Is El Royale Casino legit?

Is El Royale Casino legit? The straight answer

"Legit" can mean three different things: is the casino real, is it licensed, and is it legal for you. El Royale passes the first test, fails to prove the second, and doesn't meet the third in any state that licenses online casinos. It runs RealTime Gaming slots and, according to a third-party review, Visionary iGaming live dealer tables, and reviewers report it paying out in Bitcoin.

The weak points are paperwork and enforcement. The license claim comes from a 2023 review rather than the casino itself, and a US state regulator has formally called it unlicensed. Our full El Royale Casino review covers games, bonuses and banking; this page sticks to license, ownership, regulator actions and US law.

El Royale's Curaçao license claim

The only license claim on record is a reviewer's statement that El Royale holds a Curaçao license, with no license number given. That review's page metadata shows it was last modified on April 18, 2023, before Curaçao overhauled its system, so even an accurate claim then may not describe the casino today.

Curaçao's National Ordinance on Games of Chance (LOK) came into force on December 24, 2024. According to the Curaçao Gaming Authority (opens in a new tab), it replaced the old sublicense system with direct licensing, so operators now sit under the authority's own supervision. Old sublicenses therefore don't prove much on their own. The authority's site links a license register, but whether it works as a searchable checker isn't confirmed.

Who owns El Royale Casino?

The operator, according to a third-party review, is Infinity Media Group LTD. We couldn't confirm that on El Royale's own pages, and no registration number or address is on record. The same review says the casino was set up in 2020 but elsewhere describes it as having run for six years, which doesn't match, so the launch date is uncertain too.

Ownership matters because the operator is the company you'd be dealing with in a dispute. When a casino doesn't clearly name its owner in its terms, you may not know which company holds your balance or where it's based. Our guide to spotting a rogue casino lists this among the first things to check.

Michigan's cease-and-desist naming El Royale

On April 9, 2025, the Michigan Gaming Control Board published a release on cease-and-desist letters to 13 unlicensed operators (opens in a new tab), and El Royale is on the list. The board describes these as illegal offshore sites targeting Michigan residents. Two of our own partners, Planet 7 and Silver Oak, were named in the same release.

Michigan's regulator says gambling is generally illegal in the state unless specifically authorized by state law. It also says offshore sites don't honor Michigan's Responsible Gaming Database and that the board can't help players recover deposits. Michigan does license online casinos, so residents there have regulated alternatives. See Michigan online casinos and the board's legal vs illegal gaming guidance (opens in a new tab).

A cease-and-desist letter isn't a court judgment and doesn't say anything about whether El Royale pays its players. It does show that at least one US regulator considers the casino unlicensed and unlawful to offer in its state. Our page on cease-and-desist letters explains what these orders do and don't mean.

El Royale Casino legitimacy timeline: the dates that matter

Putting El Royale’s record in date order shows why its license claim carries less weight than it first appears. The key review predates both Curaçao’s licensing overhaul and Michigan’s action.

The gap between April 2023 and today is the core problem. Any license El Royale held under Curaçao’s old system would have needed to move to direct licensing, and the record doesn’t show whether it did. Ask support for its current license number and the licensee’s exact name, then compare them with the authority’s register. Our Curaçao license page explains the reform, and how to read a casino review covers why the date on a review matters.

Is El Royale Casino legal in the USA?

El Royale holds no US state license. Only seven states license real-money online casinos: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Delaware, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Maine legalized tribal-run online casinos in January 2026, but nothing had launched by October 2026. Everywhere else, no state licenses online casinos at all; see states with legal online casinos.

Federal law adds context but doesn't settle the player question. The UIGEA defines unlawful internet gambling (opens in a new tab) by reference to the law of the place where the bet is made, and it targets payment processing rather than making a bet a federal crime for the player. So your state's law decides. Read is it illegal to play at offshore casinos? and your state's page for what local law says.

