Best online casinos: top casino sites ranked by bonus, games and safety 2023
Ian Zerafa Last updated on August 24, 2023
Checked by Geraldine S.Paul P.Looking for the best online casinos in the USA? We’ll guide you through the top sites out there.
On this page, we’ll show you the most trusted legal US casinos, the online gambling sites with the best bonuses, and how to choose between the best rated online casinos.
So let’s kick things off with our mega list — rated from best to worst.
In brief: The top 10 US casinos for Sep 2023
- 🥇 DraftKings — Bonus: 100% up to $2,000 + $50 in free credits
- 🥈 SugarHouse — Bonus: 100% match bonus up to $250
- 🥉 Borgata — Bonus: $20 Bonus Dollars + 100% up to $1,000
- BetMGM — Bonus: 100% up to $1,000 + $25 Free Play
- Caesars— Bonus: 100% up to $2,000 + 25 free spins
- Mohegan Sun — Bonus: 100% up to $1,000
- Resorts — Bonus: 100% up to $1,000
- Unibet — Bonus: 50% deposit match up to $1,000
- PartyCasino — Bonus: 100% up to $1,000 + 25 free spins
- Pala — Bonus: $25 free + up to $500 in deposit bonuses
1
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93/100 Expert rating by Anna M. 89% Playscore based on |
100% up to $2,000 or $100 in casino credit
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Play now players accepted |
Good to know
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2
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89/100 Expert rating by Ian Z. 92% Playscore based on |
100% match bonus up to $250
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Play now players accepted |
Good to know
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3
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88/100 Expert rating by Ian Z. 92% Playscore based on |
$20 Bonus Dollars + 100% up to $1,000
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Play now players accepted |
Good to know
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4
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87/100 Expert rating by Ian Z. 91% Playscore based on |
100% up to $1,000 + $25 Free Play
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Play now players accepted |
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5
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85/100 Expert rating by Ian Z. 90% Playscore based on |
50% deposit match up to $1,000
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Play now players accepted |
Good to know
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6
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85/100 Expert rating by Ian Z. 86% Playscore based on |
100% up to $1,000 + $10 bonus bet + 2,500 Reward Credits
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Play now players accepted |
Good to know
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7
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85/100 Expert rating by Lorella F. 85% Playscore based on |
100% up to $1,000
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Play now players accepted |
Good to know
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8
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85/100 Expert rating by Lorella F. 84% Playscore based on |
100% up to $1,000
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Play now players accepted |
Good to know
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9
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81/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 84% Playscore based on |
100% up to $1,000 + 25 free spins
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Play now players accepted |
Good to know
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10
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80/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 82% Playscore based on |
$25 free + up to $500 in deposit bonuses
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Play now players accepted |
Good to know
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11
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78/100 Expert rating by Ramona D. 85% Playscore based on |
100% deposit match up to $1,000
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Play now players accepted |
Good to know
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21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler (call or text in Colorado). |
12
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78/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 85% Playscore based on |
Bonus Money reload up to $500
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Play now players accepted |
Good to know
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13
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76/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 80% Playscore based on |
100% up to $1,000
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Play now players accepted |
Good to know
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14
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73/100 Expert rating by Lorella F. 90% Playscore based on |
100% up to $500
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Play now players accepted |
Good to know
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15
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71/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 86% Playscore based on |
$100 Cashback
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Play now players accepted |
Good to know
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16
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70/100 Expert rating by Sarah C. 80% Playscore based on |
100% up to $100 + 100 free spins
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Play now players accepted |
Good to know
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1
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93/100 Expert rating by Anna M. 87% Playscore based on |
1.5 million WOW Coins + 30 free Sweepstakes Coins
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Play now players accepted |
Good to know
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2
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88/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 96% Playscore based on |
5% Rakeback, 10,000 Gold Coins, and $1 Stake Cash
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Play now players accepted |
Good to know
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3
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87/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 84% Playscore based on |
Up to 367,000 Gold Coins + 32.3 free Sweepstakes Coins
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Play now players accepted |
Good to know
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4
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80/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 86% Playscore based on |
Daily Free Spins and Credit Bonus
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Play now players accepted |
Good to know
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5
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79/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 92% Playscore based on |
Up to 380,000 Gold Coins and 1,400 Fortune Coins
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Play now players accepted |
Good to know
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6
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79/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 79% Playscore based on |
250 Gold Coins + 5 Sweeps Coins and 600 Diamonds
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Play now players accepted |
Good to know
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7
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77/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 79% Playscore based on |
Up to 775,000 free coins and 700 promotional entries
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Play now players accepted |
Good to know
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8
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76/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 85% Playscore based on |
200 free spins + 25,000 free credits
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Play now players accepted |
Good to know
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The top legit US online casinos — our best picks
You’ve scrolled through our mega list of casinos we’ve rated best to worst — but each casino has its selling point. Want to find out our top picks? Read on.
