Online casinos allow you to enjoy gaming without going to a physical location. There are plenty of options to choose from, not all are great. As a player, I believe it’s important to choose the best casino.
I have made sure to cover everything you need to know when picking the right online casino. Whether you live in a regulated state or want to play at a sweepstakes casino, this will guide you to a safe and fun experience.
How to Choose the Right Online Casino
The right online casino gives you hours of fun. Or seconds of despair. These are the aspects I look for in a trusted site. Give them a glance before signing up.
Do They Have a License?
Licenced casinos are regularly monitored and audited for fairness. Check their About Us page or footer, that is where they put the license number or badge.
A few you to look out for in regulated states:
- New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (NJDGE)
- Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB)
- Delaware Lottery
- Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB)
🚩 A big red flag that should send you running is if the site has no license or mentions of a regulator. Be cautious when playing at online offshore casinos, as some use foreign licenses.
Pro Tip: Sweepstakes casinos do not need a license as they are governed by sweepstakes laws. They are still monitored closely by each state to ensure fair practices are used.
Bonuses, Are They Worth It?
One way online casinos entice people to sign up is by offering extravagant bonuses. You may see they offer you thousands of dollars on your first deposit. It’s “free” money, what could be so bad?
This is when you need to look at the small print. Most bonuses come with nearly impossible rollovers. They also force you to play games you may not like to cover the wagering requirements.
🚩 DO NOT CLAIM a casino bonus if you see a large match amount, over 20x rollover, and/or high-luck games to cover wagering requirements.
Payment Methods and Payout Speed
This is very important to consider. Why? This will let you know how you will get your money and how fast.
Compare the methods they accept and offer against the average transaction speed. Most casino sites accept credit cards, cryptocurrencies, bank wires, and checks. They each come with different factors to consider:
- Payment limits; how much you can deposit or withdraw.
- Understand different payout speeds; cryptos like Bitcoin take a few minutes, while checks could take 10-15 business days.
- Security; credit cards and bank transfers come with an added layer of protection by your financial entity.
- Anonymity; cryptos will let players transfer funds without attaching their bank account.
Do not sign up and deposit if …
- They have a low Max withdrawal limit. Standard limits are over $1,000, anything under that is laughable.
- They have a limit of one payout per week or month.
- Drastically different payout methods from their deposit methods. One exception are credit cards, as you won’t find any that offer this as a withdrawal option.
Pro Tip: Cryptos like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin come with high withdrawal limits that can ensure quicker payouts.
Are Their Games Fair?
Almost all online casinos have the same or similar games. It won’t be a problem finding your favorite and playing to your heart’s content.
What is important is whether or not those games are fair. A few methods to ensure fair gaming practices is by checking:
- What is the RTP of their slot games? An RTP of 96% or higher is fair.
- Have player-friendly rules? There are certain rules that will make your odds of winning worse. For example in blackjack, if the dealer stands on a soft 17.
- Do their games use RNG (Random Number Generator)?
🚩 There are ways online casinos can get around these fair gaming practices, so be sure to call something out if it looks suspicious!
Read Real Player Reviews
Check forums like Reddit, AskGamblers, or Trustpilot. This can give you insights directly from other players and their gaming experiences.
To play devil’s advocate, remember that someone’s complaint may not be a big issue for others. While the opposite is also true. Just because a player was satisfied by a game, you may not even play that game.
For example, a player’s bank transfer took longer than expected. If you use cryptos, this may not impact your payment experience. Always be sure to match your expectations with other players’ reviews.
🚩 Look for trends or recurring issues, as it may indicate bad practices and poor experiences.
Online Casino Games
The main reason anyone joins an online casino are the games. You get to have fun while possibly winning money; a great combo.
There are different types of casino games, and knowing the rules, gameplay, and strategies gives you the advantage.
Online Slots
Slots are the most popular casino games; don’t ask us why. You can find hundreds of themes, features, and payouts. There are three main categories you will encounter:
Classic Slot Games
Classic slots are online versions of old slot machines. They don’t offer much in terms of entertainment, but do come with several benefits.
