What is an online casino?
Before we go any further talking about the states where online casinos are, let’s just quickly make sure that we are on the same page about what they are. Online casinos are the online versions of classic retail casinos, where you can wager real money on a variety of different casino games, and receive winnings in cash.
Depending on where you decide to sign up, you can play all of your favorite slots, table games, and a whole lot more. Some of the online casinos are extensions of an actual, retail casino, while others are exclusively online sites with no physical version available.
Are online casinos legal in the US?
When it comes to talking about the legality of online casinos, things can get quite confusing, as each state has created its own regulatory framework when it comes to licensing, tax rates and even the games / markets that they offer.
The following list shows all of the current states with online casinos operating legally:
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Michigan
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- West Virginia
- Rhode Island (recently legalized and expected to launch some new online casinos soon)
But, as I mentioned before, each of the US states with legal online gambling has different laws that affect how online gambling works in that state. For example, in Connecticut, only two online casinos are permitted: Mohegan Sun Casino (partnered with FanDuel) and DraftKings Casino.
In Michigan, a variety of operators, such as BetMGM, Caesars, and FanDuel, provide a wide range of casino games, including slots, table games, and live dealer options.
This variety in the laws, and the fact that they are always evolving, makes it really important to ensure that it's legal in your state and to play only on licensed and regulated platforms to guarantee a safe and fair gaming experience.
Where can I play casino games if online gambling is illegal in my state?
If you just read through the list above and saw that you don’t live in one of the legal online casino states, then you may be sitting there asking if there are any alternatives. Luckily for you there are - sweepstakes casinos. These are legal in all US states except for Washington, as they have an outright ban on all forms of online gambling, including sweepstakes.
Never heard of a sweepstake casino before? Well, allow me to fill you in. Sweepstakes casinos are very similar to online casinos in the sense that you can enjoy playing all of your favorite casino-style games, but with a couple of important differences. The main one being that when you play the games at sweepstakes casinos, you don’t play with real money. Instead, these sites operate under a sweepstakes model where you play with one of two virtual currencies: Gold Coins and Sweepstakes Coins.
These Coins have no monetary value outside of the site, and as result, can only be used to play the games that are available on the site. Gold Coins are only used for entertainment because they can’t be redeemed or swapped for any prizes at any point. Sweepstakes Coins, on the other hand, can be redeemed for real prizes (in selected states) when certain requirements have been met.
Under a sweepstakes model, these sites must give you the opportunity to play for free, so you can always receive GC and SC in a range of bonuses like the welcome bonus and the daily login bonus. These bonuses are slightly different to some of the
online casino bonuses
that you may have come across before, as no deposit bonuses are common.
Do You Want to Learn More About Sweeps Casinos? Check Out Our Guides!
Best alternatives to online casinos in the US
Now that you’ve got a good understanding about what sweepstakes casinos are, and how they are a great legal alternative to online casinos in states where online gambling is illegal, I think it’s time that I recommend to you some of my favorite sweepstakes casinos. Take a look at the options below to help you decide on where you sign up next.
Stake.us: Pros & Cons
- 1200+ casino-style games
- Safe and legit
- Cool promo deals
- Live chat support
When it comes to talking about the best sweepstakes casinos, Stake.us is more often than not the first on anyone’s list. Stake.us is widely known for being the ultimate destination for social casino enthusiasts, thanks to the enormous game library, as well as some generous bonuses for new and existing players. If you sign up today and enter the bonus code PROMOBOY during sign up, you can score yourself 55 Stake Cash, 260,000 Gold Coins, and 5% Rakeback. This bonus can be used anywhere on the site, so you can get your gaming journey off to a flying start.
Just like some of the
best US online casinos,
many of the games on the site come from renowned developers like Pragmatic Play and Hacksaw Gaming, so you can almost guarantee that you’re going to receive some premium-quality entertainment. You’ve got the option to play some fan-favorite slots like Sugar Rush and Gates of Olympus, or you can dive into some exciting original games like Crash and Plinko to change things up.
