Best online casinos to play for real money in the US

Admin April 17, 2024

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Real money online casinos are available in just seven states (NJ, PA, MI, WV, CT, RI and DE).

Where they’re currently legal, we rate BetMGM, Caesars Palace, DraftKings, Golden Nugget, Borgata, Playstar, Hard Rock Bet, FanDuel Casino, and BetRivers Casino as the best real money online casinos.

We’ve ranked and reviewed online casinos for more than a decade and base our recommendations on the factors most important to real money casino players.

Note: If you’re in a state yet to legalize online casinos, you’ll see a list of top sweepstakes casinos, which are legal in most states (excl. WA, MI, and ID). All have casino-style games you can play for free or to redeem cash prizes.

What are the top 10 real money online casinos?

BetMGM: Huge number of online casino games and slots
Caesars Palace online casino: Caesars Rewards, the best loyalty program in the US
DraftKings casino: An extensive list of exclusive sports-themed and branded casino games
Golden Nugget online casino: Massive and varied game library
Borgata Casino: Many casino games with exclusive jackpots
FanDuel Casino: Seamless single-account access to a sportsbook and casino
BetRivers Casino: Best-in-class customer service
Playstar Casino: Access to a customizable concierge tool
Hard Rock Bet: Leaderboards offering $1 Million in prizes
Bally Casino: One of the largest no deposit bonuses available from any online casino

Top real money online casinos

1. BetMGM Casino — Known for its expansive game library & exclusives (4.9/5)

1,000+ real money online slots and casino games
Excellent Android and iPhone apps

BetMGM CasinoCatena Media via BetMGM Casino

Ongoing bonuses/promotions: Bet & Get Casino Bonus offers, MGM Rewards multipliers
Free demo games? Yes
Number of games/types: 1,000+ online slots, table games, live dealer games
Average range of table game buy-ins: $0.10 to $2,500
Downloadable app/ratings: 4.5/5 on Google Play, 4.7/5 on the App Store
Full game library available on the app? 95%
Live dealer games: Yes
Fastest payout options: Play+ PrePaid Card
Notable quote about BetMGM from user reviews: “The variety of games they offer is striking.”
Responsible gambling features: Set your limits regarding deposits, spending, and daily, weekly, or monthly play. Decrease your limits anytime, but only increase limits after a delayed period. Take a timeout for any period between three and 180 days.
Customer support options: Phone, email, live chat 24/7
States available: New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia

2. Caesars Palace Online Casino — Known for its rewards program (4.8/5)

Best rewards program in the business
Deposit match bonus of up to $2,500
Big game selection

Caesars Palace CasinoCatena Media via Caesars Palace Casino

Ongoing bonuses/promotions: Caesars Rewards, daily deposit bonuses, games of the week, draws
Free demo games? Yes
Number of games/types: 800+ online slots, table games, live dealer games
Average range of table game buy-ins: $0.10 to $2,500
Downloadable app/ratings: 4.5/5 on Google Play, 4.6/5 on the App Store
Full game library available on the app? 85%
Live dealer games: Yes
Fastest payout options: Caesars properties
Notable quote about Caesars from user reviews: “The most attractive feature is the Caesars Rewards program.”
Responsible gambling features: Limit setting, self-exclusion/opt-out
Customer support options: Phone, email, live chat, Twitter (X)
States available: New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia
See more: Top 15 slots at Caesars Palace online casino

3. DraftKings Casino — Known for its exclusive sports-themed and branded games (4.7/5)

Single account access for sports and online casino
Exclusive sports-themed and branded casino games

Ongoing bonuses/promotions: DraftKings Jackpots, referral bonus
Free demo games: Yes
Number of games/types: 700+ online slots, table games, live dealer games
Average range of table game buy-ins: $0.10 to $2,500
Downloadable app/ratings: 4.6/5 on Google Play, 4.8/5 on the App Store
Full game library available on the app? 97%
Live dealer games: Yes
Fastest payout options: Affiliated properties
Notable quote about DraftKings from user reviews: “Arguably the best online casino platform in the US.”
Responsible gambling features: Limit setting, deposit setting, time limits, cool-offs, self-exclusion
Customer support options: Email, contact form
States available: New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Connecticut

4. FanDuel Casino — Known for sports betting and casino integration (4.6/5)

200+ online slots and casino games
Seamless single-account access to sportsbook and casino

