Legalized online casino sites represent probably the most strictly limited type of gaming available in the U.S. Since the Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in May 2018 and allowed each individual state to decide on whether or not it would allow sports wagering within its borders, more than 38 states now offer some form of legal sports betting. However, while there are many states with legal sports wagering options; as of February 2026, there are only five states that offer some type of online casino gaming for real money. The five states offering this option include Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Additionally, Delaware offers a very limited online casino gaming option.

What Is Regulated Online Casino Gaming?

The term “online casino” encompasses a wide variety of gambling products available through an internet site or mobile application for which you can wager real money. All such websites in a regulated jurisdiction must have approval issued by the state’s gaming commission; utilize certified Random Number Generators (RNG); protect player funds; and adhere to requirements for responsible gaming. A few of the main types of product are as follows:

• Slot Machines Online: On-line versions of Slot Machine Games – including traditional three reel slot machine style games, video slot machine games and progressive jackpots;
• Games at Table: Black Jack, Roulette, Baccarat, Craps and Casino Hold’em all played versus the computer;
• Games with Live Dealers: Actual live human dealers streaming from their own studios dealing cards and spinning wheels in a virtual manner – essentially the most realistic simulation of playing at a land based casino.
• Poker Video: Electronic Poker game varieties where players play against the odds set forth in the pay table, rather than competing versus each other;
• Rooms for Playing Poker on-Line: Rooms where poker is played head-to-head versus other players – regulated separately in many jurisdictions.

In general, online casinos that are regulated by the state(s) are substantially different than Offshore Sites accepting U.S. Players. Authorized Sites are audited regularly and operate using validated RNG software. They also participate in state-ordered self exclusion programs. Deposits made into authorized sites’ are stored in separate accounts to prevent access to funds in the event of operator bankruptcy. Offshore Sites do not offer any of these safeguards.

The Six Legal Online Casino States in 2026

New Jersey

New Jersey continues to be the benchmark for all U.S. iGaming regulations. In November 2013, New Jersey became the first state in the United States to create an operational regulated online casino market and this occurred long before the U.S. had any sports-betting law at the federal level. As such, New Jersey’s online casino market has been able to evolve and refine its regulatory structure for more than ten years. The end product is the most competitive, most diversified and most developed online casino market in the United States.

New Jersey currently supports over twenty-five different licensed online casino websites, each supported by one of the physical casinos located in Atlantic City (the owners of those physical properties). A number of major companies operate within New Jersey’s regulated online casino market including BetMGM Casino, DraftKings Casino, Caesars Palace Online Casino, bet365 Casino, Golden Nugget Online Casino, Borgata Online, and Hard Rock Online Casino. Over two-billion dollars were generated through iGaming in 2024 alone by the State of New Jersey. This number exceeds any other U.S. state. Each of these regulated online casinos offer users a library of games available which range from five-hundred to fifteen hundred titles or more per operator from all of the leading providers in the industry.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania began regulating online casino gaming in 2017 and officially opened their online casino market in 2019. Due to the high tax rates placed on slot machine revenue (in excess of fifty-four percent) in addition to Pennsylvania’s very large population base (thirteen-million people), many believed that no company would enter into the state’s regulated online casino market. However, due to Pennsylvania’s very large base of existing gamers, coupled with the fact that they also allow the licensing of operators who can offer both online casino and online sports betting, Pennsylvania has rapidly grown into the second largest iGaming market in the United States. Pennsylvania now generates over eighteen-hundred-million dollars annually through online casino gaming alone. Licensed operators in the state include BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel Casino, bet365, Hollywood Casino, Unibet, and Parx Casino. By allowing both types of online gaming products to be offered by a single operator in Pennsylvania created a logical cross-selling opportunity for those operators; and thus far this strategy has proven to be highly successful.

Michigan

In early 2020 Michigan announced plans to launch its regulated online casino market by mid-2021. At that time many predicted that when Michigan did finally open up its online casino market it would take a few years for them to grow their player-base sufficiently enough so that they could challenge some of the larger U.S. markets for share of wallet. However, this has clearly not happened. Since opening up its regulated online casino market in mid-January 2021, Michigan has rapidly grown into the fastest growing iGaming market in the United States since its inception. What is interesting about Michigan is that their regulatory framework allows both commercial operators and tribal gaming entities to apply for and obtain a license to provide regulated online casino gaming. Thus far, this aspect of Michigan’s regulatory structure has been modeled after by several other states which contain a significant amount of land-based tribal gaming operations. Currently there are over twelve regulated operators active in Michigan offering their own version of regulated online casino gaming including BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel Casino, Caesars, PointsBet, and several tribally branded options (Firekeepers Casino and Little River Casino Resort). Through regulated online casino gaming, Michigan generated over sixteen-hundred million dollars in revenue during 2024. Approximately seventy-five percent of that revenue came from slots play.