On top of that, Stake.us also keeps things fresh with regular promotions and challenges, which helps to make it as engaging as it is rewarding.
RealPrize
Pros and cons of RealPrize
- Excellent Daily login bonus of 5,000 GC and 0.30 SC
- Fast gift card redemptions often within 24 hours
- Quality sweepstakes casino games from top providers like NetEnt
- Seven-tier VIP program with increasing rewards
- PayPal supported for purchases and redemptions
- Small game library of only 200+ titles
- Live chat support limited to higher VIP tiers
- No dedicated sweepstakes casino app
If you’re looking for a standout social casino that’s all about delivering fun and prizes in an innovative way, then you’ll love RealPrize. As well as offering some of the world’s most-loved casino games, they are also known for offering some great bonuses. One example of their great bonuses is the current welcome offer, where you can claim 100,000 Gold Coins and 2 Sweeps Coins without needing to enter any promo code!
One of my favorite features about RealPrize is the site itself. Its vibrant interface is really user-friendly, and it helps to make navigation a breeze. After trying out the site, it immediately became really personalized, and it allowed me to save all of my favorite games, so I could access them quicker when I logged back in.
As the name suggests, RealPrize gives you the ability to redeem Sweeps Coins winnings for real prizes, which adds an extra layer of excitement to the mixture. So, if you’re looking for a social casino with plenty of perks and a focus on fun, RealPrize is well worth checking out!
High 5 Casino
High 5 Casino: Pros & Cons
- Generous welcome bonus package
- Over 1500 quality games available
- Free daily coin rewards
- Legit with multiple licenses
- Limited table game options
High 5 Casino is widely-known for bringing the energy of a Vegas floor straight to your screen, as it offers an engaging and colorful social gaming experience. New players are treated to a generous welcome bonus of 5 Sweeps Coins, 250 Game Coins, and 600 Diamonds, which you can use to try out all of the site’s great features from the get go.
I particularly like that High 5 Casino has some exclusive partnerships with game developers, so you’ll find a lineup of unique slot games that you won’t find anywhere else. From the dazzling reels of Da Vinci Diamonds to the action-packed Hoot Loot, each game delivers creativity and quality.
As well as offering some great games, High 5 Casino also has a great VIP program that rewards loyal players with some great perks and bonuses.
Clubs Casino
Clubs Casino: Pros & Cons
- Fly through the registration process
- Unlock a huge welcome bonus
- Swift replies from support
- Fair limits attached to redemptions
- No way to access through an app
While Clubs Casino may not be as big as some of the other sweepstakes casinos, it is still known for delivering a thrilling mix of fun and prizes. The fun starts right from the get go, as they are currently offering new customers 25,000 Gold Coins, 5 Sweeps Coins, and 10 free spins on the Zombie Circus slot, as part of the welcome bonus.
Known for its creative games and seamless user experience, Clubs Casino offers a variety of slots, table games, and daily rewards that can compete with any of the top sites. My favorite part about Clubs Casino is the fact that they are always running regular promotions that keep the excitement alive.
WOW Vegas
Pros and cons of Wow Vegas
- Huge game library with over 2,100 slots from top software developers
- Frequent social media giveaways
- Generous welcome bonus of 1.75 Million WOW Coins and 35 Free Sweeps Coins
- One of the best VIP programs on the market
- No table games available
- Only 3 SC per mailing request
The final sweepstakes casino that I’ll recommend to you is WOW Vegas. This site is one of the nation’s leading sweepstakes casinos, and it’s become known for all the right reasons. WOW Vegas is currently offering new players an exciting welcome bonus of 5 Sweeps Coins and 250,000 WOW Coins to kickstart their journey playing on the site.
With a massive collection of slots and table games, WOW Vegas stands out for its variety and ease of use. Whether you're spinning for fun or in promotional mode, it’s a fantastic site to explore!
Can you win real money at sweepstakes casinos?