El Royale red flags and open questions

• Stale sourcing. The most detailed review is from April 2023, and the casino's site blocks automated reading, so current terms can't be confirmed.
• Restricted countries. The review lists the USA among restricted countries while calling the site US-friendly. Ask support which applies before you deposit.
• Excluded US states. No list of excluded states is on record.
• Bitcoin-only payouts. Withdrawals are reported in Bitcoin only, with a $150 minimum, which limits your options if there's a dispute.
• Unpublished bonus terms. Wagering and max cashout figures for the main bonus aren't on record; see the El Royale bonus breakdown.
• No state complaint route. As an offshore casino, El Royale answers to no US state regulator.

None of these proves El Royale is unsafe. Together, they mean you'd be relying on the casino's goodwill rather than on enforceable rules. The trade-offs are laid out in player protections at offshore vs licensed casinos.

How to check El Royale yourself before depositing

1. Read your state's gambling law or regulator guidance. If you live in Michigan, note that the regulator has named El Royale.
2. Open El Royale's terms and look for the operating company's full name, registration number and address.
3. Look for a license number and a link to the Curaçao Gaming Authority's register, then compare the names.
4. Read the restricted-countries and restricted-states clauses and confirm with support, in writing, that your state is accepted.
5. Check the withdrawal rules: minimum, methods, any weekly cap and verification documents.
6. Search recent player complaints on independent forums and read how disputes were resolved.
7. If you go ahead, deposit a small amount first and request a withdrawal before you play big.

Getting around a casino's restrictions with a VPN, false details or someone else's account is a bad idea. Casinos commonly void winnings for this, and it may break your state's law.

Does El Royale pay out? What reviewers report

One reviewer describes El Royale payouts taking about one to two days, or "under 48 hours", in Bitcoin, with a $150 minimum withdrawal. That's a reviewer's description from 2023, not a casino promise or a measured average. No maximum, weekly cap or fee schedule is on record. The full picture is on our El Royale withdrawals page.

Fast payouts in the past are no guarantee of fast payouts later, especially without a regulator to step in. For general background, see do offshore casinos pay out?.

El Royale vs Planet 7 and Royal Ace on legitimacy

Our partners don't escape these problems, and we'd rather show that than hide it. Planet 7 was named in the same Michigan release as El Royale, and third-party sources disagree about both partners' licenses. Here is how the three compare on the record.

For a side-by-side on bonuses and banking too, see Planet 7 vs El Royale and Royal Ace vs El Royale.

Alternatives to El Royale with an offer via our links

We can't tell you El Royale is legit in the sense of licensed and accountable, and we won't say that of our partners either. Planet 7 and Royal Ace are also offshore casinos, not licensed or regulated by any US state, with no state regulator to complain to and no state-backed protection of balances. What they offer is an offer via our links with terms on record. Check your state's law first, and remember gambling costs money: the house edge makes losses likely over time.

Planet 7 Casino: $2,750 Welcome Bonus + 45 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). Third-party reviews describe a 200% match with code WELCOME200, 30x (bonus plus deposit) wagering on slots, a $1,000 max cashout and a $30 card minimum or $5 by Lightning Bitcoin. Reviewers also report a $2,500 weekly withdrawal cap and slow payouts. Read is Planet 7 legit? before you sign up.

Royal Ace Casino: $2,500 Welcome Bonus + 35 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). Third-party reviews report 30x (bonus plus deposit) wagering on slots, 60x on blackjack and video poker, a max cashout of 10x the deposit, and caps of $2,500 a week and $5,000 a month on withdrawals. Sources disagree on the package, so the terms shown at sign-up apply. See is Royal Ace legit?.

Both bonuses are slot-focused; table games are often excluded or weighted lower. Our partner order is commercial, not a test result. For help at any point, call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738) or see responsible gambling help.

21+ (18+ where allowed). Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: responsible gambling tools and free help. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738).