Online Gambling in the United States: Federal Laws, State Regulations, and Current Status
Online gambling in the United States operates under a complex framework of federal and state laws. Federal statutes such as the Wire Act (1961) and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA, 2006) impose significant restrictions, primarily targeting interstate wagering and financial transactions with unlicensed operators. No federal law explicitly bans all forms of online gambling for individual players, but the UIGEA effectively blocks most U.S. payment processors from handling transactions with offshore sites. State authority governs most real-money online activity, with only a handful of jurisdictions offering regulated intrastate markets. Offshore platforms continue to accept U.S. players in a persistent gray area, though participation carries risks including lack of consumer protections, payment issues, and potential future enforcement shifts.
Federal Laws and Key Restrictions
The Wire Act prohibits interstate sports betting over wire communications, though interpretations have narrowed its scope post-2011 DOJ opinion. The UIGEA focuses on payment facilitation, requiring U.S. financial institutions to block transactions involving unlawful internet gambling. It does not criminalize individual play but significantly limits funding options for offshore sites. The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was struck down in 2018, enabling states to regulate sports betting independently. No federal prohibition exists on intrastate online casino or poker play when authorized by state law.
States with Regulated Online Gambling Markets
As of January 2026, regulated real-money online gambling is limited to specific states:
- New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Delaware, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Nevada offer licensed online casinos and/or poker.
- New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and others provide multi-state online poker liquidity through shared player pools.
- Sports betting operates legally in over 38 states plus Washington, D.C., with mobile apps in most, though some restrict college or in-state team wagering.
Most states prohibit online casino and poker while permitting retail sports betting, DFS, or pari-mutuel horse racing. Offshore sites remain accessible in nearly all jurisdictions, with no widespread prosecutions of individual players.
Offshore Online Gambling and Player Considerations
Offshore platforms licensed in jurisdictions such as Curacao, Malta, or Panama continue to accept U.S. residents and offer slots, table games, poker, and sports betting. These sites operate outside U.S. jurisdiction, providing no recourse through domestic regulators in case of disputes. Players face practical challenges including restricted banking options (often crypto, e-wallets, or alternative methods) and potential delays in withdrawals. While federal and state enforcement prioritizes operators over individuals, the legal gray area persists, and authorities emphasize the absence of safeguards on unregulated platforms.
Other Gambling Forms Across the U.S.
Land-based casinos operate in over 40 states, including tribal venues under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and commercial properties in states like Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) is permitted in most states as skill-based activity. Charitable bingo, raffles, and state lotteries remain widely available, though online ticket sales are limited to select jurisdictions. Social and sweepstakes casinos provide legal alternatives for free or prize-based play without real-money wagering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is online gambling legal in the United States?
Online gambling legality depends on state law. Regulated intrastate markets exist in a minority of states; elsewhere, it remains prohibited or in a gray area with offshore access common but unregulated.
Can U.S. residents play on offshore sites?
Many offshore platforms accept U.S. players, but participation occurs without federal or state protections. No widespread enforcement targets individual players, though risks include banking blocks and lack of dispute resolution.
What federal laws impact online gambling?
The Wire Act restricts interstate sports betting, UIGEA blocks payment processing for unlawful sites, and the 2018 PASPA repeal enabled state-level sports betting regulation. No comprehensive federal ban on intrastate online casino play exists.
Which states have legal online casinos?
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Delaware, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Nevada offer regulated online casinos. Sports betting is far more widespread, with mobile access in most states.
Gambling in Montana
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Gambling in Vermont
Vermont Gambling Laws 2026: Legal Options and Restrictions Guide Vermont maintains a limited and tightly regulated gambling landscape, with online sports betting as the primary recent addition. Real-money online casinos, poker, and most other forms remain prohibited under state statutes (13 V.S.A. Chapter 51), though no prosecutions of individual offshore players have been documented. Legal … Read more
Gambling in Michigan
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Gambling in Texas
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Gambling in Nevada
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Gambling in Missouri
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Gambling in Alabama
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Gambling in Alaska
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Gambling in Arizona
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Gambling in Arkansas
Gambling in Arkansas: Laws, Casinos, and Betting Options Arkansas maintains a regulated gambling framework focused on land-based casinos, retail and online sports betting, pari-mutuel horse racing, and the state lottery. Following voter approval of a 2018 constitutional amendment (Issue 4), the state authorized four casino locations with full Vegas-style gaming and sports wagering. Online casinos … Read more
Gambling in California
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Gambling in Colorado
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Gambling in Connecticut
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Gambling in Delaware
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Gambling in Georgia
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Gambling in Florida
Florida Gambling Laws Online Gambling in Florida: Legal Status, Tribal Casinos, and Available Options Florida maintains a tightly controlled gambling landscape dominated by the Seminole Tribe’s exclusive operations under a compact with the state. Regulated online casino games and poker remain unavailable, with enforcement targeting unlicensed operators rather than individual players. Offshore platforms continue to … Read more
Gambling in Hawaii
Online Gambling in Hawaii: Strict Laws, No Regulated Options, and Current Status Hawaii enforces one of the strictest anti-gambling policies in the United States, prohibiting nearly all forms of wagering under Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 712. No land-based casinos, racetracks, state lottery, or regulated online gambling exist within the state. Social gambling remains permitted only … Read more
Gambling in Idaho
Idaho Gambling Laws Online Gambling in Idaho: Laws, Tribal Gaming, and Offshore Options Idaho upholds strict gambling prohibitions under its constitution and statutes, classifying most unauthorized wagering as a misdemeanor or felony. No regulated online casinos, poker, or sports betting operate within the state. Offshore platforms accept Idaho players in a legal gray area, with … Read more
Gambling in Illinois
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Gambling in Indiana
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