

Provided that you’d like to play at a live online casino USA, you’ll be able to find one by navigating to our Live Casino page where we give information about live casino games as well as the best casinos to play at.

Provided that you don’t already have a bankroll to use whilst playing online casino games for real money, you can always opt to cash in on an online us casino no deposit bonus! This type of bonus will be given to you on signing up at any of the No Deposit Casinos in our toplist.

Reputable Online American Casino Reddit Customer Service

Sadly, as you might have already realized many online casinos in the United States don’t accept PayPal despite the fact that it’s one of the most used payment methods in the world.

Play at an Online Casino USA for Real Money

CasinoTop10 provides a concrete space for the best online casino reviews for US players. Each casino listed on the site features games such as online Roulette, Slots, Video Poker, Craps, Blackjack and many more. So what are you waiting for? The possibility of playing your favorite casino game is only a couple of clicks away! It's time to get cracking!

Read through your state laws around online gambling before you venture into a new casino. Here at CasinoTop10 we only list licensed and regulated casinos.

Joe Hassen