Top 10 Real Money Online Casinos in the U.S. September 2024
The U.S. is home to a wide range of real money online casinos. While some people play only for entertainment value, the main thrill of online casino gaming for most people is the chance to win some real cash.
Not only do online casinos offer players a chance to play games they probably won’t find at brick-and-mortar casinos, but many of the top casinos also offer bonuses, jackpots, and promotions to help players maximize their bankroll and boost their odds of winning.
Every avid gamer knows that your gaming experience and your chances of winning depend largely on your choice of gambling platform. In this guide, we have selected and reviewed some of the best online gambling sites that allow you to play real money online casinos. This comprehensive review and guide will help you decide which real money online casinos are right for you.
What is the Best Online Casino for Real Money?
The stakes are higher once you start playing for real money. The best online casinos should offer a rich game catalog so you can find your preferences easily. They should offer great bonuses as well while ensuring a smooth gaming experience through friendly terms and great customer service. Here’s our pick of the best real money online casinos based on these and other criteria.
- BetMGM – 100% first deposit match up to $1,000 Back + $25 on the house
- Bet365 – 10 Days of Free Spins
- Caesars Palace – 100% Deposit Match up to $1000
- Bally Bet – $100 Money-Back Guarantee on Your First Deposit
- Virgin Casino – Real Cash Back up to $100
- PokerStars – $150 in Bonus Play!
- Draftkings Sportsbook – Play $1 and Get $100 Casino Credits
- FanDuel – Bet $5 Get $200 in Bonus Bets + $100 off NFL Sunday Ticket
- Golden Nuggets – Deposit $7 and Get $77 Casino Credits
- Betrivers – Second Chance Bet up to $500
BetMGM Online Casino
BetMGM Casino is one of the biggest real money online casinos in the United States. This gambling platform serves players in Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
With an extensive games library that includes up to 4,000 games, BetMGM is an all-you-can-eat buffet of online casino games from some of the best software providers in the industry. The casino offers thousands of slots, table games, live dealer games, and even a sportsbook on the side.
What We Love
The best thing about BetMGM is the generous payout potential of this casino. Players get to play an exclusive live of progressive jackpots that deliver record payouts for lucky winners.
The casino also offers a generous welcome bonus that includes $25 on the house and a 100% bonus on your first deposit up to $1,000. Players can use the BetMGM casino bonus code OUTMAX.
User Experience
BetMGM has a dedicated casino app for mobile users as well as a responsive browser-based gambling platform accessible across all devices. As far as deposits and payout go, BetMGM offers one of the best experiences you’ll find, thanks to a long list of banking options. This gives players multiple options for depositing and withdrawing cash.
BetMGM is also known for its responsive customer service, which includes instant live support on the site and email assistance.
Pros
- Excellent user interface
- Mobile app for Android and iOS
- Welcome bonus for new customers
- Wide range of games
Cons
- High wagering requirements
- Available only in a few states
Caesars Palace Online Casino
Caesars Palace is a well-known name in the online gambling space. If you’re looking for a well-established real money online casino with a solid reputation, Caesars Palace is one of the top options.
This gambling platform serves players in Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. The casino’s game catalog includes over 750 game titles.
What We Love
Our favorite aspect of Caesars Palace online casino is the generous bonuses and promotions it offers. New players get a $10 signup bonus and a 100% matchup deposit bonus of up to $1000. The casino also grants reward credits of 2500 reward credit for a first wager of at least $25.
Caesars Palace also has a generous loyalty program that rewards players with redeemable points for playing in the casino. Points earned can be redeemed for hotel stays, dining, shopping, and entertainment at various Caesars Palace partner businesses.
User Experience
While the game’s library isn’t the biggest you’ll find, Caesars Palace makes up for the limited number by offering a wide variety of games to suit different player preferences.
The catalog covers various real money game categories such as slots, progressive jackpots, video poker and live dealer. Players can access the Caesars Palace platform via the mobile app or directly from their browsers.
