Online casino games

By Mike J. DaviesSenior Editor at thisisnl.nl Updated: April 1,

Mike is our Senior Editor and experienced gambling strategist. A former hockey player, he transitioned to the casino industry after finishing his B.A. in English. Blackjack systems, online casino guides, gambling terms, and more - Mike is familiar with all fine points of gambling.

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Looking to compare the best US online casinos? This is our tried and tested list of platforms with high RTPs, fair bonuses, and stellar ratings.

Best Online Casinos by Category

From the fairest bonus playthroughs to juicy multiplier slots, we looked at the details of the perks offered by the best online casinos to see where they shine the most. We want you to have a gambling experience that stands out, so we've highlighted these checked and certified casinos below.

You know what you like, we just help you identify where to find it. As a team, we rate each casino for security and the factors that make or break a good gambling platform, while I test out some of the games and perks available. All of the casinos we recommend are licensed with a regional authority and are % safe.

Recommended Online Casino for May

Looking for a clear first choice? BetMGM checks all of our boxes, especially with its fair welcome bonus validity of 30 days. This gives you plenty of time to explore their wide variety of high RTP games. Partnered with vetted software devs like Playtech and NetEnt, it's no wonder they have over a million downloads on their mobile app and plenty of positive user reviews. And as is always the case with the casinos we recommend, it's legal.

Responsible Gambling

While player awareness of responsible gambling resources is on the rise ^[1], rates of compulsive gambling remain stable. There's no shame in getting help if you notice that you're starting to chase losses, find yourself preoccupied with playing, or see that it's starting to affect your job and relationships.

If you or someone you know is affected by problem gambling, there are a variety of free resources to choose from . Responsible gambling can start with calling the national gambling hotline or reaching out to one of these resources:

How to Pick the Best US Online Casinos

Behind each of our ratings stands our research team, combined with my personal experience and user reviews. We built a 6-part assessment that looks for what players want the most: high security, thrilling games, fair offers, easy withdrawals, quality software, and multiple ways to play. Don't forget to check each of the criteria shown below before signing up to a casino site.

Even if a casino ranks highly overall, you might be looking for something specific. Luckily, we've found that the top online casinos offer a wide variety of perks for their customers. Our selection of the best online casinos in the USA is grounded in our ranking system.

Security & Licensing

You can think of a casino's license as their law-binding guarantee to you that they follow a fair gambling policy. Each state has its own licensing authority and a different set of regulations that a platform has to follow to qualify as legal. You can see if a casino is registered with the state authority by checking the website footer or terms and conditions.

These are the regional authorities for the 6 states with legal online gambling:

Michigan Gaming Control BoardNew Jersey Casino Control CommissionPennsylvania Gaming Control BoardWest Virginia Lottery CommissionThe Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) Gaming DivisionDelaware Division of Gaming Enforcement

When gambling online, there's also the added risk of data breaches, which are only preventable with the right cyber security measures. That's why we also look for their security certificate in addition to taking the extra step to check a casino's license number with the state authority.

Best Bonus Offers

At thisisnl.nl, we consider a bonus to be only as good as its terms and conditions. You can secure a fair bonus by considering if the playthrough, promotional period, and game contributions are reasonable for you.

We recommend mainly welcome promos, as they come with the biggest perks, but most casinos with the best online bonuses also offer regular promotions for loyal players. Whether it's welcome or regular promo, remember to set a budget before you play.

Best Mobile Apps

We know that when you're looking for a good gaming app you want fast loading times, a wide selection of games, and a low number of user-reported glitches. That's why we take the time to test the different apps from the best online casinos for these factors ourselves.

We download and play their applications on an Android and iOS device in the office to test them across both user interfaces. Next, we check our personal experience with that of other users by reading through the reviews they left. That's the only way we can be confident that an application can join our selection of the best casino apps.

Software Providers

Your favorite casino games are all based on a platform's partnership with the best online casino software providers in the US . That's why you see some of the same games across different platforms. If you know which software provider makes games you always return to, you can keep an eye out for their name when searching for a new place to play.

Most operators only partner with trusted software developers. Some examples of popular providers available on US online casinos are Evolution, Reelplay, and Shuffle Master. Normally, these companies specialize in a specific type of games, so while Reelplay focuses on slots with quality graphics, Shuffle Master narrows in on card games like poker.

Customer Service

There's nothing more frustrating than an unresponsive customer support team. Whether you have a question about withdrawals or an issue with a mobile app, it's important that you can get your query resolved quickly. We check multiple lines of contact of all the casinos we recommend for good customer service, that's part of what makes them the best US online casinos.

Available Payment Methods – Deposits and Withdrawals

Casinos are pay-to-play, so it's good to know which of the payment methods you use are accepted by the platform you want to deposit to. To make things easier for you, below we've listed the most commonly available options. Our personal favorites are the best online casinos also accept PayPal.