Ongoing bonuses/promotions: Daily jackpots, login bonuses, referral bonuses
Free demo games? Yes
Number of games/types: 200+ online slots, table games, live dealer games
Average range of table game buy-ins: $0.10 to $2,500
Downloadable app/ratings: 4.6/5 on Google Play, 4.8/5 on the App Store
Full game library available on the app? 100%
Live dealer games: Yes
Fastest payout options: PayPal, Venmo, FanDuel Prepaid Play+ cards, online banking, Debit cards
Notable quote about FanDuel Casino from user reviews: “Fanduel does do instant withdrawals, which is a must, plus a 1x playthrough for all bonuses.”
Responsible gambling features: Deposit and wager limits, time limits, self-exclusion options
Customer support options: Twitter, Facebook, Messaging, Email
States available: New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia

5. Golden Nugget Online Casino — Known for its game variety (4.6/5)

Huge game library
Welcome bonus with free spins
Great customer support

Golden Nugget CasinoCatena Media via Golden Nugget Casino

Ongoing bonuses/promotions: Golden Reward Player’s Club, referral bonuses, leaderboards
Free demo games: Yes
Number of games/types: 1,500+ online slots, table games, live dealer games
Average range of table game buy-ins: $0.10 to $2,500
Downloadable app/ratings: 3.5/5 on Google Play, 4.5/5 on the App Store
Full game library available on the app? 80%
Live dealer games: Yes
Fastest payout options: Play+ PrePaid Card
Notable quote about Golden Nugget from user reviews: “One of the best online casinos available right now.”
Of note: Golden Nugget was the first online casino with more than 1,000 online casino games.
Responsible gambling features: Limits on session length, deposit amount, and loss amounts, plus custom cool-off periods and self-exclusion
Customer support options: Phone, email, live chat
States available: New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia

6. Borgata Casino — Known for its exclusive jackpots (4.6/5)

Exclusive progressive jackpots
MGM Rewards
Great customer service

Ongoing bonuses/promotions: MGM Rewards, leaderboards, exclusive jackpots
Free demo games: Yes
Number of games/types: 700+ online slots, table games, live dealer games
Average range of table game buy-ins: $0.10 to $2,500
Downloadable app/ratings: 4.0/5 on Google Play, 4.7/5 on the App Store
Full game library available on the app? 90%
Live dealer games: Yes
Fastest payout options: PayPal
Notable quote about Borgata from user reviews: “The Borgata casino app is wonderful. No bugs. No problems.”
Responsible gambling features: Personal limits, self-exclusion
Customer Support options: Phone, email, contact page
States available: New Jersey and Pennsylvania

7. BetRivers Casino — Known for great customer service (4.5/5)

Big selection of online slots and table games, including 1,500+ online slots
Banking is easy and backed by award-winning customer service and support

Ongoing bonuses/promotions: Bonus Store, Happy Hour Multipliers, Daily Bingo, King Cash Community Chat
Free demo games? Yes
Number of games/types: 1,500+ online slots, table games, live dealer games
Average range of table game buy-ins: $0.10 to $2,500
Downloadable app/ratings: 3.4/5 on Google Play, 4.4/5 on the App Store
Full game library available on the app? 95%
Live dealer games: Yes
Fastest payout options: Play+ Prepaid Card
Notable quote about BetRivers Casino from user reviews: “BetRivers is a legit and safe online casino, which is great news for players.”
Responsible gambling features: ID verification, responsible gaming limits, deposit limits, spending limits, time limits, self-suspend process, Cool-Off Period, player support services
Customer support options: Help Center, Live Support Chat
States available: New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia

8. PlayStar Casino — Known for offering a personalized user experience (4.5/5)

300+ online slots and casino games
Personalized user experience via customizable online concierge service

