As part of our guide to safe, officially licensed online casino sites in the U.S., we also want to highlight the sites you shouldn't visit, according to recent surveys and reports. If you're looking for secure, top rated online casinos, it's worth knowing what distinguishes them from potentially unsafe ones.
Sites you need to steer clear of, based on information from recent surveys and reports.
- 17% of Americans have at least one acquaintance who goes to illegal gambling sites.
- 40% think that illegal gambling is increasing.
- 72% claim illegal gambling ought to be more vigorously opposed.
Although the U.S. gambling market is controlled at the state level, there are only officially licensed casinos that may legally offer online gaming services. However, illegal casinos are increasingly thriving, generating more than $25 billion in combined revenue.
- Illegal casinos take in about $18 billion in revenues.
- 56.4% of U.S. players do gamble online, and the growth continues.
- The most active demographic at online gambling (74.7%) is the 25–34 age group.
- Average online player is male (63.5%), college-educated (61.8%), and often based in the southern U.S. or island territories (62.2%).
- Total online gambling expenditure is $4.4 billion.
- 62% of Americans are not aware of illegal gambling circuits directly or indirectly.
Operators who don't have a valid license issued by a state gaming authority and who don't have a .com site approved by U.S. regulators are considered illegal. Most of these non-licensed casinos claiming to be safe are actually not. We've blacklisted such sites and rated them less than 40 out of 100 based on safety markers.
Be Aware of Bitcoin-Only Casinos
Exercise caution on sites that operate exclusively on cryptocurrencies. Cryptocurrency-based online gambling is illegal or banned in some states of the U.S. According to national reports:
- 61.3% believe that legal gambling would be encouraged by limiting legal gambling. The percentage increases to 80.6% in the event of a total ban.
- 77.4% (and 82.7% of minors) stress the importance of federal and state regulation to keep legal gambling safe.
- 91.3% are of the opinion that it's the government's duty to govern and supervise secure online casinos.
- 87.7% are of the view that government intervention is contingent on the trustworthiness of licensed operators.
- 89.7% opine that the government should make people more aware of gambling risks, and 86.8% believe it should offer gambling operator training online as well as offline.
Safe Online Casino Criteria: How to Find the Most Reliable Ones
We have developed a checklist to find the most reliable U.S. online casinos, even for less well-known or newer operators.
Transparency in Terms and Conditions
A secure casino should make every term and condition transparent. They should be made readily accessible and easy to read, with links directly to all relevant policies.
Customer Support
Slouch customer support should be available by email, phone, live chat, or even WhatsApp. Look for prompt response times, lengthy availability, and expert agents.
Responsible Gaming Tools
Online gambling should never turn into addiction. We embrace licensed American casinos with amenities such as self-limits, self-exclusion, self-testing questionnaires (more often than not, obligatory by law), and partnerships with organizations such as Gamblers Anonymous, Gamecare, or Gambling Therapy.
Online Reputation
Always cross-check what other people are stating. Check out reviews on online gambling review websites or forums. Moreover, awards such as the EGR Awards are a great means of knowing about the reliability of a casino.
Payment Methods
Secure U.S. online casinos of the majority accept the payment methods recommended by local authorities. Look for well-known names, fast processing, and instant pay casinos.
Security and Encryption
Top U.S. online casinos have partnered with global cybersecurity leaders like DigiCert to secure their platforms with SSL keys, HTTPS protocols, and even two-factor identification. Click on the padlock symbol in your browser to view security information.
Mobile App Protection
Since so many players bet through mobile phone, mobile security is a top priority. Too often, though, scammers target mobile systems, so solid casinos must offer extremely secure mobile apps.
Licenses and Verification
There is one gaming commission per U.S. state (the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement or the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, for example). Make sure the site has an up-to-date license from the governing body.
Reputable Game Providers
Do you recognize NetEnt or Playtech? If a casino online hosts games developed by well-known creators, then it's probably a safe site. Such developers do not work with doubtful sites to protect their own images.
Research Methodology
To be able to call the safest U.S. online casinos, we used a trustworthy and straightforward evaluation method. The below criteria are essentials:
- A legitimate gaming license issued by a U.S. gaming regulatory agency
- Safe encryption of personal user details
- Strict responsible gambling controls, including self-exclusion and limit mechanisms
- Availability of problem gambler support agencies and self-assessment tools
We have listed the safest casinos by type to help you find one that will suit your needs.