Online Casino Legal States: Where is Online Gambling Legal in the US?

Legal online gambling in the US became a reality in 2011, almost half a decade after Congress signed off on the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), which brought a blanket ban on all casino sites. In mid-2011, the US Department of Justice issued a reinterpretation of the Wire Act of 1961. The decision essentially allowed each state to determine the legality of online gambling.

New Jersey didn’t wait long before legalizing online casinos in 2013 under Gov. Chris Christie. The Garden State issued gambling licenses to a dozen online casinos in conjunction with their land-based partners in Atlantic City. This saw the arrival of Borgata, Tropicana, and BetMGM. More than a handful of other states have followed suit, with Michigan being the latest to join the list in 2021.

Currently, there are seven US states where online casinos are legal and available:

• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Michigan
• New Jersey
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• West Virginia

Each state in the US has the sole jurisdiction to set regulations and award licenses to online gambling operators. As of publishing, seven states have technically authorized at least some form of online casino gambling.

Six states (New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Connecticut, and Delaware) have fully legalized online gambling, and each state has numerous active online casinos. Rhode Island, on the other hand, is an outlier because the state lottery, which oversees gambling activity in the state, has only authorized Bally Online Casino to operate in the state.

Connecticut

Connecticut legalized iGaming in May 2021, with the first online casinos going live in October. They offer a wide variety of online casino games, including blackjack, baccarat, video poker, slots, and poker. You must be 21 or older and physically present in CT to gamble online. Currently, only DraftKings and FanDuel operate online casinos in Connecticut.

*Connecticut allows online casino games, sports betting, lottery, and poker.

Delaware

Delaware was actually the first state to legalize online gambling, doing so in 2013. 888 Casino operated as a monopoly in the state until 2023, when Rush Street Interactive replaced them as the sole provider. Individuals must be 21+ to play at online casinos (or 18+ to enjoy lottery games). Today, BetRivers Casino (owned by Rush Street) is the only online casino operator of the three gambling websites:

*Delaware allows online casino games, sports betting, lottery, bingo, and poker.

Michigan

Michigan legalized online gambling in December 2019, becoming the most recent state to do so. The first online casinos were launched in January 2021. The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) regulates and awards licenses to online casinos.

*Michigan allows online casino games, sports betting, lottery, and poker.

New Jersey

As the first legal online casino state, New Jersey is home to the largest roster of online casinos, at 30 (and counting). The Garden State was the first to kick off online gambling with a soft launch of six casino sites in November 2013. The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (NJDGE) is the state gambling regulator, and it has issued licenses to eight Atlantic City casinos to operate online through its partners.

Each AC casino can launch up to five online casino brands (so-called skins, think BetMGM, Betway, FanDuel, Caesars Palace, or Bet365). This means that no more than 40 online gambling sites can be active at any time in New Jersey. Today, 30 of the 40 possible online casinos have gone live.

*New Jersey allows online casino games, sports betting, lottery, and poker.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania passed a bill legalizing online casinos in October 2017, but the first gambling websites were launched in July 2019. The PA Gaming Control Board (PGCB) regulates and issues gambling licenses to authorized online casino sites in PA.

Four new online casinos were launched in 2024 alone. PA online casinos only allow players 21+ to sign up and play.

*Pennsylvania allows online casino games, sports betting, lottery, bingo, and poker.

Rhode Island

Rhode Island was the 7th state to legalize online casino gambling in June 2023. However, Bally’s Online Casino is the only licensed gambling website in the Ocean State.

*Rhode Island allows online casino games, sports betting, lottery, bingo, and poker.

West Virginia

West Virginia first launched online casinos in 2020 after a bill legalizing them was signed into law in 2019. DraftKings Casino was the first gambling app to go live, and Hollywood Casino is the most recent. West Virginia Lottery licenses and regulates online gambling in WV. It has licensed five of the state’s brick-and-mortar casino properties to run three online casinos each.

*West Virginia allows online casino games, sports betting, lottery, and poker.

Sweepstakes and Social Casinos

Residents of the 43 states where online casinos are illegal will have to wait until they become legal. In some states, this could be months, while in others, it could be years, depending on the state legislature’s openness to the idea.

However, you can still enjoy online casino games for free and legally through sweepstakes casinos like Funrize, NoLimitCoins, and WOW Vegas. No real money deposits or purchases are required at these social casinos, but you can win and redeem coins for cash prizes and gift cards.

State Lottery Websites

Some states have lottery websites that allow users to draw games, jackpots, scratchers, and other games. Depending on the state, these games can be strictly lottery-focused (like the Georgia Lottery) or somewhat similar to what you might expect to find in a casino (like the Michigan Lottery).

Of course, they won’t satisfy those looking for table games and a huge selection of slots, but they are better than nothing for those who like to play games of chance.

It’s been over three years since Michigan joined the other six states with legal online casinos. Most other states have either rejected the notion or are currently considering legalizing online gambling. Some states, like Utah, Texas, and Hawaii, are unlikely to launch legal online casinos anytime soon. However, other states, such as Indiana, Massachusetts, and North Carolina, may soon legalize online casinos.

Louisiana lawmakers will consider an online casino legalization bill in 2025, but the prospect of that bill passing seems low. The same goes for Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, New York, and Wyoming.

Online gambling is a fun activity becoming available in more and more US states. However, gambling should only ever be fun. It shouldn’t be a problem.

If you or someone you know is having struggles with online gambling, please seek help immediately. Those experiencing gambling issues can call 1-800-GAMBLER for help.

Gambling online is now a reality in many states across the US. Unfortunately, online casino gambling doesn’t have the same widespread legality as online sports betting yet.

Online sports betting is now legal in 38 states, while online casino betting is only available in seven states. However, this will change in the coming years as more states legalize online casino gambling with an eye on increased tax revenues.

These seven legal online casino states are Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia. Players in these states can sign up, score promotions, and play a wide range of table games, slots, bingo, poker, and more.