The United States’ online gambling laws are all over the place. The federal government doesn’t deem internet gaming illegal, but they do have a couple of deterring laws on the matter like the UIGEA and Federal Wire Act.

States have the authorization to legalize various forms internet gambling, including online casinos within their borders. Delaware, Michigan, and New Jersey are among those that have taken advantage of this situation.

Online gambling is regulated at the state level in the United States. This means there is no federal framework for online casinos in the USA, but rather each state has autonomy in determining if it would like to authorize online casinos and how those sites should be regulated. As a result, the lay of the land is unique in each state. Since the licensed casino is regulated by government agencies, the casino must meet certain standards to ensure fair play and equal opportunities for all players registered at the site. There are many player benefits that can be gained by playing at a licensed and regulated online casino.

But when it comes to internet casino games, the majority of states have no stance on the matter. Unregulated gaming sites serve most of the same states.

“Unregulated” heavily implies that these casinos operate in a lawless zone. As you’ll see in this post, though, this term doesn’t exactly mean what it implies.

What’s Considered an Unregulated Casino?

The term unregulated casino is quite prevalent in the online gaming world. But what exactly does it mean?

Simply put, an unregulated casino is one that serves a jurisdiction where it’s not licensed and approved. It operates in states that don’t have a definitive stance on internet gambling.

The same casinos typically avoid the following types of states:

• Those that have declared online gambling to be illegal.
• States that don’t have a concrete stance on the matter but have taken legal action against offshore casinos (e.g. Kentucky).
• Those that have regulated online casino markets and explicitly ban unlicensed operators (e.g. New Jersey).

Unfortunately, most states still haven’t regulated internet gaming. The vast majority of Americans don’t have access to legal and licensed online casinos.

They normally wouldn’t be able to exercise their freedoms to play internet casino games at home. Offshore casinos have stepped in to fill these roles.

What’s Considered a Regulated Casino?

The term “offshore online casinos” is often used interchangeably with unregulated online casinos. It doesn’t necessarily mean the same thing as unregulated, but it has become a popular term to describe unlicensed gaming sites.

People commonly refer to these casinos as being offshore due to their operating locations. The majority of unregulated gaming sites that serve Americans are found in Antigua, Belize, and Costa Rica.

The countries all have their own legal online gambling setups. In exchange for licensing fees and taxes, they allow internet casinos to operate out of their countries.

Of course, the same gaming sites could try operating out of America. But they’ll assuredly be busted at some point for offering illegal gambling.

While some states don’t have definitive stances on internet gaming, every state has a definition of an illegal gambling operator. Any US resident/visitor who tries running an unlawful gaming sites will face legal scrutiny sooner or later.

That said, unlicensed operators who want to serve a country’s online gamblers relocate to offshore locations. They can get away with their unregulated operations when they’re in another legal jurisdiction.

Are Online Casinos in Places Like Belize Really Unregulated?

Not all internet gaming jurisdictions are created equal. Some are more prestigious than others when it comes to screening out potentially crooked operators and only accepting reputable companies.

These jurisdictions don’t have, or at least don’t exercise, much control over their licenses. Instead, they mainly collect taxes and application fees.

They take a hands-off approach to operators. After all, they don’t want to be overly harsh on real money online casinos and risk scaring them and their money off.

Casinos that hold licenses with these jurisdictions don’t immediately inspire much confidence. They must prove themselves by offering good service and fair games over a number of years.

Then again, the same casinos aren’t completely unregulated. They do have to spend anywhere from four to six figures to gain licensing in one of these jurisdictions.

While throwing money at the Belize or Costa Rican government doesn’t prove one’s worth, it does serve as an initial barrier. Operators must be willing to risk thousands of dollars to gain such licensing.

Why Do Gamblers Choose Unregulated Gaming Sites?

You can see that offshore casino are a mixed bag. They must pay licensing fees and can be reputable under certain circumstances.

On the other hand, their licensing jurisdictions don’t require much out of them. You take your chances when playing at an unregulated casino.

That said, you may wonder why these casinos have remained so popular over the years. Here are the main reasons why gamblers continue choosing unregulated gaming sites.

Many Players Live in Unregulated Jurisdictions/States

Not everybody lives in highly regulated casino states like New Jersey or Delaware. Instead, many Americans reside in places that haven’t bothered to define their internet gaming laws.

