What is UIGEA? It's the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (31 U.S.C. §§ 5361–5367), a federal law that bars gambling businesses from knowingly accepting card payments, transfers and checks tied to unlawful internet gambling. It doesn't make placing a bet a federal crime for the player, and it leaves legality to other federal and state laws.
UIGEA targets payments: it bars businesses in the business of betting from accepting credit, electronic transfers, checks and other designated payments for unlawful internet gambling.
It doesn't itself make any form of gambling illegal; 'unlawful' depends on federal or state law where the bet is made.
It excludes state-authorized intrastate wagers, intratribal wagers under IGRA, horse racing under the Interstate Horseracing Act and qualifying fantasy sports.
It's the legal background to bank blocks on gambling card payments coded MCC 7995.
Offshore casinos aren't licensed by any US state, whatever payment method they take.
Full name
Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act
Year
2006
Citation
31 U.S.C. §§ 5361–5367
Who it targets
Gambling businesses accepting payments
Makes betting a crime for players?
No, per its wording
Card code involved
MCC 7995 (gambling)
What is UIGEA? The short answer
UIGEA is a payments law. Congress passed it in 2006 to choke off the money flowing to illegal online gambling, not to set out which games are legal. It does that by barring any person 'engaged in the business of betting or wagering' from knowingly accepting certain payments connected with someone else's unlawful internet gambling.
The law's own text says it doesn't make any form of gambling illegal by itself. Whether a bet is unlawful depends on other federal or state law where it's made. This answer belongs to our online casino questions series; the UIGEA law guide covers the statute in depth, and the UIGEA glossary entry gives a one-line definition.
What UIGEA prohibits: the four payment types
Section 5363 lists the payments a gambling business can't knowingly accept in connection with another person's unlawful internet gambling. The text of 31 U.S.C. § 5363 (opens in a new tab) sets them out.
Payments barred by 31 U.S.C. § 5363
Type
Examples
1. Credit
Credit extended to the player, including via credit card
2. Electronic fund transfers
Bank transfers, or funds through a money transmitting business
3. Checks and drafts
Checks or similar instruments drawn on a financial institution
4. Designated transactions
Other financial transactions named by Treasury and the Federal Reserve by regulation
The implementing rules from Treasury and the Federal Reserve are known as Regulation GG; their details weren't available in the sources checked. What's clear from the statute is that the legal duty sits with the business accepting the money.
How UIGEA defines unlawful internet gambling
The key definition is in section 5362(10): placing, receiving or transmitting a bet at least partly over the internet where it's unlawful under applicable federal or state law in the state where the bet is initiated, received or otherwise made. So the same bet can be lawful in New Jersey and unlawful in Texas. The 31 U.S.C. § 5362 definitions (opens in a new tab) also say intermediate routing of data doesn't decide where a bet is made.
What UIGEA excludes from 'unlawful internet gambling' and 'bet or wager'
Exclusion
What it covers
Intrastate wagers
Bets authorized by state law, with age and location verification
Securities, commodities and insurance transactions
Free play
Games risking nothing of value beyond effort, internet access or free sponsor credits
Those exclusions are why state-licensed online casinos and sportsbooks can operate. See daily fantasy sports laws and tribal gaming for the two most-used carve-outs.
Is UIGEA a law against players?
No, its wording aims at businesses. UIGEA doesn't make placing a bet a federal crime for the player; it makes accepting certain payments an offense for the gambling business. The Wire Act and the Illegal Gambling Business Act likewise target operators, as explained in what is the Wire Act and the Illegal Gambling Business Act page.
State law is where player-level rules live. Washington's RCW 9.46.240, for example, makes knowingly transmitting or receiving gambling information over the internet a class C felony. This page doesn't predict what happens to any individual; can I get in trouble for playing online casinos explains what the record shows.
UIGEA and card declines: why banks block gambling payments
UIGEA is the legal background to US card issuers' caution. Gambling card payments carry merchant category code 7995, and third-party payment sources report that some banks decline 7995 transactions, require extra checks or block them by default as a policy choice. Many issuers also treat credit card gambling payments as cash advances, with fees.
