Are Online Casinos Legal Where You Are? State-By-State Online Gambling Breakdown
Online gambling laws in the United States vary state-by-state, making for a confusing collage of online gambling regulations. Some States allow their residents to participate in online casinos and sports betting, while many states have regulated in favor of online sports betting only, and that’s before we even get to social and sweepstakes gaming. This patchwork of legislation can make it hard to know what you can or cannot do in your state.
This guide breaks down the current legal status of online casinos, sports betting, and sweepstakes casinos in every US state & overseas territory, you’ll find out what types of gambling activity are licenced or accessible in your juristiction – whether you’re a seasoned player or just getting started our guide will help you stay informed and compliant.
Where Is Online Gambling Legal?
Gambling online is legal in some form in most US states. Here’s a quick look at where each type of online gambling is available (scroll a bit further for a full state-by-state breakdown).
- Legal Online Casinos: CT, DE, MI, NJ, PA, RI, and WV.
- Legal Online Poker: CT, DE, MI, NV, NJ, PA, RI, and WV.
- Legal Sweepstakes Casinos: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MN, MS, MO, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WV, WI, and WY.
- Legal Sports Betting: AZ, AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO (Dec. 2025), MS (retail only), MT (retail only), ND (retail only), NC, NE (retail only), NH, NJ, NM (retail only), NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, PR, RI, SD (retail only), TN, VA, VT, WA, WV, and WY.
That means only one state has no form of legal gambling (casino, sports betting, poker, or sweepstakes): Idaho.
Legal Online Casinos & Gambling By State
Online gambling laws vary significantly across the United States, with each state deciding whether to permit online casinos, poker, sports betting, or sweepstakes-based gaming. The table below breaks down the legal status of each gambling category in all 50 states plus D.C., helping you see at a glance what’s allowed where.
| State | Online Casinos | Online Poker | Sweepstakes Casinos | Online Sports Betting |
| Alabama | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ❌ Not Legal |
| Alaska | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ❌ Not Legal |
| Arizona | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal |
| Arkansas | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal |
| California | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ❌ Not Legal |
| Colorado | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal |
| Connecticut | ✅ Yes, Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal |
| Delaware | ✅ Yes, Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal |
| D.C. | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal |
| Florida | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal |
| Georgia | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ❌ Not Legal |
| Hawaii | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ❌ Not Legal |
| Idaho | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal |
| Illinois | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal |
| Indiana | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal |
| Iowa | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal |
| Kansas | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal |
| Kentucky | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal |
| Louisiana | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal |
| Maine | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal |
| Maryland | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal |
| Massachusetts | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal |
| Michigan | ✅ Yes, Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal |
| Minnesota | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ❌ Not Legal |
| Mississippi | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ⚠️ Limited – Retail Only |
| Missouri | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ☝️ Soon (Dec. 2025) |
| Montana | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ⚠️ Limited – Retail Locations Only |
| Nebraska | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ❌ Not Legal |
| Nevada | ❌ Not Legal¹ | ✅ Yes, Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal |
| New Hampshire | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal |
| New Jersey | ✅ Yes, Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal |
| New Mexico | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ⚠️ Limited – Retail Only |
| New York | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal |
| North Carolina | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal |
| North Dakota | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ⚠️ Limited – Retail Only |
| Ohio | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal |
| Oklahoma | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ❌ Not Legal |
| Oregon | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal |
| Pennsylvania | ✅ Yes, Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal |
| Puerto Rico | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal |
| Rhode Island | ✅ Yes, Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal |
| South Carolina | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ❌ Not Legal |
| South Dakota | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ⚠️ Limited – Retail Only |
| Tennessee | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal |
| Texas | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ❌ Not Legal |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ❌ Not Legal |
| Utah | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ❌ Not Legal |
| Vermont | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal |
| Virginia | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal |
| Washington | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ⚠️ Limited – Tribal Lands Only |
| West Virginia | ✅ Yes, Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal |
| Wisconsin | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ⚠️ Limited – Retail on Tribal Lands Only |
| Wyoming | ❌ Not Legal | ❌ Not Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal | ✅ Yes, Legal |
Alabama
Online gambling is broadly prohibited in Alabama – online casinos, poker, and sports betting remain illegal under state law. Nonetheless, sweepstakes casinos (e.g., Jackpota, Crown Coins, and Stake) operate legally under alternative regulations, allowing play with virtual coins redeemable for cash prizes. No licensed sportsbooks or poker sites exist, though offshore fantasy-sports platforms and informal bookies may serve customers. In 2024, efforts to legalize a state lottery and gambling reforms failed, leaving Alabama without regulated real-money online gaming.