🥇#1 DraftKings — Best overall experience
DraftKings casino is a must for players looking for variety in their game selection. The casino offers 1000+ games that you can demo play (a big plus), with classic slots and table games from top software providers.
- 1000+ games to choose from
- Exclusive games
- Top studios represented
🥈#2 SugarHouse — Best for low wagering requirements
Looking to see your bonus winnings as real cash fast? SugarHouse casino offers one of the lowest wagering requirements of all the casinos we rate. It also boasts a great selection of games from top studios and exclusive titles. Plus, they host a good number of daily online slot tournaments.
- Low wagering requirements for bonus (1x)
- Exclusive game titles
- Multiple promotions for players
🥉#3 Borgata — Best for high rollers
If you want to make big deposits and are looking for big payouts you’ve got to head to Borgata casino. Not only can you deposit $500,000 at a time, you can also play progressive jackpots with massive payouts. Borgata also offers an invitation-only loyalty reward program — the ‘Noir’ tier — which is for high rollers who after perks like having your own dedicated VIP host. Their online casino tournaments help sweeten the deal further.
- You can deposit up to $500,000
- VIP-rewards for high rollers
- Progressive jackpots with big payouts
#4 BetMGM — Best for sign-up bonus
BetMGM online casino offers a smooth, user-friendly experience, great game selection, and progressive jackpots. But it beats out the rest when it comes to sign-up bonuses. You’ll get $25 just for entering your details, and you can use it as a percentage towards select table games. BetMGM is also one of the first casinos offering the use of Apple Pay for their deposits adding extra convenience and security.
- Generous sign-up bonus
- Progressive jackpots that payout big numbers
- Easy-to-use mobile app
#5 Caesars — Best for game selection
Looking for high-stakes online blackjack and other casino games? Head to Unibet online casino. They have 800+ games to choose from — including a huge range of slots, table games, and their live dealer blackjack.
- 750+ slots
- 30+ table games
- 10+ jackpots
Top US online casinos bonuses
There are plenty of different online casino bonus options available for US players. But what makes a good casino bonus, and which online casino has the best bonuses?
A deposit match should exceed a max of $750, and match your deposit at a rate of at least 100%. Wagering requirements should be under 15x, and table games should contribute at a rate of 10% or higher. For no deposit casino bonuses, $20-$30 is pretty good, and wagering requirements shouldn’t go over 5x.
Casinos that meet or exceed these criteria usually score themselves a spot on our list of the best online casino welcome bonuses. Our experts have placed the best ones in the following table below:
| Bonus casino | Bonus type | Bonus offer |
|---|---|---|
| BetMGM casino | No deposit bonus | 100% up to $1,000 + $25 Free Play |
| DraftKings casino | Deposit match bonus | 100% up to $2,000 + $50 in free credits |
| BetMGM casino | Live casino bonus | 100% up to $1,000 + $25 Free Play |
| PartyCasino | Free spins bonus | 100% up to $1,000 + 25 free spins |
| Virgin casino | Cashback bonus | $100 Cashback |
Legit online casinos in USA — our top recommendations
Time2play’s goal is to build a gambling information platform based on trust. We don’t accept payments for boosted rankings or write any paid ads masked as honest reviews.
