New Online Gambling Sites

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With real money gambling sites becoming more widely accepted in the United States, online casinos and sportsbooks have become the preferred methods of gambling online for US residents. USA Gambling sites are now offering more ways to place bets and play casino games than ever before. Feb 04, 2021 A few states (New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Nevada) have regulated online gambling in one form or another. These states have the full backing of the state, offer reliable banking, and excellent games as well as reasonable bonus terms. Real casinos offer new players free sign-up bonuses that act as real money on their sites. Bettors loyal to a certain casino site can still enjoy free bonuses too, as the best online gambling sites offer weekly promotions to keep their regular players returning. Here are some general casino bonuses to find. Best Online Gambling Sites Compared 2021 - We've tested 100's of sites to help you find the top real money online casinos, gambling & betting options.

Table Of Contents

There are a lot of new casino sites coming out every month, each trying to convince you they are the most unique, complete, and fun casino sites in the market.

Some claim to be new casinos…but they are not.

Gambling operators often update their platform or change their logos to trick players into thinking they are new casinos.

  • We update the list of new online casinos periodically to bring you in all the top new offers, games, and platforms available.
  • When you choose to play at a new casino, you always get a welcome bonus to test-drive the site and see if you like it. Many of the offers listed on this page are exclusive to PokerNews.
  • All the sites on this list hold at least one international gambling license and are audited by independent third-party agencies.

Finding a new online casino on this list is super simple. Browse through the latest names to make through our rigorous selection process and see what makes them unique.

Once you see something you like, have a look at the site and the games on tap. This is the best way to discover if what we believe to be the best new casino site this month is also the best one for you.

Don't forget to claim your bonus! Every time you register on a new casino site, you get a bonus to play and discover if the site is ready as good as we write here.

New Online Casino: 2020 Updated List

One of the things you do need to know about, though, is how to choose a new online casino in February 2020 and what makes a new casino worthy of your time and money — should you decide to play real money games.

Once you know how to look for on a new online casino site, you can bring your gambling experience to a whole new level.

For that reason, I am going to list all the best new casinos in 2020, letting you in on what makes them stand out and how you can use their new player bonuses to your benefit.

The list below is updated every month so, you know what to do: bookmark it and come back to see even more new casino sites!

This excellent platform is our top choice for a new casino to try this month. 777Casino is a new website created by the same guys that run 888Casino and is a top-of-the-class choice to play online slots and table games.

You also get the usual bonuses that you are used to finding at 888Casino, so this is the safest choice if you are looking for a new casino that gives you great games and a lot of choice.

Casimba Casino'>

With elements that remind of Casumo Casinoo (the name) and LeoVegas (the lion), Casimba is probably the most popular of all new online casinos.

The company invested a lot of money in advertising and the TV commercial appears everywhere in the UK. The best part? Casimba is a great casino site, too.

You find all the most popular games in a snap, and it's probably the top choice to play new Netent slots this month.

There are a lot of games on the platform (have a look at the live dealer section, it's glorious!) and I love the selection of scratch cards.

We have yet to include Casimba's games into the list of scratch cards, but it will be there soon.

You can sample all the games and the VIP program with the welcome bonus.

While most new sites try to be 'fresh' and come to you with modern and light-coloured graphics, Royal Bet is a new casino that finds inspiration from two classic gambling themes: luxury and riches.

This new casino targets mostly high rollers and big spenders. The focus here is on things like 'Big Bonuses' and jackpot slots.

Royal Bet is also a great site to play slot tournaments and access exclusive services like the site's VIP Lounge.

Once you play enough to be in it (and it's not hard if you use the welcome bonus well), you receive a full pack of benefits including free bonuses and a dedicated account manager.

Not to be confused with 777Casino, Gate 777 is a fun new casino site with plenty of exciting games and surprises.

This new casino plays excellent on mobile, with a responsive site that works magic on iPhone, iPad, and Android.

We didn't test it on Windows mobile because…well…no one here can even name a single mobile device by Microsoft!

Gate777 celebrates its birthday in February 2020, and this is the perfect occasion to snap some extra bonuses that you won't find otherwise.

On this site you find a great selection of new games from blue chip developers (Netent, IGT, and Bally) and underdogs like 2by2 Gaming and EyeCon.

SEE ALSO: How to Pick a Good Slot Machine

The most distinctive aspect of this online casino is the theme. Crypto sports betting sites. Once you open Gate777, you enter a 'gambling airport' where you play games instead of boarding flights.

Like any proper travel-themed website, Gate777 also features a 'Frequent Flier' programme that helps you earn a world of extras as you continue to play.

Visit the 'Daily Upgrade' section to know more about the
perks you get here as a frequent traveller/player.

22Bet'>

Is 22Bet the prettiest new casino in February 2020? No, it sure isn't. But it is one of the most impressive when it comes to the offer you access with a single account.