Pros
- Mobile app for Android and iOS
- Excellent user interface
- Generous welcome bonus
Cons
- Limited range of games
- Available only in a few states
DraftKings
DraftKings is popular as a daily fantasy and sports betting platform. However, it also has an extensive casino with over 1,000 slots and a few dozen table games. DraftKings casino began operating in New Jersey in 2020 but now serves players in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Connecticut, and West Virginia with its extensive games library.
What We Love
Our favorite thing about DraftKings is the casino’s extensive library of exclusive games. It currently has dozens of games powered by in-house technology, which means you cannot find these games anywhere else.
DraftKings also offers a good selection of table games. Unlike other casinos that tend to focus on slots alone, you’ll find a few dozen table games on DraftKings, including blackjack, roulette, baccarat, craps and poker-style games.
User Experience
The DraftKings Casino mobile app allows players to access the games catalog from anywhere with their mobile device. The app is fast and intuitive, offering a high-quality gaming experience that’s just on par with what you get on the website. DraftKings has a very low minimum deposit and withdrawal limits, which makes it perfect for casual, low-stakes players.
Pros
- Mobile app for Android and iOS
- Excellent user interface
- Generous welcome bonus
- Wide range of games
Cons
- Limited bonus offers
- Available only in a few states
bet365
Like DraftKings, bet365 is primarily famous as a sports booking platform and is currently one of the biggest sports betting brands in the world. However, it also has an online casino with an extensive catalog of games, from Slots to table games, from some of the top providers in the industry, such as Microgaming, NetEnt, Playtech, and Blueprint Gaming.
What We Love
As one of the real money online casinos, bet365 is only available in two states. Only players in Pennsylvania and New Jersey can sign up for an account.
bet365 Casino is also an international casino with licenses to operate in many countries. This means players can trust them since their track record speaks volumes.
User Experience
bet365 is one of the casino platforms that focuses on quality and variety over quantity. The casino has up to 500 games, which isn’t all too impressive for such a big gaming company.
However, these slots are from some of the biggest gaming providers. You’ll find some of the most popular slot titles and table games on this platform. The casino also offers a few original slots exclusive to this platform. There’s a bet365 native app for Android and Apple device users, as well as a desktop.
Pros
- Trusted platform
- Mobile app for Android and iOS
- Excellent user interface
Cons
- High wagering requirement for the bonus.
- Limited bonus offers
- Available only in a few states
BetRivers
BetRivers is a sportsbook and casino website. The platform mainly currently serves players in Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and West Virginia with casino games, while the sportsbook platform is less restricted and open to players across several other states. BetRivers has an extensive catalog that includes hundreds of Slot titles. You’ll find both classics, modern video slots, and progressive slots with generous jackpots on this platform.
What We Love
BetRivers is an all-round casino, and this is one of the best things about this gambling platform. In addition to the slots, the casino library also includes table games and live dealer games. In addition to the extensive game library and easy-to-use software, Betrivers is also known for its generous bonuses with extremely friendly terms. The playthrough requirement for most casino bonuses is only 1X, which makes them very easy to clear and withdraw.
User Experience
In addition to its impressive catalog of games, BetRiver offers one of the fastest payouts you’ll find in any online casino. It uses an automated system known as RushPay to instantly approve withdrawal requests. This enhances the overall user experience and satisfaction on this gaming platform. BetRivers delivers a mobile-friendly experience both on its app and browser-based platform.
Pros
- Low wagering requirement for the bonus.
- Mobile app for Android and iOS
- Fast payouts
- Wide range of bonuses
Cons
- Available only in a few states
FanDuel
FanDuel started as a Fantasy sports and sports betting but has now evolved into a full-fledged online casino for players in Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. The casino now offers a rich selection of online casino games, including online slots, video poker, classic table games and live dealer options.
What We Love
Our favorite point about FanDuel is how creative the casino is with its bonuses and promotions. For instance, the welcome bonus on this casino isn’t a cash reward or match-up bonus like other sites. Instead, the casino returns your deposit to you (up to $1,000) if you make losses on your first day on the platform.