Alaska
Alaska does not permit any form of real-money online casino, poker, or sports betting; all are explicitly illegal or implicitly banned under state law, which means sweepstakes casinos are the only choice in the state. Alaska allows only limited, brick-and-mortar gaming such as bingo, pull-tabs, and small tribal operations. While offshore sports betting exists, it remains unregulated and lacks legal protection. Legislative efforts to introduce online sports betting surfaced in early 2025 but have yet to advance.
Arizona
Arizona legalized online sports betting in September 2021 with 20 licenses issued (half tribal, half commercial), enabling mobile wagering via apps like FanDuel and DraftKings. However, real-money online casinos and poker remain banned, only sweepstakes-style platforms (e.g., Chumba Casino) operate legally. Meanwhile, horse racing, lottery games, and daily fantasy sports complement the state’s legal gaming landscape.
Arkansas
Arkansas permits mobile and retail sports betting via its state lottery but does not authorize online casinos or poker. Sweepstakes-style social gambling is legal. Land-based casino gaming and parimutuel betting are allowed locally, but no full online real-money platforms exist for slots or poker.
California
California lacks legalized platforms for online casinos, poker, and sports betting. While the state’s lottery provides some gaming options, full-scale online real-money betting remains prohibited. Sweepstakes casinos operate legally under alternative frameworks. Legislative efforts to regulate mobile sports betting continue but have not yet resulted in implementation. However, some industry leaders remain hopeful for another sports betting ballot measure in 2026.
Colorado
Colorado online sports betting was legalized in 2020, making mobile wagering widely available via many licensed sportsbooks. Real-money online casino gaming and poker are not authorized, though sweepstakes-style social casinos exist within legal confines. The state’s Lotto and retail gaming venues remain the primary outlets for regulated gambling.
Connecticut
Connecticut leads with a fully regulated online gaming market, offering licensed real-money online casinos, poker, and sports betting since 2021. Major platforms—including FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, and Rush Street—operate statewide under the Connecticut Lottery’s oversight. The state has drawn strong revenues and serves as a model of a tier-one igaming market.
Delaware
Delaware was an early adopter of online gaming, launching legal intrastate poker in 2013 and expanding to include online casinos and sportsbooks through its lottery-run platform. While the market is smaller, it provides full-service legalized real-money wagering on slots, blackjack, poker, and sports, regulated by the Delaware Lottery Commission.
District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.)
Washington, D.C. online sports betting has been allowed via GambetDC and licensed commercial apps since 2019. Registration can be done online, with mobile wagering now permitted across the district. However, online casinos and poker remain banned; residents can access social casinos and sweepstakes apps instead.
Florida
Real-money online casinos and poker remain illegal in Florida, but sweepstakes-style apps like Pulsz and Spinfinite are widely accessible and operate legally under sweepstakes laws. Sports betting faces controversy: while a compact with the Seminole Tribe authorizes mobile wagering, legal challenges persist—including a Supreme Court refusal to review the case in 2024—and operations have resumed via tribal apps since late 2023. A recent lawsuit (filed April 2025) also alleges that online sportsbooks are against Florida’s constitution, further jeopardizing the market in the state.
Georgia
Georgia prohibits all forms of online gambling: real-money online casinos, poker, and sports betting are currently illegal. However, daily fantasy sports platforms like PrizePicks operate legally under DFS regulations, allowing limited wagering in states where traditional sports betting isn’t available. Sweepstakes casinos also function covertly under sweepstakes models, though their legality has seen little formal scrutiny at the state level.