The same people can’t play at a New Jersey online casino if they’re not located within the Garden State. After all, NJ gambling laws only apply within its own border.

They also don’t have any options within their own states. Therefore, offshore gaming sites remain their only answer.

How in the world is this possible? These casinos typically feature tough bonus terms and conditions that make it hard to earn anywhere near $10k.

Some of the more-crooked operators may provide little chance to cash out any online casino bonus money at all. These casinos invoke ambiguous terms and conditions to prevent players from withdrawing funds.

Luckily, these situations aren’t always the case. You can find some legitimate big bonuses at offshore operators.

But I strongly urge you to carefully read T&Cs before going for these offers. Upon seeing anything that’s ambiguous, you should find another casino.

They Haven’t Experienced Any Troubles with Unregulated Sites

Again, many offshore casinos don’t have strong licensing jurisdictions to answer to. As long as they pay their fees, they can get away with a lot.

However, some unregulated operators are actually interested in long-term profits. They can’t achieve this goal if they treat customers like crap.

That said, the majority of gamblers don’t experience any huge problems when using offshore casinos. They’ll continue using these same sites as long as the status quo continues.

Is It Safe to Play at Unregulated Casinos?

I can’t guarantee your safety when you play at an offshore gaming site. Too many variables come into play when making this determination.

Much depends upon the actual casino you’re dealing with. If you pick a little-known Bitcoin site that just popped up last month, you have virtually no idea on if you’ll receive any potential winnings.

On the other hand, you stand a much-better chance of having a good experience at a longtime, reputable operator.

The word unregulated doesn’t have to translate to shady casino. Well-meaning operators do exist in the offshore world.

I strongly urge you to read reviews before signing up and depositing at a particular unregulated casino. Doing so will help you filter out the reputable from rogue gaming sites.

Reviews become extremely important when betting with offshore operators. After all, you’re not dealing with New Jersey online casinos, which have the DGE to answer to.

Finally, reviews don’t guarantee that you’ll always have a great internet gambling experience. Even some of the better unregulated casinos experience their lapses.

Long story short, the offshore gambling market is more unsettled than regulated markets. But you can be safe when betting at the right offshore casinos.

Conclusion

The vast majority of offshore online casinos aren’t technically unregulated. They hold licensing with one or more jurisdictions.

Again, the same casinos may be subject to very little oversight or intervention from there licensing bodies. In this way, they are somewhat unregulated.

The only way to gamble online safely is by playing in a highly regulated market. The latter have strong licensing jurisdictions that reprimand operators who violate state laws.

If you don’t live in or near such a state, though, offshore sites are your only options for online casino games. In these cases, you really want to do your research on any prospective casino before placing a deposit.

Regulated online casino gambling has seen a great deal of change in the last year, particularly for United States players. At the time of this writing, three states have legalized some type of online gambling for their residents and visitors, with two of them including online casino games in their offerings. In addition, there are multiple legally licensed and regulated online casinos which are located outside if the US and that welcome both USA and international players. With multiple options being regulated by multiple government bodies, navigating the landscape of what is and is not legal can be confusing for players, especially when it is ever changing. This guide was created to assist players in obtaining clear and concise information for understanding what options are legally available and what impact state regulation and government regulation has on the industry and on players. You can learn more about the legal status of online casino gambling from our page dedicated to US gambling laws.

Play At These Regulated Online Casinos That Are Legally Licensed Have Excellent Reputations In The Industry

Following is a listing of the most trusted and reputable online casinos which are subject to regulatory oversight by either state governments or offshore government bodies. They have been through our review process and were found to offer players the level of quality, security, and value that we require for inclusion in this guide. They all hold legal licenses and are up to date compliance certifications. They are regulated by legitimate governing jurisdictions which are transparent in their processes and procedures, and which are interested in protecting players. These brands all offer a consistent and reliable gaming performance, a substantial game menu, efficient banking suite, and competent customer support staff. Their security profiles are more than sufficient, and their bonus offers are fair and beneficial to players. You will see information concerning their current offers in the table below.

Do USA Players Have Access To State Approved Online Casinos?

