Bitcoin casinos USA – are they legal?

Written by Ian Zerafa

Checked by Geraldine S.Lorella F. •

Last updated on July 19, 2024

Bitcoin casinos are only available as sweeps cash or social casinos in the US. While you can win cash prizes for playing, they aren’t considered gambling sites, which means they’re fine within US legislation.

As for regular, real money casinos, Bitcoin isn’t accepted at US-licensed spots. Any direct-gambling casino that offers crypto as payment is likely offshore, and should be avoided.

There are plenty of licensed operators out there that offer legal alternative payment methods with lightning-fast deposits and 100% secure transactions.

Let’s check out the best sweeps cash casinos that accept this cryptocurrency, then we’ll guide you through alternative payment methods you can use at legal casinos.

On This Page On This Page

• Overview
• Bitcoin casino alternatives
• Payment alternatives to BTC
• How to choose alternatives
• Bitcoin info
• Laws
• FAQs

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Bitcoin casinos online — social and sweeps casinos

Regular online casinos can’t legally accept Bitcoin payments in the US. Sweeps cash casinos and social casinos, however, aren’t considered online gambling sites and are perfectly free to accept any form of cryptocurrency. 

Our experts have tried and tested the best sweeps cash casinos that accept Bitcoin payments. We will continue to update our list of trustworthy sites that accept Bitcoin, so keep an eye on this page.

The best alternatives to Bitcoin casinos

If you’re in the US and looking to play at a real money online casino, Bitcoin may be off the table, but our top-ranked sites offer various popular payment options. Below, we’ve got together a list of alternatives to crypto casinos.

Crypto casino payment alternatives — our top picks

Bitcoin gambling isn’t legal in the United States, but licensed operators across the country have a wide variety of alternative casino payment methods that you’re able to use. These options range from eCheck casinos, PayPal casinos, and Play+ casinos as well as sites that offer major credit cards as deposit options (most casinos we rate are Visa casinos). 

We’ve done all the hard work and handpicked the best payment options for US players. We’ve picked payment methods for speed, security and ease of use. Below are our top choices as an alternative to Bitcoin.

PayPal

PayPal is the best payment option if you’re looking for a speedy method that is easy to use and secure. It’s also widely accepted, and you’re able to use it to make quick deposits to most US casinos online. You’re also able to withdraw your casino winnings to your PayPal account, with the maximum limit being $60,000.

Go to PayPal casinos

Visa

Visa credit and debit cards are among the most popular online casino payment methods for players in the USA. Visa allows you easily deposit up to $25,000 in a single transaction (at select casinos like Golden Nugget) and the funds are available in your account immediately. Payments made using this option can also be free of charge.

Go to Visa casinos

eCheck

eCheck is another widely accepted mode of payment in the US. The perks of making payments using eCheck include quick processing time and higher transaction limits. Some casinos like Golden Nugget allow you to withdraw up to $50,000 using eCheck, and the funds are available in your account within a few days.

Go to eCheck casinos

Play+

Play+ prepaid card is the top choice when it comes to convenience, quick processing time and high deposit and withdrawal limits. At some casinos, you can deposit and withdraw up to $100,000 in a single transaction. Play+ is also one of the few payment methods supporting instant withdrawals.

Go to Play+ casinos

Compare Bitcoin casino transactions with other payment methods

On average, you’ll find around 7-10 payment options available to fund your account when playing at top US casinos. Unlike BTC and other virtual currencies, the options we recommend are 100% legal, safe, and convenient.

For US players who are concerned about safety and anonymity, e-wallets like PayPal and Apple Pay are your best bet. These options don’t require you to enter your credit card details when making a deposit, meaning you enjoy more privacy when gambling online. When it comes to security, you’re also able to take advantage of two-factor authentication.

The downside is that you might have to pay a fee when withdrawing funds using e-wallets like Skrill. Also, e-wallets are not as widely accepted as traditional methods such as Visa and Mastercard.

Play+ is another popular casino payment method for US players. It’s accepted for deposits and withdrawals by all the leading casinos in the US including BetMGM casino and Borgata casino. Like e-wallets, Play+ guarantees instant deposits and speedy withdrawals, and it’s relatively easy to set up and use.

Credit/debit cards like Visa, Mastercard, and Amex are good options if you’re looking for a crypto casino payment alternative – all have high maximum limits for deposits and withdrawals. Notably, withdrawals to credit/debit cards may take up to five days, which may seem a long time in contrast to cryptos, which are instant. 

Direct bank transfer (ACH) is widely used at the best online casinos for deposits and withdrawals because of its reliability and safety. A disadvantage of using direct bank transfers is the speed. Deposits are not always instant, and you may have to wait a week for a withdrawal to hit your bank account.

How to choose an alternative payment method

Choosing the right alternative payment method is critically important when you’re playing at US real money casinos online. As a player, you’ll want to know that the banking method you select is not only secure but also fast and convenient.

Legit bitcoin casinos aren’t a thing in the US, so we’ve put together key factors to consider when looking for the best alternative payment methods.

Bitcoin casinos — a closer look

Players enjoy top Bitcoin casinos because of the anonymity and the speed of deposits and withdrawals. The crypto casinos work just like online real money casinos, with the key difference being BTC casinos accept digital currencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin.