Hawaii
Hawaii enforces one of the strictest anti-gambling laws in the US, prohibiting almost all forms of online gambling, casinos, poker, and sports betting are banned. The state’s zero-tolerance approach reflects strong constitutional and cultural resistance to gaming, with no major legislative efforts underway in 2025 to change the status quo. However, players in Hawaii still have access to legal sweepstakes casinos.
Idaho
Idaho bans online casinos, poker, and sports betting; the only legal real-money online wagering is on horse racing through advance-deposit wagering (ADW) platforms licensed by the Idaho Racing Commission. Idaho is also one of the few states that restrict sweepstakes casinos, and no online gambling expansion measures have advanced in recent legislative sessions.
Illinois
Illinois online sports betting launched in 2019 but the state has yet to legalize online casinos or poker sites. Sweepstakes casinos also operate legally in the state. As recently as February 2025, state Representative Edgar González, Jr. introduced HB3080 to legalize online casinos in the state. However, progress has stalled since March.
Indiana
Since 2019, the legal Indiana sports betting market includes both mobile and retail wagering from major industry names like DraftKings and Caesars. However, the state does not allow online casinos or poker, and recent legislative efforts like HB1432 have failed to progress. Sweepstakes casinos operate under the sweepstakes model as legal alternatives.
Iowa
Iowa sports betting legalized in 2019, offering licensed mobile sportsbook apps. However, online casinos and poker are not permitted; gambling is limited to retail facilities, lotteries, and parimutuel wagering at racetracks and OTB parlors. Sweepstakes casinos also operate legally under federal sweepstakes exemptions.
Kansas
Kansas sports betting launched in 2022 and includes online wagering through licensed mobile sportsbooks. The state prohibits real-money online casinos and poker, though sweepstakes casinos function legally under Kansas sweepstakes laws. Land-based casinos and the state lottery remain the only in-state venues for permissible real-money gambling.
Kentucky
Kentucky sports betting launched in 2023, offering both retail sportsbooks and full mobile wagering since late September 2023. Real-money online casinos and poker remain banned. Sweepstakes casinos operate under federal sweepstakes regulations but are unlicensed at the state level, making them a legal gray area. Some sweepstakes casinos have exited the state as a result.
Louisiana
Louisiana’s sports betting framework includes both retail and mobile wagering since 2021 in licensed parishes. While residents in most parts of the state (55 of the 64 parishes) can enjoy mobile sports betting via apps, the state prohibits online casinos and poker. Sweepstakes casinos function legally here under sweepstakes laws, providing alternative online entertainment without requiring a real-money wager.
Maine
Maine mobile sports betting launched in 2022, restricting online platforms to tribal partnerships and launching live wagering in November 2023. Online casinos and poker remain illegal, but sweeping legislative moves are underway: LD 1164 aims to authorize online casino gaming managed by tribal nations with a proposed 16% to 18% tax rate. Sweepstakes casinos also remain a legal gray area; while many sites are available, regulators have warned them against targeting residents.
Maryland
Real-money online casinos and poker remain prohibited in Maryland, but lawmakers are pushing for a November 2025 ballot referendum to legalize iGaming with a 15% tax proposal. Meanwhile, Maryland sports betting is fully legal, with mobile and retail apps launched in late 2022, generating over $5.9 billion in wagers in 2024. Sweepstakes casinos continue to operate legally; efforts to ban them in 2025 stalled and died during the legislative session.
Massachusetts
Online sports betting in Massachusetts has been permitted since 2023, following voter approval in 2022, and launched statewide in March 2023 via apps from operators like BetMGM and Caesars. However, real-money online casinos and poker are still illegal under state law. Sweepstakes casinos provide a viable substitute form of online entertainment. Lawmakers continue to explore iGaming expansion, but no concrete legislation has advanced yet for full-scale online casinos or poker.
