States with legal online casinos number seven in October 2026: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Delaware, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Each licenses real-money online casinos under its own law and regulator. Maine passed a tribal-only law in January 2026 but hasn't launched, and every other state licenses no online casinos at all.
Seven states license real-money online casinos: NJ, PA, MI, WV, DE, CT and RI.
Maine legalized tribal-run online casinos (LD 1164) in January 2026, but nothing had launched by October 2026 and a lawsuit is pending.
Nevada licenses online poker only, not online casino games.
State-licensed sites come with a state regulator, self-exclusion programs and complaint routes; offshore casinos, including our partners, are not among them.
States with licensed online casinos
7
Newest live market
Rhode Island (March 5, 2024, reported)
Legal but not live
Maine (LD 1164, January 11, 2026)
Online poker only
Nevada
Typical minimum age
21
States with legal online casinos: the list for 2026
Only seven states license real-money online casinos. In each one, a named state regulator approves operators, sets rules and handles complaints. Here's the list, with the law and regulator for each, as recorded on official sources unless marked otherwise.
The seven states that license online casinos
State
Law
Regulator
Operators on record
Online casino age
New Jersey
Casino Control Act Article 6C (N.J.S.A. 5:12-95.17 et seq.)
Division of Gaming Enforcement
9 internet gaming permits, 7 distinct entities (September 22, 2026)
How each state with legal online casinos is set up
The seven markets look similar from the outside, but they're built very differently, from open competition to a single state-run site.
New Jersey
New Jersey ties online casinos to its Atlantic City casino licensees and their affiliates. The Division of Gaming Enforcement's permit holder list (opens in a new tab), updated September 22, 2026, shows nine internet gaming permits held by seven distinct entities. Players in Newark, Jersey City and Paterson use the same state-licensed sites. Our New Jersey hub has more.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has the most brands on record. The Gaming Control Board's February 13, 2026 list (opens in a new tab) shows 12 licensed interactive gaming certificateholders and 25 authorized websites, up from 11 holders and 24 sites in its 2024-2025 annual report. Players from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh and Allentown can find more on our Pennsylvania page.
West Virginia authorized interactive wagering in fiscal year 2020 under its Lottery Interactive Wagering Act, and the West Virginia Lottery Commission regulates it. W. Va. Code § 29-22E-6 (opens in a new tab) caps licenses at five; the current count isn't published in our sources.
Delaware
Delaware runs online casino games through the Delaware Lottery, at Delaware Park, Bally's Dover and Harrington, all powered by BetRivers. The authority comes from the Delaware Gaming Competitiveness Act of 2012.
Rhode Island became the seventh state to launch on March 5, 2024, according to a trade report. Under SB 948 (2023), the Rhode Island Lottery runs a monopoly with Bally's (Gamesys) as the sole operator, tied to Bally's Twin River Lincoln and Bally's Tiverton. Players in Providence, Cranston and Warwick can read more on our Rhode Island page.
Maine: legal online casinos on paper, not yet live
Maine is the closest thing to an eighth state. LD 1164, "An Act to Create Economic Opportunity for the Wabanaki Nations Through Internet Gaming", became law without the governor's signature on January 11, 2026. Only federally recognized Maine tribes can hold an operator license, and the license fee is $50,000.
Nothing had launched by October 2026. The state's iGaming rules (Chapter 70) still had no effective date, and a third-party report says a lawsuit by Churchill Downs and Oxford Casino is pending, with launch expected in 2027 or later. Follow it on our Maine gambling laws page.
States with legal online poker, sports betting or lottery only
Many states allow some form of online gambling without licensing online casinos. Don't mix them up:
Nevada: licensed interactive gaming covers online poker only; real-money online casino games aren't legal. NRS 463.750 requires a license to operate interactive gaming. See online poker laws.
Online sports betting: legal in many states since Murphy v. NCAA in 2018, including states such as Ohio, Illinois and Arizona that don't license online casinos. See sports betting laws.
Online lottery: some state lotteries sell tickets online, such as Michigan's, which a third-party source dates to 2014.
