Honesty, security, licensing, reputation and safety, as we mentioned on our homepage, are the five areas where we intensively review potential US friendly sites before we consider them legitimate USA casinos.
Dictionary.com tells us that the word legitimate is defined as 'in accordance with established rules, principles, or standards'. And Thesaurus.com proclaims the words authentic, valid and legal as interchangeable with legitimate. We could not agree more, and the standards and principles with which we judge U.S.A. friendly online casinos and other gambling portals are very demanding.
The typical online gambler will click on the first casino they come across if it provides the wagering opportunity they are looking for. If they see a slot site and that is their favorite online casino activity, they sign up for the first website which offers them a decent bonus without even exploring what bonus qualifications are demanded.
The casual American online casino player honestly may not know what to look for that designates a website as a reputable USA casino or not. But our decades of experience online in the casino, poker, and sportsbook gambling community has given us a unique insight.
There are many online casinos available on the internet and therefore it becomes virtually impossible to distinguish between the best casinos to play, from the bogus ones. Here is a list of the top twenty online casinos. We are going to showcase to you everything you need to know about these casinos.
Bovada is easily one of the best USA online casino options in the industry. They were launched in late 2011, and operate exclusively for USA players. They operate under the licensing of their parent company, Bodog, who holds licenses in multiple jurisdictions.
Bovada has carefully implemented a sophisticated security profile that stems from using premium, industry-leading software as well as its own added efforts to increase security. Along with a very safe gaming environment, they offer players a generous $3000 casino welcome bonus, and access to their poker room, sportsbook, and racebook.
Not only does Bovada process cryptocurrency deposits and payouts such as Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash, but they also feature Zelle to Bitcoin that facilitates instant BTC purchases - which are perfect for first-time crypto users. Cryptocurrency is the safest and most reliable method for funding your online casino gaming and for getting same-day payouts of your winnings!
As we mention several times throughout our website, we feel Bovada reflects the best that the industry has to offer for US citizens. They are very reputable and an excellent choice for anyone who considers reputation and honesty as important factors.
Most Trusted And Secure USA Casinos For 2020
Top Rated Sites
| Casino/Rating | Bonus | USA Friendly | Visit/Review |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100% up to | ||
| 2 | 100% up to | ||
| 3 | 500% up to | ||
| 4 | 100% up to | ||
| 5 | 200% up to | ||
| 6 | 200% up to | ||
| 7 | 300% up to | ||
| 8 | 250% up to | ||
| 9 | 200% up to | ||
| 10 | 100% up to | ||
| 11 | 400% up to | ||
| 12 | 400% up to | ||
| 13 | 150% up to | ||
| 14 | 400% up to | ||
| 15 | 400% up to | ||
| 16 | 100% up to | ||
| 17 | 400% up to | ||
| 18 | 200% up to | ||
| 18 | 450% up to |
Identifying Safe Online USA Casinos
Hey, we are not sticks in the mud who simply look at the technical side of online casinos. We were born and raised, and live, in the United States, and enjoy wonderful graphics, realistic 3-D video and live casino dealer entertainment as much as the next person.
We just believe that we should identify honest U.S.A. casinos before we fall in love with a particular site's visual and audio experience, and interface. And you may not care where a particular website is licensed, but we do.
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We understand which gaming authorities or more particular about offering licensing than others, so we know which ones deliver an immediate sign of legitimacy.
As far as identifying safe USA casinos where you do not have to spend any time worrying about falling prey to a shady operation or predatory behavior, if you locate a couple of things, your safety is guaranteed.
- Does a particular website have their random number generator tested frequently by an independent third party?
- What type of SSL security and data encryption is employed to keep your personal information and financial transactions safe?
- Does this particular website support players from the United States while also offering a leader in online casino gaming software, like RTG?
These are the questions one must ask about particular online gambling operators before you can declare them reputable USA casinos and open an account. By the way, we know these are dull topics to consider. But if you enjoy profits rather than losses, and want the best possible opportunity to enjoy a winning session every time you play, these things must be taken into account.
