Gambling Licenses in the USA

Learn how to enjoy online casino games safely

While online gambling is a fun activity, it’s not entirely legalized across the USA. Gambling laws vary state-by-state, with local organizations issuing licenses and overseeing casinos. Our guide will walk you through the gambling commissions currently licensing casinos in the USA.

Why is it Important to Have a Gambling License?

Licenses ensure online gambling sites comply with the current legislation and industry standard procedures. They help players determine if the online casino they’ve chosen is legal, fair, and safe. 

Licensed casinos are tested according to various parameters related to the casino’s financial, social, and legal aspects. Additionally, casinos with a gambling license in the  USA are regularly and randomly tested to ensure they keep following the law and its updates.

A gambling commission license can also improve a casino’s quality. Licensed casinos can use gaming software from top-rated industry providers, open a merchant account, and partner with safe and secure electronic payment systems. 

A license is also a great way to attract new players, as they’re more likely to gamble at a safe and reputable operator. A gambling commission license is also important to prevent money laundering, as licensed casinos must provide extensive financial reports and records.

We’re constantly scouring the web for the latest updates regarding online casinos. Our goal is to inform readers about the best online casinos in the USA. If we recommend a casino, you can be sure we thoroughly tested it according to several important criteria. We only feature licensed casinos with a proven reputation.


Main USA Gambling Licenses

As previously mentioned, online casinos in the USA vary from state to state. As such, each state where online casinos are legal has its gambling commission designed to oversee the gambling activity within the state. 

While many US states allow online sports gambling, there are only currently seven US states where online casinos are legal – Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. There are no federal gambling commissions, albeit online gambling wins are subject to a 24% federal gambling tax, which the casino withholds. Take a look at the gambling commissions operating in the USA:

International Organizations Licensing in the USANational Organizations Licensing in the USA
Malta Gambling Authority Connecticut Gaming Commission
Curacao eGamingDelaware Gaming Enforcement
Isle of Man Gambling Supervision CommissionMichigan Gaming Control Board
Kahnawake Gaming CommissionNevada Gaming Control Board
HM Government of GibraltarNew Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement
Alderney Gambling Control CommissionPennsylvania Gaming Control Board
West Virginia Lottery

What is a Gambling Commission and How Does it Operate?

Gambling commissions are government-owned organizations responsible for overseeing online gambling activities and other forms of gambling, such as horse racing and lotteries. They regulate online casinos through a gambling license, regularly testing them to check if they follow strict regulations. A casino can only be considered legal within a particular state if it has a gambling commission license.

However, applying for 50 different gambling licenses and following 50 rulesets is not economically feasible. Therefore, many online casinos resort to offshore licenses. This doesn’t mean the casino isn’t fair or unsafe, although you may struggle to get legal help if things go awry. This is why we only recommend online casinos licensed in the USA.

USA-based online casinos can also lose their license and pay a hefty fine if they fail to pay fees, break the rules, or let their license expire. 888 Casino and LeoVegas are two of the most common examples of reputable casinos that paid huge fines after failing to comply with regulations in the United Kingdom.


How Does a Casino Get a Gambling License?

To obtain a gambling commission license, casinos must undergo a rigorous application process. While the laws vary between jurisdictions, obtaining permission is more or less the same. Obtaining a gambling license also requires owners to pay application and licensing fees. Learn more about this below:

What are the parameters to license a casino?

As previously stated, there are many parameters required to license a casino. Here’s what gambling commissions require to issue a license:


Can Online Casinos Operate Without a License?

Technically yes, as some markets don’t require casinos to have a license to operate. However, unlicensed casinos are more likely to engage in criminal activity, including identity theft, rigged games, and credit card fraud. Luckily, some tips can quickly help you identify an unlicensed casino:

What are blacklisted casinos?

Blacklisted casinos are gambling operators found to engage in suspicious activity, such as failing fairness testing, operating without a license, or withholding payments. Other reasons include false advertising, unclear terms, and unhelpful customer support. We recommend avoiding blacklisted casinos for a better online gambling experience. 


Final Thoughts

Gambling licenses help players feel safe when gambling online while increasing the casino’s reputation, which helps them attract more players and provide a better experience. 

By being a laborious, costly, and time-consuming process, obtaining a gambling license is typically avoided by untrustworthy casinos. If a casino is licensed, it passed extensive testing and background checks and was deemed safe by a gambling commission.

We want players to feel safe, so we only recommend licensed casinos. You can enjoy the top games without safety and privacy concerns. While you’re at it, why don’t you grab a bonus to get you started?

Frequently Asked Questions

If a casino loses its license, it means that it failed to comply with the regulations or didn’t pay its annual licensing fees. As such, it can no longer be deemed safe by gambling commissions until they fix the issues. You should avoid online casinos with revoked licenses.
The cost of applying for an online gambling license varies across jurisdictions. However, the cost typically starts at $10,000. Highly reputable commissions with strict requirements can charge even more. Paying the application fee is one of the first steps in obtaining a casino license.
Unlicensed casinos aren’t regulated by any commission, which can be dangerous. They can avoid paying customers, withhold funds, provide unfair games with rigged RNG algorithms, or steal your identity and credit card information.
Each individual US state regulates gambling. Currently, there are seven states where online casino gambling is legal – Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
Author
Casino bonus specialist
Pride is a five-year veteran in the exciting world of US and UK casino gaming. His mantra is “Keep it simple,” which he always does while giving you the low down on the latest casino gaming trends. Whether it’s reporting on breaking news or getting down to the brass tacks in a detailed casino review, Pride provides clear, reliable, and unbiased information to help you make your gaming decisions.

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