Connecticut

Connecticut established a iGaming law in 2021 as part of an overall gaming package with its two Tribal gaming partners – the Mohegan Tribe & Mashantucket Pequot Tribe owners of Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods. Under this tribal-exclusive agreement there can only be two license holders; DraftKings (partnering with Mohegan) and FanDuel (partnering with Foxwoods), which limits the amount of competition within the State’s iGaming Market. Compared to New Jersey, PA, MI etc., CT has a much smaller iGaming market however both platforms have the full casino offerings of slots, table games, live dealer and poker. In 2024, the State of CT generated approximately $420 Million in iGaming Revenue.

West Virginia

In July 2020, WV became the fourth U.S. state to go “live” on-line casino gaming. Although WV generates less revenue from iGaming compared to other markets due to its smaller population, it is still considered a good test bed for iGaming operators expanding into the eastern seaboard.

Operators currently licensed in WV include BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars and Rush Street Interactive (BetRivers).

WV also offers online poker play. BetMGM Poker and WSOP Online operate in WV.

Delaware

Although DE was technically the first state to allow online casino gaming after PASPA in 2013 (the same time NJ went “live”), the way DE does business is vastly different. The Delaware Lottery manages all aspects of the online casino for the state. As such, it is run as a monopoly operated exclusively through 888 Casino. Only slots, table games and video poker are available, and there are no competing commercial operators. Therefore, the number of options offered on-line in DE is significantly fewer than those found in other states that offer legal iGaming.

Legal iGaming States: Market Comparison

State	Launch Year	2024 Revenue	# Operators	Tax Rate (Slots)	Notable Platforms
New Jersey	2013	$2.0B+	25+	15% (slots)	BetMGM, DraftKings, bet365, Borgata
Pennsylvania	2019	$1.8B+	15+	54% (slots)	BetMGM, FanDuel, bet365, Unibet
Michigan	2021	$1.6B+	15+	20-28% (slots)	BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars
Connecticut	2021	~$420M	2 (tribal)	18% (slots)	DraftKings, FanDuel
West Virginia	2020	~$170M	5	15% (slots)	BetMGM, DraftKings, BetRivers
Delaware	2013	~$10M	1 (state-run)	State monopoly	Delaware Lottery (888)

The Major Online Casino Operators: Who’s Licensed Where

The first four operators (BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel, bet365) have received iGaming licenses to operate in New Jersey and/or Pennsylvania. BetMGM was the first to launch as part of the NJ Internet Gambling Act in 2013. BetMGM’s strength is its access to the MGM Resorts’ massive brand portfolio – many of their games are branded under the names of some of the company’s high-profile casino properties such as Bellagio, MGM Grand, or Borgata. Additionally, BetMGM can tap into the 50 million members of the MGM Rewards loyalty program to integrate both online and offline casino gaming experiences. On average, BetMGM offers a selection of over 700-1000+ unique games.

DraftKings has quickly risen to be one of the two leading internet casino brands in the U.S., with licenses to offer internet casino gaming in six states (NJ, PA, MI, WV, CT). DraftKings’ platform can leverage its extensive partnership with DraftKings’ Sport Book. Therefore, DraftKing’s has been able to effectively target its already vast pool of customers that utilize either DraftKing’s sport book or fantasy sports services. DraftKings is strongest when it comes to slot offerings, as they have formed exclusive content relationships with top-rated slot game developers.

FanDuel Casino currently operates in five states (NJ, PA, MI, WV, CT), and has leveraged its position as the No. 1 internet sports wagering brand in the United States to drive aggressive marketing efforts to convert users into iGaming customers. In addition to being ranked highly in terms of design for all online casino applications, FanDuel’s Live Dealer product is another area where they excel. Their live dealer offering utilizes the capabilities of multiple Evolution Gaming Studios.

bet365 is the world’s largest online gaming company based upon revenue, and while their U.S.-based casino operations represent a very small portion of their overall global presence. However, what bet365 brings is significant experience operating as an online gaming company; and a truly exceptional Live Dealer Suite. bet365 also has a long-standing history of providing reliable customer support and ensuring prompt payouts. bet365 excels in live blackjack and live roulette and live show type products.