✅ Usually have higher RTP than more modern slots.
✅ Their jackpots are solid, some reaching the millions.
❌ The gameplay is quite boring.
If you are looking to just watch the reels spin and try to hit the jackpot, classic slots are a good option. However, if you are easily bored and want more out of your slots, these are not for you.
Video Slots
Video slot games provide hours of entertainment with their varied themes, features, and bonus games. They may come with three, five, or seven reels and up to a couple hundred paylines.
✅ Have amazing graphics that will keep you glued and having fun.
✅ Multiple reels and paylines give you more chances to win.
❌ Their RTP isn’t as high as classic slots.
Pro Tip: Instead of spending your money on spins, use the Buy Bonus feature. It lets you skip right to the best parts of the video slots. Not all games offer this, so keep your eye out for the ones that do!
Progressive Jackpot Slots
When you hear someone winning enough money to retire, they probably played the progressive jackpot slots. These are your standard slot games (video or classic) with the twist that for every bet people make, the jackpot progressively increases.
You may think that all jackpots work this way. However, progressive jackpots link ALL games together. This means that the jackpots can reach enormous amounts.
✅ Life-changing jackpots.
✅ Same immersive gameplay as video slots.
❌ The bigger the prize, the tougher the odds are of winning.
If you are already planning on playing slots, no harm playing on the ones that have a progressive jackpot. You never know!
Table Games
Casino table games are the ones that movies are made about. As they are played online, there is an even bigger selection than what you can find at any land-based casino.
So, what games can you expect to find?
Online Blackjack
I truly enjoy playing online blackjack the most. One of the only casino games where a basic strategy can greatly improve your odds of winning.
✅ Basic strategy and good table rules can decrease the house edge.
❌ The randomness of the software makes it impossible to count cards.
Online Roulette
Roulette is a game based purely on luck. There are people that believe they have a system to win, but I mainly play to have fun and try to get that 35:1 payout.
✅ Very simple and straightforward gameplay.
❌ Single number odds are never in your favor.
Online Baccarat
Play the game that James Bond is famous for with baccarat online. It’s extremely simple gameplay leaves you with only one decision to make; bet on the banker, player, or tie bet.
✅ Has one of the best odds among table games.
❌ Its simplistic gameplay may not be enough for thrill-seekers.
Live Dealer Games
Live dealer games are the combination of online gaming and the real casino experience. The games come with real dealers, real tables, cards, and luck.
These are great for anyone looking to have a different casino experience. Have fun, win some money, and talk with the dealer.
Video and Casino Poker
Just as the name suggests, you play poker against the casino with no players to beat. The classic version is done through video screens, but online is much simpler.
Casino poker encompasses different variations of the card game where you play against the dealer. A few examples you can find and play:
- Three card poker
- Caribbean hold’em
- Texas Hold’em Bonus
These games may not be a good fit if you enjoy the thrill of outplaying your opponents. It is a good starting point for anyone wanting to play a combo of poker and casino games.
Specialty and Lottery-style Games
Games that don’t really fit in the other categories are considered specialty games. A few of these you may recognize, like Bingo, Keno, and Scratchcards.
You may even find other incredible games that resemble video games like Plinko or crash games.
These provide higher levels of fun, but may not be as good for your wallet despite being associated with “lottery”. Payouts could be large, but the odds are incredibly stacked against you.
Online Casino Payment Methods
Not having to worry if your money is safe or if your winning will reach your account leads to a smoother experience.This is why the best online casinos offer multiple banking methods.
Credit and Debit Cards
Popular credit cards like Visa, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted at most online casinos.
They are extremely secure, have average limits, and extremely fast transaction times; 1-2 days. The drawback is they are not available for withdrawals.
Cryptocurrencies
Cryptos have become an incredible option for casino players. Popular methods like Bitcoin, Litecoin, or Ethereum can be used at most sites.
They provide anonymity, great transaction limits, and the fastest transaction speeds of all; from minutes to a few hours.
The drawback is they are not backed by financial entities. Crypto wallets can be stolen or hacked, so always keep your crypto wallet secure.