No, you cannot win real money directly at sweepstakes casinos. These platforms use a unique legal model where you play with virtual currencies like Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins. While Gold Coins are for fun, Sweeps Coins can often be redeemed for cash prizes or gift cards once you meet the site’s playthrough and eligibility requirements. For example, you must play through your bonus SC at least once before they become eligible for redemption.
The best online casino apps in the US
While most US states ban online casinos altogether, players can still enjoy gaming on the go at some of our top-rated sweepstakes casinos. While not all of these sites offer a dedicated app, they do provide mobile-optimized websites making them easily accessible for mobile gaming.
| App Name |
App Store rating |
Play Store rating |
Number of Games |
| Stake.us |
N/A |
N/A |
1000+ |
| RealPrize |
N/A |
N/A |
300+ |
| High 5 Casino |
4.6 |
4.5 |
1500+ |
| Clubs Casino |
N/A |
N/A |
150+ |
| WOW Vegas |
N/A |
N/A |
1000+ |
Are real money online casinos going to become legal in the US anytime soon?
It’s difficult to say whether or not real money online casinos are going to become widely available across the US in the near future as each US state governs gambling laws independently. While some states are working on implementing the necessary legislation to legalize online casinos in the future, others are steadfast in their stance against all forms of gambling.
What is the legal gambling age in the US?
The legal gambling age varies from state to state. While you will have to be at least 18 years old to access most forms of online gambling, some states online allow players to sign up to their site if they are at least 19 or 21 years old. It’s best to check with the site you want to sign up to first and see if you are of egal gambling age to join.
Do you pay taxes on casino winnings in the US?
Yes, casino winnings are usually subject to federal income tax, however the rate which you will have to pay will vary from state to state. In some states prize redemptions from sweepstakes casinos are also taxable.
What games are available at online casinos in the US?
You can find a large selection of slots, table and live dealer games at online and sweepstakes casinos in the US. We’ve highlighted some of the most popular games in the table below and where you can play them.
| Game name |
RTP |
Provider |
Where to play |
| Gates of Olympus 1000 |
96.50% |
Pragmatic Play |
WOW Vegas, Stake.us |
| Jackpot Hunter |
96% |
Pragmatic Play |
WOW Vegas |
| Sugar Rush |
96.5% |
Pragmatic Play |
High 5 Casino |
| Hoot Loot |
95% |
High 5 Games |
High 5 Casino |
Explore the best online casinos in the US
Check out the table below to find some of the best online casinos in the US.
Conclusion–real money online casinos are only legal in a select few states
I know you came here just looking for information on the states that allow online casino play, but I hope you can leave with more than you bargained for. Feel free to take another look at the list of states at the beginning of the article, which shows where online casinos are allowed.
If you found that your state is not on the list, remember that sweepstakes casinos are a great alternative, as you can play all of your favorite casino-style games, and can even still redeem your Sweepstakes Coins for real prizes after certain conditions are met. I recommend trying out Stake.us, as it’s one of the top sweepstakes casinos in the world, and you can score yourself 55 Stake Cash, 260,000 Gold Coins, and 5% Rakeback when you enter the promo code PROMOBOY during signup.
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Online casino states FAQs
🏛️ What states is online casino play legal?
The current online casino legal states are Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Rhode Island.
❌ Can I play online casino games in a state where they aren’t legal?
No, you must be physically located in a state where online casinos are legal to access real-money gaming platforms.
🏠 Do I need to be a resident of the state to play?
No, you only need to be physically present in the state when playing.
💼 Are there any legal alternatives to online casinos?
Yes, sweepstakes casinos are a legal alternative in many states where traditional online casinos are not permitted. These sites operate under sweepstakes laws, allowing players to enjoy casino-style games and redeem SC winnings for prizes without using real money directly.
🔍 How do sweepstakes casinos work?
Sweepstakes casinos use virtual currencies like Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins. Players can obtain Sweeps Coins through free methods, such as promotions or mail-in entries, or by purchasing Gold Coins and receiving Sweeps Coins as a bonus.
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