This allows you to recover any losses so that you can restart stronger and better. You will also get 200 bonus spins immediately after signing up.
FanDuel also has a Reward Machine, which players can spin three times per day for a chance to win prizes worth up to $2,000
User Experience
The FanDuel website has a clean, minimalist design that makes it extremely easy to navigate. Most payout requests at FanDuel Casino are processed and approved within around an hour, so it offers faster withdrawals than most rivals.
Pros
- Low wagering requirement for the bonus.
- Mobile app for Android and iOS
- Wide range of bonuses
- Excellent user interface
Cons
- Available only in a few states
- Limited customer support method
PokerStars
While most real money online casinos tend to focus on Slots, PokerStars is one of the few sites that heavily focuses on poker. The site is currently the largest real money online poker card room, controlling over two-thirds of the total online poker gameplay in the world.
The PokerStars casino is open to players in Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania alone. The casino features over 600 slots, as well as table games and live dealer games.
What We Love
The welcome bonus on PokerStars isn’t all that impressive. Players only get $150 when they join the platform, which is less than what many other competitors offer.
However, we love the PokerStars loyalty program, which rewards high-stakes players with generous promotions and offers for active casino gambling.
User Experience
Registered users on PokerStars only need one account to access online poker and casino games on this platform. Switching between your preferred game options is seamless, and the casino delivers a smooth gaming experience to players.
PokerStars is accessible through a responsive website, and players can download the mobile app to play games on the go.
Pros
- Excellent user interface
- Mobile app for Android and iOS
- Pokers and casinos are available
Cons
- Available only in a few states
- Limited bonuses
- Low welcome bonus
BallyCasino
Bally started as a brick-and-mortar casino and currently has up to ten physical locations across the United States. It recently transitioned into the online gaming space, and the real money online casino is now operational in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island.
The casino has a rich selection of games, and with Bally Corp’s recent acquisition of Gamesys, players now have access to the software provider’s catalog of games.
What We Love
We were impressed by Bally’s welcome package for new users. Players can claim a $100 money-back guarantee. This is real money, not free spins. You only need to make a first deposit of $10, and if you don’t win, you’ll get your money back up to $100.
Customers in Rhode Island are eligible for a different offer. They can claim $50 in bonus money when they deposit $20 or more. The good part is that you only need to wager the bonus money once within 7 days.
User experience
BallyCasino is home to some of the latest online slots, tables, and live casino games. You’ll find games from NextGen, IGT, NetEnt, and of course, GameSys in the games gallery. BallyCasino has a sleek and user-friendly design, with all the games optimized for different screen sizes. This ensures that you enjoy a great online experience regardless of how you access the platform.
Pros
- Top customer support methods
- Mobile app for Android and iOS
- Wide range of bonuses
- Low wagering requirements
Cons
- Available only in a few states
- Low welcome bonus
Golden Nugget Casino
Golden Nugget Casino is one of America’s largest online casinos for real money. It currently has over 1500 games in its library and serves players in Michigan, New Jersey, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
It is arguably the most popular online gambling platform in these locations. The casino was recently purchased by DraftKings, creating what is probably the largest online casino group in the country.
What We Love
Golden Nugget offers players a welcome bonus. You’ll get $77 casino credits when you deposit $7.
The good part is that the betting site offers one of the friendliest welcome wagering requirements of real money online casinos. You only have to play through the bonus once before you can withdraw it as cash. You’ll have a hard time finding a better deal elsewhere in the industry.
We also love the casino’s extensive library of games and how easy the website is to navigate.
User Experience
The Golden Nugget website is more intuitive than that of many other real money online casinos. The website makes it easy to find your preferred game by filtering the game options based on different criteria, such as themes, game providers, or even alphabetically. Players will also find information about each game and the option to play in demo mode without registering or depositing any money.