Michigan
Michigan boasts one of the most mature online gambling markets: real-money online casinos, poker, and Michigan sports betting have been legal since early 2021. Retail sportsbooks launched in March 2020, with casino and poker apps rolling out the following January. The Michigan online gambling market features prominent operators and consistent tax revenues, making it a national benchmark for regulated mobile gambling. In terms of sweepstakes casinos, Michigan regulators have cracked down on operators, making sweepstakes casinos relatively rare in the state.
Minnesota
Minnesota sports betting is not state-licensed, and local regulators prohibit full online casino gaming and online poker. The state offers only limited tribal-run casinos and in-person lottery products. Sweepstakes sites operate legally within federal sweepstakes frameworks, though they navigate a complex legal environment. Legislative commissions periodically evaluate modernizing gaming laws, but so far no state-authorized online gambling framework exists.
Mississippi
Since 2018, Mississippi sports betting has been limited to retail sportsbooks at land-based casinos, with online and mobile sports betting prohibited. Real-money online casinos and poker are not permitted, though land-based gaming thrives. Sweepstakes-style online platforms operate legally under sweepstakes exemptions, attracting players seeking casino gaming entertainment from home.
Missouri
Real-money online casinos and poker remain illegal in Missouri – but sports betting legalization was successfully passed via a constitutional amendment (Amendment 2) that passed in November 2024. The Missouri Gaming Commission is targeting a December 1, 2025 launch with both retail and mobile Missouri sportsbooks. Meanwhile, social and sweepstakes casinos are legally available under sweepstakes frameworks.
Montana
Sports betting in Montana is legal, but betting must be placed on-site at licensed gaming facilities via the state lottery’s Sports Bet Montana app or in-person kiosks – no statewide at-home mobile betting is permitted. Real-money online casinos and poker are illegal, but sweepstakes casino sites operate legally under federal exemptions.
Nebraska
Nebraska sports betting has been retail-only at licensed casinos since 2023, but online and mobile sports betting is blocked after a 2025 legislative defeat for LB 20CA. Online casinos and poker remain illegal. Players may use sweepstakes and social gaming sites under federal exemptions, but there’s no regulated market. Efforts to modernize online gambling rules stalled in the 2025 session, and no new bills are active.
Nevada
Nevada continues to pioneer regulated online gambling: online poker and Nevada sports betting are legal and heavily regulated, with state-sanctioned apps requiring in-person account registration. However, real-money online casino games remain banned to protect brick-and-mortar revenues. The Nevada Gaming Control Board, an extremely powerful regulatory body in the world of gambling, has cracked down on sweepstakes and social casinos, prompting most operators to leave the state.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire online sports betting has been permitted for bettors 18 and up since 2019, while online casinos and poker remain prohibited. Sweepstake casinos offer an alternative option for winning money via slots. New Hampshire Senate Bill 168 (SB168) was introduced in March 2025 but seems to have stalled.
New Jersey
New Jersey boasts one of the nation’s most mature online gambling markets: real-money online casinos, poker, and NJ sports betting are all legal since 2018, with over a dozen licensed platforms like Borgata, Caesars, and Wheel of Fortune Casino in operation. However, lawmakers are now moving to ban sweepstakes casinos, with legislation (AB 5447) under consideration in 2025.
New Mexico
The state approved retail-only sports betting at tribal casinos since 2018, but New Mexico online sports betting, online casinos, and poker remain banned. Residents frequently access sweepstakes and social casino platforms legally, as these fit federal exemption rules, but no large legislative push is underway to expand iGaming beyond sweepstakes models.
New York
New York mobile sports betting has been fully operational since 2022, but the state’s high tax rate limits the number of locally-licensed operators and makes the odds a bit worse than in neighboring states like New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Lawmakers have discussed decreasing the sportsbook tax burden by legalizing online casinos, which would bring in more tax revenue and therefore compensate for the lower tax revenue from sports betting. However, as it stands, online casinos and poker are still illegal, and sweepstakes casinos recently faced a crackdown. Twenty-six platforms received cease-and-desist orders in June 2025, so most sweeps operators have left the state accordingly.