Prepaid Cards
Prepaid cards, along with gift cards, are a great payment alternative for any player. Accepted like most credit cards, with the added bonus that you do not need a bank account.
Bank and Wire Transfers
Bank transfers are very secure, as it comes with financial entity backing. Their transaction limits are higher than credit cards, making them a good option if you want to make bigger deposits.
This voids any anonymity and their payout speeds are among the slowest, which could take up to 7 business days to reach your account.
Pro Tip: Most banks do not allow transfers to offshore casinos, so this may not be the best option for you.
E-Wallets
Think of e-wallets as middlemen between you and the online casino. E-wallets accepted at online casinos include PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller.
They have decent limits and fast transaction speeds. Their main drawback is they may come with additional fees.
Peer-to-Peer Payments
Similar to e-wallets, they are payment apps that act as middlemen. These are increasingly popular, like CashApp and Zelle.
A positive is that these have ways around having fees. They tend to have average transaction times, ranging from a few hours up to 2 days.
Pro Tip: You can use CashApp to transfer cash or bitcoin, and the added benefit you can choose slower payouts for zero fees.
What to Look For With Casino Payments
- Deposit and withdrawal limits: make sure to see how much you can deposit or withdraw with your preferred method. There may also be limits on how many transactions you can make per day, week, or month.
- Fees: there are times when casinos list zero fees, but the method you use does have fees. Make sure these are acceptable to you or it may be better to use an option that truly has no fees; think cryptos.
- Verification requirements: most online casinos will require you to verify your ID. This helps against fraud, but can take days to process.
Online Casino Bonuses & Promotions
Bonuses and promotions are a good way to get free money to play for longer. It is one way online casinos attract and retain players.
So, if these give you extra cash to play with, they are good right? Most of the bonuses I have encountered have not been player-friendly. Especially for the casual player.
Welcome or Sign-Up Bonus
These are exclusively for new players. You are supposed to claim them when you make your first (or first few) deposits.
✅ Great to boost your initial bankroll and play for longer.
❌ Come with high rollovers; 25x or higher.
❌ Have time limits to cover the bonus and be able to make a withdrawal.
No Deposit Bonus
These are extremely enticing, as you do not need to make a deposit to get the free money. However, nothing is ever truly “free”.
✅ No need to make a deposit to get the bonus money.
❌ Have very high rollovers; 35x or higher.
❌ Give you low amount of bonus cash.
Free Spins
These are perfect for the online slot enthusiast. As the name implies, you get an amount of free spins on select slot games.
They can be standalone or accompanied by a match bonus.
✅ Get free spins to play slots – any wins count towards your wagering requirements.
❌ Can only use the free spins on the slot game listed.
Other Casino Promotions
- Reload bonus – a match bonus for regular players.
- Cashback bonus or rewards – you can get points you exchange for cash.
- VIP and loyalty rewards – they provide you with chances to get points as you play and can exchange them for perks and cash.
Should You Claim a Bonus?
90% of the time I recommend you do not claim a bonus. Most bonuses come with horrible rollovers, unfair wagering requirements, and are impossible to cover within their time frames.
They can be a fun way to get some extra money to play with, but if you hit a jackpot and do not cover the bonus, you cannot withdraw that money.
This is why you need to read the fine print. If you do find a bonus that has good terms, go ahead and claim it!
Mobile Casino or App Experience
There are no real money casino apps in the App Store or Play Store. You can find free-to-play and social casino apps.
Online casinos are mobile-friendly. No need to download an app to play. Test to see how good the casino looks on your mobile device.