As the name suggests, 22bet is home to a sportsbook — a perfect one, too.

On this new gambling website, you find an insane number of slot machine games by all the top developers in the world.

The slots sit alongside an excellent 'Live Dealer' section and an all-new part of the site dedicated to live games in general — where you have the opportunity to bet on other people playing poker, baccarat, and more.

Speaking of excellent sites that combine a wide choice of games and real money entertainment that goes beyond casino gambling, how about Unibet Casino?

This true industry-leader comes to you with plenty to discover this month.

New games and new bonuses are only the tip of the (Unibet) iceberg. Dig deeper to discover all the new missions Unibet just added to the platform in February and enjoy the site's super-fast withdrawals.

Unibet is also home to a sportsbook, an award-winning online poker site, a bingo site, and an all-new platform to bet on the lottery.

888Casino'>

Since we just mentioned a true gambling giant, how about we have a look at what's new on 888Casino?

With a platform that won back-to-back awards as the best online casino in 2020 and 2019, 888 is a fantastic site where everything changes all the time.

The new and improved welcome bonus is excellent for the new players, as the promotions available to recurring players are built to keep you on the games for as long as you like.

888Casino's top new features in February include the daily jackpots, new slot races, and the usual number of exclusive slot machine games you can't find anywhere else in the world.

Our readers / players have a love/hate relationship with the EnergyCasino platform. Sometimes this site comes up with so many new ideas that it feels like an all-new casino site…
…and some others it relies too much on small cosmetic changes that don't innovate much.

What's it this month, then? February 2020 is an excellent month to play at EnergyCasino!

While the site features all 'the usual' great slot machines it is famous for (and rightly so!), this month's attention is all for the new Perfect Blackjack game.

If you are looking for a new game to learn the best strategy to play blackjack, this is the game you need to put your money on.

Fruit Kings'>

This new casino is the site you need to keep your inner Gonzalo Pizzarro happy and satisfied.

Register on Fruit Kings to go on an adventure filled with excitement and games you won't find anywhere else.

Use the bonus to play Gonzo's Quest (obviously!) and then continue until you have enough jewels to find the legendary Monkey Temple.

Fruit Kings is a new casino in the sense that it makes excellent use of new gamification elements to keep you busy and to make every day more exciting.

All the newest offers at Sky Casino make this one of the top site to play real money games in February — especially if you are in the UK.

With the launch of the Free Spins Lounge and a time-limited massive free spins giveaway, Sky Casino is a great destination to play slots right now.

Don't get me wrong — the live games and the players club are amazing, but there's so much value in the free spins offers that it would be crazy to visit Sky Casino in February and not play slot machine games.

There are also some good progressive jackpots, with Sporting Legends' Mega Jackpot just shy of £400,000 at the time of going live with this recap of the top new casinos in February 2020.

PlayAmo Casino'>

PlayAmo is another new casino site that became many players' favoured online gambling destination.

Choose between 1,800 real money/play money games from more than 20 leading providers. Make sure you don't miss the 'New Games' section as PlayAmo is one of the fastest casino sites to add new slots as they come out.

The live casino platform powered by Evolution Gaming is one of the best ones out there, and the selection of live dealer games is spectacular.

This site's support chat is active 24/7, they payouts are lightning-fast, and the bonuses are always generous — primarily if you use the weekly offers for loyal players.

With more than 400 games on tap, Jaak Casino is a new site that is getting quite a reputation these days.

Sign up to play all the most popular slots in the world (from Book of Dead to Starburst and Bonanza, the choice is yours) and a massive selection of online scratch cards.

This site is also home to a tremendous seven-tier VIP programme (the 'Exclusive Club') where you get benefits as impressive as express withdrawals!

What is a New Casino?

When we tell you about a 'new casino', we talk about online gambling websites that offer free and real money casino games on modern platforms available on desktop and mobile.

Some of the new casinos on this page offer VR Games, HD live dealer tables streamed live from real casinos and exciting video slots.

Not all the new casinos on this page have just launched. Some, as you might notice, are well-known names that have been in the industry for years.

We include them on the page every time they add something new to their platform (features, games, offers) that we believe carries enough value for you.

Why Play at a New Casino?

The online gaming world is booming and it keeps evolving at an impressively fast pace.

By adding elements like VR games and live dealer tables to their offers, some of the newest casino sites available today can compete with the giants that have dominated the industry for decades.

New casinos go online almost every month. According to an industry study published by Statista, the number of active casino websites has grown so much that the industry is now worth $45.86.

And that's only a fraction of what is going to be in five years from today, as a 104-page study by San Francisco-based Grand View Research Inc. estimates the industry to be worth over $102.97 billion by 2025.

So —yes, online gambling is about to go 'even more' mainstream. And as it happens, you need to know how to jump on the best new casino site as soon as the rankings change.