North Carolina
North Carolina online sports betting has been live since March 2024, with eight major operators active. Online casinos and poker remain banned, though social and sweepstakes casino apps provide legal alternatives. Retail casinos and tribal gaming facilities supply in-person options, while online real-money expansion remains unlikely in the near term.
North Dakota
North Dakota prohibits real-money online casinos, poker, and sports betting. However, residents can play social and sweepstakes-style casino games legally. Tribal casinos offer in-person gaming and poker under strict bet limits. No legislative movement has occurred to change the online ban.
Ohio
Ohio mobile sports betting and retail sportsbooks have been live since 2022, with active apps like FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM. However, online casinos and poker remain prohibited, and residents seeking gaming alternatives use sweepstakes and social casino platforms legally. State regulators continue to explore iGaming expansion, but no concrete legislation has been proposed.
Oklahoma
The state prohibits all forms of regulated online gambling—including real‑money casinos, poker, and Oklahoma sports betting – despite its thriving brick-and-mortar and tribal gaming industry. Residents may access offshore casinos and sportsbooks, but these remain unregulated and outside state oversight. The state is advancing an “iLottery” plan for digital lottery within its gaming portfolio, but no immediate changes to online casino or sports betting are currently active. Of course, players also have access to sweepstakes and social casinos.
Oregon
Oregon online sports betting is maintained through the Oregon Lottery and participating tribal casinos, but real‑money online casinos and poker are prohibited. However, sweepstakes and social casino platforms are popular and legal, offering thousands of free-play games and occasional real-prize chances.
Pennsylvania
Like its neighbor New Jersey, Pennsylvania features one of the most robust online gambling landscapes in the US—legal online casinos, poker, sports betting, and lottery (iLottery)—since 2019. Licensed platforms have generated over $9 billion in casino revenue, with Pennsylvania sports betting also thriving under PGCB regulation. iGaming remains heavily taxed but continues to deliver significant state revenue and consumer protections.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico legalized retail sports betting in 2019 and launched online sports wagering in June 2023, with operators like BetMGM and Caesars accessible from anywhere in PR. While land-based casinos offer table games, online casinos and poker remain illegal, and offshore platforms fill the demand. Sweepstakes-style social casino apps operate legally, though the government is exploring further remote gaming frameworks.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island legalized online casinos and poker in June 2023, joining sports betting (online and retail) that launched in 2019. Governed by the State Lottery Division, residents can access Bally’s digital casino and sportsbook statewide, as the app currently has a monopoly on the state’s online gambling market. The compact model ensures strong regulatory oversight and consumer safeguards, but players will find fewer gaming options and weaker odds compared to states with more competitive markets.
South Carolina
South Carolina has a total ban on regulated online gambling: real-money online casinos, poker, and sports betting are all prohibited under state law. Sweepstakes-style social casinos operate in a legal grey zone, but discussion around meaningful legislative reform remains limited despite occasional proposals targeting localized legalization pilot programs.
South Dakota
South Dakota authorizes retail sports betting in Deadwood and tribal casinos but bans online sports wagering statewide. Online casinos and poker remain illegal. A potential 2026 referendum aims to expand sports betting across the state, but until then only in-person bets are possible. Sweepstakes casinos fill in for on-the-go and at-home gaming.
Tennessee
Tennessee offers a mobile-first gambling market, legalizing online sports betting in late 2019. There are no legal real-money online casinos or poker rooms, but sweepstakes platforms (like Stake.us) operate legally under virtual-coin models. Retail sportsbooks and kiosks are not licensed, giving Tennessee a uniquely digital-only framework.
Texas
Texas prohibits all regulated online casino gambling, poker, and sports betting, though a high-profile legalization push is ongoing in the legislature during the 2025 session. Meanwhile, sweepstakes and social casino apps (e.g., Mega Frenzy and McLuck) remain popular and legally available, leveraging federal sweepstakes exemptions to operate without direct state regulation.
