State-by-state overview of Gambling in the US:
What states allow gambling?
Since the federal ban on online gambling was lifted back in 2018, US states have been lining up to legalize online gambling. New Jersey was the trailblazer and first state to take up online gambling, which is why the best NJ gambling sites continue to set the gold standard for the rest of the country.
Nowadays, in 2023, more than half of all US states now have legalized gambling available in some shape or form - with a great many of them including esports in this. Even some of the states previously thought of as being more conservative now have thriving online gambling industries. For example, Tennesse online gambling is booming, which just a few years ago many wouldn’t have thought possible.
Not all legal US gambling states have the same rules in place - sports betting online is the most commonly available gambling medium, including esports. This is closely followed by online casinos and poker. To this day, the best gambling sites for US players are found in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
The legal history of US gambling sites
The laws surrounding both offline and online gambling in the USA are quite complicated, and as a country, we don’t exactly have a long-running history of having a legalized and regulated gambling industry. In order to fully understand the situation now, it’s important to know how legalized online gambling in the US came into being.
Back in 2018, the state of New Jersey won a US Supreme Court battle that resulted in the PASPA being lifted. The result of this was that the federal ban on gambling in the US was no more. This meant that states could then decide on their own legislation surrounding online gambling.
The best US gambling sites all have New Jersey to thank
Having been the state to drive it through in the US Supreme Court, New Jersey was naturally the first established legal gambling state - and remains a gambling hub to this day. The early successes in NJ were followed by the establishment of a second hub, in the form of Pennsylvania online gambling.
A number of other states then followed suit, although most of them didn’t quite roll with rules as liberal as NJ and PA. 2021 was the year the ball really got rolling, as a new state appeared to legalize some form of online gambling almost every month or more. As we mentioned above, more than 50% of US states now have some form of legalized online gambling in 2023.
Different rules for different states
Where the US differs from countries with a longer-running legal online gambling industry, such as the UK, is that the rules and laws are created on a state-by-state basis. For example, West Virginia gambling sites are subject to different rules than Colorado betting operators. Every state has its own governing body that is responsible for licensing and regulating gambling operators.
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Editor’s recommendation - the best gambling sites for US players
As we’ve already mentioned throughout this article, the rules and laws surrounding online gambling are different in each state. As a result, so is the list of operators that are available in each state. The list of Virginia online gambling sites is different from those available in New Jersey, for example.
This means that selecting one top operator from all of the available US gambling sites is no easy task. As well as ticking all of the boxes and having the best possible qualities that we look for in a gambling site, our editor’s recommendation also has to be more widely available throughout the US than its competitors. It’s a tough task - but our editor always delivers!
FanDuel - the best US gambling sites
If you’re looking for a US gambling site that you really can’t go wrong with, then FanDuel is the way to go. Having begun life as a fantasy sports website, FanDuel now offers DFS, sports betting and online casino platforms - with the availability of each depending on which state you’re in.
FanDuel is American-based, American-owned, and has a good track record of being a trusted company. Additionally, their platform is among the most widely available betting sites in the country. Getting down to what matters, the quality of the betting site is excellent, as are the odds, markers and bonuses available to players.
Looking for more state-specific recommendations? You can check out Indiana online gambling operators right here at Strafe.com, as well as the best Michigan online gambling sites.
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Five tips for a fair and secure experience when using the best gambling sites for US players
We should start off this section of our review by reminding you that US gambling sites are not yet legal in all states. If online gambling hasn’t yet been legalized in your state, you won’t be able to make use of these tips right now. However, the landscape of legal online gambling in the US is changing quickly, therefore it wouldn’t hurt to read through these tips now and be ready when the change of legislation comes.
If you’re looking to start gambling in Iowa or other legal states though, you can make use of these tips right now!
Before you do anything else, check that the sites you are thinking of using has a legit and up-to-date gambling license to operate in your state. Each legal US gambling state has a governing body that is responsible for issuing licenses and regulating them. For example, Nevada online gambling is regulated by the Nevada Gaming Control board. The best gambling sites for US players should have multiple legit state gambling licenses with a clean track record.
Look for security measures
Once you’re 100% confident that the site you’re using is legit, you’ll then want to check that all of the right security measures are in place. You want both your real money funds and personal information to be protected as best as they possibly can. The best US gambling sites will use HTTPS encryption technology for transactions and will store at least some of your funds offline to protect them from hackers. Additionally, you should also look for a two-factor authentication login system that protects your account.
Read the terms and conditions
No one likes to read the small print, but it’s extremely necessary to do so - especially when it comes to using US gambling sites. Regardless of how solid the reputation is for the site that you’re playing on, we always recommend giving the terms and conditions a good read through so you know exactly what you’re getting into. This is especially important when it comes to your bonus conditions.
Before signing up to a site, read through the user reviews to get an idea of what the experience will be like. Reading through user reviews is a good way to try and find out the experiences that have been had by gamblers who are similar to yourself. The best gambling sites for US players should not only be well-rated but be so good that people feel the need to praise the site and recommend it to others.
