Satoshi invented the first cryptocurrency, bitcoin, in 2009. A decade later now, we have different types of cryptocurrencies and different uses for them. One of the industries that have adopted and reaped the benefits of these digital currencies is online gambling.
Complete Guide to Casino Gambling. Casino games have been an international source of fun and excitement for hundreds of years. Betting on games of chance in back rooms and back alleys actually go back even further than that and have continued to grow in popularity evolving into the trillion dollar industry they are today. Online Casinos Gambling is a guide to all of the best Online Casino bonuses and Gambling News. We list the best casino bonuses avaialble and all of the happenings in the world of online gambling. Check out the best online slots and find the best Progressive Slot jackpots on our site. We only list safe and recommended Online Casinos and Gambling. Your Guide to the World's Best Online Gambling Sites. OnlineGambling.com is one of the leading experts in sports betting, online casinos, and real money poker.Our team provides up-to-date news and sports coverage, online gambling tips and how-to guides, as well as comprehensive casino and sportsbook reviews with the best odds and the biggest bonuses. Guide To Gambling Online welcomes players from United States. Here you will find full reviews of the best online gambling sites. Whether you prefer online Casinos, Mobile Gaming, Poker, Bingo, Sports.
What is cryptocurrency?
Many people still do not understand what cryptocurrency is and how it works. In the simplest terms, a cryptocurrency is a digital form of payment you can use to pay for goods and services online anonymously.
The main difference between traditional currency and cryptocurrency is security. Technically, cryptocurrency is a combination of digital numbers. These digital numbers are assigned a value, the same way we assign value to paper currency.
The cryptocurrency network keeps a record of every transaction ever made with the currency. Digital signature systems protect these records. Therefore, cryptocurrency is not only secure but also unforgeable and tamper-proof.
Why cryptocurrency in online gambling?
So, why should you consider online casino and betting with crypto:
Anonymity
Online gambling is illegal in some countries. Using credit cards to make bets in such countries is a considerable risk. That's why you need cryptocurrency for betting.
Blockchain, the system used to create a cryptocurrency, keeps your identity anonymous. The government can neither trace your money nor track your bets.
Fast transactions
Depositing money from your crypto wallet to your betting account is fast. Also, withdrawals from the betting account to your wallet are instant. On the other hand, traditional methods of depositing withdrawing money can take days and come with the risk of theft.
Lower transaction fees
Depending on the site you are using and the method of payment, the transaction fees can be quite huge. Your bank will charge a transaction fee for depositing money into the online gambling site. Similarly, the site will cut an amount from your winnings when you withdraw.
Cryptocurrency networks generally have lower transaction fees. More importantly, you pay no conversion fees.
Types of online gambling sites that use cryptocurrency
Are you ready to use crypto for online gambling? The next step is to find sites that have cryptocurrency as a payment option.
There are two main types of cryptocurrency gambling sites:
Cryptocurrency-only betting sites
As the name suggests, you can only bet with crypto – you cannot use conventional currencies. However, crypto-only betting sites are relatively new in the market. As such, they do not have a proven track record of dependability. The site could be there one day and gone the next.
That said, since these sites only deal with crypto, they tend to process payouts faster. Another advantage of these sites is a wide range of cryptocurrency options.
Established gambling sites with cryptocurrency as an option
That online casino or sportsbooks site you have used for years might have cryptocurrency as a payment and payout option. Such sites are an excellent choice since they have a history of dependability.
However, these sites might not have as many crypto options as crypto-only sites. So, if you have a not-so-popular coin in your wallet, you might need to convert it to more mainstream cryptos such as bitcoin before using it for betting.
How to deposit cryptocurrency to an online gambling site
To bet with traditional currency, first, you deposit it to a bank then transfer it to your betting account. A similar process applies to crypto. To deposit crypto in your betting account, you need to have the stake amount in your crypto wallet.
A crypto wallet is the equivalent of a bank account. It is where you manage all your cryptocurrencies. There are even more crypto wallets than there are cryptocurrencies. These different wallets have different features. When choosing, you need to consider:
- the security of the wallet
- how easy it is to move funds to and from your betting account
Here is a comprehensive guide on crypto wallets.