Many offshore casinos list Bitcoin and other coins next to cards. Crypto doesn't change your state's law or a casino's license status, and it removes protections that cards offer. The FTC's consumer guidance (opens in a new tab) says crypto payments lack credit card legal protections and generally can't be reversed.
How UIGEA plays out in New Jersey, Texas and Washington
Because UIGEA borrows its idea of 'unlawful' from state law, the same online deposit can be treated three different ways depending on where you are. These three states show the range.
UIGEA's effect depends on state law
State
Online casino status
What it means under UIGEA
New Jersey
Licensed by the Division of Gaming Enforcement
Bets at licensed sites fall within the intrastate exclusion, with age and location checks
Texas
Not authorized; online sports betting is not legal either
No state authorization, so payments to online casinos have no exclusion to rely on
Washington
Not licensed; RCW 9.46.240 makes knowingly sending or receiving gambling information online a class C felony
State law adds a player-level offense on top of UIGEA's business-level rule
Texas also shows how far state law can reach beyond casinos: SB 3070 moved the lottery to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation from September 1, 2025 and bars selling lottery play over the internet. Check your own state on the states hub, or read the Texas, New Jersey and Washington pages for the detail.
UIGEA in context: federal gambling law timeline
Federal online gambling milestones
Year
Event
1961
Wire Act targets betting businesses using wire communications
2006
UIGEA bars gambling businesses from accepting payments for unlawful internet gambling
2011
Justice Department opinion limits the Wire Act to sports betting
2018
Murphy v. NCAA lets states legalize sports betting; a new DOJ opinion says UIGEA didn't change the Wire Act's scope
2021
First Circuit holds the Wire Act covers only sports-related wagers
UIGEA sits between those rulings. Its exclusions made room for the state-licensed markets that grew after 2018, and the states with legal online casinos page lists the seven states that now license online casinos.
What UIGEA means when you deposit: a checklist
Check your state's law first; UIGEA defers to it on what counts as unlawful.
Check whether the casino is licensed by your state's regulator. If it isn't, it's offshore or unlicensed.
Expect possible card declines on gambling transactions coded MCC 7995, and possible cash advance fees on credit cards.
Never disguise a gambling payment or use someone else's account to get around a bank's decision.
If you use crypto, understand that transfers generally can't be reversed.
Keep records of deposits and withdrawals for tax purposes.
Offshore casinos and their published payment methods
UIGEA is a payments law, so these partners are shown with their published banking. All are offshore, no US state licenses them, and you should check your state's law before you deposit. We earn a commission from sign-ups, and the order is commercial.
SlotoCash Casino: $6,000 Welcome Bonus + 60 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). The casino's terms say 25x (deposit + bonus), a $20 minimum per bonus and no max cashout. Its banking page lists Visa, Mastercard and Amex from $25 with a $0.01–$1 fee, plus Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum and others, with a $5,000 weekly withdrawal cap. Michigan named it on October 8, 2026.
Decode Casino: $5,000 Welcome Bonus + 50 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). Its site shows no bonus terms; third-party reviews report a 111% code at 25x with a $25 minimum, card and crypto deposits, and weekly caps reported as $2,500 or $5,000.
Silver Oak Casino: $2,500 Welcome Bonus + 50 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). Its offer page says 30x and its terms say 40x on slots, with no max withdrawal on the welcome offer. Its banking page lists cards at $30–$1,000 with a 3–10% fee and crypto at $30–$100,000 with no fee; weekly withdrawals start at $2,500.
On a $100 card deposit at Silver Oak, a 3–10% fee would cost $3 to $10 before you play. Bonuses are slot-focused, table games are often excluded or weighted lower, and the house edge applies to every bet. Each casino's own site may show a different package, and the terms at sign-up apply. See the SlotoCash banking, Decode banking and Silver Oak banking pages.