Over the years we have used these criteria to uncover the most legitimate USA casinos and sportsbooks online. As demanding and discerning gamblers both online and off, we stake our hard-earned reputation as leaders in the online gambling community on the websites we recommend below because we play there ourselves.
Characteristics of the Most Reputable Online Casinos that Accept USA Players
How can I find the most trusted online casinos? In order to be considered reputable and trusted - a casino must be more than just 'legal'. There are some key components that are deal breakers for us when identifying reputable online casinos. These elements speak to the ethics and competence of any brand, and all of our preferred casinos hit the mark!
Transparency - upfront about how they operate
Legitimacy - individually licensed or owned and operated by someone who is
Secure - utilizes sophisticated security technology profile to protect players
Software - reliable, secure, and feature-rich for a high-quality gaming experience
Payout Speed - same day payouts for Crypto and reasonable turnaround for other withdrawal options
Bonuses & Promotions - attractive offers with reasonable wagering requirements
Customer Support - accessible assistance when needed and robust help resources
Valid Associations - part of a respected network or group of industry brands
How We Rate United States Online Casinos - Our Process For Approving Reputable Casinos For American Players
Below you will see a breakdown of how we determine the legitimacy of any US online casino. We take this process very seriously, and complete it with a tenacity to arrive at the true nature of any online casino brand that players may consider playing at.
Our guide will evolve to include the good and the bad options that are out there waiting for you so that you know precisely which ones are the safe USA online casinos and which ones you should avoid at all costs. But for now, the sites we recommend above are the cream of the crop and each of the casinos gladly accepts USA players.
How Safe Is The Software At USA Casinos? - There are really only a few trusted gambling software platforms that support U.S. players. Having been very involved in the industry, we know which software brands are legitimate and which ones to stay far far away from.
All new brands that emerge undergo extreme scrutiny and examination from our team of online gambling professionals, hence we know a platform inside and out by the time it reaches the pages of this website. Each USA casino review that you find in our guide will address software safety.
We look at multiple components to determine the safety factor of any software solution, including:
- What built-in security features are present as far as SSL protocols and data encryption?
- How often the software brand undergoes independent third-party testing for fair gameplay and RNG technology compliance?
- What type of banking suite security and options are present?
If the software brand being used by a casino is legitimately secure and safe, then you're halfway there in finding a legit USA casino. As far as safe brands for American players, we recommend trying out legitimate RTG casinos, and we have several of them featured on this page.
Honest US Casinos
Honesty is a non-negotiable element that must be present at any online gambling site you consider doing business at. Even sites that use reputable gaming software are not guaranteed to be honest operations.
It takes first-hand experience to determine if an online casino is honest, and our goal is to save you the trouble of finding out the hard way when a brand lacks this critical quality.
Our team of online gambling professionals has evaluated each brand you see featured on our site, and has placed them in the honest or dishonest category. Rogue or dishonest brands that we include in our guide for the purpose of warning players will be clearly designated as such in our guide.
The honest USA online casinos you find here will carry a 5 star rating for legitimacy and will have a detailed explanation of why they were deemed as honest in the review we provide.
Casino Security For Americans
There are a couple of security features that absolutely must be present for any brand to be considered a legitimate casino. First, they must employ the most advanced SSL security, preferably to a level that exceeds industry standards. If they have received a 5-star rating from us, then the presence of this feature and its quality have been verified by our team.
Secondly, the most sophisticated data encryption technology must be utilized to ensure that your personal financial information is transmitted and stored in the safest and most secure way possible. This is the same type of security profile that you would find at a bank or financial institution.
Legal Casino License And Certification For United States Online Casinos
Licensing is one of the first things we look at when evaluating the legitimacy of any U.S.A. online casino. After all, if a gambling site doesn't hold the proper licensing and certifications, there's no point in going any further into the review process.
We require that all reputable USA online casinos featured here hold a license from a genuine governing authority, or are owned and operated by a parent company that holds legitimate licensing credentials, as well as compliance certifications from recognized third party regulatory associations.
