When it comes to the vibrant world of us online casinos, the United States is one of the places to watch as bigger is always better. The U.S. has many home-grown entities in a stranglehold, and while online casinos are not as ubiquitous as other forms of gambling, they’re legal in 5 states.
What should you know about Online Casino USA?
- Online Casinos in the USA are strictly licensed and regulated;
- You can only play at online casinos in specific states only;
- There are a number of payment options that are offered to American Customers within the legally regulated states at online top casino sites;
List of US online casinos
Online Casinos in the USA
The pillars of gambling in the US today are online casinos, sports and horse racing betting, poker, fantasy sports, and lottery. However, the complexity of administration and the legality of these is governed by the individual states.
Whilst online casinos and online poker are some of the most revolutionary forms of entertainment, this hasn’t been around for a long while in the US. The first online poker websites came into effect only in 2013 in Nevada, and in most states nowadays, online poker is still illegal. Online casinos became popular with New Jersey online casinos players as it is only casinos that are partnered with Atlantic City (and thus already have a reputation) which are awarded licenses – yu this means that big bucks are being generated online and although there are fewer brick and mortar establishments than there were a few years ago, this partnering has given the already established casino world a whole new lease on life. What we at CasinoToplists always unequivocally recommend is that you always play within the parameters of the laws of your state.
The Games at US Online Casinos
Maybe it’s because Americans are suckers for nostalgia, but nothing beats their thirst for Poker, Slots, Blackjack online, and Online Roulette – the latter’s status as a much-loved game is probably cemented by its almost film staresque status in Hollywood.
Online Casino USA Legislation
After the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda passed the Free Trade & Processing Act in 1994 allowing licenses to be granted to organizations applying to open online casinos, many other countries began scrambling to rearrange their own legal frameworks to either support (or rebuke) online gambling and while things were quite happily unruly in the United States for a stretch of time, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 was a major game-changer to change unlicensed casino from operating in the United States.
The UIGEA prohibits the transfer of funds from a financial institution to an off-shore internet gambling site, thus leaving many online gamblers at sea as to how to proceed legally and although several attempts have been made to overturn it or find loopholes, the outcome of the quite recent U.S. v. Schienberg et al case where three online poker companies were indicted for violating U.S. laws show that the UIGEA is still very much alive and kicking. That said, progress has been made and variants of online gambling are legal to residents within the borders of Nevada, MIchigan, West Virginia, New Jersey, and Delaware.
What is Uigea?
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, more commonly known as the UIGEA, prohibits the transfer of funds from a financial institution to an off-shore internet gambling site. When this law was passed the entire landscape of online gambling in America changed overnight. Here we take a deeper look at UIGEA and describe what the law says.
UIGEA is part of The Security and Accountability for Every Port Act of 2006, or more commonly known as the SAFE Port Act. Former president George W. Bush signed it into law on October 13, 2006. Almost immediately, publicly held online gaming sites stopped taking American players. The Act effectively ended online gaming in the United States. But only for a short period of time.
Due to the many loopholes and contradictions in this law, new regulations are on their way, and there are now some states like New Jersey and Nevada that offer regulated online gambling in a safe and secured environment.
What is eCOGRA?
eCOGRA, the eCommerce and Online Gambling Regulation and Assurance, is a non-profit organization that is run by industry leaders, site owners, and players. It is dedicated to establishing fair gaming, player assurance, and responsible operator conduct by creating a series of standards and practices that all eCOGRA sites abide by. The organization’s goal is to maintain a fair and legitimate business for gamers and site owners alike, thus helping the industry grow and prosper and getting rid of any negative stigmas the industry may have.
eCogra’s full name is eCommerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance, which describes exactly what the organization does; it provides guidelines and frameworks for online poker rooms, casinos, and sports betting sites to follow if they want to be able to display the eCogra seal of compliance to their customers. eCogra not only publishes its eGaps guidelines but also conducts reviews of the operations of sites to ensure that they’re in compliance and provide a safe, responsible gambling environment for players.
What is SSIGI?
The Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative, more commonly referred to as the SSIGI, is an initiative designed to legalize, protect and tax online gambling. It promotes the freedom of individuals to gamble online with the proper safeguards to protect players and ensure the integrity of financial institutions. The Initiative is also a resource for information about legislation to regulate internet gambling and provides individuals, organizations and companies the opportunity to support legislation and engage their elected officials. Through the creation of legislation, the SSIGI is working to legalize all aspects of online gambling in the US. They believe it is the right of the American individual to engage in such activities.
Always read your states regulation and law around online gambling before you enter into an unlicensed casino.