Playing at the best new online casinos means that:

  • You always have access to the latest games
  • You play on modern software that work on desktop, Android, and iOS (iPhone / iPad)
  • You have access to fast withdrawals
  • You know what new gaming sites are available in your country and never play on restricted ones.

SEE ALSO: Top Sites to Play Online Blackjack for Real Money

Tips to Find the Top New Site for You

The list of new casinos you see on this page is the result of a thorough analysis made by our industry expert. While this provides you useful guidance to find suitable new casinos to discover, it might not be perfect for you.

To find a site that really suits you and your gambling habits, follow these simple tips:

What is a New Casino?

When we tell you about a 'new casino', we talk about online gambling websites that offer free and real money casino games on modern platforms available on desktop and mobile.

Some of the new online casinos on this page offer VR Games, HD live dealer tables streamed live from real casinos and exciting video slots.

Gambling

Not all the new casinos on this page have just launched. Some, as you might notice, are well-known names that have been in the industry for years.

We include them on the page every time they add something new to their platform (features, games, offers) that we believe carries enough value for you to consider playing there.

SEE ALSO: 30+ Real Monet Slots Online

Tips to Find the Top New Site for You

The list of new casinos you see on this page is the result of a thorough analysis made by our industry expert. While this provides you useful guidance to find suitable new casinos to discover, it might not be perfect for you.

To find a site that really suits you and your gambling habits, follow these simple tips:

1. Check the Bonus

One-fit-all welcome bonuses are great if you like to play a little bit of everything. If you always jump from slots to live dealer games, from scratch-offs to real money arcade games — a match bonus on your deposit is the best option for you.

When you look for a new website, go for the most massive percentage match and you'll be sure to get the most out of your casino experience.

As a slot player, you might want to lean towards the newest free spins offers — and those give you more games to play.

When you pick a new casino with a free spins bonus, check what games you can play with it.

You can easily sign up for promotions that give you Starburst free spins or free spins for UK players.

On some of the newest sites, you also find limited-time offers with free spins to play the latest slots to land on their platform.

2. Check the wagering requirements

Bonuses are great — as long as the wagering requirements are easy to meet.

Always check the terms and conditions of an offer before you decide to claim a bonus. Sometimes it's best to get a smaller amount of bonus money or free spins if this comes with low wagering requirements.

In 2020, you also find some new casinos that offer welcome bonuses with no wagering requirements. These are the best offers.

3. Check the games providers

A good casino needs to feature the right mix of popular games and niche titles. The list of the most popular game developers in 2020 includes:

  • Netent
  • Playtech
  • Microgaming
  • Yggdrasil
  • Quickspin
  • Evolution
  • Bally

Lesser-known game providers that offer great real money games are:

  • Wazdan
  • Rabcat
  • RedTigerGaming
  • Pragmatic Play
  • Habanero
  • Spinomenal

4. Check the payment options

This is particularly important if you are looking for a website to play real money games online.

All the new sites on this list offer fast withdrawals, secure deposits, and accept a large number of payment methods to complete all your transactions.

Top Rated Online Gambling Sites. ONLINE CASINOS SPORTS BETTING. CANADA'S FAVOURITE. Our Top Online Gambling Pages. How we Rate Gambling Sites. Top 5 Casino Games. Top 5 Sports to Bet on. Discover the Best Canadian Online Casinos 2021. We rank the most popular online casino & online gambling sites - Get C$1,600 in exclusive FREE bonuses! The best Canadian gambling sites accept plenty of different payment methods so that players have lots of options to choose from. Most have around half a dozen or so options available. These can include bank cards, e-wallets, prepaid cards, cryptocurrencies, and more. Most of the time, when you make a deposit, the money gets added to. Best online gambling sites. Whether you are looking for the best NFL sportsbook or the best site for live betting the NHL, Covers has found the best places to bet online. It's one of the safest real money gambling sites in Canada, and it's definitely worth giving a try. Ruby Fortune is the perfect Canadian online casino for beginners. It's got high win rates, over 450 games, and a fully responsive design that works well on mobile devices.

Some casinos accept e-wallet services like PayPal, MuchBetter, and Skrill. Others let you play with all the major credit cards (not if you are in the UK) and other more location-specific services like PostePay, Boleto Bancario, and Qiwi.

Read the reviews on PokerNews or contact support to know what are the payment methods accepted at a specific casino.

SEE ALSO: How to Play at Keno: 5 Tips that Actually Work

5. Check the special features

Most demanding and experienced players need more than 'just' a great selection of games and the right number of payment methods.

That's where the 'special features' come into play.

From Scatter Slots mission-based gameplay to Gate777 'frequent player' VIP programme, some of the new casinos on this list have extra features that bring a whole new level of excitement to online gambling.