U.S. Virgin Islands
The USVI legalized retail casino gaming in 1995 in St. Croix, which allows offshore online casinos and poker without prosecution, but has no local online gaming licenses. There’s no regulated sports betting; residents can use offshore sportsbooks, as local law doesn’t prohibit online betting. Sweepstakes casinos also operate legally but with minimal oversight.
Utah
Utah enforces a broad ban on gambling: no real‑money online casinos, poker, sports betting, lottery, or pari‑mutuel wagering on horses. While sweepstakes casinos are technically legal, the state’s unfriendliness toward games of chance keep some operators away. At the end of the day, proposals for gambling legalization in Utah face steep constitutional and societal hurdles tied to religious and cultural resistance.
Vermont
Vermont online sports betting legalized in June 2023, with mobile wagering available statewide since January 11, 2024, via FanDuel, DraftKings, and Fanatics. Real‑money online casinos and poker remain illegal, and sweepstakes platforms exist in a legal gray area. There is no iLottery or retail casino presence, but the state allows daily fantasy sports (DFS) and charity gaming. Regulators have prioritized responsible gambling due to rapid sports betting growth.
Virginia
Virginia mobile sports betting legalized in January 2021, with state-licensed operators like FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars, and ESPN Bet now active. However, online casinos and real-money poker remain illegal, despite ongoing legislative efforts. A 2025 bill aimed at legalizing iCasino gaming died, with lawmakers looking ahead to 2026. Sweepstakes casinos are available and legal under federal promotional law, but they remain a niche option compared to the heavily regulated sportsbook market. All legal gambling activity in the state is overseen by the Virginia Lottery, with an emphasis on consumer protection and responsible play.
Washington
Washington allows tribal-run in-person and on-premises sports betting, but mobile and online betting is explicitly banned. The state prohibits online casinos and poker statewide, and sweepstakes casinos are outright banned as well. Some social casinos are available, but if the site allows cash prize or gift card redemption, they are not allowed in Washington State. Overall, Washington maintains one of the strictest online gambling markets in the US.
West Virginia
West Virginia sports betting, online casinos, and online poker have all been legal since 2018, and the state boasts one of the best online gambling markets in the country. Each of the three retail casinos have several online partners, although the only online poker option is BetRivers Poker. In terms of sweepstakes casinos, the West Virginia AG served subpoenas to several operators in February 2025, prompting those sites and many others to block those located in the state.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin permits retail-only sportsbook betting at tribal casinos, with no mobile or online sports betting available. Online casinos and poker are illegal. Sweepstakes and social casino sites are accessible and unregulated by state law, operating under federal sweepstakes rules. Tribal retail gaming and state lottery remain the only legal, regulated forms of in-state gambling.
Wyoming
The Wyoming sports betting market has offered fully legal mobile betting since September 2021. Operators like FanDuel, DraftKings, Caesars, BetMGM, and Fanatics are licensed through the Wyoming Gaming Commission. The state prohibits online casinos and poker, but sweepstakes and social casinos operate legally with minimal oversight.
Other Forms of Online Gambling in the US
While online casinos, poker, and sports betting often grab headlines, several other forms of online gambling are legal and widely available across the US. These games fall under different regulatory frameworks and enjoy varying degrees of acceptance depending on the state.
Horse Race Betting
Online pari-mutuel betting on horse racing is legal in over 30 states, thanks to exemptions in the Interstate Horse Racing Act. Platforms like TVG, TwinSpires, and FanDuel Racing allow users to place real-money wagers on races across the country. Some states, like Georgia or South Carolina, prohibit online race betting entirely, but most allow it with age verification and geolocation.
Daily Fantasy Sports
DFS contests from platforms like DraftKings, FanDuel, and PrizePicks remain legal in a majority of US states, though not without controversy. Unlike traditional sports betting, DFS operates under a “game of skill” classification in many states. Roughly 35+ states permit some form of DFS, while others like Idaho, Washington, and Hawaii restrict or ban it.
Online Bingo
Online bingo is legal in a few regulated states—Michigan and New Jersey—where it’s treated as a form of iGaming. Outside those markets, bingo is typically offered via sweepstakes casinos or social gaming apps that use virtual currency models. Charitable online bingo games may also be permitted in select jurisdictions under nonprofit gaming laws.
