Best Online Gambling Sites For USA Players
Gambling online has a number of definite advantages over gambling at a brick-and-mortar casino, including convenience, accessibility, cost, and odds. There are two primary types of online gambling sites for American players: those based domestically, and those that are based outside of the country. USA online gambling websites based within the United States are subject to America’s complicated gambling laws, while those based outside of the country generally offer a freer, more streamlined experience for players that is less saddled by bureaucratic red tape. The domestic gambling websites are improving every year, but they still lag markedly behind websites based offshore in terms of quality and support.
When using an online gambling website, it is important to use an internationally recognized and trusted brand. The websites we recommend are frequented by millions or tens of millions of players and offer the kind of well-developed technical infrastructure, support, and peace of mind that only an industry leader can. These websites are a paradise for gamblers, offering hundreds or even thousands of different options for gambling, the fastest payout and deposit times, comprehensive customer support, and more.
Best Online Sportsbooks
Bovada Online Gambling
Top Rated USA Online Sportsbook
Over years of operation, Bovada has separated itself from the pack as one of the best gambling platforms in the world, with a sleek design, great odds, fast payouts, and extensive betting options. Bovada offers numerous casino games along with its world-famous sportsbook.
Bovada accepts players from 45 different states and offers a variety of money line, spread, over/under, teaser, future, and prop bets on sporting events all over the world, as well as political and pop culture events. Bovada’s huge global player base also allows it to offer more player-friendly odds than local casinos, and its Bitcoin compatibility ensures the fastest processing times for deposits and withdrawals. For anyone living outside of New Jersey, New York, Nevada, Delaware, and Maryland, Bovada is the top option for online gambling fans.
Deposit Methods On Online Gambling Sites
Making a deposit into a USA online gambling site is very easy and simple to understand , however, there are guidelines that you’ll need to follow in order for the process to go through. Regardless of which method you choose to fund your account, you’ll need to follow transaction fees if they apply, processing times, and the minimum and maximum amounts that you need to make a deposit. You should know that cryptocurrency has no transaction fees.
- Credit/Debit Card
- Cryptocurrency
- Wire Transfer
- MatchPay
- Money Order
- ECheck
Online Gambling Site Withdrawals
Withdrawing from your USA online gambling site account is just as simple as making a deposit but there are rules and restrictions that you need to follow here as well. The same restrictions apply in fees, processing times, and minimums and maximums. The one thing that you must take note of is that if you make a deposit with a debit or credit card, you cannot withdrawal back to that card. Also, you can only withdrawal with cryptocurrency if you made your initial deposit with it.
- Cryptocurrency
- Wire Transfer
- ECheck
- Check In The Mail
- Money Order
- MatchPay
How We Pick The Best Online Gambling Sites For USA Players
There are so many different factors that go into determining the best USA online gambling sites that there is no foolproof way to rank them. We pick the best sites by looking at all of their important features and weighing them against competing websites. Every gambling website will be better at some things and worse at others, so the overall quality will depend on how good its features are on average. A few of the most important features for online gambling sites include:
Odds
Media tends to consolidate odds, so it’s easy to forget that every gambling website has its own odds. Generally speaking, the larger a sportsbook’s player base is, the more favorable its odds are toward players because oddsmakers know they can make more money on smaller margins. Many websites will openly list the win percentages from their most popular games.
Customer support
When there is real money at stake, companies need to react quickly and decisively to any problems that arise if they want to stay in their customers’ good graces. Whether they simply need direction or have a serious technical issue that needs resolving, consumers place a lot of value on quality customer service.
Withdrawal Times
When you win money, you want to collect it as soon as possible. Some gambling websites will make you wait days or weeks to collect your winnings, which puts a damper on the excitement of winning money. The best sportsbooks offer fast, same-day payouts so players can enjoy their winnings as fast as possible.
Easy Deposits
In the same lieu as fast withdrawals, bettors want the process of depositing money into their account to be as simple and streamlined as possible. The best gambling sites will offer a wide variety of deposit options and fast processing times.
Bonuses
Bonuses like free play and deposit matches are the primary marketing tool that websites use to differentiate themselves from competitors. Every site claims to have the best bonuses, but they’ve pretty much reached a universally high standard of quality. Players should always read the terms and conditions of a promotion, as two bonuses that look exactly the same can be vastly different in reality.
Trust
This might sound like a faulty, subjective metric, but player trust is a huge determining factor in what makes a gambling website great. Betting money is inherently risky, so players understandably want to ensure that their betting experience is in good hands. In terms of trust, where there’s smoke, there’s fire. If players don’t trust a seemingly good website, issues likely lurk below the surface.
Security
Cyberattacks to steal personal information have become more commonplace in recent years, so customers have a right to expect that their gambling site of choice does everything in their power to protect both their money and their personal data. Security and customer assurance are top priorities in determining the best online gambling websites.