6. Check the international licenses

All the sites on this page hold an international gambling license and are authorised to offer casino games online.

This is important.

If you are unsure about what are the licenses held by an operaror or you want to know more about the companies that run the business (and, ultimately, handle your money), use these license-checker tools:

New Casinos FAQ

How do you select the best new casino of the month?

As explained on this page, we analyse several aspects of each site, and we use a proprietary scoring system to weigh averages and produce our monthly rankings.

Are the newest online casinos safe?

All the sites you see on this page hold international gambling licenses by independent bodies like the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC), the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), and Curaçao e-Gaming Agency.

Our list of all casinos uses a geolocation filter to match your IP address with the new casinos that are available in your country. This way, you always play on sites that are safe and legal.

Sites
Are all new casinos available on iOS / Android?

All the casinos on this list offer mobile games on Android and iOS. To play on some of the newest sites, you don't need to download casino apps from the Google Play and the AppStore. All the games are accessible via a mobile browser (e.g. Chrome, Safari).

How to check the licenses held by a new casino?
New

Every new casino we feature on this page hold at least one international gambling license issued by the following bodies: the UKGC, the MGA, or the Curaçao e-Gaming Commission. Some operators hold more than one license at the same time.

Online Gambling Sites Uk

To know the licenses held by a specific new casino, visit its review page on PokerNews or go to the site and visit the 'About Us' page.

Are all new casinos available in the US?

As a US player, all the new casinos you see on this page are available and legal in your state. To achieve this, we match the location of your IP address with the list of new gambling sites available to you.

Whether or not you can play real money casino games on the site, that depends on the gambling legislation of your state.

Can I use a VPN to disable IP-blocks?

The use of VPN services is not allowed. All the new casinos mention in the terms and conditions of their offers that:

  • Winnings collected while using a VPN are void
  • The use of a VPN service leads to the immediate closure of a gaming account and the consequent ban of the user from the platform.

Joo casino. The list of new casinos was first published in November 2018. Last update: February 2020.

The promotion presented on this page was available at the time of writing. With some Casino promotions changing on daily basis, we suggest you to check on the site if it still available. Also, please do not forget to read the terms and conditions in full before you accept a bonus.

Skip the Headaches and Play at a Legitimate Site

You're looking for a legitimate U.S. gambling site, but can't decide which site to trust with your hard-earned money?

Good news! We've been in the online gambling industry for over a decade (several decades, really, if you add all of our experience together), and we've spent countless hours to bring you a list of the most legitimate sites.

Here's what all of these sites have in common:

  • 10+ years in the business with strong reputations.
  • Attractive promotions for first-time customers.
  • Quick money withdrawals (relative to the U.S. market).
RankSitePlayBonus
100% up to €250
  • Great user experience
  • Lots of casino games
  • Strong welcome bonus
200% up to €500
  • Eight Figures of Jackpots
  • Fast and Safe Payouts
  • Generous Bonuses Available
100% up to €400
  • Top of the line games
  • Good weekly promotions and bonuses
  • 100% deposit bonus
100% up to €300
  • Casino games and sports betting
  • Excellent bonuses and promotions
  • 100% deposit bonus offer
100% up to €400
  • Lots of options to choose from
  • Strong bonuses and promotions
  • 100% welcome bonus

Why Bovada Is #1 in the U.S.

New Online Gambling Sites

Not all the new casinos on this page have just launched. Some, as you might notice, are well-known names that have been in the industry for years.

We include them on the page every time they add something new to their platform (features, games, offers) that we believe carries enough value for you to consider playing there.

SEE ALSO: 30+ Real Monet Slots Online

Tips to Find the Top New Site for You

The list of new casinos you see on this page is the result of a thorough analysis made by our industry expert. While this provides you useful guidance to find suitable new casinos to discover, it might not be perfect for you.

To find a site that really suits you and your gambling habits, follow these simple tips:

1. Check the Bonus

One-fit-all welcome bonuses are great if you like to play a little bit of everything. If you always jump from slots to live dealer games, from scratch-offs to real money arcade games — a match bonus on your deposit is the best option for you.

When you look for a new website, go for the most massive percentage match and you'll be sure to get the most out of your casino experience.

As a slot player, you might want to lean towards the newest free spins offers — and those give you more games to play.

When you pick a new casino with a free spins bonus, check what games you can play with it.

You can easily sign up for promotions that give you Starburst free spins or free spins for UK players.

On some of the newest sites, you also find limited-time offers with free spins to play the latest slots to land on their platform.

2. Check the wagering requirements

Bonuses are great — as long as the wagering requirements are easy to meet.

Always check the terms and conditions of an offer before you decide to claim a bonus. Sometimes it's best to get a smaller amount of bonus money or free spins if this comes with low wagering requirements.

In 2020, you also find some new casinos that offer welcome bonuses with no wagering requirements. These are the best offers.