Check out the expert reviews right here at Strafe.com
User reviews give you a good idea of the experiences have had on the site, but the real detailed stamp of approval comes from the experts. You’ll find that all of the best US gambling sites are reviewed in detail by our experts right here at Strafe.com. Our reviews are designed in a detailed way that aims to help you to find the right betting operator for you as an individual.
What do we look for when evaluating the best gambling sites for US players?
Above, we recommended that you use your expert reviews here at Strafe.com in order to help you to find your ideal gambling operator, It’s therefore only right that we provide you with the details of exactly how our reviews are constructed, and what we look for when evaluating and rating the best US gambling sites.
That’s why below, you can find a detailed explanation of some of the top criteria that we consider when conducting the US betting sites reviews found within our comparison tool here at Strafe.com.
All online gambling operators across the world have some form of welcome bonus to try and entice new customers - and the US is no different. In fact, the US actually now has some of the best and most valuable sports betting welcome offers in the world. It’s our job to properly review the bonuses by reading through the terms and conditions, before using the bonus ourselves to see how it works in practice.
Probably the most important aspect of any gambling site is how it looks and actually functions. The best gambling sites for US players should look good, whilst being user-friendly and easy to navigate for gamblers of all experience levels.
How you fund your online gambling account is extremely important. Not only can it help you to save money, it also has a big influence on your online security and privacy. What we ideally want to see on a gambling site is an extensive and varied range of payment options that isn’t so oversized that it could overwhelm the user. We want to see a mix of traditional banking options, e-wallets, prepaid cards and even cash funding options where possible.
Even when using the best US gambling sites, you could run into problems. What’s important is that when you run into those problems, you’re able to contact your operator and have them resolved as quickly and as easily as possible. A good operator should have a live chat, phone service and email contact at the very least.
We explained both of these elements in detail above in our top tips, but it’s worth asserting their importance. If a site isn’t both safe and legitimately operating in your state, we won’t be recommending it at all. Simple.
Welcome bonuses are great at all, but at the end of the day, they’re only designed to get you in the door as customers. The best gambling sites for US players should do as much as they can to take care of you once your inside.
Finding the best US gambling sites for you
Here at Strafe.com, our reviews of US gambling sites don’t merely aim to rate, preach and display. Instead, our goal is to help you to find the right operator for you as an individual. That’s why we believe that it’s important to help you discover what type of gambler you are before choosing and signing up to a gambling site. If you find a site that’s more tailored to your needs, you’re logically bound to have an overall superior experience.
Ask yourself, what type of gambler are you?
You might be wondering how you can find out what type of gambler you are - which is why we’re here to hep you out. Even if you’re a total beginner, you can ask yourself some questions about what you will be looking to get out of your gambling experience.
Firstly, think about what type of gambling avenue you want to go down. If you’re more into casino games, then you won’t want to go for a site that’s heavily focused on sports betting. You can also look deeper within each gambling niche. Consider what type of sports you want to bet on and look for sites that have odds and offers focussed on them. If you’re into esports then you’re in luck here, as at Strafe.com we’re esports gambling specialists.
You should also consider the time of day that you’re going to be gambling. If you work unsociable hours and are likely to be gambling late at night, then 24/7 customer service is essential for you. Other factors to consider include budget, experience and how frequently you will be gambling.
US gambling sites - the conclusion
We’ve almost reached the end of this page, and we hope that we’ve given you the best possible introduction to US gambling sites. Your journey has only just begun though - as you can now go on to check out what gambling sites are available in your state right here at Strafe.com. Ultimately we’re that our US gambling information and sites reviews can help you to find the ideal gambling operator where you are today. Just remember to follow our safety tips and keep up to date with the gambling legislation in your state. The legal online gambling landscape is changing fast in the US, and mostly for the better!
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US gambling sites FAQ
🇺🇸 What gambling sites are legal in the US?
There are multiple gambling sites that are legal in the US in 2023. However, what is available, if at all, depends on what state you are in. Many US states don’t even have legalized gambling online yet. You can find out all of the details where you are thanks to our state-by-state US gambling guide here at Strafe.com.
⚖️ Is online gambling legal in the US?
There answer to this question is quite complex, as the US operates very differently from most other countries where gambling is legal. Moreover, the US doesn’t have a long-running history with legalized gambling. Instead, everything is done on a state-by-state basis. You can find a detailed, but easy-to-follow explanation by following this link on to the main US gambling page on our site.
🏆 What is the best gambling site in the US?
This is a near-impossible question to answer, as it depends very much where in the country you are. Different states have different gambling rules, and therefore different sites are licensed to operate in each state. You can find the best gambling sites in your state here at Strafe.com. First of all, though, you will need to check if online gambling is actually legal in your state.
🎰 Are there legit online casinos in the US?
The legalization of online sportsbooks in many US states is often talked about, but what is the case with online casinos? The situation with casino betting sites has gone somewhat under the radar. Not to worry though, as the experts at Strafe.com have all of the need-to-know information for you right here!