A state that licenses online sports betting hasn't necessarily licensed online casinos. Colorado's Division of Gaming, for example, says the only online gaming in Colorado is sports betting.
What state licensing gives you that offshore casinos don't
The real reason the list matters is protection. A state license brings rules you can rely on and a regulator you can turn to:
State-licensed vs offshore online casinos
Protection
In a licensing state
At an offshore casino
Regulator for complaints
Named state agency (e.g., Michigan Gaming Control Board)
None in the US
Self-exclusion
State programs, such as Michigan's Responsible Gaming Database and New Jersey's DGE program
Michigan says offshore sites don't honor its database
Age and location checks
Required; UIGEA exempts intrastate bets authorized by state law with age and location verification
Set by the casino
Recovering deposits
Through the regulator's process
Michigan's board says it can't help recover deposits
Copycat sites and offshore brands sometimes borrow the look of licensed operators. Check before you deposit:
Confirm you're physically in one of the seven licensing states. Licensed sites check your location.
Open your state regulator's own list: New Jersey's DGE permit holders, Pennsylvania's Gaming Control Board list, Michigan's authorized providers, Connecticut's DCP page, or the Delaware, Rhode Island and West Virginia lotteries.
Match the brand and web address exactly against that list.
Check the age rule. Online casino accounts require age 21 in the states where our sources record it.
If the brand isn't on the list, it isn't state-licensed, whatever its site says.
Most Americans live in states without licensed online casinos. Their options are narrower than ads suggest:
Sweepstakes casinos use Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins, but several states have banned them, including New York, New Jersey, California, Connecticut, Montana, Louisiana, Maine, Indiana and Tennessee, with Oklahoma's ban effective November 1, 2026. See sweepstakes casino bans.
Offshore casinos accept US players without any state license. Many regulators call them illegal, and none offers state protection. Read offshore casinos legality first.
Retail casinos may be close by: tribal casinos operate in many states under compacts, and commercial casinos in others.
Whatever you choose, gambling is entertainment that costs money, and the house edge means losses are likely over time. Federal law also treats winnings as taxable income in every state; see gambling taxes.
Timeline of states with legal online casinos
How the legal online casino map grew
Date
Event
2012
Delaware passes the Gaming Competitiveness Act, the basis for its online games
2019
Michigan passes the Lawful Internet Gaming Act (PA 152 of 2019)
Fiscal year 2020
West Virginia authorizes interactive wagering
January 22, 2021
Michigan's online casinos launch with 10 operators
Rhode Island launches as the seventh state (trade report)
January 11, 2026
Maine's LD 1164 becomes law; tribal-only and not yet live
February 13, 2026
Pennsylvania lists 12 certificateholders and 25 brands
September 22, 2026
New Jersey's permit list shows 9 permits held by 7 entities
New Jersey's and Pennsylvania's launch dates aren't recorded in our sources, so they're left off rather than guessed.
Planet 7 and Royal Ace: offshore offers, not state-licensed casinos
Planet 7 and Royal Ace aren't on any of the state lists above. They're offshore casinos, not licensed or regulated by any US state, so there's no state regulator to complain to, no state protection of your balance, and terms the casino sets. In the seven licensing states, state-licensed options exist, and we don't show offers on our Michigan pages. Check your state's law before you sign up.
Neither site shows a license or operator in the sources we hold. For Planet 7, AskGamblers lists Costa Rica, while LCB and Casino Guru say no license. For Royal Ace, AskGamblers lists Costa Rica and Casino Guru and LCB say no license. The Michigan Gaming Control Board named Planet 7 among 13 unlicensed operators in its April 9, 2025 release (opens in a new tab).
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 report the casino's own terms differently. LCB lists a 200% match with code WELCOME200, 30x wagering on bonus plus deposit on slots and a $1,000 max cashout, and says Banana Jones and Fish Catch can't be played with coupon funds. LCB also reports casino minimum deposits of $30 by card and $5 by Lightning Bitcoin. Codes change, and the terms shown at sign-up apply.