3. Check the games providers

A good casino needs to feature the right mix of popular games and niche titles. The list of the most popular game developers in 2020 includes:

  • Netent
  • Playtech
  • Microgaming
  • Yggdrasil
  • Quickspin
  • Evolution
  • Bally

Lesser-known game providers that offer great real money games are:

  • Wazdan
  • Rabcat
  • RedTigerGaming
  • Pragmatic Play
  • Habanero
  • Spinomenal

4. Check the payment options

This is particularly important if you are looking for a website to play real money games online.

All the new sites on this list offer fast withdrawals, secure deposits, and accept a large number of payment methods to complete all your transactions.

Top Rated Online Gambling Sites. ONLINE CASINOS SPORTS BETTING. CANADA'S FAVOURITE. Our Top Online Gambling Pages. How we Rate Gambling Sites. Top 5 Casino Games. Top 5 Sports to Bet on. Discover the Best Canadian Online Casinos 2021. We rank the most popular online casino & online gambling sites - Get C$1,600 in exclusive FREE bonuses! The best Canadian gambling sites accept plenty of different payment methods so that players have lots of options to choose from. Most have around half a dozen or so options available. These can include bank cards, e-wallets, prepaid cards, cryptocurrencies, and more. Most of the time, when you make a deposit, the money gets added to. Best online gambling sites. Whether you are looking for the best NFL sportsbook or the best site for live betting the NHL, Covers has found the best places to bet online. It's one of the safest real money gambling sites in Canada, and it's definitely worth giving a try. Ruby Fortune is the perfect Canadian online casino for beginners. It's got high win rates, over 450 games, and a fully responsive design that works well on mobile devices.

Some casinos accept e-wallet services like PayPal, MuchBetter, and Skrill. Others let you play with all the major credit cards (not if you are in the UK) and other more location-specific services like PostePay, Boleto Bancario, and Qiwi.

Read the reviews on PokerNews or contact support to know what are the payment methods accepted at a specific casino.

SEE ALSO: How to Play at Keno: 5 Tips that Actually Work

5. Check the special features

Most demanding and experienced players need more than 'just' a great selection of games and the right number of payment methods.

That's where the 'special features' come into play.

From Scatter Slots mission-based gameplay to Gate777 'frequent player' VIP programme, some of the new casinos on this list have extra features that bring a whole new level of excitement to online gambling.

6. Check the international licenses

All the sites on this page hold an international gambling license and are authorised to offer casino games online.

This is important.

If you are unsure about what are the licenses held by an operaror or you want to know more about the companies that run the business (and, ultimately, handle your money), use these license-checker tools:

New Casinos FAQ

How do you select the best new casino of the month?

As explained on this page, we analyse several aspects of each site, and we use a proprietary scoring system to weigh averages and produce our monthly rankings.

Are the newest online casinos safe?

All the sites you see on this page hold international gambling licenses by independent bodies like the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC), the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), and Curaçao e-Gaming Agency.

Our list of all casinos uses a geolocation filter to match your IP address with the new casinos that are available in your country. This way, you always play on sites that are safe and legal.

Are all new casinos available on iOS / Android?

All the casinos on this list offer mobile games on Android and iOS. To play on some of the newest sites, you don't need to download casino apps from the Google Play and the AppStore. All the games are accessible via a mobile browser (e.g. Chrome, Safari).

How to check the licenses held by a new casino?

Every new casino we feature on this page hold at least one international gambling license issued by the following bodies: the UKGC, the MGA, or the Curaçao e-Gaming Commission. Some operators hold more than one license at the same time.

Online Gambling Sites Uk

To know the licenses held by a specific new casino, visit its review page on PokerNews or go to the site and visit the 'About Us' page.

Are all new casinos available in the US?

As a US player, all the new casinos you see on this page are available and legal in your state. To achieve this, we match the location of your IP address with the list of new gambling sites available to you.

Whether or not you can play real money casino games on the site, that depends on the gambling legislation of your state.

Can I use a VPN to disable IP-blocks?

The use of VPN services is not allowed. All the new casinos mention in the terms and conditions of their offers that:

  • Winnings collected while using a VPN are void
  • The use of a VPN service leads to the immediate closure of a gaming account and the consequent ban of the user from the platform.

Joo casino. The list of new casinos was first published in November 2018. Last update: February 2020.

The promotion presented on this page was available at the time of writing. With some Casino promotions changing on daily basis, we suggest you to check on the site if it still available. Also, please do not forget to read the terms and conditions in full before you accept a bonus.

Skip the Headaches and Play at a Legitimate Site

You're looking for a legitimate U.S. gambling site, but can't decide which site to trust with your hard-earned money?

Good news! We've been in the online gambling industry for over a decade (several decades, really, if you add all of our experience together), and we've spent countless hours to bring you a list of the most legitimate sites.