Ongoing bonuses/promotions: Bonuses, free spins, cash prizes, cashback, casino rewards
Free demo games? Yes
Number of games/types: 300+ online slots, table games, live dealer games
Average range of table game buy-ins: $0.10 to $2,500
Downloadable app/ratings: 4.1/5 on Google Play, 4.4/5 on the App Store
Full game library available on the app? 90%
Live dealer games: Yes
Fastest payout options: PayPal, Play+, Skrill
Notable quote about Playstar Casino from user reviews: “(PlayStar) caught our collective attention with its top-notch games, fair play, and sintillating offers.”
What you don’t know about Playstar for real money casino games but should: While Playstar is a relatively small online casino, its Live Dealer game selection is big. There are 25 Live Dealer games here, twice as many as most online casinos.
What you might have heard about Playstar that isn’t true: You may have heard Playstar’s best features are reserved for high rollers only. That’s not true. Playstar treats every player like a high roller, giving everyone access to its custom concierge, offering personalized rewards and gameplay options based on your play.
Responsible gambling features: Deposit Limits, Loss Limits, Session Limits, Cool Off, Self-Exclude
Customer support options: Live Chat, Email, Telephone
States available: New Jersey

9. Hard Rock Bet — Known for promos with huge prizes (4.5/5)

500+ online slots and casino games
Leaderboards offering $1 Million in prizes

Ongoing bonuses/promotions: Leaderboards, refer a friend, Golden Jackpots

Free demo games? Yes

Number of games/types: 500+ online slots, table games, live dealer games

Average range of table game buy-ins: $0.10 to $2,500

Downloadable app/ratings: 4.7/5 on Google Play, 4.9/5 on the App Store

Full game library available on the app? 100%

Live dealer games: Yes

Fastest payout options: Nuvei Instant Bank Transfer

Notable quote about Hard Rock Bet from user reviews:

“Really impressed with Hard Rock Bet! Great site! Very professional and well put together!”

What you don’t know about Hard Rock for real money casino games but should: Hard Rock’s main menu has a list of “Atlantic City” games with online versions of dozens of slots you’ll find on the casino floor at Hard Rock Atlantic City. It’s the next best thing to being there.

What you might have heard about Hard Rock that isn’t true: With only 500+ games, it might be said the game library at Hard Rock is small, but that’s not necessarily true. There’s a growing list of new games, and more are added all the time. A total of 90 games were on Hard Rock’s most recent ‘Newly Added’ list, making that 500+ now closer to 600+.

Responsible gambling features: Customer age verification program, Deposit Limits, Wager Limits, Session Limits, Session Reminders, Timeouts, Self-Exclusion

Customer support options: Live chat and email 24/7, phone 12 pm to 8 pm EST, 7 days a week.

States available: New Jersey

10. Bally Casino — Known for its big no-deposit bonus (4.6/5)

400+ online slots and casino games
Links to full game details and betting limits on every game

Ongoing bonuses/promotions: Daily free games, bonus money playback, refer a friend
Free demo games? Yes
Number of games/types: 400+ online slots, table games, live dealer games
Average range of table game buy-ins: $0.10 to $2,500
Downloadable app/ratings: 4.5/5 on Google Play, 4.5/5 on the App Store
Full game library available on the app? 100%
Live dealer games: Yes
Fastest payout options: PayPal
Notable quote about Bally Casino from user reviews: “I’ve had a blast at Bally’s Casino Online! They’ve got a bunch of games, from slots to live dealers, and the performance has been really good. I’ve never had any tech problems.”
What you don’t know about Bally for real money casino games but should: Bally Casino has a typical selection of online casino games and electronic table games, but there are more slots than anything else, including popular slots from top developers like NextGen, IGT, and NetEnt.
What you might have heard about Bally that isn’t true: Some say you have to lose money first to take advantage of the welcome bonus from Bally Casino. That’s not true. While there is an insured betting portion of the bonus available to anyone losing up to $100, there’s also a $50 no deposit bonus awarded to everyone who signs up.
Responsible gambling features: Deposit Limit, Session Limit, Spend Limit, Account Cool Off, Account Self Exclusion
Customer support options: Toll-free phone, Live chat, Email
States available: New Jersey and Pennsylvania

See more: Best new online casinos accepting US players

Real Money Casino Games with Highest Payouts

Any search for the real money casino games with the highest payouts should start with a look at highest RTP slots online. RTP tells you the percentage of all the money put into a game it’ll pay back to players over the long haul. Here’s our list of the top five highest RTP slots online:

Monopoly Big Event: (99% RTP) A tribute to the classic board game with great bonus features, but you must bet big to realize its 99% RTP. You can play Monopoly Big Event at BetMGM.
Mega Joker: (99% RTP) A classic progressive jackpot online slot with a Supermeter Mode increasing your chances to win big. You can play Mega Joker at Bally Casino.
Blood Suckers: (98% RTP) A vampire-themed slot where you can win 1014.6x your bet and play around with some great bonus features. You can play Blood Suckers at Borgata Casino.
Rainbow Riches: (98% RTP) A classic Luck O’ the Irish-themed slot with great bonus features. You can play Rainbow Riches at DraftKings Casino.
Double Diamond: (98% RTP) A classic with 27 unique ways to win and bonus features including a multiplier and tumbling reels. You can play Double Diamond at Golden Nugget.