On top of all that, we don't consider any brand as legitimate that doesn't subject their software and games to regular testing by third-party authorities to ensure that their RNG technology meets industry standards and that their games and software comply with fair gaming practices.
We will also list undesirable casino brands that try to sidestep this part of the operation so that you know to avoid them at all costs.
Casino Reputation - Identifying Reputable Online Casinos for USA Players
A casino's reputation tells a lot about a particular brand. It will reveal if a site delivers fast and efficient payouts to their players, if their customer support is satisfactory, and if you can trust their operation with your money.
Input from industry professionals and other players can really save you time and effort, as well as a substantial risk by learning from their bad experiences.
On the flip side, positive feedback can confirm that a brand can be trusted or one of the fastest paying online casinos in the industry. We have provided this type of expert input for you in our reviews, and it is based on personal experience as registered players and professional gamblers.
We consider our reputation to be on the line when players trust our recommendations, so we take our evaluations and reviews of these sites very very seriously.
Casino Safety
All of the elements of reviewing a particular USA casino will result in determining if the brand is safe or not. Honest USA online casinos put player safety first, and it will be evident in everything they do.
While it may be inconvenient, if a gambling site does not want you to complete a document authorizing your credit card transactions, something is wrong. In other words, the sites which may seem to drive you nuts with hoops to jump through regarding deposits and withdrawals are very likely the ones who are taking your safety seriously.
You don't want to gamble at a site that takes your work for everything and doesn't require you to prove who you are. That is an identity thief's ideal environment.
You can be sure that we've evaluated the level of casino safety present with each gambling site we review, and we're more than happy to share our findings, good or bad to help inform players of the safest USA online casinos on the Web.
Debunking US Online Gambling Myths
There are some players who are under the impression that the UIGEA bill, also referenced to as the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, has rendered all USA friendly gambling sites illegitimate by blocking Visa deposits accepted by online casinos. This is definitely not the case.
This piece of legislation only addresses the regulations surrounding how online gambling transactions are processed and does not make online gambling for players in the United States illegal. The law is focused on the gambling sites themselves and not the players. You can read more about this legislation here: UIGEA Bill of 2006.
Popular Casino Software Providers Used By US Friendly Online Casinos
Table Of Contents
Welcome to the most extensive list of the best online Casinos available in 2020!
To come up with the suggested top online Casino sites you see on this page, we reviewed 150+ online gambling platforms.
We analysed the software, the games, the bonuses, the customer support service, and the withdrawal processes of each of the online Casinos you can see below.
And we didn't stop there.
We also verified the legitimacy of the operations of each online Casino on this page with international regulatory bodies such as the United Kingdom Gambling Authority (UKGC), the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), and Curaçao e-Gaming.
That's how we are able to give you a complete guide with all you need to make the right choice when you decide to play games at a top-rated online Casino in 2020.
When you click on the name of a Casino on this list, you can decide to read the in-depth review prepared for you by our team of in-house Casino experts or visit the site and see everything for yourself.
All the suggested Casino sites on this page are 100% legal in your country. That's because we apply a special filter to this page in order to serve you only Casino sites where you are legally allowed to play.
Top-Rated Online Casinos in 2020
888casinoThe online gambling sites above are a quick summary for you to understand what are the best online Casinos in 2020. These are your top choice if you want to play the best games, on the best Casinos, and with the best bonuses.
Remember, here on PokerNews and on our sister site CasinoSmash.com we suggest only serious and safe Casino sites with proven fast payouts.
Below, you find a complete list of all the best online Casinos in 2020. When you are done playing at the three sites above, make sure you find the time to explore some of these ones too.
They all excel in different fields. Some are the best online Casinos for Blackjack players, others have exclusive real money Slots you won't find anywhere else - and others give you so many free bonuses that you will never need to deposit anything unless you really want to.
Either way, if you are curious to know more about our criteria to recommend an online Casino and what we look at to determine which one is the best online Casino, scroll past the list and find out the secret sauce behind PokerNews' international success story.