Here's what all of these sites have in common:

  • 10+ years in the business with strong reputations.
  • Attractive promotions for first-time customers.
  • Quick money withdrawals (relative to the U.S. market).
RankSitePlayBonus
100% up to €250
  • Great user experience
  • Lots of casino games
  • Strong welcome bonus
200% up to €500
  • Eight Figures of Jackpots
  • Fast and Safe Payouts
  • Generous Bonuses Available
100% up to €400
  • Top of the line games
  • Good weekly promotions and bonuses
  • 100% deposit bonus
100% up to €300
  • Casino games and sports betting
  • Excellent bonuses and promotions
  • 100% deposit bonus offer
100% up to €400
  • Lots of options to choose from
  • Strong bonuses and promotions
  • 100% welcome bonus

Why Bovada Is #1 in the U.S.

#1: Fastest Check Cashouts

Bovada gets 10 times as much traffic as its second best US competitor and still delivers check payouts faster than any of them. Bovada processes check withdrawals in 7 days; many of its competitors take weeks, some more than a month to do the same. (There are other fast options, like the #3-ranked BetOnline, which delivers checks in 14 days.)

#2: Service

An equally important aspect of Bovada's operations is its customer service. If there ever was an indication of how much a company respects its customers, it's the level of customer service the company provides. I haven't found any US-friendly site doing this aspect of the business better (although 5Dimes is a worthy runner-up).

#3: All-In-One

Finally, all parts of Bovada's business (sportsbook, casino, poker, racebook) are popular. Bovada is best-known for sports betting and casino games, however, even its online poker room has around four times as many players online as the second biggest US poker site. You can access all of their games with one player account.

… But You Should Know This

Bovada is recreational-friendly, perhaps more-so than any other US site. You'll find few golden opportunities in their sportsbook (read more about their use of dual lines), they have a relatively high overall house edge (especially after recently increasing house edge in video poker games) and their online poker room only has 'anonymous' tables.

Although not everyone agrees with me, the recreational-friendly part is an advantage for skilled poker players. Since Bovada appeals to recreational gamblers, you'll be like a shark among regular fish.

Bovada charges a 4.9% fee for credit card deposits (a lot considering how most sites charge nothing). The impact of the deposit fee is slightly compensated by their welcome bonuses, which are better than average.

All online gamblers look for entertaining games, attractive promotions and aesthetically pleasing software. To have a safe experience, however, you want a site to:

  1. Serve its customers with safety and respect,
  2. Operate with a reasonable house edge, and
  3. Handle money transactions promptly.

Yes, the third point is included in the first point but it's also such an essential part of the customer experience that it must be mentioned separately. Many online gambling websites operate without an adequate level of service so these points are worth considering. It's rare to find a combination of all three points.

Bovada fulfills all of the above criteria better than other sites but 5Dimes does well, too. In fact, I'm confident in ranking those two as the best USA gambling websites specifically because they deliver so well in the areas related to safety and trustworthiness. A site without proper customer service and safety measures is not one you should deposit money to, regardless of its promotions and whatnot.

What Are Some Alternative Options?

For Sports Bettors

5Dimes.eu is the best betting site in the US for the following reasons: they're professional-friendly and offer reduced juice betting lines (in other words, less house edge). Before betting on any game, I recommend taking a look at the odds 5Dimes is offering. They've been a reliable sportsbook for over 10+ years — you'll find few complaints about 5Dimes online, and the ones you find have been resolved quickly.

For poker and casino games, I would go with Bovada. But for sports bettors, it makes the most sense to have an account at 5Dimes.

Another Solid Option

BetOnline.ag is my third suggestion. It's not significantly better than the others in any area but they're simply a solid option. Prompt cashout processing, decent poker traffic, good sports betting options and entertaining casino games. Additionally, I've had good experiences with their customer service.

For sports bettors, BetOnline is worth signing-up at simply to be able to compare betting lines among a few sites. For poker players, BetOnline may offer some good games every now and then (keep in mind: you can bet on sports and play casino and poker games with the same account, so plenty of gamblers will stumble on the poker games eventually). For casino gamblers, BetOnline has a basic but reliable offering.

BetOnline charges a 6% fee for credit card deposits.

Is It Legal to Play?

The definition of 'gambling' and the laws surrounding vary depending on which state you live in.

In Delaware, Nevada and New Jersey, some forms of online gambling have been legalized and regulated (only state-licensed sites are allowed to operate legally). In other states, it's likely (although not widely agreed upon) that playing – and certainly operating – online gambling games for real money is illegal.

On a federal level, sports betting is the only form of prohibited gambling via the Wire Act of 1961. For several years, the Department of Justice (DOJ) maintained that the Wire Act applies to all forms of online gambling, but in December 2011, they corrected that stance by stating that the Wire Act only applies to sports betting – a result of a 13-page memorandum from the Office of Legal Counsel to the Criminal Division of the DOJ (source).