Pros
- The demo version is available
- Fair wagering requirements
- Excellent user interface
Cons
- Limited promotional offers
- Available only in a few states
- Low welcome bonus
Virgin Casino
Virgin Casino is one of the longest-standing real money online casinos. It has been in operation since 2014, which makes it the oldest online gambling platform on this list of real money casinos.
Virgin Casino offers quite an impressive portfolio of games thanks to the company’s high-profile partnerships with software providers like GameSys, IGT, and NetEnt. Consequently, you’ll find some of the most popular slot titles on this site.
What We Love
If industry reputation and experience are important requirements for you, Virgin Casino is clearly one of the top options to consider. We also love that this company has GameSys as its parent company, which provides access to several exclusive titles from the game provider.
Virgin Casino also offers players a welcome bonus when signing up. Customers can claim up to $100 Real Cash Back. However, you must make a first deposit of at least $10.
User Experience
With over 1000 games in its library, Virgin Casino has enough to keep users engaged for a long time without getting bored. The library is updated regularly as well, so you can always find fresh titles at this casino. Unfortunately, the platform is only open to players in New Jersey, which can be a little disappointing for bettors outside the Garden State.
Pros
- Wide range of games
- Excellent user interface
- Legal and trusted platform
Cons
- Limited promotional offers
- Available only in New Jersey
- Low welcome bonus
Can you Play Online Casinos for Real Money?
Real money online casinos are legal in the U.S. However, they are not available in all states. As of the time of this guide, online casinos for real money are only available in seven states. Players in PA, NJ, CT, WV, MI, DE, and RI are eligible to play online casinos in their states. If you’re not in any of these states, you are ineligible to play. Nevertheless, you can try other forms of betting, including sports betting and daily fantasy. You can check our list of the best sports betting sites in the country if sports betting is your choice.
Where to Play Your Favorite Casino
Casino games are not available in all states. This is because each state has different rules guiding online gambling.
In order to make it easy for you, we list below some of the real money online casinos in your state.
| Real Money Online Casinos | Legal States |
| BetMGM | MI, NJ, WV, PA |
| Caesars Palace | MI, NJ, WV, PA |
| bet365 | NJ, PA |
| DraftKings | CT, NJ, WV, PA, MI |
| Betrivers | DE, NJ, WV, PA, MI |
| FanDuel | CT, NJ, WV, PA, MI |
| PokerStars | NJ, PA, MI |
| BallyCasino | NJ, PA, RI |
| Golden Nuggets | NJ, WV, PA, MI |
| Virgin Casino | NJ |
Real Money Casinos vs Social Casinos
Due to the strict restrictions for gambling activities in the U.S., real money online casinos are only legal in a few states. As a result, social casinos have emerged.
For social casinos, players can wager on the platform for free using virtual currency. This is different from real money online casinos, where you need to make a deposit before playing.
Also, social casinos do not involve financial gains as players cannot win money playing them. On the other hand, real money online casinos allow players to withdraw funds after winning.
In addition, the top casino players are subject to stricter regulations, unlike social casinos with less strict regulations.
How to Play Casino Games Online for Real Money
Playing online casinos for real money is straightforward. We’ve described the steps below to guide you through the process.
- Choose a reputable real money online casino to sign up with. You can select from the list of options in this guide.
- Register an account with your chosen platform. Signing up requires only a few of your personal details. However, you may need to provide certain documents to verify your accounts.
- You can make a deposit using your preferred payment method. Options include PayPal, bank transfers, and e-wallets.
- After making a deposit, select your favorite games. This could be Slots, table games, or crash games.
- Input your stake amount and play the game of your choice.
Remember, you can only wager on a casino if available in your state. So, we recommend only signing up with a platform licensed to operate in your state. Also, you should wager responsibly and not more than you can afford to lose.
Online Casino Apps for Real Money
The best online casinos for real money provide accessibility, allowing players the chance to play conveniently. Most players prefer to wager on using their mobile devices because it allows them to play on the go.
Based on our findings, all real-money online casinos in this guide provide a mobile app. The apps are available for both iOS and Android users. Thanks to this, you can wager conveniently even during your busy schedule. Below are some of the best betting apps in the country.