Legality of Online USA Casinos
Each state is in charge of legalizing online casinos. There are states that have fully legal online casinos, with others still in a legal gray area. This gray area allows players to use offshore casinos, but they are not regulated by US laws.
| State | Online Casinos | Sweepstakes Casinos | Social Casinos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Alaska | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Arizona | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Arkansas | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| California | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Colorado | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Connecticut | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Delaware | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Florida | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Georgia | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Hawaii | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Idaho | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Illinois | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Indiana | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Iowa | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Kansas | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Kentucky | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Louisiana | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Maine | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Maryland | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Massachusetts | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Michigan | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Minnesota | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Mississippi | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Missouri | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Montana | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Nebraska | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Nevada | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| New Hampshire | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| New Jersey | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| New Mexico | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| New York | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| North Carolina | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| North Dakota | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Ohio | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Oklahoma | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Oregon | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Pennsylvania | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Rhode Island | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| South Carolina | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| South Dakota | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Tennessee | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Texas | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Utah | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Vermont | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Virginia | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Washington | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| West Virginia | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Wisconsin | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Wyoming | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
What States Have Legal Online Casinos?
Currently there are only five states that have fully legalized online casinos:
- New Jersey is one of the first states to legalize and regulate online casinos in 2013.
- Pennsylvania made it legal in 2017, and launched their first casino sites in 2019.
- West Virginia regulation passed in 2019, and launched online casinos in 2020.
- Michigan legalization passed in 2019, and launched its first sites in 2021.
- Connecticut is the latest state to legalize online casinos in 2021.
Only players that are within those state borders can play at those online casinos.
Sweepstakes & Social Casinos
What about everyone else that lives outside of those states? There are legal alternatives with sweepstakes casinos or social casinos.
These sites follow sweepstakes laws and use virtual currencies. You can redeem these tokens for cash and rewards. Or participate in tournaments for money prizes.
How Do They Work?
Instead of making real money deposits, players use virtual currencies. These could be Gold Coins or tokens.
You use these coins to play casino-style games. The coins have no cash value and are used only for entertainment.
Sweepstakes casinos do have a secondary currency. Often called sweeps coins or sweepstakes cash. These can be redeemed for real money prizes after certain conditions are met.
Social Casinos; Just For Fun
Social casinos operate purely for entertainment purposes. None of their virtual chips can be redeemed for real money prizes.
The way these social casinos operate is by allowing players to purchase more chips to continue playing. This is common among mobile apps that are free-to-play.
Just remember, none of these virtual chips can be exchanged for cash.
Real Money vs. Free Play Casinos
You can pick between real money or free play online casinos. Both have casino games, but operate completely differently.
Real money casinos include legal online US casinos and offshore casinos. Free play casinos include both sweepstakes casinos and social casinos.
| Feature | Real Money Casino | Sweepstakes Casino | Social Casino |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real Money | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Withdraw Winnings | ✅ | ✅ (via Sweeps Coins redemption) | ❌ |
| Legal in Most U.S. States | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Requires Purchase to Play | ✅ | ❌ (free Sweeps Coins available) | ❌ (in-app purchases) |
| Slots & Table Games | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Live Dealer Games | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Bonuses | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Risk-Free Gaming | ❌ | ✅ (with free Sweeps Coins) | ✅ |
| No Deposit Required | ❌ | ✅ (for free Sweeps Coins) | ✅ |
| Mobile App | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Responsible Gambling & Player Protection
You should have fun at an online casino, not feel in financial stress. This is where responsible gambling can help. It is meant to keep players in control of their gambling habits.
Here are a few ways casinos and players can promote safe play.
Set Betting Limits
Legal casinos offer tools that help players manage their spending. These tools can help regulate:
- Deposit Limits – Restrict how much money can be deposited into an account.
- Time Limits – Set session timers to prevent excessive play.
- Loss Limits – Cap losses to avoid chasing them.
Self-Exclusion & Cooling-Off Periods
Players who feel they need a break can use self-exclusion programs. These block access to gambling for a set time.
- Cooling-off periods (days or weeks) give temporary breaks.
- Self-exclusion programs (months or years) prevent login and deposits.
- Statewide self-exclusion lists exist in regulated states like New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.
Identifying Problem Gambling
Signs of gambling addiction include:
- Spending more than planned
- Chasing losses
- Lying about gambling habits
- Feeling anxious when not gambling
If you feel like you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact Gamblers Anonymous or National Council on Problem Gambling. They can offer you help.
Casino Responsibility
Licensed and regulated casinos are required to:
- Promote and provide fair play.
- Prevent underage gambling.
- Offer 24/7 customer support.