Cryptocurrency and Provably Fair Gambling
The invention of cryptocurrency made Provably Fair (PF) gambling possible. PF gambling is a revolutionary system that can prove the house did not tamper with the game. Like crypto, it uses algorithms to track data in an impenetrable structure.
PF is available for a variety of online casino games such as dice and slot games. However, PF is not available for online poker. Another downside is that PF gambling is currently only possible using bitcoin.
Cryptocurrency in online gambling is convenient as it provides more security and faster transactions compared to traditional forms of payment. However, remember, you are still gambling with hard-earned money. Therefore, you'll only reap the benefits if you practice responsible gambling.
Featured image: Bitcasino.io
On these pages, you will discover the best guide to online gambling in the USA. Learn how to play slots, poker, or roulette on your PC and smartphone. We'll even show you the top sites where you should register in 2020.
Read on to discover:
- Current US online gambling laws and rules
- The best online casinos to play legal games in 2020
- How to earn a welcome bonus when you sign up
Gambling laws in the US in 2020
US online gambling has long been overseen by the Wire Act. This aging piece of legislation forbids sports bets made over state borders.
In 2011, the Department of Justice opened the way for individual states to pass their own online gambling legislation. The first online casinos and poker rooms appeared in 2013 when Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware passed internet gaming laws.
Online sports betting was illegal in the US until 2018. That year, the US Supreme Court overruled the 1992 PASPA (Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act), which had prohibited single-sports wagers online. It opened the way for states to pass their own sports-betting laws. Land-based and online sports betting are now legal in several US states.
However, the Department of Justice (DOJ) recently concluded that the Wire Act extends to other types of online gambling, like casino and poker.
The new ruling is being opposed in court, primarily by the New Hampshire Lottery Commission. For now, individual states are permitted to accept online bets as long as they are placed within state borders.
What states have legal US online gambling?
There is more legal online gambling in the USA than ever. However, the process has been slow, and since 2013, only four states have allowed online poker. A handful of states have also legalized sports betting and online casino games.
Here is a guide to US states that have legalized online gambling or are expected to do so in 2020. We also have a list of states where regulated online gaming could be on the horizon.
New Jersey
- Regulator: NJ Division of Gaming Enforcement (NJ DGE)
- Legal: online casino, online poker, Daily Fantasy Sports, sports betting, lottery & horse racing.
New Jersey was the first state to approve online gambling legislation back in 2013. In New Jersey, there are more than a dozen legal NJ online casino sites, as well as a handful of NJ poker and NJ sports betting websites. You can also bet on horse racing and buy lottery tickets online.
Delaware
- Regulator: Delaware Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE)
- Legal: online casino, online poker, Daily Fantasy Sports & horse racing.
The state of Delaware has legalized online poker and casino games. Some DFS is available, and you can bet on the DE Lottery online.
Nevada
- Regulator: Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB)
- Legal: online poker, sports betting & horse racing.
Nevada was one of the first US states to legalize online gambling in the USA. However, in 2020, Nevada still only offers regulated online poker and limited sports betting. Online casino gaming is prohibited in Nevada.
Pennsylvania
- Regulator: Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB)
- Legal: sports betting, horse racing, online casino, online poker, DFS & lottery.
In Pennsylvania, you can legally go online for Daily Fantasy Sports, sports betting, lottery, and casino games. Online poker has been particularly successful in Pennsylvania, helped by the presence of major brands like PokerStars.
Today, there are a handful PA online sports betting sites and PA online casinos operating in the Keystone State.
West Virginia
- Regulator: West Virginia Lottery (WVL)
- Legal: sports betting & lottery.
West Virginia legalized online gambling in 2019. The West Virginia Lottery Interactive Wagering Act makes it legal to play online slots and table games, as well as poker and sports betting. At this point, there are 3 West Virginia online casinos live and more about to launch in the coming months.
Michigan
Legal States For Online Gambling
- Regulator: Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB)
- Legal: online poker, online casino & sports betting.
In 2020, Michigan will become the fifth US state to legalize online poker. Michigan is also legalizing casino games and sports betting. Only Michigan's brick ‘n' mortar casinos can apply for gaming licenses in the state. Each casino will be allowed to operate one online casino and one online poker room.