Best Online Casinos For Real Money – Factors to Consider
Real money online casinos have evolved significantly over the years, with many of them offering several attractive rewards and other benefits to attract players to their platforms. Many of these sites are almost on the same level when you compare their game offerings, bonus offers and overall user experience.
So how do you choose the best online casinos for real money? Here’s an overview of some of the top factors we consider in ranking the best real money online casino for US players.
Game Variety
If you’re playing casino games for the experience rather than just for cash, then the number and variety of games offered by the online casino will be important to you.
A large game catalog is great because it increases the chances of finding the games that you love. It also boosts your chances of finding the most profitable games. However, online real money casinos with a small selection of games are great, too, as long as they offer variety.
In addition to the number and variety of games, you can look out specifically for the game types, themes, and game providers offered by the casino. You can also drill down to the specific wagering amounts, jackpot size, and bonus featured in these games to help you narrow down your options.
The best online casinos should offer everything from slots to table games, video poker and live casino games.
Payment Options
On real money online casinos, players get to deposit and wager on games to win cash. The overall gaming experience depends on how seamless the deposit and withdrawal process is.
The best online casinos for real money offer multiple deposit and withdrawal options to make the process as seamless as possible. This may include credit/debit cards, bank transfers, e-wallets, and even cryptocurrencies.
Aside from offering players multiple options to get money in and out of the casino, you should also check how quick and efficient the payment process is. Some casinos process payments instantly, while others have a lengthy verification process, which may take several hours or even days. Look out specifically for sites with payment options that are convenient for you.
Legality & Trustworthiness
One of the primary requirements for vetting online casino sites is their legality. A casino should be duly registered by appropriate regulatory bodies and must be authorized to operate legally in your state.
Legit online real money casinos fully comply with industry regulations and host games with fair and random outcomes, making them safe and reliable for players. Legal sites also comply with responsible gambling policies and have measures in place to protect players.
A reputable casino should also offer responsive customer support. This is an important criterion that can tell you just how reliable the casino will be. There should be multiple means to contact support, including live chat, email, and phone lines. The support team should also be professional and responsive, addressing customer concerns quickly.
App & Website Experience
Consider the overall experience the casino offers to players. This includes the account registration process, verification, and actual gameplay.
You should consider the game library’s ease of navigation. Some casinos allow users to search directly for games, while others offer filters to help them find the most suitable games.
You should also consider the quality of the games on offer. The best real money online casino sites host games from top providers that guarantee stability and a smooth gaming experience.
The site should also be responsive and optimized for mobile screens. This is vital since most players access online games from their mobile devices. The speed and efficiency of payouts also contribute to the overall gaming experience.
Rewards and Bonuses
While it isn’t mandatory, rewards and bonuses help online casinos stand out from their competitors. This is why online casinos for real money grant new players some sort of welcome bonus while also granting rewards and promotions to existing users.
Casino rewards can be in the form of cash prizes, free spins, casino points and cashback. Look out specifically for what the online casino offers to see if it’ll be suitable for your needs. However, we recommend looking beyond the bonus itself when making your decision. Instead, you should dive into the terms and conditions and see what it takes to redeem the bonus offers.
Some casinos offer seemingly generous bonuses but have strict playthrough requirements that players must fulfill before they can cash out their bonus. The best value comes from bonuses that you can claim with no deposit and with no wagering requirements.
In addition to the welcome bonus, you should also look at the promos for existing users to see what you stand to gain from playing in the casino in the long run. These bonuses make your gaming experience a lot more enjoyable.
Tips for Playing on Online Casinos for Real Money
Online gaming is meant to be entertaining. However, playing for real money raises the stakes since you’ll be risking your hard-earned money to play. There are some basic things you should know for your safety and to maximize your chances of winning on online casinos that pay real money. Here are a few expert tips to keep in mind as you play:
Avoid Illegal Offshore Casino Sites
Online gambling is a heavily regulated activity in the United States. Consequently, most states don’t allow real money online casinos to operate legally.