Bitcoin online casinos have some unique features that set them apart from their counterparts. These include:

• Anonymity: You can make deposits and withdraw winnings from a Bitcoin casino online without giving personal information. Operators will not ask for your name, credit card information, or home address.
• Several crypto options: You can fund your account using several other popular virtual currencies. Examples are Etherium and Dogecoin.
• Specific software providers: Some software providers like Rival Gaming and Betsoft have exclusive game titles that can only be found at the best Bitcoin casinos.
• High withdrawal limits: Some Bitcoin gambling sites allow players to withdraw as much as 10 BTC in a single transaction.
• Payment exclusive bonuses: Crypto casinos have exclusive bonuses for players who deposit using selected cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. These online casino bonuses are much bigger compared to what traditional casinos offer.
• No transaction fees: Depositing funds and withdrawing casino winnings using Bitcoin is free of charge at most BTC casinos. This is because there are no middlemen or third-party merchant processors involved.

Transaction details — bitcoin vs other casino payments

The key advantage of Bitcoin casinos is there usually aren’t transaction limits. Most crypto gambling sites don’t have maximum caps for depots or withdrawals.

For example, PayPal and Play+ deposits are processed almost instantly at top online casinos such as SugarHouse NJ. But wire transfer deposits may take up to 7 business days to reflect.

One of the key downsides to using crypto is that when you send it, it must be to the correct address, otherwise the funds might be lost forever.

How to buy and use Bitcoin at online casinos

Bitcoin gambling may seem complicated, but you’ll be surprised to find out that it’s much simpler than you think. We’ve put together a step-by-step guide that explains everything from setting up your Bitcoin wallet to making your first deposit and withdrawing your winnings.

Please note – we don’t recommend any bitcoin casinos or crypto casinos in the US. Any casino offering this payment method will either be offshore and unregulated and/or blacklisted.

Step 1

Setup a Bitcoin wallet

The first thing you need to do is to get a wallet, or sign-up for an exchange so that you can use it to store your Bitcoin. To set one up, search for the best Bitcoin exchange or wallet and choose the one with the best reviews. Next, fill in your details and link the exchange or wallet to your bank account.

Step 2

Buy Bitcoin to fund your account

After signing up, read the instructions on your exchange/wallet to make a purchase of Bitcoin. You’re able to use many different payment methods, ranging from traditional ones like Visa to e-wallets such as Apple Pay. Just select the amount you’d like to buy and the Bitcoin will be visible in your wallet/exchange instantaneously.

Step 3

Deposit your Bitcoin

Log in to your player account and head to the cashier. Next, select Bitcoin as your preferred method of deposit. Copy the unique code provided by the Bitcoin casino, and go into your exchange/wallet. From there, make a transfer from your BTC account with the unique code found on the casino website.

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Step 4

Use your balance to play Bitcoin casino games

At crypto casinos, you often have the chance to use your Bitcoin funds to play slots, or even table games like live roulette or live baccarat. You’ll also be eligible for a welcome bonus, which is way above average compared to regular real money online casinos in the USA.

Step 5

Withdraw your winnings

Had some success? Want to cash out? Go to the cashier and choose Bitcoin as your preferred payment method.  Input your unique code, which is the address of your crypto wallet. Next, enter the amount you wish to withdraw and confirm the withdrawal request. The funds will reflect in your account shortly after your request has been processed by the operator.

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Bitcoin casino glossary

Bitcoin gambling is a new concept in the United States casino landscape. A lot of players may not be familiar with Bitcoin, or the terms used by crypto casinos.

We’ve made a BTC casino glossary to help you get acquainted with the most common and basic terms and their definitions.

Here are some of the terminologies you’ll come across:

• Altcoin: The general term used to refer to any other digital currency besides Bitcoin. The ‘ALT’ stands for alternative.
• BCH: The currency symbol for Bitcoin cash.
• BTC: The currency ticker symbol for Bitcoin.
• Bitcoin bonus: A casino bonus that can only be claimed by players who deposit using Bitcoin.
• Bitcoin casino: A gambling site that accepts Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as methods of payment.
• Bitcoin casino free spins: A free spins bonus package that is only available to Bitcoin depositors.
• Bitcoin exchange: This is where you go to purchase or exchange Bitcoin for other virtual currencies such as Ethereum.
• Bitcoin roulette: It refers to a special type of roulette that uses Bitcoin bets. The game also pays out in Bitcoin and other alternative coins like Litecoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin. 
• Bitcoin slots: The terminology for slot games that can be played with Bitcoin wagers
• DOGE: Currency symbol representing Dogecoin
• mBTC: Currency symbol for one millibitcoin, which is equivalent to 0.001 Bitcoin. Also known as a Satoshi.
• ETH: Currency symbol for Ethereum
• XRP: The currency symbol for Ripple

The laws around Bitcoin casinos in the US — latest updates

Crypto casinos of any kind are not legal in the USA. So far, only six states have legalized online casinos. Notably, none of them has passed laws to allow payments and wagers in the form of cryptocurrencies.

The main reason for this is the lack of regulations – crypto payments don’t pass Anti Money Laundering laws. As Bitcoin casinos aren’t properly regulated, there are questions about where your money originated from, whether the games are fair, or whether your funds are safe.

There is hope that some states will embrace cryptocurrency payments as the USA’s online iGaming market continues to grow. In May 2021, for instance, Wyoming made headlines when it became the first state to allow regulated sportsbooks to accept payments using digital currencies.

US players who want to play casino games online using cryptocurrencies 100% legally can try social and sweeps casinos like SweepsSlots.

Summary of the current status of Bitcoin and US casinos:

• Six US states have legal online casinos: NJ, PA, MI, DE, CT, and WY.
• No state has enacted laws to authorize Bitcoin online casino payments.
• Wyoming sportsbooks accept crypto payments in 2021.

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