You may or may not know that there exists an abundance of brick and mortar, or land-based, casinos in the United States. While most people tend to think that very few casinos exist outside the gambling mecca of Las Vegas, the reality of the matter is that the casino industry in the US is thriving and has been for quite some time now.
Long before online casinos were ever conceived, land-based casinos dominated the scene in the United States. In fact, the history of brick and mortar gambling sites is a history that extends back to the very first days of the United States.
The quickest answer is that it is not illegal to gamble from the United States of America. However, you can’t do it on US based online casino unless you live in a state in which gambling is legal. In the US states in which online gambling is not legal, you can join and play at online casinos that are situated abroad. With the use of online casinos, players must not leave their homes or chairs to play a wide variety of casino games. For online gamblers based in the United States, you’ll find some excellent choices for NEW US No Deposit Casinos. Online casinos, which will offer any game you can imagine to American players, also offer great deposit bonuses. New Jersey – New Jersey legalized online gambling in 2013, enabling its land-based casinos to apply for online gambling licenses and offer online casinos and online poker rooms. Real money online pokies. As a result, Atlantic City casinos such as Caesars Interactive Entertainment, Resorts Casino Hotel, Trump Taj Mahal, Tropicana Casino and Resort, Golden Nugget,. While the banking options for US players is restricted thanks to the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act of 2006, there are still ways for users to move money to and from an online casino. Different methods vary by the casino you’re playing at, but generally include Visa, Mastercard, bank wire, and an assortment of eWallets. All US financial institutions are banned from sending money to online casinos, which makes online play extremely difficult for players based in the United States. When you’re searching for your ideal online casino, then make sure you select one with alternative payment methods such as PayPal, Skrill, Neteller or even Bitcoin.
Popular Land Based Casinos & Hotels in the United States
US Land-Based Casino History
When settlers first arrived from Europe in what we now as the United States, games of chance were brought along for the ride. In those early days, whether gambling was accepted or not depended upon the moral standing of the community in question. While one city and community did not mind games of chance, other communities strictly forbid them.
When the 1840s and 50s brought along the California Gold Rush, gambling houses were already popular in the flourishing Southern city of New Orleans, but San Francisco quickly ascended the ranks and became the young country’s top city for gambling. This remained the case for a few decades, but when the early 20th century brought with it alcohol prohibition, early casinos were outlawed as well. In the early 1930s, however, the construction of the Hoover Dam along the Colorado River brought with it the creation of a city that would later be named Las Vegas. With thousands of personnel helping to construct the dam at any given moment in time and not much else to do in the middle of the desert, it is easy to see why gambling and casinos became so instantly popular in Las Vegas. Before long, the massive resort casinos that we know of today began popping up and creating an extravagant cityscape in an otherwise barren desert.
After Las Vegas, Atlantic City, New Jersey became a prominent casino city once gambling and brick and mortar casinos were legalized there in the late 1970s. Later on in the 70s there began a movement initiated by the Florida Seminole Native American tribe that saw Native American reservations become hotbeds for gambling. That movement has continued to the present day and now there exists nearly 500 Native American casinos across the United States.
Other states, regions, and cities have legalized brick and mortar casinos, but it must be said that casinos are not legal everywhere. This is slowly but surely changing with time, but being that the states have the ability to govern themselves to some extent, there is no guaranteeing that every part of the country will have brick and mortar casinos.
Legalities of Land-Based Casinos in the United States
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As was mentioned above, the legalities regarding brick and mortar casinos in the United States are not always so straightforward. First and foremost, it must be mentioned that there are quite a few states and major cities where you will find no brick and mortar casino presence. The reasons for this vary depending on where you are and it is important to brief yourself on local laws.
In almost every land-based casino that exists in the US, the number one rule is that you must be at least 21 years of age in order to be eligible to gamble with real money. In cities like Las Vegas and Atlantic City this is a standard practice, and is also one that has been adopted by other parts of the country where land-based gambling is legal. It must be noted that there are certain parts of the US that allow for gambling at the age of 18, but these are far outnumbered by places that require a 21 minimum age.
Another major piece of the puzzle in the United States is the fact that even though a city may have legalized gambling, that does not mean the entire state will allow for the existence of brick and mortar sites. There are plenty of examples of cities where casinos are legal existing within a state that has not approved the existence of legal gambling sites.
Another often confusing aspect of the gambling scene in the United States is the fact that games you are legally allowed to play vary state to state. It may sound strange, but one state may allow for full-scale casinos that are able to offer every type of game you can think of, while another state may have only legalized card games like poker, but do not allow for slot games.
Sticking with this strange, seemingly contradictory theme, the laws that exist in specific states may allow gambling, but not within a casino as we know them in the traditional sense. Instead, you will find things like video poker rooms at dog tracks and card rooms—which are basically casinos that are only able to offer games like hold’em and stud.
As you can clearly see, there is a wealth of information you must know before you can begin gambling at land based casinos in the United States. In some parts of the country the legalities regarding gambling for real money are very transparent and easy to understand, but in other parts that is not always the case.
