Are online casinos legal in the US?

Are online casinos legal in the US? The short answer

Online casinos are legal in the US only where a state has passed a law to license them. As of October 28, 2026, that means seven states. In those states you can play real-money slots, blackjack and roulette at sites approved by a state regulator, with the consumer protections that come with a license.

Everywhere else, no state licenses online casinos. That doesn't stop offshore sites from accepting American players, but it does mean nobody in your state checks their games, holds their feet to the fire on payouts or handles your complaint. Our full guide to US online gambling law covers the history; this page gives you the straight answer and what to do with it. More short answers sit in our online casino questions section.

This page explains what laws and regulators say. It isn't legal advice, and laws change. If you need a firm answer for your situation, ask a lawyer licensed in your state.

What federal law says about online casinos

There is no single federal law that makes online casinos legal or illegal everywhere. Instead, a handful of federal statutes set the boundaries, and each one points back to state law. The table below sums up the ones that matter most.

The key point sits inside UIGEA's own definition. Under 31 U.S.C. § 5362 (opens in a new tab), internet gambling is unlawful when it breaks the federal or state law where the bet is made. So the federal rules lean on state law rather than replacing it. Our pages on UIGEA and the Wire Act walk through each statute in detail.

The seven states where online casinos are legal and licensed

Each of these states passed its own law, named its own regulator and decided how many operators to allow. Our list of states that allow online casinos compares them side by side, and this table gives the headline facts.

Maine: legal on paper only

Maine's LD 1164 became law in January 2026 and lets the state's tribes run online casinos. By October 2026 nothing had launched, the regulator's rules had no effective date, and a lawsuit is pending, so Maine players have no licensed online casino yet. See Maine's gambling page for updates.

Online casinos in the other 43 states and DC

In the remaining states and Washington, DC, no regulator licenses online casinos. Several go further and say so in plain terms. The Arizona Department of Gaming said in March 2025 that online casinos are illegal in the state. Washington's RCW 9.46.240 (opens in a new tab) makes knowingly sending or receiving gambling information over the internet a class C felony.

Oklahoma's SB 1589, effective November 1, 2026, expressly bans online casino games. Minnesota's Department of Public Safety says online casinos are illegal both for sites to offer and for Minnesotans to play. Your state's rules are on our state-by-state hub, and the gambling age by state page covers who can play where it is allowed.

Are offshore online casinos legal in the US?

Offshore casinos operate from outside the US and hold, at most, a foreign license. No US state licenses or regulates them, and that includes every casino we promote. Silver Oak's terms name Primrose Media Limited and a license from Anjouan; the others don't publish a license on their own sites, and third-party reviewers report different things, from Curaçao to Costa Rica to none.

A foreign license is not a US state license. Michigan's Gaming Control Board has sent cease-and-desist letters calling offshore operators illegal, naming Silver Oak and Planet 7 on April 9, 2025, Miami Club and Slot Madness on August 14, 2025, and SlotoCash on October 8, 2026. Our page on offshore casino legality explains what that means, and is it illegal to play at offshore casinos answers the player-side question.

Are sweepstakes casinos a legal alternative?

Sweepstakes casinos use two currencies: Gold Coins for play and Sweeps Coins that can be redeemed for prizes. They claim this keeps them outside gambling law, but states are closing that door. Bans recorded so far include New Jersey (August 15, 2025), Connecticut and Montana (October 1, 2025), New York (S5935-A), California (AB 831, January 1, 2026) and Oklahoma (November 1, 2026).

Indiana, Tennessee, Louisiana and Maine have also acted in 2026. Our sweepstakes casino bans tracker lists dates and bill numbers.

How to check if online casinos are legal where you live

1. Find your state's gambling regulator on our state regulators page.
2. Look on the regulator's site for a list of licensed or authorized online casinos. If there is no such list, your state doesn't license them.
3. Read the regulator's warnings about unlicensed or offshore sites, since many states now publish them.
4. Check the minimum age: it is 21 for online casinos in every licensing state.
5. Before you join any site, compare the protections in our offshore vs state-licensed casinos guide.

Legal or not, gambling winnings are taxable

Winnings are federal taxable income wherever you win them. For 2026, slot and keno payouts of $2,000 or more trigger a Form W-2G at casinos that issue one. From the 2026 tax year, the 2025 tax law reportedly caps the loss deduction at 90% of losses, so check IRS guidance. Our gambling taxes page has the details.

Where to play if you choose an offshore casino

Because online casinos are legal and licensed in only seven states, many Americans see offshore casinos advertised. The three below are our partners, and we earn a commission if you join through our links. They are offshore, not licensed by any US state, and not answerable to a state regulator, so check your state's law first. You must be 21+ (18+ where allowed) and terms apply.

• Decode Casino: $5,000 Welcome Bonus + 50 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). Its own site advertises a different package ($111 free chip plus crypto bonuses) with no terms visible; third-party reviews report a 25x (deposit + bonus) code with a $25 minimum, so read the terms shown at sign-up. See the Decode review.
• Silver Oak Casino: $2,500 Welcome Bonus + 50 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). The casino's own site lists a 100% match on each of ten deposits with 30x wagering on the offer page but 40x in its terms, deposits from $30 and no max withdrawal; check the current terms. See the Silver Oak review.
• Planet 7 Casino: $2,750 Welcome Bonus + 45 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). Its terms aren't visible on its own site; third-party reviews report 30x (bonus + deposit) on slots, a $1,000 max cashout and a $30 card minimum. See the Planet 7 review.

Bonuses are slot-focused, and table games are often excluded or weighted lower. The house edge means losses are likely over time, so treat any deposit as the cost of entertainment.

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).