Royal Ace Casino: $2,500 Welcome Bonus + 35 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). Casino Guru lists 250% up to $2,500 plus 35 spins, while LCB lists 200% up to $4,000 with 30x wagering on bonus plus deposit for slots, 60x for blackjack and video poker, and a max cashout of 10 times the deposit. Casino Guru reports that Royal Ace doesn't accept Ohio players.
These offers are slot-focused, and table games are often excluded or weighted lower. The house edge applies while you wager, so expect losses over time. We earn a commission through our links, and partners are ranked in a commercial order. Read the Planet 7 legit check and the Royal Ace review before deciding.
Ad21+ (18+ where allowed). Ranked by us in a commercial order; we earn commission from these links. Advertiser disclosure
Planet 7 and Royal Ace are offshore casinos. They are not licensed by any of the states on this page, or by any other US state.
Planet 7 Casino#5 on our listRealTime Gaming slots
Published terms (reported): Third-party reviews report a 200% match with code WELCOME200; the casino site could not be checked directly. Eligible games: Slots (reported).
Who runs it: License not shown; third parties report Costa Rica or none. Regulator notes: Named in a Michigan Gaming Control Board cease-and-desist release, April 9, 2025.
21+ (18+ where allowed). New players. Min deposit $30 (reported). Wagering 30x deposit + bonus (reported). Max cashout: $1,000 (reported). Withdrawal cap $2,500 / week (reported). Terms source: reported. Terms apply. Offer checked October 28, 2026.
Royal Ace Casino#6 on our listSlots and specialty games
Published terms (reported): Third-party reviews disagree on the package (200% up to $4,000, or 250% up to $2,500 + 35 spins); the casino site could not be checked directly. Eligible games: Slots and specialty games (reported).
Who runs it: License not shown; third parties report Costa Rica or none. Regulator notes: Third parties report it does not accept Ohio players.
21+ (18+ where allowed). New players. Min deposit $30 (reported). Wagering 30x deposit + bonus on slots (reported). Max cashout: 10x deposit (reported). Withdrawal cap $2,500 / week (reported). Terms source: reported. Terms apply. Offer checked October 28, 2026.
These casinos are offshore operators. They are not licensed or regulated by any US state, and state consumer protections do not apply. Check the law in your state before you play. Terms marked “reported” come from third-party reviews; the terms shown at sign-up apply.
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).
Frequently asked questions
How many states have legal online casinos?
Seven states license real-money online casinos as of October 2026: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Delaware, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Maine legalized tribal-run online casinos in January 2026 under LD 1164, but nothing had launched by October 2026 and a lawsuit is pending. Nevada licenses online poker but not online casino games. Every other state licenses no online casinos. See online casinos in New Jersey for the largest market.
Which state was the latest to legalize online casinos?
Maine is the latest to pass a law, with LD 1164 becoming law on January 11, 2026, but its tribal-only market hadn't launched by October 2026. The newest live market is Rhode Island, which a trade report says launched on March 5, 2024, as the seventh state. Its online casino is a state-run monopoly with Bally's as the only operator. Our Maine hub tracks the launch and the pending lawsuit.
Is online gambling legal in New York or California?
Online casinos aren't legal in either state. New York's Gaming Commission says online casinos, including ones that claim to be sweepstakes, are unlawful there, though licensed mobile sports betting is legal. California doesn't license online casinos or sports betting, and its sweepstakes casino ban took effect January 1, 2026. See online casinos in New York and online casinos in California for the full picture in each state.
What is the legal age for online casinos?
In the licensing states where our sources record it, the minimum age for an online casino account is 21. That includes Michigan, Connecticut and Delaware from official sources, and New Jersey, West Virginia and Rhode Island from third-party reports. Pennsylvania's age isn't recorded in our sources, so check the state's regulator. Ages for lottery and fantasy contests are often 18. Our gambling age by state page compares the rules.
Can I play at a New Jersey online casino if I live in another state?
You can play at state-licensed sites while you're physically located in that state, not based on where you live. Licensed operators check your location, and UIGEA's exemption for intrastate bets depends on age and location verification. So a visitor in Atlantic City can usually play, while someone back home in a non-licensing state can't. The New Jersey DGE's permit list shows the approved operators. See New Jersey gambling laws.
