According to the American Gaming Association (AGA), legitimate casinos in the United States generate nearly USD 329 billion a year in economic activity.
In 2023, US casinos are on track to win nearly $60 billion in revenue from casino gambling. Jane Bokunewicz, a director of the Lloyd Levenson Institute at Stockton University, said that money won by casinos is just part of their overall contribution to the US economy.
Commercial and tribal casinos employ approximately 1.8 million Americans, with about 700k jobs in the casino industry alone. According to the AGA reports, casino workers earned $104 billion in wages, up 40% from reported salaries in 2017.
With so much revenue, it seems like more states would embrace legitimate online casinos. However, only six states have authorized online casino gambling from state-regulated casinos. Only Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia, and Michigan allow US-based online casino gambling.
Are Offshore Online Casinos Legitimate?
While offshore casinos do not contribute to the US economy, they are considered legit since they are licensed and regulated by a trusted gaming commission. Gaming regulators oversee online casinos by ensuring the security protocols operate correctly and the odds are fair.
To assure online players that gambling sites are legit, regulators will issue compliance records showing where they tested the random number generators and that the online casino site complies with oversight. To add to their legitimacy, online casinos have operated in the United States since the late 1990s and have built a trusted reputation by providing fair odds and fast banking options for US and international players.
Can I Gamble Online In The United States?
Yes, there are no federal gambling laws that prohibit online gambling. Instead, the federal government leaves it up to the individual states to decide what activities can be accessed online. Only the state of Washington has outright banned online gambling from outside of the United States. However, some sites are still accessible.
To learn more about legitimate online casinos, see our fastest-paying online casinos guide, where we detail our top-rated online casino sites and break down each site’s best and worst features. Our reviews focus on bonus options, banking methods, gambling options, and more.