Ad21+ (18+ where allowed). Ranked by us in a commercial order; we earn commission from these links. Advertiser disclosure
UIGEA doesn't license or approve any casino. These partners are offshore and not licensed by any US state, so check your state's law before depositing.
SlotoCash Casino#1 on our listBiggest bonus on our list
Published terms (casino terms): SlotoCash advertises up to $7,777 + 300 spins over five deposits on its own site. Eligible games: Slots, keno and scratch cards (progressive jackpots excluded).
Who runs it: License not shown on its site; reported as a Deckmedia N.V. brand (Curaçao). Regulator notes: Named in a Michigan Gaming Control Board cease-and-desist release, October 8, 2026.
21+ (18+ where allowed). New players. Min deposit $20 per bonus. Wagering 25x deposit + bonus. Max cashout: None stated. Withdrawal cap $5,000 / week. Terms source: casino terms. Terms apply. Offer checked October 28, 2026.
Published terms (reported): Decode advertises a $111 free chip and crypto bonuses on its own site; deposit-bonus codes and terms vary. Eligible games: Mainly slots; check each code.
Who runs it: License not shown on its site; third parties report Curaçao. Regulator notes: Third parties report it refuses players in MD, NJ, NY and WA.
21+ (18+ where allowed). New players. Min deposit $25 (reported). Wagering Varies by code (25x–35x reported). Max cashout: Varies by code. Withdrawal cap $2,500 / week (reported). Terms source: reported. Terms apply. Offer checked October 28, 2026.
Silver Oak Casino#4 on our listBonus on 10 deposits
Published terms (casino terms): Silver Oak advertises a 100% match on each of its first ten deposits (up to $10,000 in total) with codes SILVEROAK1–10. Eligible games: Slots, keno, scratch cards (table games at 60x; many games excluded).
Who runs it: Primrose Media Limited, licensed in Anjouan (its terms). 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. Wagering 30x on the offer page; 40x in the terms. Max cashout: None stated. Withdrawal cap From $2,500 / week. Terms source: casino terms. 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
What does the acronym UIGEA mean, and when was it passed?
UIGEA stands for the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, a federal law passed in 2006 and codified at 31 U.S.C. §§ 5361–5367. It bars gambling businesses from knowingly accepting credit, electronic fund transfers, checks and other designated payments connected with unlawful internet gambling. It's a payments law rather than a list of banned games. The UIGEA glossary entry gives the short definition.
Did UIGEA make online gambling illegal?
No, not by itself. The statute says unlawful internet gambling means a bet that's unlawful under federal or state law where it's placed or received, so it relies on other laws to decide legality. Seven states now license online casinos, and their intrastate wagers fall under UIGEA's exclusion. Elsewhere, state law usually leaves online casinos unlicensed. See which states allow online casinos.
Is it illegal for players to gamble online under UIGEA?
UIGEA doesn't make placing a bet a federal crime for the player. It puts the duty on the gambling business not to accept certain payments. State laws are a separate matter, and some prohibit internet gambling by individuals, such as Washington's RCW 9.46.240. This page doesn't predict any outcome for an individual. The offshore casinos legality page explains the state-by-state picture.
Why do banks decline casino deposits?
Many banks treat gambling payments, coded MCC 7995, as high risk. Third-party payment sources report that some issuers decline these transactions, require extra verification or block them by default, and UIGEA's payment rules are the legal background. Credit card issuers may also treat gambling charges as cash advances with fees. A decline reflects the bank's policy. The card declines guide covers the common causes.
Does UIGEA cover cryptocurrency?
The statute bars credit, electronic fund transfers, funds through money transmitting businesses, checks and other transactions designated by regulation; how the rules apply to specific crypto setups wasn't set out in the sources checked. Either way, paying in crypto doesn't change your state's law or the casino's license status. The FTC says crypto payments lack card protections and generally can't be reversed. Read how to deposit with Bitcoin for the risks.
What is excluded from UIGEA?