Caesar’s has a license to operate in New Jersey and is building out its iGaming footprint. One major difference between Caesar’s and other online casino companies is that their Caesars Rewards loyalty program allows players to earn points for participating in online casino activities and those points may then be redeemed for rewards at any of their more than 55 domestic casinos. This is a huge benefit for players that use both online and land-based casinos. Caesar’s uses the 888 Casino technology platform to run its online platform, and features an excellent Live Dealer section.

Online Casino Legalization Status: State-by-State Overview

State	Status	Online Poker?	Notes
New Jersey	Legal (2013)	Yes	Largest, most competitive US market
Pennsylvania	Legal (2019)	Yes	High slot tax rate; still very active market
Michigan	Legal (2021)	Yes	Fastest-growing market; tribal & commercial
Connecticut	Legal (2021)	Yes	Two tribal operators only: DraftKings & FanDuel
West Virginia	Legal (2020)	Yes	Smaller market; full operator roster
Delaware	Legal (2013)	Yes	State monopoly via lottery; limited games
New York	Illegal – Under debate	No	Biggest potential market; legislation possible 2026-2027
Illinois	Illegal – Discussed	No	Bills introduced; land-based opposition blocking progress
Indiana	Illegal – Discussed	No	Multiple bills; seen as likely mid-term
Maryland	Illegal – Discussed	No	Casino operator negotiations ongoing
Rhode Island	Illegal – Possible	No	State-run model may be viable path
All other states	Illegal	No	No near-term legislation expected in most cases

How to Verify a Legal Online Casino

Confirming the legality of any casino you are considering playing at prior to making a deposit can take just seconds and possibly avoid many hours of potential trouble down the road.

Here are some things to check.

• Licensing Seal from State Gaming Authority: Sites that have been legally issued a license will typically have the licensing seal of their state gaming authority (i.e. NJDGE, PGCB, MGCB etc.) located in the bottom of the footer of each site as well as on the “About” section of mobile apps
• GEO Verification: All legal sites MUST use geolocation verification so they know where players live in order to allow them to gamble – it is NOT optional
• Tools for Responsible Gambling: All legal sites must provide responsible gambling tools such as deposit limits, self exclusion, time limits per session, and link to resources regarding problem gambling.
• Payment Methods: Only legal sites may be used with mainstream payment options (i.e. Visa, MasterCard, PayPal, ACH, Online Banking) – there should be no unusual or excessive routing when using these types of payment options
• Lists from Official Sources: In most states, there is an official list of all licensed operators published by the gaming authority of that state – always cross reference the official list of licensed operators from the gaming authority’s web-site when in doubt

The Road Ahead: iGaming Expansion in 2026 and Beyond

There is a turning-point in the U.S. iGaming market. As of 2024, six states (i.e., New Jersey, Delaware, West Virginia, Michigan, Connecticut, and Rhode Island) generated an estimated $6 billion in combined online casino revenue. Adding the potential of New York alone would increase that to over $12 billion, while adding Illinois, Indiana and Maryland would bring that total to approximately $15 billion annually.

Fiscal pressures from states is the main driving force behind the advancement of iGaming legalization. More and more legislators are recognizing that their constituents are already gambling online – on offshore sites that do not contribute to the tax base of these states. In this light, the focus of legalization is not on allowing additional persons to gamble but on directing gambling revenue currently going to unregulated foreign websites into regulated and taxed frameworks that also protect consumers.

The main impediment to iGaming legalization continues to be resistance from physical casino interests. Physical casinos involve large financial investments by casino operators and large employment bases within each state. The influence of these entities can be very substantial when it comes to making decisions regarding policy and legislation. Legislative arrangements that provide a preference pathway for current casino licensees to obtain online licenses may be more likely to result in passage, as they protect the financial interests of those who hold traditional gaming licenses rather than potentially threaten them.

If New York were to enact iGaming legislation in 2026 or 2027, it would probably prompt a chain reaction of similar legislation in nearby jurisdictions. This phenomenon has occurred previously – e.g., after New Jersey enacted a law authorizing sports wagering in August 2018, legislative action was taken in Pennsylvania, Indiana, Iowa and Colorado to legalize sports wagering. A New York enactment of iGaming legislation would likely create a similar catalyst for legislative activity relating to online casino regulation.

Responsible Gambling

Online casino gaming should always be approached as entertainment. If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling, free and confidential help is available 24/7 through the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700. You must be 21+ and physically located within a legal state to play at a licensed online casino. Always verify a site’s licensing status before depositing real money.