Are offshore casinos legal in states with licensed online casinos?
No state licenses offshore casinos, including the seven with their own online markets. Those states push hardest against offshore sites: New Jersey made running an unregulated online gambling resort a third-degree crime in 2025, and Michigan's Gaming Control Board has sent repeated cease-and-desist letters to offshore operators. Licensed sites there offer state protections offshore sites lack. Read offshore casinos legality for each state's position.
Will more states legalize online casinos soon?
Bills keep coming, but most stall. In 2026, Virginia's SB 118 and HB 161 died, Alabama's gaming bills died on April 9, and Ohio's HB 298 has sat in committee since May 2025. Illinois and Indiana have bills in committee or pre-filed, per third-party trackers, and Maryland would need a voter referendum. Maine's law passed but hasn't launched. Our state directory tracks each state's latest bills.
Do I pay tax on winnings from a legal online casino?
Yes. Gambling winnings are taxable federal income, whether you win at a state-licensed site, a retail casino or anywhere else. For 2026, a payer files Form W-2G for slot, bingo or keno winnings of $2,000 or more. From the 2026 tax year the loss deduction is reported to be capped at 90% of losses, so check IRS guidance. Many states tax winnings too. See our W-2G form page.
Where can I get help with problem gambling?
Call or text the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738), run by the National Council on Problem Gambling. It's free, confidential and open 24/7. The licensing states also run their own programs, such as Connecticut's Council on Problem Gambling helpline at 888-789-7777 and Rhode Island's helpline at 1-877-GAMBLE. Our state problem gambling programs page lists more.
Are online casinos legal in West Virginia?
Yes, West Virginia licenses real-money online casinos under its Lottery Interactive Wagering Act, which authorized interactive wagering in fiscal year 2020. The West Virginia Lottery Commission regulates the market, and W. Va. Code § 29-22E-6 caps online casino licenses at five, though the current count isn't published. The online casino age is 21, according to a third-party report citing state law. The state also has five land-based casinos: four racetrack casinos and a historic resort hotel casino. Players in Charleston, Huntington and Morgantown can compare licensed sites on West Virginia real money casinos.
Are online casinos legal in Delaware?
Yes, Delaware offers legal online casino games, but only through the Delaware Lottery rather than open competition. The games run for the state's three casinos, Delaware Park, Bally's Dover and Harrington, on a single platform powered by BetRivers, under the Delaware Gaming Competitiveness Act of 2012. The minimum age is 21. Delaware says real-money games from unlicensed entities violate its constitution, penal code and the 2012 Act, and tells residents to check authorized sites at the lottery's website. Help is available from the Delaware Council on Gambling Problems at 1-888-850-8888. See online casinos in Delaware for more on the market.
How many online casinos are licensed in Pennsylvania and New Jersey?
Pennsylvania lists 12 licensed interactive gaming certificate holders running 25 authorized online casino brands, as of the Gaming Control Board's February 13, 2026 list. New Jersey's Division of Gaming Enforcement list, updated September 22, 2026, shows nine internet gaming permits held by seven distinct entities, tied to Atlantic City casino licensees and their affiliates. A brand count and a permit count measure different things, so the two figures aren't directly comparable. Both lists change, so check the regulator's current version before signing up. See Pennsylvania real money casinos and New Jersey real money casinos.
Are sweepstakes casinos legal in states with legal online casinos?
Not in all of them, because several licensing states have moved against dual-currency sweepstakes sites. New Jersey's A5447, signed August 15, 2025, bans them, and Connecticut's ban took effect October 1, 2025. Delaware has no ban statute, but its Division of Gaming Enforcement issued a cease-and-desist to VGW's Luckyland effective April 2, 2025. Pennsylvania had no ban, though HB 2801, with fines of $50,000 to $500,000 per violation, was referred to committee on September 24, 2026. In West Virginia, VGW withdrew Sweeps Coins in 2025 as a company decision. See sweepstakes casino laws for the full picture.
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