Online Casino Guide: 2020 Update
With so many alternatives to choose from, picking the right online Casino (if not the best online Casino altogether) can feel overwhelming.
And if doesn't, you are probably not taking this choice as seriously as you should.
That's why you find this guide to online Casinos here on PokerNews. We are here to make it easier for you to understand who are the good guys and to avoid the bad guys (like Posh Casino).
In our free games section, we also give you the opportunity to try as many games you want for free and without the risk of a loss. And that doesn't happen only on our site. Most Casino sites on this page let you play free demo versions of lots of their exciting gambling games.
You always have a chance to enjoy the finest side of gambling for free with no need to invest real money - unless you want to and you can afford it.
Online Casino Games
One of the main reasons to prefer online Casinos over land-based ones is the number of games you can play online.
All the online Casinos on this page let you play classics like Blackjack, Roulette, and Baccarat - and that's great.
However, let's face it...
...every game - even the most exciting ones - can become boring after a little while.
That's where all online Casinos become different from one another and where their game offer becomes a game-changer if you pardon the pun.
In 2020, you can play at online Casinos with more than 4,000 Slot machine games or pick operators with more variants of Blackjack and Caribbean Poker that you ever thought were possible.
And that's not mentioning the latest trend in gambling: live dealer Casinos. There are so many possibilities to play Casino games with live dealers and other players right now, that some gambling sites became truly amazing at that.
That's why the analysis of all the online Casino we review starts from the games.
We want you to be able to find the best online Casino to play exactly what you need.
All the reviews of our top online Casinos carry all sort of details about the games they offer and you can be sure that only the best ones are able to pass through this first stage of our rigorous screening
As a Blackjack player, you want to play at an online Casino with lots of tables and where you never need to wait before a seat becomes available.
When you are on a budget, you need to be able to get a lot of games with an affordable minimum bet because real money online Casinos games should not cost you a fortune.
As an online Slots player - well - you probably care about quantity and RTPs. That's why we give you all the details you need about how many Slots you can expect from each online Casino and we always point out the RTP of the real money games we review.
That's also why we bring to our pages only online Casino sites that run games operated via reliable RNGs and with a high return to you, the player.
Online Slots
All the top rated online gambling sites feature hundreds of classic Slots and video Slots in their lobbies - with their Slot game offering growing all the time.
With Slots being the most important part of most Casino softwares in 2020, we believe the number and the quality of Slot games available is one of the most important parts of a real money Casino.
Whether you play from the United Kingdom or not, all the top Casino sites on this list let you play top-of-the-line video Slots and mobile Slots for real cash.
As a matter of fact, here at PokerNews we care so much about the game selection that we created a number of curated lists of the best Slots for you to play nothing but the best games.
Need any examples? Check out these pages:
Progressive Jackpots
Progressive jackpots are one of the most exciting sides of online gambling and all the online Casinos on this page - including all the mobile Casinos - feature multiple jackpot games.
The head-spinning prizes available through these games change all the time, but all the top-rated Casinos give you access to several seven-figure progressive jackpots.
However - don't take progressive jackpots lightly.
While these are the most attractive games when you play at Casinos for real money, you need to keep in mind that progressive jackpots are expensive and can eat your bankroll very quickly.
To understand how to approach progressive jackpots and to find out what are the best games to combine fun and big wins, have a look at this article on jackpot Slots or head straight to our page about Mega Moolah, the record-breaking video Slot machine by Playtech.
And remember - always gamble responsibly!
Video Poker
Even in 2020, an 'old classic' like video Poker is still one of the most played gambling games in the world and one we treat with special attention when we review every real money Casino.
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Each and every one of our recommended Casino sites feature a large number of video Poker games.
From classics like Deuces Wild and Jacks or Better to more creative variants like Joker Poker and Alien Poker - the ones on this page are the real money Casino sites where you can play the very best video Poker games out there.
Table Game Offering
Needless to say, we care also about Casino classics and we analyse the table game offering of each Casino online you find on our list.