Of course, there’s more to real money casino games with the highest payouts than just slots. High RTP table games can pay off as well. Here’s our list of the top five highest RTP table games online:

Video Poker: Deuces Wild has a 100.05% RTP. That means there’s a negative house edge, but you have to play perfectly to realize it.
Blackjack: The RTP on Blackjack games range from 98% to 99.57%. It all depends on how many decks, the rules, and the strategy you employ.
Baccarat: The RTP on Baccarat is from 98.76% to 98.94%. It depends on whether you bet on Banker or Player. There’s also a commission charged on Banker bets that offer the lower house edge.
Craps: The odds on a pass line is a zero house edge bet.
European Roulette: The RTP on European Roulette is 97.3% because there’s just one zero pocket.

See more:

How we rank real money online casinos

We rank real money online casinos based on our personal experience playing at these casinos and reviewing them for more than a decade. We also consider what you say in user reviews on sites like Google and Reddit.

Of course, we also take a scientific approach, using a strict set of criteria to create a fair and balanced ranking. Categories include software features, usability, game library size, bonus and promotion availability, banking functionality, rewards availability, and safety and security.

After combing through all that, we rank the best real money online casinos and always make sure to be transparent with the reasons why any real money online casino has achieved that rank.

See more: Fastest payout online casinos

Real money vs. offshore vs. sweeps casinos

Licensed real money online casinos are available only in New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware and Connecticut. However, you have other choices if your state hasn’t legalized online casino gambling.

First, you can travel to a state with licensed real money online casinos. Alternatively, you can play at social and sweepstakes casinos that comply with your state’s sweepstakes laws.

You could also play at illegal offshore online casinos (which we never recommend).

The issue with illegal offshore online casinos is you’ll be putting your money and personal information at risk. Offshore casinos can shut down anytime, block access to your balance, and sell your banking and personal info to the highest bidder.

Illegal offshore online casinos might promise big bonuses but can’t deliver the protection state regulation provides. If something goes wrong, there’s no state regulator to turn to for help.

Furthermore, state regulators demand fairness from every game at licensed real money online casinos. They even go as far as testing them all. Illegal offshore online casinos don’t do anything like that.

In short, because they comply with US laws, regulated real money online casinos and social casinos are the only safe choices.

How to sign up at a real money online casino

Signing up at any of the best real money online casinos is easy. Take BetMGM, for example. All you have to do is follow these five steps.

Step 1: Click the BetMGM link above to visit its website.
Step 2: Click the ‘Register’ button on the top right-hand side of the page
Step 3: Enter a valid online casino bonus code, your email address, hit continue, or register via PayPal
Step 4: Follow the prompts to choose your password; enter your name, the last four digits of your Social Security number, your birthdate, your mobile number, and your address.
Step 5: Confirm that you’ve read the terms of service, and you’re all set.

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How do I know a real money online casino is safe & secure?

State regulators from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, Michigan Gaming Control Board, and West Virginia Gaming and Racing Association ensure the safety and security of every real money online casino they license.

They mandate encryption to ensure real money online casinos protect your money and personal information. Plus, they vet the staff and test every game.

Another way you can tell a real money online casino is safe and secure is if its website bears the relevant state board’s seal of approval. The real money online casino is safe and secure if the seal is there.

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Responsible gambling

When you play at a real money online casino, you’re putting real money at risk. It’s supposed to be fun, but it won’t stay that way unless you gamble responsibly. Responsible gambling means never betting more money than you can comfortably afford to lose, setting limits, and sticking to them.

Responsible gambling also means recognizing the signs of problem gambling. If you experience financial, relationship, employment, or health issues as a result of your gambling, you may have a problem. Fortunately, help and resources are available through the organizations listed below.