State laws, however, often indirectly prohibit gambling. Or to put it another way: it would be difficult to claim any forms of online gambling legal with absolute certainty in most states (lotteries and such aside). Most state laws indirectly prohibit gambling simply by making all forms of gambling unlawful that have not been made lawful.

Purely based on history, it's unlikely you'll get into legal trouble; then again, if something is illegal, you can get into trouble, and someone probably will. Gambling online may be illegal where you live. Contact a local gaming lawyer to get a better idea of your local laws.

Legal Troubles

Industry-changing events have taken place in the online gambling world – mainly concerning online poker – such as the UIGEA and Party Poker's exit from the US market, or PokerStars' exit from the US market in 2011.

Those crimes were committed by online poker operators, though, not players. Still, the mere fact that online poker companies were targeted was enough to cast a shadow over the legality of US online poker, and furthermore, players grew more and more worried about one of these sites getting shut down along with the money on their player accounts.

In fact, there is a legitimate reason to worry about dishonest US gambling sites taking your money. Some sites have indeed taken off with the money – a recent example is Lock Poker, which currently may owe its customers over $15 million. I created LegitGamblingSites.com mainly to give more exposure to the sites with strong track records of honest business practices.

The lawmakers, in that regard, have a point about not allowing unlicensed sites to provide online gambling games to US citizens. While that may not be the reason, it's likely one of them. (If I had to guess, I'd say they're more concerned about losing out on tax dollars and protecting the interests of brick & mortar casino owners such as Sheldon Adelson, although through the RAWA – Restore America's Wire Act legislation – he tries to do that by himself.)

How to Move Money Around

Ever since the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA) became a law, US citizens have had a more difficult time finding a suitable deposit method.

There are only a few left, actually.

The most common deposit method for US citizens is still credit card deposits, out of which VISA is the most widely accepted brand, followed by Mastercard, with American Express being a distant third. Cards must be eligible for both international and online transfers.

The alternative method is to use a money transfer service such as Western Union. Western Union is mostly a deposit-only method. (Bovada is an exception since they only allow you to withdraw money via a check.)

Why to use a money transfer service instead of a credit card?

  • A card deposit fails to go through. This happens every now and then, and the only way to know if your card will be accepted is to try. According to various forum reports, Vanilla VISA is declined at most sites while Netspend VISA has been successful.

    Surprisingly, players have had problems with card deposits even at state-licensed sites due to banks like Bank of America outright declining all gambling transactions. Things will likely get better with the new MCC codes for VISA, Mastercard, American Express and Distant which will help casinos to identify gambling transactions more accurately. It's unclear how much of a help this will be since banks still have the right to decline transfers marked with the new MCC codes, and due to not wanting to violate the UIGEA (according to which they're prohibited from knowingly processing unlawful gambling transactions), banks may decide it isn't worth it and keep cancelling transactions even if they were for state-licensed sites.

    This is expected to change once bigger states – perhaps even the biggest of them all, California – join internet gambling, since declining the transactions will then affect such a large percentage of any bank's customer base.

  • You want a faster cashout. While money transfer services cost more (many sites, like Bovada, allow one free check cashout a month), the money is usually delivered to be picked up at a local Western Union location in five days or less.
  • You don't want a check cashout. You need to go to a cashier to cash a check. Most people would rather avoid doing this, especially since banks aren't allowed to knowingly process online gambling related transactions (unless in Delaware, Nevada or New Jersey, but people have had problems in those states as well).

In general, you'll have higher transaction costs with money transfer services than with a combination of credit cards and checks. BetOnline and Bovada are the only major USA sites charging for credit card deposits and most allow one free check cashout per month – some, like True Poker, allow a free check withdrawal every seven days.

How to use a credit card/check combination?

  1. Enter your credit card details online after which you have the money on your player account instantly.
  2. When done playing, order a check cashout, which will take from a week to over a month depending on which site you're dealing with.
  3. Go to your local bank to cash the check.

How to use a money transfer service (like Western Union)?

  1. Go to their website or a live Western Union location and send money to the gambling site. (You'll need to contact the gambling site first to get their transfer details.)
  2. When done playing, initiate the withdrawal from your player account.
  3. Go to a live location to collect the money.

State-Licensed Sites

As mentioned, Delaware, Nevada and New Jersey have legalized and regulated some forms of real-money online gambling. Delaware started with online poker but has since expanded into casino games as well; Nevada offers online poker games only; New Jersey offers online poker and casino games.

As you can see, not a single one of these states offer online sports betting. In New Jersey – clearly the biggest market of the three – there's a clause according to which sports betting may be considered to be added in the future.