The table game world is where all started and it would be hard to imagine online gambling without some top quality games of Blackjack, Baccarat, Roulette, Pad Gow, and Sic Bo.
Some Casino software let you play amazing AI-powered version of different table games while others give you live Casinos that recreate a true Las Vegas experience like these amazing live Blackjack sites.
Either way, you can be sure that all the real money Casinos on this page feature an outstanding selection of table games.
Scratch Card Options
A lot of players love to play online scratch card games for some quick fun.
While scratch cards can't compete with the latest Sots online, some of the highest rated Casinos give you access to scratch card video games that are truly impressive.
If scratch cards are the only online games you care about, you should also look at this article titled 'Win Money Instantly with 30+ Free Scratch Cards' (the page is not available in the UK)where we collected all the best real money games you can play in 2020.
User-Friendly Online Casinos
Another advantage of playing at online Casino sites is user-friendliness. When you pick an online Casino, you should be able to get started in no time.
Once the registration is complete and your account is set, you need to be only one-click-away from your favourite games.
And once your first real money deposit is done, you need to be able to receive your deposit bonus or your match as promised.
Do you know what happens to those online Casinos that promise huge bonus but then show up absurd terms and conditions only after you gave them your hard-earned cash?
Easy-peasy: they don't make it to this list.
The Casino Bonuses
Almost every single online Casino you see here on PokerNews offers welcome bonuses to their new customers.
These can take the form of a deposit bonus that increases your first deposit by meeting with a certain match percentage up to a certain amount or of free spins / free money added to your account.
While extra spins to play Slots online are a very straightforward form of online Casino bonus, let's have a look at how a match bonus works.
You sign up for an account at an online Casino that promises you a 100% bonus up to $500 on your deposited funds and you make a deposit of $50 right away.
Thanks to this match bonus, you get $50 extra to play online Casino games on the site.
In addition, many online casinos are quick to follow up on the welcome bonus with other promotions.
These promotions can include one-time bonuses in the style of the welcome bonus, free game deals, or participation in grand prize winning tournaments.
To keep you in the loop, we have a special page dedicated to the latest Casino bonuses and bonus codes where we publish all the new bonus offers (and their respective bonus code) as they come up on the gambling sites!
Always Consider the Terms and Conditions
Each bonus comes with a set of rules attached to it, the terms and conditions.
These rules include all the behaviours that can invalidate the bonus (and of any winnings coming from it) as well as all the steps you need to meet before you are allowed to withdraw money from your account.
Here on PokerNews we take this aspect very seriously and that's why we list the full terms and conditions of all the bonuses we publish. Everything is always just one-click away.
To know more about each welcome bonus, click on the Terms and Conditions link (often found as tcs apply) and read everything you need to know about the bonus you might be about to activate.
Practice Casino Games Online
Most of the online Casinos you find on this page provide free demos of their Casino video games. Some don't even need you to sign up for an account to access them.
The free version of the games gives you the unique opportunity to test many of them before you decide to use your own real money and activate the bonus.
Free games are great also to try different gambling strategies and to learn how to increase your odds to win at gambling.
You can't win any real money in these demo versions but, in return, you get to practice for free and to learn each game a lot better before your money is on the line.
If you want to know why this aspect is so important, have a look at this article on how to practice Blackjack online.
Always Keep an Eye on Your Bets
Every game you find at any of 2020 best online Casinos let you adjust your bet to make sure you play only what you can afford.
Lower bets usually mean lower profits but - hey! Same as you don't buy a Maserati if you can't afford it, you don't want to behave like a millionaire if that puts your finances at risk.
Compliance, Licensing, and Gambling Authorities
Here's where things get a little more complicated in 2020, because a lot of online Casino guides play dirty and try to sell you illegal, rogue Casinos.
In 2020, any online Casino that wishes to offer real money gambling games needs to hold a license issued by an international and regulated governing body.
This doesn't happen because the gambling industry loves bureaucracy (no one does!) but because you need to be protected from rogue online Casinos.