If you want to find the safest casinos, you’ll want to look for casinos licenced in multiple states, and with popular payment providers. This would mean that they had to pass through several auditing boards, making them very trustworthy.
Safe casinos also have strong encryption, transparent terms and conditions, and a responsible gaming platform with safety tools and RG logos in the footer.
The casinos online that we’re listing here are our top-scorers for the safest online casinos for US players. They may not all be the shiniest casinos you’ve ever seen, but their records are clean as a whistle.
| Casino name | Safety score | Top safety feature | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tropicana online casino | 93 | CE responsible gaming platform | |
| Caesars online casino | 91 | Responsible gaming platform | |
| Bet365 online casino | 90 | ISMS certification | |
| Pala online casino | 90 | Easy-to-access responsible gaming info | |
| SugarHouse | 88 | Number of safety tools | |
| Mohegan Sun | 88 | All standard safety features | |
| Resorts | 88 | Transparent terms and conditions | |
| Unibet | 84 | Award winning brand for player safety | |
| BetMGM | 84 | Internationally renowned brand with stron safety features |
The best sweepstakes online casinos
Let’s be frank – not everyone lives in a state where online real money casinos are legal. That’s where sweepstakes casinos come in. These sweeps cash casinos have taken the US by storm, and are available in a whopping 47 different states.
What’s great about them is that these are “for fun” casinos, and often reward lots of Free Coins through bonuses which can then be used on the slots. This means you have the option to play without depositing any money, and can just enjoy the more social aspect of these casinos.
For those who like to win, many sweeps casinos offer rewards through cash prizes, where players can redeem Sweeps Coins for said prizes. So you can still win a bit whilst engaging in some fun gameplay.
- Widely available across most states
- Play for fun
- Can win cash prizes
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1
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93/100 Expert rating by Anna M. 87% Playscore based on |
1.5 million WOW Coins + 30 free Sweepstakes Coins
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Play now players accepted |
Good to know
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2
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88/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 96% Playscore based on |
5% Rakeback, 10,000 Gold Coins, and $1 Stake Cash
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Play now players accepted |
Good to know
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3
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87/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 84% Playscore based on |
Up to 367,000 Gold Coins + 32.3 free Sweepstakes Coins
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Play now players accepted |
Good to know
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4
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80/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 86% Playscore based on |
Daily Free Spins and Credit Bonus
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Play now players accepted |
Good to know
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5
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79/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 92% Playscore based on |
Up to 380,000 Gold Coins and 1,400 Fortune Coins
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Play now players accepted |
Good to know
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6
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77/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 79% Playscore based on |
Up to 775,000 free coins and 700 promotional entries
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Play now players accepted |
Good to know
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7
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76/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 85% Playscore based on |
200 free spins + 25,000 free credits
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Play now players accepted |
Good to know
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1
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93/100 Expert rating by Anna M. 87% Playscore based on |
1.5 million WOW Coins + 30 free Sweepstakes Coins
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Play now players accepted |
Good to know
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2
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88/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 96% Playscore based on |
5% Rakeback, 10,000 Gold Coins, and $1 Stake Cash
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Play now players accepted |
Good to know
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3
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87/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 84% Playscore based on |
Up to 367,000 Gold Coins + 32.3 free Sweepstakes Coins
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Play now players accepted |
Good to know
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4
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80/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 86% Playscore based on |
Daily Free Spins and Credit Bonus
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Play now players accepted |
Good to know
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5
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79/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 92% Playscore based on |
Up to 380,000 Gold Coins and 1,400 Fortune Coins
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Play now players accepted |
Good to know
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6
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79/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 79% Playscore based on |
250 Gold Coins + 5 Sweeps Coins and 600 Diamonds
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Play now players accepted |
Good to know
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7
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77/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 79% Playscore based on |
Up to 775,000 free coins and 700 promotional entries
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Play now players accepted |
Good to know
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8
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76/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 85% Playscore based on |
200 free spins + 25,000 free credits
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Play now players accepted |
Good to know
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New online casinos in the USA
When you’re a new product on the market, you haven’t got a big name or a reputation to rely on. Casinos that find themselves in this situation often pull something special to make a bit of a splash. Sometimes that takes the form of a new no deposit casino bonus.