Visa, MasterCard, PayPal, eCheck, ACH, Play+, American Express, Trustly, Skrill, Paysafecard, Cash at Cage

Using the same payment method for deposits and withdrawals makes your life easier. Visa, Mastercard, online banking, eChecks, ACH, Play+, Skrill, American Express, and Trustly go both ways. The same applies to the online casinos that accept Cash at Cage. Remember that platforms have their own regulations, so some options are not accepted by the casino, even if the method has that function.

These games have different rules and ways to win, but what they all have in common is that you can play them for real money. Before you try for a profit though, you can hone your card game skills using free simulators online or look for a free slots demo.

If you decide to claim a bonus to play, keep in mind that some games have little or no contribution towards the required playthrough. Card game wagers are often excluded or count as a small percentage towards a bonus, along with some slot games. Luckily, you can try to counter this by aiming for games with a higher payout, check for tables or slots that have an RTP higher than 95% to increase your chance of winning over the long run.

US Online Casino Laws – States with Licensed Gambling

New Jersey was the first state to legalize online casino gambling in , followed by Delaware, Nevada, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Michigan, and Connecticut^[2]. Now, there are even more states considering internet gambling legislation, so keep your eyes on the news if you're not already in a legalized state.

Regulations are unique from state to state, for example, in NJ online casinos must partner with a land-based casino, while other states limit gambling just to sports betting^[3]. While sports betting has been expanding in states more quickly, games like slots have proven to make bigger profits, so lawmakers may soon change their tune^[4].

All the states we listed above have fully legalized both sports betting and casino games. You can play from any legal state regardless of whether you're a resident or just visiting. Online casinos use your IP address, not the address on your ID, to identify if you can play.

Note that there are many other states currently pending legislation in favor of gambling. You can find in-depth information on the best online casinos in legal states on our US gambling legislations page.

Are Online Casino Winnings Taxable in the US?

The only silver lining to the obligatory tax on your winnings is that your losses are tax deductible. Every online casino in the USA that you win money at must send you an IRS form outlining your wins and losses at the end of each year.

If you haven't received the form you've been expecting, reach out to customer support. Casino sites must provide you with Form W2-G if you meet any of these five criteria:

• You have unclassified winnings that total $ and are at least x the wager.
• You have bingo or slot winnings that total $1, or more, regardless of the wager.
• You have keno winnings of $1, or more, reduced by the wager.
• You win $5, or more, reduced by the buy-in, from a single poker tournament.
• You have winnings withheld according to federal requirements.

Winnings are withheld on a federal level when you win more than $5, from sweepstakes, pools, or lotteries, and the winnings are at least x the amount wagered. Note that this is on top of any state-level tax and withholding requirements.

If all of this sounds confusing to you, you're not alone. The IRS publishes an article called Tax Topic that helps you find the correct forms, publications, and information relating to gambling taxes.

Online Casinos to Avoid

If you see that an online casino is not licensed by any state, playing there could put you at risk of having your winnings withheld or having your personal data misused. That's why you should always check the footer of a site you're considering for the logo of the regional licensing authority.

The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of made all gambling operators without a state license illegal in the US. This means that offshore casinos are not legal, playing at them exposes you to the risks we mentioned. This is our list of offshore casinos you should avoid:

• Bovada
• Wild Casino
• Leo Vegas
• MyBookie
• El Royale

Please keep in mind that this is not a complete overview of all offshore casino sites. If you know an illegal platform you'd like us to add to this list, feel free to contact us.

Conclusion – Best US Online Casinos for

I tried, and the team tested, all of the US casinos we suggested here. You can choose any of them and find a unique perk and regular promos. Whether it's fast mobile loading time, a selection of the newest games, or high RTP titles that you're looking for, we found it.

Mike J. DaviesSenior Editor at thisisnl.nl

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Mike is one of our most senior team members and contributes with over 20 years of experience in the gambling industry. He's our online and land-based casino review expert and a blackjack enthusiast. Mike's a table games strategist and is dedicated to helping you make informed decisions.

More about Mike

The casinos we feature are all checked for a valid license and a cyber security certificate. This way you can focus on the play without worrying if the platform you chose is safe and legit. I found some new favorites while researching the market for this article, I hope you do too.

References

1. Consumer Trends in Responsible Gaming Awareness (September 5, ), American Gaming Association, Retrieved December 11
2. State of the States (May ), American Gaming Association, Retrieved December 12
3. Build a Market-Ready iGaming Strategy (March ), Info-Tech Research Group, Retrieved December 8
4. Parry, Wayne, (April 20 ), As US sports bets boom, internet gambling is slow to expand Associated Press, Retrieved December 8
5. Wargo, Buck, (January 5, ) Push to expand igaming in the US in , iGaming Business, Retrieved December 11