Rhode Island
- Regulator: Department of Business Regulation (RI DBR)
- Legal: sports betting.
Rhode Island was the eighth US state to legalize sports betting. The move came just months after the US Supreme Court's ruling against PASPA.Sports betting is legal at Rhode Island's land-based casinos but online gambling apps could follow.
Iowa
- Regulator: Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC)
- Legal: sports betting.
Iowa legalized online sports wagering in May 2019. The first online sportsbooks and apps went live in August 2019.
Mississippi
Regulator: Mississippi Gaming Commission (MGC)
Legal: sports betting.
Which States Allow Online Gambling
Sports betting was legalized in Mississippi in August 2018. However, wagers are restricted to land-based casinos like Beau Rivage and Gold Strike.
What US states are considering legalizing gambling online?
Since the first US states went legal, others have been trying to follow suit. Various bills are stuck in the quagmire of Senate hearings, but some states could finally legalize in 2020.
New York now has legal brick ‘n' mortar cardrooms, and a 2020 NY online poker bill is imminent. California and Florida also have land-based poker rooms and are tipped to legalize online poker in 2020.
Some states without traditional casinos are considering online sports-betting laws in 2020. These include Massachusetts and Tennessee. North Carolina, Montana, Illinois and Colorado all legalized sports betting in 2019 but are still debating the details. For now, legalized sports wagering in these states may be confined to brick ‘n' mortar casinos:
- California
- New York
- Florida
- New Hampshire
- Massachusetts
- Tennessee
- North Carolina
Browse the Gambling Times' Casino Game Guides
Become a better player by browsing our guides for casino games. These player guides are great for beginners who want to learn the basics and pros who want to perfect their strategy.
At Gambling Times you can learn more about classic casino games like craps, roulette, blackjack, baccarat, slots, and poker.
Slots: You will find hundreds of slots at the best legal online casinos in the USA. Slots feature a series of vertical reels filled with symbols. You win real cash by lining up matching symbols across the reels.
Roulette: You can also enjoy legal online roulette in regulated US states. Try out American roulette for $0.10 a spin, or hit the VIP tables and put $5,000 on red.
Blackjack: Blackjack is one of the most popular games at legal US online gambling websites. It's easy to play and you can enjoy one of the lowest house edges in the casino. Read up on online blackjack here.
Baccarat: James Bond's favorite game is a staple of most legalized US casino sites. Bet on the Player or the Banker and win if your hand gets as close to 9 as possible.
Craps: Experience the thrill of the Vegas dice game on your PC or tablet. Bet on the outcome of two dice and enjoy safe, legal craps games wherever you are.
Live dealer games: Online gambling in the USA isn't all about taking on the computer. With live-dealer games, you can gamble against a human croupier on roulette, blackjack, and baccarat. Place bets and chat with the dealer using your computer keyboard.
Online poker in the US 2020
Online poker in the US suffered a huge blow in the mid-2000s. When UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act) hit in 2006, some major sites left the country. Black Friday in 2011 led to the shutdown of even more poker rooms.
Since 2013, some states have been going it alone. New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware led the way, and there is even interstate poker where players from one state can compete against those based in another. In 2019, Pennsylvania became the fourth US state to regulate online poker rooms.
In 2020, you can play legal cash games and tournaments online for real money. You will have to be physically based within the borders of participating states. However, for just a few dollars you can take on players across the virtual felt. You can even play satellites and qualify for major events like the annual World Series of Poker.
Sports betting and Daily Fantasy Sports sites
Sports betting: In 2018, the US Supreme Court overturned a 26-year-old law banning bets on individual sporting contests. After PASPA was repealed, several states decided to legalize and regulate sports betting.
Some US states now have legalized online sports betting, where others have regulated sports wagering within land-based casinos.
In addition to professional sports like NFL and NHL, you can bet on college sports like NCAAF (football) and NCAAB (basketball). Not every US state has relaxed the laws on betting on college sports, however.
Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS): Daily Fantasy Sports sites operate in many US states, and it has been made explicitly legal in several areas of the country. In 2020, the industry is dominated by two or three major companies.