Several activities are carved out. UIGEA excludes intrastate wagers authorized by state law with age and location verification, intratribal wagers authorized under IGRA, activity under the Interstate Horseracing Act, and fantasy sports meeting its conditions. Securities, insurance and free-play games risking nothing of value also fall outside 'bet or wager'. The UIGEA page explains each exclusion.
Does UIGEA replace or change the Wire Act?
No, the two laws work separately. The Wire Act, from 1961, targets betting businesses that use wire communications for interstate bets, and the First Circuit read it in 2021 as covering sports-related wagers. UIGEA, from 2006, targets payments that gambling businesses accept for unlawful internet gambling. The Justice Department's 2018 opinion said UIGEA didn't change the Wire Act's scope. See the Wire Act page for that law's history.
Does UIGEA make offshore casinos legal if they take crypto?
No. UIGEA licenses nothing, and an offshore casino isn't licensed by any US state whatever payment methods it lists. Paying in crypto doesn't change what your state's law says, and it removes protections such as card chargebacks. State regulators continue to send cease-and-desist letters to unlicensed operators. The chargeback glossary entry explains the protection you give up.
Does UIGEA apply to sports betting apps?
UIGEA applies to sports betting only where the bet is unlawful under state or federal law, and it excludes state-authorized intrastate wagers. That exclusion covers bets placed inside a state that licenses them, as long as the operator checks age and location. After Murphy v. NCAA in 2018 let states legalize sports betting, licensed sportsbooks built their systems around those conditions. A sportsbook with no state license gets no such exclusion. Our sports betting laws page explains how states license them, and is sports betting legal in my state has the map.
Did UIGEA ban online poker in the US?
No, UIGEA did not ban online poker as such. It bars gambling businesses from accepting certain payments for internet bets that are unlawful under state or federal law, so poker's status depends on the state where you play. A state can authorize online poker and fall within UIGEA's intrastate exclusion, provided age and location are verified. In states that don't authorize it, the payment restrictions apply to the businesses involved. Our online poker laws page and is online poker legal in the US cover where it stands.
Is daily fantasy sports legal under UIGEA?
Fantasy sports contests that meet UIGEA's conditions are excluded from its definition of a bet or wager, so the federal payments rule doesn't treat them as unlawful internet gambling. That leaves the question to each state. Michigan, for example, licenses daily fantasy under its Fantasy Contests Consumer Protection Act (PA 157 of 2019), with a minimum age of 18, and Maine allows licensed operators under 8 M.R.S. chapter 33. Other states take different views. Our daily fantasy sports laws page and daily fantasy guide compare the states.
Does UIGEA allow tribal online casinos like Maine's?
UIGEA excludes intratribal wagers authorized under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, and it also excludes intrastate wagers authorized by state law, so a properly authorized tribal market can sit outside its payment ban. Maine is the live example: LD 1164 became law on January 11, 2026 and lets only federally recognized Maine tribes run online casinos. Nothing had launched by October 2026, the Gambling Control Unit's iGaming rules had no effective date, and a lawsuit is pending. Read our tribal gaming page and the Maine online casino guide.
Do I still owe tax on winnings from an offshore casino under UIGEA?
Yes. UIGEA is a payments law and says nothing that removes your tax duty: gambling winnings are taxable federal income wherever you win them. Payers file Form W-2G when winnings cross set thresholds, such as $2,000 or more on slots and keno for 2026 payments, but income below those thresholds is still reportable. From tax year 2026, the loss deduction is reported to be capped at 90% of losses and only up to your gains; check IRS guidance. Our gambling taxes guide and do offshore casinos report to the IRS explain the details.
Is UIGEA why New Jersey online casinos check my location?
It's part of the reason. UIGEA's exclusion for intrastate wagers applies only where state law authorizes the bet and the operator uses age and location verification, so licensed New Jersey sites confirm you are inside the state. New Jersey's Division of Gaming Enforcement oversees the market, with nine internet gaming permits held by seven entities on its list updated September 22, 2026. State law also requires its own checks. An offshore site that skips these steps gets no UIGEA exclusion. See can I play online casinos in New Jersey and our New Jersey guide.
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