2025 USA Online Gambling Laws Explained
Gambling has been woven into the fabric of the United States since the very early days of the first settlers. Early gambling efforts had their own set of nuances and challenges, and for some time things went unregulated and without any type of accountability. The time came when state lawmakers realized that the gambling entertainment industries that were emerging need regulatory oversight, hence the birth of US state gambling laws, later leading to federal gambling laws.
Despite the fact that gambling is still legally restricted in modern America, more people are learning how to enjoy this seemingly taboo form of entertainment in completely legal, online varieties. Guides like this are perfect examples of how people are starting to realize that there are perfectly safe and legal options for all types of gambling if you live in the US. It all starts with understanding the relevant US online gambling laws.
Federal Laws That Impact Online Gambling Options For US Players In 2025
The three primary laws in the United States that are relevant to USA online gambling are The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, The Federal Wire Act, and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. These laws combine to provide regulatory oversight concerning US based interactive gambling throughout the nation.
The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act made state based sports betting illegal in physical settings like brick and mortar casinos throughout the country with the exception of four specific regions. Those states exempted from PASPA are Oregon, Delaware, Montana, and Nevada. Of those four states, Nevada is the only one offering state regulated, full-service bookmakers, while Delaware offers a handful of parlay betting options.
The Federal Wire Act was written and signed in 1961 before the emergence of the Internet. Since then, however, it has been decided that the law applies specifically to state based online sports betting and no other types of online gambling of any sort. This stance was clarified through the DOJ Formal Opinion issued in 2011. This makes it illegal to own and operate a physical business located in the Unites States that offers online sports betting, but does not make online casino or poker sites illegal. This clarification of the application of this law has allowed state regulated online casino and poker sites to emerge in the United States.
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was created to regulate the use of certain payment apparatuses, particularly credit cards, and unlawful international fund transfers that stem from illegal online gambling. As a result of this act, the owners and operators of legal gambling operations licensed and regulated outside of the United States must function within specific parameters and meet specific requirements in order to ensure authenticity on their financial servers. This makes it a crime in the United States to accept or transfer funds from any gambling businesses that are not operating within the legal parameters of the industry.
There are no federal laws that prohibit gambling at international locations that are legally licensed and sanctioned by the appropriate regulating bodies. In fact, the gambling laws in America have no reach beyond the nation’s borders. The key to not violating any federal gambling laws is to always ensure you only place bets at legally sanctioned offshore gambling sites, such as the ones you see listed in this guide.
2025 State Laws That Impact Online Gambling Options In The United States
As of this writing, there are currently only three states that operate legalized, state-regulated online poker markets. They are Nevada, Delaware, and New Jersey. Delaware and New Jersey also have legalized, state-regulated online casino gambling to give their residents even more options when looking for safe places to gamble online. DE and NJ share the market for online poker and casinos so their residents can enjoy online gambling entertainment located in either state. Several other states have passed legislation to allow state licensed online gambling but have not yet launched their platforms as of this writing.
The only 2 places to condemn online gambling specifically at the state level are the states of Washington and Connecticut. The Washington State Legislature amended RCW 9.46.240 in 2006 to specifically address online gambling and officially state that the act of gambling online is illegal. We urge everyone that lives in Washington to abide by their state’s laws and contact your elected officials if you wish to see a change in legislation. Connecticut has also passed laws prohibiting online gambling regardless of its source.
Other than Washington and Connecticut, there are no state laws that prohibit residents from engaging in online gambling at legally licensed and regulated gambling sites that are located outside of the United States. Restricting your online gambling action to only those destinations operating legally within the industry is how to stay on the legal side of the tracks.
FAQs Relevant To USA Online Gambling Laws
Are Online Casinos Legal?
They certainly are. Despite common misconceptions on this matter, there are several legally regulated options available to the American gambler. For residents of New Jersey and Delaware, there are state-run legal online casinos available. New Jersey and Delaware signed an interstate gambling pact to share the online casino market in both the states and to make the whole experience more fun for their patrons. If you live in those states or find yourself traveling through, check out the state-run legal online casinos.
Those players not located in those two states also have a range of legally sanctioned, secure and high quality USA online casino destinations to choose from. There are no federal laws that prohibit residents from enjoying online casino gambling as long as the destination at which they play real money games is operating legally within the industry and outside of the US. The state of Washington is the only one that has expressly prohibited all online gambling through their state gambling laws. While they really have no real way to monitor or enforce this law, nor have they shown any interest in doing so, it is technically illegal to play online casino games for real money within the state’s borders.
There are no other states that have established this type of restrictive online gambling regulations. So unless you live in Washington sate, there are no state or federal laws that prohibit you from enjoying legally licensed and regulated online casino gambling at offshore destinations.
Are Online Poker Sites Legal?
Indubitably. The online poker situation in the US is very similar to that of the online casino niche. There are no federal laws that prohibit you from playing poker online at legitimately licensed and regulated offshore poker sites. Unless you live in the state of Washington, there are also no state laws that make it illegal to enjoy USA online poker as long as the site at which you are playing is operating legally within the industry.
In addition, there are currently three states that offer state-regulated online poker sites that are legally licensed and located physically in America. Those states are Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware. New Jersey and Delaware share a customer base through their interstate gambling pact so if you find yourself in either of those two states feel free to gamble at any online poker destination located in both of those states.
Are Online Sportsbooks Legal?
Absolutely. When PASPA was passed in 1992 it restricted physical, brick-and-mortar, sports betting to only four states, Nevada, Delaware, Oregon, and Montana. PASPA however, didn’t include internet gambling. In addition, this law was repealed in May of 2018 in a ruling made by the Supreme Court. The Federal Wire Act was found in 2011 to extend across the boundaries of telegraphs and into the regulation of internet sports betting but still doesn’t apply to anything outside of the nation’s jurisdiction. As before mentioned, there are no federal laws prohibiting the use of the internet in sports betting or in any gambling at all. Relevant federal laws that govern sports betting only apply to state based sportsbook gambling. American sports fans can enjoy USA online sports betting without worrying about violating any US gambling laws as long as the bets are placed at legally sanctioned offshore sportsbooks.
Are Online Bingo Sites Legal In 2025?
Indeed, they are! It’s true that it remains illegal to run an online gambling business within most of the Unites States. It is, nonetheless, legal for the American bettor to seek out legally licensed offshore sites that offer real-money Bingo and other gambling options. The Federal Wire act was made to specifically deal with sports betting and no other forms of online gambling. The UIGEA bill, which is popularly thought to make online gambling illegal, only impacts the payment processing and financial institutions that online betting companies use for gambling related transactions. The UIGEA bill, or any bill for that matter, does not make it illegal for US residents to place bets with legally licensed offshore web sites that offer real-money Bingo and other types of gambling.
Is Buying Lottery Tickets Online Legal For Americans?
It sure is. Buying lottery tickets online is completely legal and your home state may offer you the ability to purchase lottery tickets online, if you physically pick them up. Buying lottery tickets online with offshore sites that are legally regulated skates by the Federal Wire Act and PASPA because it doesn’t have anything to do with sports and is located outside of the United States. The UIGEA bill only works to regulate the financial climate that surrounds it. Even if those laws were to be hypothetically amended to include online lotteries, the offshore agents that handle these types of requests are more like courier services than online gambling websites. They go and physically purchase the ticket on your behalf and then email you the scanned copy.