In Daily Fantasy Sports, you pay to enter a tournament or contest and create your own team comprised of NHL, MLB or NFL players. You score points based on how well your players do in real life. You win a share of the prizepool by scoring more points than your competitors.
Under UIGEA, DFS isn't considered gambling, and it's likely that even more states will legalize sites in 2020 and beyond.
Gambling Times: your one-stop shop for US online gambling
At Gambling Times we love everything about online gambling, and we want to share everything we know with you.
Lately, a lot of states in the US have legalized online gambling. Some, like New Jersey, now have legal online casinos, sportsbooks, and poker sites. Others, like Nevada, only have legal online poker.
But the tide of online gambling in the USA is turning toward the player. More states are starting to regulate internet casinos and sports betting. We all look forward to a future where online gambling is legal in the whole of the United States of America.
The best gambling sites in one place
At Gambling Times, you will find reviews on all legal gambling sites, plus you'll discover guides on where to play. We always do a thorough review of all US online gambling sites. We will never recommend a poor casino or sportsbook.
Here's what we consider when evaluating US gambling sites:
Great games and software: We always check the range of games available at casino sites and poker rooms. You should be able to access a full selection of games at a range of stakes. Games should be provided by major developers who are properly licensed in the US.
Reliable licensing and security: You can now access reputable US online gambling websites that carry proper licenses. Licensed casinos and gambling sites should carry the latest encryption software so that your personal data is safe.
Good customer support: Got a problem? That's when great customer service is essential. You should be able to get 24-hour customer support via live chat, email, or toll-free phone.
Fast and safe banking options: You can fund your online gambling in the USA via cards, e-wallets or bank transfers. The best gaming sites accept a range of safe methods, with limits to suit all budgets.
We always test US casinos, poker sites, and sportsbooks with our own bankrolls. A gambling site will score poorly if its banking is slow.
Mobile apps for easy gambling on the move: You can now play online slots and the best games on the go on your phone or tablet. We download native apps and access instant-play sites via a range of devices to test the game selection and software.
Amazing bonuses every time: You can claim welcome bonuses at all of our top-rated US online gambling sites. As a new player, you can earn free spins or a deposit-match bonus when you use your card or checking account.
Welcome bonuses aren't reserved for US casinos, either. You can also claim promotions at the best poker sites and sportsbooks.
Gambling sites in the US
There is still no federal law legalizing US online gambling. Gaming laws are passed state by state. Some games will be legal in one state and prohibited in another.
You can refer to our US state guide to view the current legal situation in your own state.
Gambling sites in the UK
A big portion of our readers are located in the United Kingdom, and that's why we also review and rate UK gambling sites.
If you're on the hunt for an online casino in the United Kingdom, please browse our UK guide, where we review all of the major online gaming companies.
Online gambling in the United Kingdom is overseen by the UK Gambling Commission. To read more about legal online gambling sites in the UK, please visit the UK Gambling Commission's website.
Other Markets
There are several other markets that have regulated online gambling. In Sweden, online gambling was regulated in 2019 and it looks like more EU countries are going the same way.
US online gambling FAQ
Is online gambling legal in the United States?Online gambling is legal in a few US states, but the rules change region by region. Some states have legal casinos, poker, and sports betting, while others only have poker or sportsbooks.
In what states is gambling online completely legal?In 2020, New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania have legal games across the board. These states have legalized poker, sports betting, and casino games. Nevada only has poker and sports betting.
Can I play for real money?Yes. You can gamble for real cash as long as you are 21 or over.
Can I gamble on my mobile phone or tablet?Yes. Many regulated states in the US have mobile casinos and sportsbooks. You can access gambling sites through downloadable apps or directly through the websites themselves.
Do I have to provide any ID in order to gamble online?Yes. Under most state laws, you must provide photo ID and a utility bill to prove you are over 21. You can deposit cash and play games once your account has been verified.
Online Gambling Georgia
Can I play games for free online?Yes. Many casinos and poker sites have free-to-play games for registered users.
Can I win a progressive jackpot in the US?Yes. Most legal online casinos in the USA have progressive slots that can award millions of dollars in prize money.