The two main gambling authorities in the world are the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) and the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA).
These two gambling governing bodies inspect every aspect of the platforms they license to make sure everything is always conducted in a manner that is fair and in line with the law.
How to Know if a Casino is Licensed by the UKGC or the MGA?
Each licensed Casino site is obliged to display detailed information about its license - starting from their homepage.
If you want to know what kind of licenses an online Casino holds, you can either check our review here on PokerNews or navigate to the bottom of their site.
Alternatively, you can use the links below and check the official registries of the UKGC and the MGA:
Assistance, Live Chat, and Customer Support
Customer support is one of the most important factors in our Casino analysis.
For an online Casino to make the cut and be included in the list of the best gaming sites of the year, their customer support needs to be quick, helpful, and effective.
Now that most sites feature contact options like live chat and dedicated toll-free phone lines, we focus on the quality of the answers rather than on how easy it is to reach out to an operator.
From specific questions about the KYC process imposed by the UKGC to all UK-licensed online Casinos to more generic ones about games and strategy, we put each and every support service to test.
And when we are not satisfied by the answers we receive, we do two things:
- We remove the site from the list of suggested online Casinos
- We reach out to the operator to let them know about the support issues they have
This way, we give every online Casino a second chance. If they decide to up their game and fix the problems we discovered - we restart our review process.
Otherwise, we write their name on the second online Casino list we run at PokerNews: one of the sites where we do not want you to play.
Payment Methods
The key to playing online for real money is not only to choose an online Casino that lets you do that and that offers you great games - but to pick one that accepts the payment methods you use.
Whether you are going to use your credit card, Western Union or you look for PayPal Casinos to transfer money from your e-wallet to your Casino account, knowing about payment methods is key.
Bank options are important not only for the deposited funds to become available (quickly) for your games but also to make sure you can have a fast payout whenever you win something!
During our review process, we test as many payment options as possible and give high ratings to the Casinos with the fastest payouts.
The possibility to withdraw money quickly from a Casino software is not always the first aspect that people consider when they choose a Casino online, but we know that you are going to love the opportunity to do so after your first sizeable win.
That's why all our favourite Casino sites offer a large number of payment methods and the fastest payouts in the industry.
If you want to be sure about what exact bank options each real money Casino offer, you have two choices:
- You can visit a Casino site and ask their support service...
- ...or you can read the part dedicated to the payment options on each individual Casinos reviews here on PokerNews!
Online Casinos F.A.Q.
Playing mobile Casino games in 2020 is very easy - as most of the top rated Casinos online that offer real money games have an app or a mobile-friendly platform built in HTML5.
While you can browse through the list of our recommended online Casinos to find the best mobile Casinos, you can also check out two interesting articles.
These will let you in on the very best mobile games you can play in 2020:
It all depends on your location and on what's available to you. US players can enjoy real money online Casinos only from New Jersey (but Pennsylvania Casinos are coming!) while UK players are limited to UKGC-operators.
The best Casino online changes based on your location, on gambling regulations, and on the games you want to play.
Casino Online Site Top
To know what's the best online Casino for real money where you are allowed to play, scroll back to the top of this page and check out the number one on our list!
All the Casinos on this list have verified fast payouts and a wide options of payment methods for your to get your money quickly and without problems.
We believe payments are one of the most important part of real money gambling online. That's why we focus so much on banking options, quick payouts, and transparent and verified processes.
The Best Online Casinos
Top Rated Online Casino
The answer to this question depends on your location. If you are in New Jersey, you can choose between a number of high-quality real money online Casino sites.
Otherwise, you can visit our section dedicated to the online Casinos that accept US players in 2020.
If you're looking for casinos that would surely accept players from New Jersey, you want to consult the page about casinos that accept players from the USA and offer great sign-up bonuses!
Every month, we publish an updated list of all the new Casinos in the markets to help you discover the underdogs that wish to become kings.
List Of Top Online Casinos
If you fancy some new games, have a look at this pages where everything is about new online Casinos.