There are other things new online casinos do to get attention — they often offer the latest (or exclusive) games, or newer, better interfaces, both for desktop and mobile casinos.
Another type of new casino gaining ground in the US is the social and sweeps casino. You can play at these casinos for free with virtual coins. In some cases, you can even convert virtual coins to real cash and withdraw. These types of casinos are great for states where online casinos aren’t properly legal yet.
- Newer, faster platforms
- Enticing bonuses
- Fresh selection of games and software
Live casino online for US players
There’s a lot to love about live casinos. First off, they bring in a bit of the glitz and glamor that we like to associate with the offline casino experience. Second, there’s the personal touch. The live online casinos in the USA often offer a chat function that lets you interact with your dealer.
The best online casinos stream from inside actual, land-based casinos. The downside is that you usually need to commit before trying them out — free live online casinos are practically unheard of in the US. Your best bet would be to find a free cash bonus that you can use on live casino games.
- More of a sociable-style of gaming
- Interactions with live dealer
- Close to a real casino experience
| Best live casinos in the US | Live casino bonus and rewards | |
|---|---|---|
| Unibet casino | Yes: live casino bonuses; availability varies by state | |
| Borgata casino | Yes: bonuses and tournaments | |
| Caesars casino | Yes: bonuses and Casino Rewards program |
Online casinos with the best payout
Right, there’s some stuff to discuss here about online casino payouts. Calculating an actual payout would require access to all the financial transaction data made at a casino; every deposit, every bet, every loss, and every payout. An online casino site doesn’t release that information.
However, we’re not gonna leave you high and dry. We can give you some information that’s useful, and that actually exists. First off, ‘best payouts’ can mean more than one thing — some casinos have faster payouts and better withdrawal limits. That’s info we can certainly give.
Second, you can find ways to try ensure better returns. There’s never a guarantee of profit when playing at an online casino, but here are some quick tips to keep in mind.
- Familiarize yourself with legal casinos and state laws. Casinos are audited to ensure they hit certain payout thresholds, and it can differ from state to state.
- Look at the software offerings at casinos. Casinos can’t change how a game works entirely and good software companies want to work with good casinos.
- Check out individual casino offers. Some operators do extra stuff that can help them claim the title for the best payout online casinos.
| Payout casino | Payout perk |
|---|---|
| BetRivers casino | High average RTP |
| SugarHouse casino | Fast cashouts |
| BetMGM casino | Mastercard perks |
Top US states for online casino gaming
The legal situation in the US is constantly evolving, with new states legalizing online casino gambling on a regular basis.
Latest update: In June 2023, Rhode Island became the seventh state to legalize online casino gaming, by allowing the local Bally’s branch to take their casino online.
When it comes to gambling at online casinos specifically (online betting is legalized in a lot more states), these are the main states that offer the most and best casinos to choose from:
Blacklisted US online casinos 2023 — avoid these
The top online casino sites do everything by the book, but not everyone makes the nice list.
We believe in being thoroughly transparent, so we never shy away from admonishing the atrocious. Our blacklists are regularly updated, and are based on our expert ratings, user feedback, and the Playscore. If any US online casino is looking suspicious, we make sure the word is spread far and wide.
Specifically, if a casino isn’t licensed by a state-approved board, that’s an immediate red flag. Other key indicators are accepting illegal payment methods (like Bitcoin), and running games by shady software providers.
More ugly stuff:
- A lack of responsible gambling tools
- A troublesome payout process
- Overall lack of transparency, especially with bonus and payment terms
Why trust us- how we find and rate US online casinos
Our Time2play methodology for finding the best US casinos is always a rigorous, data-driven process. We put legit US casinos through our review process, score them in each different area, and find all the little details that make them stand out from the competition.
For example, we know that the players searching for the best ‘real money’ online casinos tend to be the high rollers, and Unibet online casino, with its frequent casino competitions, high-limits live blackjack, and weekly promotions, is a great answer to that search query.