Land-Based Casinos FAQ
Will I be arrested for gambling for real money outside of casinos?
In most cases, playing a friendly game of cards amongst friends for real money will not land you in any sort of legal trouble. With that being said, there are places where it is illegal to play even one hand of cards for real money without risking prosecution. Short answer is no, but as is always the case it is important to verify local laws before participating in an activity such as gambling.
Is alcohol served at all US casinos?
This is also something that depends where you are, but more often than not alcohol is served at land-based US casinos. In some cases, alcohol is free so long as you are playing a game, but be careful, the free drinks may result in an empty wallet.
Complete List Of Online Casinos
Do land-based casinos ever offer online games?
Yes, in states like Nevada and New Jersey there are brick and mortar casinos that also support online games too. This is a new development and one that may very well continue into the future and in other states.
What are the hours of casinos in the United States?
In almost all cases, casinos across the United States are offered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
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Honesty, security, licensing, reputation and safety, as we mentioned on our homepage, are the five areas where we intensively review potential US friendly sites before we consider them legitimate USA casinos.
Dictionary.com tells us that the word legitimate is defined as 'in accordance with established rules, principles, or standards'. And Thesaurus.com proclaims the words authentic, valid and legal as interchangeable with legitimate. We could not agree more, and the standards and principles with which we judge U.S.A. friendly online casinos and other gambling portals are very demanding.
The typical online gambler will click on the first casino they come across if it provides the wagering opportunity they are looking for. If they see a slot site and that is their favorite online casino activity, they sign up for the first website which offers them a decent bonus without even exploring what bonus qualifications are demanded.
The casual American online casino player honestly may not know what to look for that designates a website as a reputable USA casino or not. But our decades of experience online in the casino, poker, and sportsbook gambling community has given us a unique insight.
Bovada is easily one of the best USA online casino options in the industry. They were launched in late 2011, and operate exclusively for USA players. They operate under the licensing of their parent company, Bodog, who holds licenses in multiple jurisdictions.
Bovada has carefully implemented a sophisticated security profile that stems from using premium, industry-leading software as well as its own added efforts to increase security. Along with a very safe gaming environment, they offer players a generous $3000 casino welcome bonus, and access to their poker room, sportsbook, and racebook.
Not only does Bovada process cryptocurrency deposits and payouts such as Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash, but they also feature Zelle to Bitcoin that facilitates instant BTC purchases - which are perfect for first-time crypto users. Cryptocurrency is the safest and most reliable method for funding your online casino gaming and for getting same-day payouts of your winnings!
As we mention several times throughout our website, we feel Bovada reflects the best that the industry has to offer for US citizens. They are very reputable and an excellent choice for anyone who considers reputation and honesty as important factors.
Most Trusted And Secure USA Casinos For 2020
Top Rated Sites
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Identifying Safe Online USA Casinos
Hey, we are not sticks in the mud who simply look at the technical side of online casinos. We were born and raised, and live, in the United States, and enjoy wonderful graphics, realistic 3-D video and live casino dealer entertainment as much as the next person.
We just believe that we should identify honest U.S.A. casinos before we fall in love with a particular site's visual and audio experience, and interface. And you may not care where a particular website is licensed, but we do.
We understand which gaming authorities or more particular about offering licensing than others, so we know which ones deliver an immediate sign of legitimacy.
As far as identifying safe USA casinos where you do not have to spend any time worrying about falling prey to a shady operation or predatory behavior, if you locate a couple of things, your safety is guaranteed.
- Does a particular website have their random number generator tested frequently by an independent third party?
- What type of SSL security and data encryption is employed to keep your personal information and financial transactions safe?
- Does this particular website support players from the United States while also offering a leader in online casino gaming software, like RTG?
These are the questions one must ask about particular online gambling operators before you can declare them reputable USA casinos and open an account. By the way, we know these are dull topics to consider. But if you enjoy profits rather than losses, and want the best possible opportunity to enjoy a winning session every time you play, these things must be taken into account.
Over the years we have used these criteria to uncover the most legitimate USA casinos and sportsbooks online. As demanding and discerning gamblers both online and off, we stake our hard-earned reputation as leaders in the online gambling community on the websites we recommend below because we play there ourselves.
Characteristics of the Most Reputable Online Casinos that Accept USA Players
How can I find the most trusted online casinos? In order to be considered reputable and trusted - a casino must be more than just 'legal'. There are some key components that are deal breakers for us when identifying reputable online casinos. These elements speak to the ethics and competence of any brand, and all of our preferred casinos hit the mark!
Transparency - upfront about how they operate
Legitimacy - individually licensed or owned and operated by someone who is
Secure - utilizes sophisticated security technology profile to protect players
Software - reliable, secure, and feature-rich for a high-quality gaming experience
Payout Speed - same day payouts for Crypto and reasonable turnaround for other withdrawal options
Bonuses & Promotions - attractive offers with reasonable wagering requirements
Customer Support - accessible assistance when needed and robust help resources
Valid Associations - part of a respected network or group of industry brands
How We Rate United States Online Casinos - Our Process For Approving Reputable Casinos For American Players
Below you will see a breakdown of how we determine the legitimacy of any US online casino. We take this process very seriously, and complete it with a tenacity to arrive at the true nature of any online casino brand that players may consider playing at.