Online Lottery
As of 2025, 12+ states (including PA, MI, IL, GA, KY, VA, NC, and NY) offer official state-run iLottery platforms for online ticket sales, instant games, and second-chance drawings. These sites are regulated by state lottery commissions and offer strong consumer protections. Some states allow online subscriptions only (e.g., Mega Millions), while others feature full digital scratch-offs.
Timeline of US Online Gambling
Online gambling in the United States has evolved dramatically over the past few decades, from early offshore experimentation to the state-regulated digital ecosystems we see today. Here are the key moments that shaped the legal online gambling landscape in the US.
- 1996: First online casinos launch offshore, accepting US players without regulation.
- 2006: Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) passes, targeting financial transactions tied to online gambling.
- 2011: US Department of Justice reinterprets the Wire Act, opening the door for states to regulate online gambling individually.
- 2013: Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware become the first states to launch legal online casino and poker sites.
- 2018: PASPA is overturned by the Supreme Court, allowing states to legalize sports betting.
- 2019-2021: A wave of states launch legal online sports betting and casino platforms, including Pennsylvania, Michigan, and West Virginia.
- 2021: New York and Wyoming debut mobile sportsbooks, while Connecticut adds online casinos and poker.
- 2023-2024: Legalization efforts expand further, with Rhode Island launching online casinos (2024) and more states introducing legislation for iCasino, poker, and digital lottery platforms.
- 2025: Missouri will become the 40th state to launch a locally-licensed online sports betting market, with a launch date set for December 1, 2025.
Online gambling in the US is now a patchwork of state-regulated markets, each with its own rules. While widespread federal legalization remains unlikely, momentum continues to build at the state level – especially for mobile sportsbooks and, increasingly, online casinos.
Read More: US Sports Betting Bill Tracker
What’s Next for US Online Gambling?
The future of online gambling in the United States is poised for major shifts as more states explore legislation to expand legal iGaming. In 2025, several states—including Maryland, Indiana, Virginia, Wyoming, and Minnesota—are actively considering bills to legalize online casinos and poker. Maryland’s HB 17 and proposals in Virginia are among the most closely watched, with lawmakers aiming to build on the success of mobile sports betting. Meanwhile, major holdouts like Texas and California are seeing renewed efforts to legalize online sports betting, with pre-filed bills in Texas sparking serious legislative debate. If passed, either market could generate billions in annual revenue.
Industry forecasts suggest continued rapid growth, with the U.S. online gambling market expected to climb from $13.9 billion in 2025 to more than $22 billion by 2030. But as revenue grows, so does scrutiny. Regulators are beginning to push back on unchecked advertising, youth exposure, sweepstakes loopholes, and the emerging use of AI-driven betting algorithms. Some lawmakers have even floated the idea of federal guardrails to establish baseline consumer protections across all states.
In short, the next few years are shaping up to be pivotal. Online casinos could soon go live in multiple new states, sports betting may crack America’s two largest untapped markets, and policymakers are gearing up for a fresh round of oversight. The next phase of US online gambling will be defined by both expansion and the responsibility that comes with it.
US Online Gambling FAQs
How many states have legal online casinos & poker?
Online casino gambling is currently legal in 7 states: Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia
What States are considering regulating online casinos?
In total there are 5 states actively working towards legalising online casino and poker betting, those are: Maryland, Indiana, Virginia, Wyoming, and Minnesota
Are social and sweepstakes casinos legal in the US?
Yes, social casinos and sweepstakes competitions are legal at a Federal level and it is up to individual states to regulate against social gaming. Currently players are unable to partake in sweepstakes gaming in: MT, CT, WA, MI, NY, NV
What is the legal age limit to gamble in the US?
Where real money online gambling is permitted the minimum legal age to participate is 21 and over, however sweepstakes and social gaming the legal age is 18+, however many sweepstakes operators are starting to voluntarily raise their minimum age limit to match that of real money gambling.
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