As a workaround to this problem, people often turn to offshore sites. These are casino sites operating from outside the United States. While offshore gambling isn’t strictly illegal, playing on these sites can be a little tricky.
Offshore sites aren’t regulated by local authorities, which means they’re not bound by US laws. It’s easy to see why exploring offshore casino sites can potentially put your deposit and whatever you win on these sites at risk.
An example of an offshore site is Bovada Online Casino. Currently, players from almost all major U.S. states can play on Bovada Casino. Only players in Michigan, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Delaware, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Connecticut, Maryland, and West Virginia are not eligible to play.
Bovada Online Casino is a Costa Rican-based online casino that does not have a license from the U.S. While players can still register and play in most areas, it is not completely safe. However, Bovada Casino has a track record over the years, and some players still hold an account with them. Nevertheless, we advise that players stick to real money online casinos licensed to operate in the U.S.
Know the Game Odds
Most online casino games (especially slots) are luck-based. Many of these online Slots are programmed with specific odds and a house edge. The house edge determines how much the casino wins back with each game and your chances of winning when you play.
It’s easy to ignore the house edge when you’re playing for fun, but for real money online casinos, the house edge is important. Always check the odds of winning in a game before you play, especially for games where outcomes are based on chance rather than skill.
Always Take Advantage of Bonuses
Almost all real money casinos offer some type of bonus for new and existing users. It is in your best interest to find out about these bonuses and how to get them.
Instead of risking your hard-earned money for a chance to win, no-deposit bonuses, cashback, free spins, and other freebies can help you win huge rewards on casino games while risking little money or nothing at all.
Be on the lookout for promo codes, tournaments, and social media contests that can help you win bonuses. It also helps to subscribe to newsletters so you’ll be notified when the casino has a new offer.
Understand Bonus Requirements
It’s not enough to find bonuses on online casinos that pay real money, the terms and conditions of each bonus will determine whether it’s right for you or not.
Some casinos set very stringent playthrough requirements on their bonuses which makes it difficult to withdraw your winnings from the site. Others may have time limitations or specific conditions that’ll void your bonus. Review the terms of each casino bonus before claiming it.
Practice Responsible Gambling
Real money is a slippery slope sometimes. The appeal of winning instant money or hitting a big jackpot may push players into chasing wins or wasting their time and resources on gambling. When playing games in an online casino for real money, you should pay attention to safety and responsible gambling.
Some of the best real money online casinos offer built-in tools to limit spending and time spent online. You can take advantage of these features to avoid problem gambling.
Remember that gambling is a form of entertainment and not a way to make money. Enjoy the thrill of the games, but don’t get caught in the race for quick cash.
Conclusion – Best Online Casinos for Real Money
Despite the strict regulation concerning online casinos in the U.S., players can still access a wide range of platforms. However, real money online casinos are only available in seven states. So, if you’re in these states, you’re eligible to play on select a casino site legalized in your state.
In this guide, we’ve successfully reviewed some of the best online casinos for real money. Ensure you adhere to the regulations regarding your state and always remember to wager responsibly. If lotteries are your thing, you can check our review of the top US Online lotteries to enjoy some of the available options.
Online Casino for Real Money – Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a real online casino that pays real money?
Yes, there are several real money online casinos in the U.S. You can check out bet365, DraftKings, FanDuel, Virgin Casino, BallyCasino, and PokerStars.
What is the most legitimate online casino?
A number of online casinos are legal in the U.S. However. Legalization is done by states. Some of the top legitimate online casinos for real money are BetMGM, Golden Nuggets, Virgin Casino, and BallyCasino.
Which casino app gives real money?
Almost all online casinos provides a mobile app. Some casino apps you can try include Betrivers, DraftKings, bet365, FanDuel, and PokerStars.
Do online casinos pay out?
A wide range of online casinos for real money payout. Players can register on legal platforms to play casino games and payout. However, you’ll likely need to make a deposit and place games to withdraw from your chosen platform.