Our guide will evolve to include the good and the bad options that are out there waiting for you so that you know precisely which ones are the safe USA online casinos and which ones you should avoid at all costs. But for now, the sites we recommend above are the cream of the crop and each of the casinos gladly accepts USA players.
How Safe Is The Software At USA Casinos? - There are really only a few trusted gambling software platforms that support U.S. players. Having been very involved in the industry, we know which software brands are legitimate and which ones to stay far far away from.
All new brands that emerge undergo extreme scrutiny and examination from our team of online gambling professionals, hence we know a platform inside and out by the time it reaches the pages of this website. Each USA casino review that you find in our guide will address software safety.
We look at multiple components to determine the safety factor of any software solution, including: Gsn casino contact information.
- What built-in security features are present as far as SSL protocols and data encryption?
- How often the software brand undergoes independent third-party testing for fair gameplay and RNG technology compliance?
- What type of banking suite security and options are present?
If the software brand being used by a casino is legitimately secure and safe, then you're halfway there in finding a legit USA casino. As far as safe brands for American players, we recommend trying out legitimate RTG casinos, and we have several of them featured on this page.
Honest US Casinos
What is a super chat. Honesty is a non-negotiable element that must be present at any online gambling site you consider doing business at. Even sites that use reputable gaming software are not guaranteed to be honest operations.
It takes first-hand experience to determine if an online casino is honest, and our goal is to save you the trouble of finding out the hard way when a brand lacks this critical quality.
Our team of online gambling professionals has evaluated each brand you see featured on our site, and has placed them in the honest or dishonest category. Rogue or dishonest brands that we include in our guide for the purpose of warning players will be clearly designated as such in our guide.
The honest USA online casinos you find here will carry a 5 star rating for legitimacy and will have a detailed explanation of why they were deemed as honest in the review we provide.
Casino Security For Americans
There are a couple of security features that absolutely must be present for any brand to be considered a legitimate casino. First, they must employ the most advanced SSL security, preferably to a level that exceeds industry standards. If they have received a 5-star rating from us, then the presence of this feature and its quality have been verified by our team.
Secondly, the most sophisticated data encryption technology must be utilized to ensure that your personal financial information is transmitted and stored in the safest and most secure way possible. This is the same type of security profile that you would find at a bank or financial institution.
Legal Casino License And Certification For United States Online Casinos
Licensing is one of the first things we look at when evaluating the legitimacy of any U.S.A. online casino. After all, if a gambling site doesn't hold the proper licensing and certifications, there's no point in going any further into the review process.
We require that all reputable USA online casinos featured here hold a license from a genuine governing authority, or are owned and operated by a parent company that holds legitimate licensing credentials, as well as compliance certifications from recognized third party regulatory associations.
On top of all that, we don't consider any brand as legitimate that doesn't subject their software and games to regular testing by third-party authorities to ensure that their RNG technology meets industry standards and that their games and software comply with fair gaming practices.
We will also list undesirable casino brands that try to sidestep this part of the operation so that you know to avoid them at all costs.
Casino Reputation - Identifying Reputable Online Casinos for USA Players
A casino's reputation tells a lot about a particular brand. It will reveal if a site delivers fast and efficient payouts to their players, if their customer support is satisfactory, and if you can trust their operation with your money.
Input from industry professionals and other players can really save you time and effort, as well as a substantial risk by learning from their bad experiences.
On the flip side, positive feedback can confirm that a brand can be trusted or one of the fastest paying online casinos in the industry. We have provided this type of expert input for you in our reviews, and it is based on personal experience as registered players and professional gamblers.
We consider our reputation to be on the line when players trust our recommendations, so we take our evaluations and reviews of these sites very very seriously.
Casino Safety
All of the elements of reviewing a particular USA casino will result in determining if the brand is safe or not. Honest USA online casinos put player safety first, and it will be evident in everything they do.
While it may be inconvenient, if a gambling site does not want you to complete a document authorizing your credit card transactions, something is wrong. In other words, the sites which may seem to drive you nuts with hoops to jump through regarding deposits and withdrawals are very likely the ones who are taking your safety seriously.
List Of Usa Online Casinos
You don't want to gamble at a site that takes your work for everything and doesn't require you to prove who you are. That is an identity thief's ideal environment.
You can be sure that we've evaluated the level of casino safety present with each gambling site we review, and we're more than happy to share our findings, good or bad to help inform players of the safest USA online casinos on the Web.
Debunking US Online Gambling Myths
There are some players who are under the impression that the UIGEA bill, also referenced to as the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, has rendered all USA friendly gambling sites illegitimate by blocking Visa deposits accepted by online casinos. This is definitely not the case.
This piece of legislation only addresses the regulations surrounding how online gambling transactions are processed and does not make online gambling for players in the United States illegal. The law is focused on the gambling sites themselves and not the players. You can read more about this legislation here: UIGEA Bill of 2006.