Where Can I Gamble Online In The Us
In short; There is no federal law against playing blackjack online. There are some states where it is declared illegal however prosecution would be extremely rare and would most likely be against any establishment rather than the player.
The Ohio Lottery is one of the longest-standing forms of gambling in the state, having been legalized in 1973. It’s also one of the only to have made tentative progression towards taking things online, with the introduction of the Lottery Card in 2018. At CardsChat, we've shortlisted the safest and the best gambling sites for players to gamble online for real money. Enjoy huge bonuses, 100s of games, and play on mobile! 1 Top Rated Online.
- In terms of mobile gaming, every US online casino I review, such as Planet 7 Casino, has this option, either through separate apps or through optimized mobile sites. Mobile US casinos are readily available so players from the United States on Android or iOS can play on the go just like the rest of the world.
- What games can you play at an online casino in the US? You can access a huge range of games from slots, roulette, blackjack, table games, video poker, baccarat, and more recently, live casino games. As more casino game developers start to infiltrate the market, the volume and range of games will increase.
- The scope of legal US online gambling has never been bigger. Show all sportbooks. Show all casinos. Featured States. There are many different ways that online betting can be implemented. But it makes sense if those betting sites are uniform among the states. Many of the big online gambling companies and bookmakers have been looking to open up.
It is completely safe to play blackjack online for real money.
It’s often reported that playing blackjack online for real money is illegal in the US.
But is it really?
Let’s tackle this head on and resolve this confusing and commonly misunderstood issue.
So let’s get one thing straight:
Playing Blackjack Online is NOT Legally Prohibited in Any Way by Federal Law
There is no law whatsoever against gambling online at the federal level which is a myth that has been established most likely from a misinterpretation of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 which states:
The Act prohibits gambling businesses from knowingly accepting payments in connection with the participation of another person in a bet or wager that involves the use of the Internet and that is unlawful under any federal or state law (termed “restricted transactions” in the Act).
This is basically saying it’s prohibited for banks to knowingly accept transactions that are a result of an illegal online bet.
It does not in any way state that it is illegal for a player to participate in gambling online!
Another reason why some people may think it is illegal is the confusion of the Federal Wire Act which is related to sports betting and does not apply to whether online blackjack is legal since they are considered different forms of gambling.
Play Blackjack Live Online
If you want to try playing blackjack online for real money, we recommend US players to visit Bovada casino.
Are There any State Laws which Explicitly Allow Online Blackjack?
Another reason why it’s confusing to determine whether it’s legal to gamble online is the fact that most states actually don’t have any specific laws which apply to online gambling in general.
If there is no specific law prohibiting online gambling then it is considered legal.
However there are three states that have explicitly passed laws specifically for allowing online gambling which are:
Interestingly, Nevada has allowed for online poker but have prohibited online casino gambling.
States Where Online Blackjack is Technically Illegal
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Louisiana
- Montana
- Nevada
- Oregon
- South Dakota
- Washington
- Wisconsin
There are 9 states that have prohibitions against online casino gambling however it should be noted that the real target of these laws are the online casinos themselves and not the player.
The likelihood of being criminally charged is extremely low and even if you were it would most likely be considered just a misdemeanor
There is only one incident I have been able to find dating back to 2003 in North Dakota where a player, Jeffrey Trauman, plead guilty for placing a bet over $500 and was charged with a misdemeanor and subsequently fined $500. (source: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1146&context=grrj)
So for further clarity, let’s look at a table of all states so you can easily distinguish the laws of the state you reside in.
| State | Legal? | State | Legal? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Montana | No | |
| Alaska | Nebraska | Yes | |
| Arizona | Nevada | No | |
| Arkansas | New Hampshire | ||
| California | New Jersey | Yes | |
| Colorado | New Mexico | Yes | |
| Connecticut | New York | Yes | |
| Delaware | North Carolina | Yes | |
| Florida | North Dakota | Yes | |
| Georgia | Ohio | Yes | |
| Hawaii | Oklahoma | Yes | |
| Idaho | Oregon | ||
| Illinois | Pennsylvania | Yes | |
| Indiana | Rhode Island | Yes | |
| Iowa | South Carolina | Yes | |
| Kansas | South Dakota | ||
| Kentucky | Tennessee | Yes | |
| Louisiana | Texas | Yes | |
| Maine | Utah | Yes | |
| Maryland | Vermont | Yes | |
| Massachusetts | Virginia | Yes | |
| Michigan | Washington | ||
| Minnesota | West Virginia | Yes | |
| Mississippi | Wisconsin | ||
| Missouri | Wyoming | Yes |
If You Are Unsure, Seek Legal Advice
When in doubt, seek professional legal advice: This website serves to provide players with advice and is not legally binding. Therefore, if you ever have more nuanced questions, do consider consulting a legal professional.
How would I deposit and withdraw money given the UIGEA and Where Can I Play?
The UIGEA has made it considerably more difficult for US residents to deposit and withdraw money from casinos. For example, e-Wallet services such as PayPal or Moneybookers, which are commonly used to transfer funds to/from casinos, usually will not work with US residents engaging in online gaming. We recommend US players avoiding these in general.
Most often, players from the US will be able to use debit cards, direct bank wire transfer, checks, and automated clearing house (ACH). The best method though is to use Bitcoin which is extremely quick and doesn’t have any excess fees. Read our complete guide on how to buy Bitcoin to deposit at a casino here.
For US residents outside of New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware, we recommend playing at Bovada or Betonline.
Related Reading
FAQ
The most recent prosection recorded incident occurred in 2003 where a player was fined $500 and charged with a misdemeanor.
Can You Gamble Online In Usa
Offshore online casinos do not fall under US jurisdiction so we highly recommend sticking to well known brands such as Bovada or BetOnline.
Pennsylvania has been the most recent state to legalize online gambling and it is expected that West Virginia will be following suit by 2021.
Yes. Since they are located offshore, they do not have to abide by the restrictions made by the UIGEA
Can I Gamble Online In Michigan
Yes, but as with participating in any service online, it is up to you to do your own due diligence before making any wager. While we can recommend reputable various online casinos to play at, we insist that you read the terms and conditions at any online casino so you know exactly what is involved.