Different Types Of Gambling Sites
USA online gambling sites come in all different shapes and sizes. Some focus solely on one or two forms of gambling, like online poker or sports betting. Others act like a Chili’s, offering players access to every form of betting under the sun. Logically, it would make sense that the specialized websites always outperform less focused sites at whatever they specialize in, but economies of scale mean that often times, the bigger website really is just better at everything.
Sports Betting
Online sportsbooks became popular in the United States because of a longstanding nationwide ban on sports betting. The Wire Act was passed to stop players from betting on sports out of state, but its jurisdiction did not extend to international sports betting platforms, which is what allowed websites like Bovada and BetOnline to thrive with U.S. players, which they continue to do even as sports betting has been regulated across much of America. USA Online sportsbooks can be offered by a dedicated website, or they can offer a wide variety of different gambling services, but generally speaking, you’ll want to bet with companies that are primarily focused on sports because they will offer the best odds and the highest level of expertise.
Casinos
Online casino games have rapidly increased in popularity in recent years as the technology for accurate physics simulations and randomization algorithms have improved. You can now play any casino game imaginable from the comfort of your office chair. A relatively recent innovation is the addition of live dealer casino options for games like blackjack, baccarat and Super 6, which is great for players who don’t trust computer algorithms to accurately recreate a game traditionally played in a physical space. Most online gambling sites will offer casino games, so the quality of the games will usually depend on the software developer responsible for creating them. Many websites use the same casino game software. Read more about USA online casinos and what they have to offer here.
Poker
Dedicated USA online poker websites are probably the most famous example of successful single-use online gambling sites. Companies like PokerStars and World Series of Poker have managed to become billion-dollar juggernauts solely off the strength of their poker offerings. Many gambling sites were scared off of poker in the wake of the 2011 Black Friday crackdown, but most gambling websites now offer at least a limited variety of poker options.
Horse Betting
While most people associate horse betting with brick-and-mortar race tracks, every reputable gambling site in the world offers fans the option to bet on horses. USA horse betting ranges in popularity from small races at local tracks to internationally broadcast mega-events like the Dubai World Cup and the Kentucky Derby. Because of its popularity with casual bettors, horse racing is a great sport for experienced bettors to make some money. Casual fans who don’t know what to look for can be suckered into betting on bad horses because of something as simple as the horse having an interesting name.
Lottery
Some states sell lottery tickets for state and national lotteries online, but besides that, there are no reputable online lotteries. Certain games, like Bingo and Keno, are structured similarly to a lottery with players picking a range of numbers and getting payout based on the number of correct selections they make, but any advertisement for a true online lottery is likely a scam to get you to part with your credit card information. Websites that claim to offer online lotteries are best avoided altogether.
Mobile Gambling Sites
Mobile compatibility has been a big focus for gambling firms as more and more players switch to cell phones as their primary method of internet access. Most major gambling sites have fully functional and featured mobile gambling now, with access to a full or nearly full variety of different gambling types. Players can access these mobile sites from both phones and tablets to bet on sports, play online roulette or poker, and dozens of other gambling activities.
Live Dealer Gambling Sites
Live dealer gambling allows players to play games like poker, baccarat and blackjack while using a live video stream to a real dealer. This transparency gives players peace of mind that the games are operating completely legitimately. They also help simulate a real casino betting environment, where interacting with the dealer plays a small role in the fun. Because it costs money for companies to pay live dealers, live dealer games will usually require higher buy-ins than normal virtual games.
Bonuses And Promotional Codes At USA Gambling Sites
Promotional bonuses are a great way for new or returning players to boost their bankroll and put themselves in the best possible position to make money. Most bonuses offer players either a percentage match on any deposit they make or free play credit under certain conditions. As mentioned before, every gambling site will offer its own bonuses and claim to have the best promotions, but the effect that quality promotions have on its player base has ensured that most books have to fall in line with whatever promotion the industry leader is offering for fear of losing players over subpar promotions.
Bonuses have different ground rules, depending on the website and what the player plans to do with the bonus. Seemingly minor differences in the terms and conditions, like the rollover requirement, can make a huge difference in terms of the practical value of the promotion. Some websites offer different bonuses for casino game deposits versus sportsbook deposits. Generally speaking, most gambling sites will offer more lucrative deposits for casino gaming because it is a more profitable endeavor than sports betting. Different bonus types include:
- Crypto deposit match
- Sports deposit match
- Casino deposit match
- Reload match
- Free play
- Game-specific free play (e.g., slots only)
Free Gambling Sites
Many different types of free gambling sites are available to US players if you just know where to look. These are a great way to either pass the time or to familiarize yourself with a site’s systems and options before risking real money. While free play will never be able to fully capture the excitement of betting real money, it’s still fun to play virtual poker, roulette, or baccarat. Sportsbooks obviously can’t offer free play because that’s not how sports betting works. The exception to this is that some sportsbooks and daily fantasy sites will offer tournaments with a free entry where the winners split a cash prize.