Requirements

You must be physically located within a state's boundaries to play at the licensed sites. If you're currently located in California but live in Nevada, you're unable to play until you return to Nevada; if you're currently located in Nevada but live in California, you can play as long as you stay within Nevada's state boundaries.

Licensed sites have to make sure nobody outside of the state can participate in the games. Geolocation – identifying exactly where a person is located – has been difficult, and there are still people who are unable to play even though they're located within those states. This is one of the reasons licensed online gambling sites have done financially worse than expected.

Only existing brick & mortar casino owners within those states can apply for licenses, although they can apply together with an existing online gambling site in a software-licensing agreement, like Caesar's Interactive and 888.com have done. If a poker site kept operating in the US after the UIGEA of 2006, it will be subjected to a 'bad actor' clause in Nevada and be prohibited from operating in the state for now.

Performance

Each state has had a rocky start, although New Jersey is doing OK. In March 2014, they did $11.87 million in revenue, which grew into $13.16 million in March 2015. A growth rate of 14.57% year-over-year is better than nothing, but still a far cry from the $1 billion within the first 7 months of operating Governor Christie expected (New Jersey gambling sites were launched in November 2013). In other words, his expectations were a little over $140 million a month on average, or about ten times the current revenue.

According to PokerScout.com, Nevada's online poker revenue is going downhill. Year-over-year decrease in revenue of around 44% (from February 2014 to February 2015) is, no matter how you look at it, a disappointing result. Problems with card deposits and geolocation – both of which exist in other states as well – and player liquidity have undoubtedly contributed to the significant decrease. Players have to deal with fewer problems when playing at offshore sites, and as long as that continues, it will be difficult for state-licensed sites to gain major traction.

In Delaware, the state keeps all yearly revenue up to $3.75 million. Since total revenue for 2014 was around $2.1 million, gambling operators have made nothing. The main reason for such a low amount of revenue is Delaware's population of 0.94 million (in comparison, New Jersey has a population of 8.9 million). Liquidity is important for online poker since you need lots of players to run games at various stakes, in several forms and throughout the day. Delaware is trying to improve its poker liquidity by combining player pools with Nevada but so far there hasn't been a significant improvement to its online gaming revenue.

If all of the three states were to combine their player pools, it would create a poker economy of around 12 million people, which could add significant liquidity to the games and thus bring in more revenue to each of the states.

Online Sports Gambling Sites

Offshore Sites

Gambling sites accepting US customers from outside of the three states are all 'offshore' sites, meaning they operate from outside of the US and have no license to operate within the US. They have obtained a license in some other jurisdictions – such as Antiqua & Barbuda or Panama – but many of those jurisdictions have less-than-stellar reputations.

The disadvantage of gambling at offshore sites is the lack of safety. For an outsider, it's impossible to know how strict testing measures these sites go through to prove their legitimacy, and hypothetically, if one of them were to disappear from the internet tomorrow along with your money, what could you do about it?

New Online Sports Betting Sites Uk

Lock Poker, as already mentioned, is an ongoing example. They've now lost their license in Curacao (weirdly, they were able to keep the license easily over a year after refusing to process customer cashouts) and there's nothing anyone can do to make sure Lock Poker's customers have their money returned. All we can do is spread the word to the people who are considering signing-up and depositing money to their site.

The best thing you can do is consider the reputation of the site rather than the jurisdiction since all jurisdictions have had dishonest sites. The longer a site has been fully operational, and the fewer complaints it has generated, the better. Essentially, Bovada has been in the online gambling business since 2000 when Bodog.com was founded (the US-friendly operations of Bodog were re-branded as Bovada in 2011), and as mentioned, they've achieved an excellent reputation with a high level of customer service.

Online Gambling Sites Usa

But there are advantages to playing at an offshore site, too, and you can legitimately argue that the advantages override the disadvantages. Offshore sites place fewer restrictions on customers, need less personal information and have to compete with lots of other sites (within US states, competition is limited) which forces them to be at their best in order to succeed. There are no geolocation issues either.

Safety and legality aside – although obviously, both are big considerations – offshore sites are the better option in almost every area. Since only three states have legalized some forms of real-money online gambling in the US, they're the only places for internet gambling for around 96.4% of US population.

New Online Gambling Sites

What's Next?

US online gambling is in a transitional phase: after a long wait of legalization, three states have done it, mostly with lackluster success. Suggesting geolocation and deposit issues are resolved, revenue streams may grow. With online poker, though, most likely at least one of the bigger states has to legalize it and combine player pools with the others to create a meaningful poker economy.

New Online Gambling Sites Uk

A federal legalization would create much-needed competition and player pools, which in turn creates a bigger incentive for operators to participate and, in many ways, a better environment for gamblers. If internet gambling was to be legalized nationwide, every operator and their grandmother would want a license. As of now, it's more beneficial for most operators to stay outside of the US.





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