Bonuses
We look at bonus amounts, wagering requirements, and what games you can use them on. Top scorers offer $750+, wagering reqs of under 15x, and they can be used on all games, with tables + cards contributing over 10% to wagering requirements.
Casino games
We look at the number of games, and the variety. The best online casinos have over 700 games, and cover slots, card + table games, live casinos and jackpots. Further variety like virtual sports, online keno, bingo, and rarer games like sic bo online help sweeten the deal. Plus points if the casino also offers a good selection of tournaments including freeroll tournaments.
Software
Our main criteria are the number of software providers and their quality. Top online casinos come in with over 20 software providers, with around 10+ being top names like NetEnt, IGT, SG Digital and Playtech. Look out for newer studios too, for example, 4ThePlayer casinos — shows that stuff’s being constantly updated too.
Payments
Criteria: Number of casino payment methods, their quality, transaction speeds, and transaction limits. The best online casino would have 15+ providers, with at least eight being top names like PayPal and VISA. It would have instant deposits with an upper limit of over $10,000 and a minimum deposit of at least $10, and withdrawals of <24 hours, although the truly best sites would have online casino instant withdrawals.
Safety
We look for responsible gambling efforts, licenses, and good online security. Sites should be SSL-encrypted, and must have clickable license seals and responsible gambling tools. The safest online casinos run their own responsible gambling programs.
Mobile
We rate game availability, native apps, and their quality. At least 95% of desktop games should appear on mobile, and an Android / iOS real money casino app is basically a necessity in 2021. These should load quickly, be glitch-free, and offer mobile-specific search options. If phone play’s your jam, check out the best mobile online casinos.
Customer support
Prime criteria are number of support channels and their availability. Good online casinos should have daily customer service, preferably with 24/7 live chat that answers instantly. Phone and email should be available too, and help / FAQ pages should be present for simple solutions to common problems.
Usability
Easy sign up and bonus claim are the most important criteria here, neither should take more than 3 minutes. The best online casinos also run complex filter systems that let players sort games by everything from theme, to payout, to user rating.
You, the user
Player opinions are always welcome on Time2play. Our goal is to be useful for players, so whether you agree with our views on a casino or not, your voice, unedited and uncensored, helps us further that goal.
FAQs
What is the best online casino for US players?
We rate section-by-section, so the answer could be different depending on what’s most important to you. Check out our casino reviews page for our rating criteria and the leading casino in each category. You can also see our list of top online casinos.
Are online casinos legit?
Lots of them are. Always be careful, and check that a casino is licensed and legal in your state before playing there. Clickable seals from organizations like the NJDGE or PGCB are usually good indications that a place has a license. Government sites can work too. For example, the NJ government lists all the state’s legal casinos on its website. If you want to more details, check out the most trusted US casinos.
Which are the best online casinos that payout?
All of our top rated online casinos are legal, and are often scrutinized by regulating organizations – meaning that they pay out. Our list of the best casino sites is a good place to start. With RNG technology, winning is never guaranteed, so play responsibly. For the fastest withdrawals, glance through the list of best payout casinos.
How do online casinos work?
Games are made by external studios, and online casinos pay them to host games. When a player makes an account and deposits money into the casino, this money available is called an ‘account balance.’ Any bets made on games are deducted from the account balance, and any winnings are added to it. At most online casinos, players can withdraw their account balance at any time from the cashier section, though the casino might take a few days to send the money.
Can online casinos be rigged?
Not if they’re legal. Any legal casino will need to be licensed and have its games regularly audited to ensure fairness.
Are online casinos trustworthy?
All the top online casinos we rate are trustworthy. What does that mean? Well, they’re licensed, regulated, and regularly audited by local state authorities like the DGE in NJ. Some casinos are more transparent with their terms and conditions, sure, but when it comes to game fairness, you can expect everything to be above board.
Can you really win money on online casinos?
In a word, yes. Just make sure it’s a legal one – they have to be tested for fairness. That being said, there is no guarantee that you will win money, whether big or small. Play carefully and responsibly.