Real Money Gambling Sites
Real money gambling sites function just like a regular casino, and you can absolutely win and lose real money to your heart’s content. Furthermore, real money gambling online is actually more profitable for players on average, because online gambling platforms can offer more favorable odds to their players. Most reputable gambling sites will accept deposits via traditional payment cards (i.e., debit/credit cards), although they don’t allow withdrawals via this method. They will also accept deposits via cryptocurrency, wire transfer, or certain e-wallet services. When you deposit money with a gambling site, you will have the option to use bonuses by either selecting one at checkout or by entering a special promo code.
New Online Gambling Sites For USA Players
New gambling sites pop up all the time for U.S. players, but all that churn does come with drawbacks. Some gambling websites will be untrustworthy because they are operated in a predatory fashion. Others will be untrustworthy because they are operated by people who don’t have adequate experience.
Players will almost always be better off sticking with an established, trusted brand than by trusting a new website, no matter how enticing the new site’s promotional deals are.
Most Popular Gambling Sites For USA Players
Many individual states are beginning to offer their own sanctioned online gambling sites as a way to generate more tax revenue and keep citizens’ money in the state, but most of the country still lives in states with strong prohibitions against online gambling. Even for those who can access domestically hosted gambling sites, sites hosted offshore are usually a better option because they offer better financial bonuses, more player-friendly odds, more games and leagues to bet one, and more efficient payouts and deposits.
Here are some of the best such websites available to American players:
Legal Online Gambling Sites
It should still be encouraging to players to see so many new legal site options opening up. While they can’t match the quality of the offshore gambling sites yet, they are steadily improving every year. As more and more states vote to legalize and expand their online gambling capabilities. While the state-sanctioned online gambling industry is still young, some market leaders have already begun to emerge and establish their brand. Here are ten of the most popular state-sanctioned online gambling sites in the country:
States That Have Legal Online Gambling Sites
Even among states that offer legal online gambling sites, there are some differences in the options available to players. Some states offer full online gambling functionality, including sports betting, casino games, and more. Some only offer a limited selection of games, like bingo or keno. There are currently several different states that allow full legal online gambling, with many more on the way possibly in 2023. The states that currently offer legal online gambling are:
- Colorado Gambling Sites
- Illinois Gambling Sites
- Indiana Gambling Sites
- Iowa Gambling Sites
- Michigan Gambling Sites
- Nevada Gambling Sites
- New Hampshire Gambling Sites
- New Jersey Gambling Sites
- Oregon Gambling Sites
- Pennsylvania Gambling Sites
- Rhode Island Gambling Sites
- Tennessee Gambling Sites
- Washington, D.C. Gambling Sites
- West Virginia Gambling Sites
Why USA Gambling Sites Can Be Trusted
There are millions upon millions of dollars at stake not just for players, but for the companies that run the gambling websites. Because of this, sites maintain layers of security checks and system redundancies to ensure that players’ private and financial information is never put at risk. Gambling sites are audited by their home country to ensure that they are offering fair odds and payouts and that they aren’t unfairly weighting games against players. Gambling sites also pay out extremely fast, offer the most player-friendly odds, and are overall a well-developed and refined experience.
Safety And Security Of USA Gambling Sites
You have nothing to worry about on any of the online betting sites that are on this page as they all take safety very seriously. They each have multiple encrypted links that protect both their servers and your web browser which holds all of your financial information and personal information as well. In addition, they also offer incredible customer service that goes 24/7 and they’ll answer any safety questions that you might have.
The Future Of USA Gambling Sites
American online gambling is on a path of rapid expansion, and it’s unlikely to stop barring sweeping legislative change on par with the Restoration of America’s Wire Act, which was proposed and failed in 2015. As states continue to pass legislation allowing for sports gambling, more states will recognize and want to capitalize on the economic benefits of USA online gambling sites as well. Expect 40 or more states to offer online gambling by the end of the decade as national attitudes toward both brick-and-mortar and online gambling change and as the benefits become more apparent and unavoidable.
Online gambling will also see continued growth as a result of its increasing popularity. Technology for online gambling sites evolves rapidly, and every year brings exciting new innovations to improve the overall gaming experience. As more states begin legalizing online gambling to secure their own revenue streams, expect an arms race to begin between offshore and state-sanctioned gambling websites. As with most industries, more consumer choice in online gambling will only improve the quality of offerings. While online gambling right now is worth an estimated tens of billions of dollars, by 2030, it will likely be worth hundreds of billions. The industry is set to grow, and as it grows, player experience should improve dramatically.