Yes, there are a few different types of options available to American players who are interested in accessing legal online casino games. At the time of this writing, players in New Jersey and Delaware have access to state regulated online casinos which are licensed by the state. Players must be physically located inside state borders to be eligible to play. At this time state regulation of the online casino industry only benefits residents and visitors of those two states. There are 8-10 additional states which are considering moving forward with their own legalized online gambling and Nevada and Delaware have recently signed an online gambling compact which allows players in both states to access their online gambling offerings. Clearly the US based online gambling environment is expanding. There are no federal laws which provide regulation for online casino gambling. The DOJ has stated that each individual state has the authority to determine their own destiny when it comes to online gambling.

U.S. players who are not fortunate enough to live in Delaware or NJ, or who simply want a wider range of options to choose from can also access legally licensed and certified online casinos which are located and regulated outside of the United States. These internet casinos are subject to the exact same type of regulatory oversight and industry standards as the brands operating out of the US, with the exception of the location limitations. These legal offshore casino websites provide a secure and reputable option or players who are interested in engaging in high quality online gambling entertainment at a destination which is subject to strict regulation.

What Are The Benefits To Playing At Legally Certified Sites Compared To Fly By Night Casinos

We cannot stress enough the important of restricting your online gambling to only those websites which are legitimately licensed, hold genuine compliance certifications, and that are subject to stringent regulatory oversight by a respected and legitimate governing jurisdiction. To consider playing at an online casino that is outside of these parameters will put you and your finances at risk without question. The first and foremost benefit to state regulation and government regulation in this industry is the security of your gaming experience. Gambling sites which are regulated must meet specific licensing requirements and industry standards, and they are subject to unannounced and regular auditing of their software platform, their RNG technology and their fair gaming practices. This makes them accountable for providing a service that operates on a certain level of integrity, and that is critical to your wellbeing as a player.

A significant part of the licensing and certification process concerns the online casino brand's security profile. There are requirements which must be met in order to offer the appropriate standard in casino gambling security, and brand's which are subject to regulatory oversight must meet the minimum requirements. We take things a step further during our review process and only include casinos in our guide that offer the most sophisticated and advanced security protocols and features. We don't settle for minimum compliance. Another benefit is quality. The online casinos which subject themselves to the expense and effort of being licensed and regulated are always the ones willing to invest in providing a top rated environment and experience for their players. These are the sites with the best game menus, most advanced technology and features, the most efficient banking suites, and the best bonus offers and promotions. To access regulated online casinos you are accessing the best that the industry has to offer.

How Can I Be Sure That An Online Casino Is Regulated Or Not?

There are some high quality online casinos which are very transparent concerning their licensing and compliance certifications, but there are also some legitimate brands which are not as forthcoming, as well as some illegitimate brands which falsify their information to appear as a legally licensed and regulated. It does behoove players to consider professional input when searching for regulated online casinos that are secure and reputable. The team which created this guide has years of experience in the online gambling industry, and has spent a great deal of time and effort to develop and effective and complex review process that determines the quality and legitimacy of the online casino brands that are on the Web. We have gone through the hundreds of options that are out there to locate and evaluate the absolute best possible options for players.

Us Regulated Online Casinos

The first portion of our review process has to do with verifying a casino's licensing and compliance certifications, confirm that legitimate agencies are providing auditing services of their operation, and also ensuring that the governing jurisdiction is a genuine and respected entity. You'd be surprised how elaborate the fraudulent websites can be and the lengths they will go to in order to deceive players rather than participate in the legal segment of the industry. By relying on a guide such as this one, you will be guaranteed to only be accessing legal and regulated online casinos, each having been personally vetted by our team of online gambling professionals.

Bonus And Promotions

You will find some rather generous bonuses and promotions offered at most legitimate and legal online casinos. Fraudulent casinos may also try to seduce you with bonus money, hence this is a great perk but not an indicator for legitimacy. Another part of our review process is evaluating the offers at each brand and determining if their wagering requirements and terms and conditions are fair and reasonable. Online casinos which are subject to government oversight are the ones which usually have the fair offers and not the 'too good to be true' scenarios. The low quality, dangerous and undesirable casino brands will often advertise large bonuses which they either never really give you, or which have wagering requirements so unreasonable that the benefits of the offer are not attainable. These traps are easy to fall into if you don't know precisely what you're looking for.

Links Of Interest

Uk Regulated Online Casinos

Regulated Poker Sites - If you enjoy playing poker over casinos, this site reviews the top online poker rooms that are legally licensed and regulated.

Legal Gambling Sites Usa

Regulated Sports Betting - This website offers some great information about sports betting including information about the legal aspects of wagering online.