State Casinos: Guide to Legal in the USA 2026

Updated On Oct 8, 2026
Dave Cooper Dave Cooper Casino Writer
Fact Checked Reviewer Paige Williams Paige Williams Casino Expert

Editorial Statement: At CasinoUS, we independently review and select the online casinos featured on our site. We assess each operator using consistent criteria covering licensing, security, payments, payouts, bonuses, games, customer support and responsible gambling.

We may earn commissions when readers use certain affiliate links. However, commercial relationships do not determine which casinos we feature or how we evaluate them. We highlight both strengths and limitations so that US players can make more informed decisions.

State casinos operate in 42 of the 50 US states, from Las Vegas resorts to small tribal gaming halls. However, only seven states let you play at licensed real-money online casinos, with Maine set to become the eighth.

Below, we map casinos by state, so you can see which states with casinos are commercial, tribal or both. You also get every legal online casino state, its regulator and the minimum gambling age.

Key Takeaways

  • 42 states have at least one commercial or tribal casino. Eight states have none.
  • 493 commercial casinos operate in 27 states, according to the American Gaming Association (AGA).
  • 521 tribal casinos operate in 29 states under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA).
  • Seven states run live online casinos: CT, DE, MI, NJ, PA, RI and WV. Maine legalized them in 2026 but has not launched.
  • US commercial gaming revenue hit a record $78.6 billion in 2025.
  • Most casinos require you to be 21. Some tribal casinos admit players from 18.
  • Free, confidential help is available 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER.

State Casinos at a Glance: Which States Have Casinos?

Which states have casinos? In short, 42 states host state casinos, once you count both commercial and tribal venues. The other eight states have no casino of either kind. Below, the table breaks the count down by casino type.

Casino type States Venues Who licenses them
Commercial casinos 27 493 State gaming commissions or lotteries
Tribal casinos 29 521 Tribes, under compacts with the state
Live online casinos 7 Varies by state State gaming regulators
No casinos at all 8 0 Not applicable

Commercial and tribal figures come from the AGA’s State of the States 2026 report and cover the end of 2025. Notably, many states, such as Michigan and New York, host both kinds of casino.

States with legal online casinos let you play slots, table games and live dealer games for real money from home. Today, seven states have live markets, and each one licenses its own operators. As a result, the casinos, bonuses and payment methods available to you change at the state line.

State Became law First sites live Regulator Licensed online casinos (examples)
New Jersey 2013 2013 Division of Gaming Enforcement BetMGM, Borgata, Caesars Palace, DraftKings, FanDuel, Golden Nugget
Delaware 2012 2013 Delaware Lottery BetRivers, through the state’s three racinos
Pennsylvania 2017 2019 Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board BetMGM, BetRivers, Caesars Palace, DraftKings, FanDuel
West Virginia 2019 2020 West Virginia Lottery Commission BetMGM, Caesars Palace, DraftKings, FanDuel
Michigan 2019 2021 Michigan Gaming Control Board BetMGM, BetRivers, Caesars Palace, DraftKings, FanDuel
Connecticut 2021 2021 Department of Consumer Protection DraftKings (Mashantucket Pequot), Mohegan Sun Casino powered by FanDuel (Mohegan Tribe)
Rhode Island 2023 2024 Rhode Island Lottery Bally Casino (sole operator)
Maine 2026 Not yet live Gambling Control Unit Caesars brands planned with three Wabanaki Nations

Of these, New Jersey has the most operators and the longest-running market. In contrast, Delaware and Rhode Island each run a single state-managed platform. Meanwhile, Iowa, Ohio and other casino states without online laws still require you to play in person.

Online casinos are also big business in the states that allow them. The AGA reports $10.73 billion in online casino revenue across the seven states in 2025. In fact, online play out-earned land-based casinos in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for the first time. For our picks across all seven, see our guide to real money online casinos.

Maine: Legal Online Casinos, Not Yet Live

Maine online casinos became legal in January 2026 under LD 1164. Specifically, the law gives the state’s four Wabanaki Nations exclusive rights to run online casinos. Caesars has signed with three of the four tribes to launch its brands once regulators approve them.

However, no Maine site is live yet. State rules are still being finalized, and a lawsuit from a commercial casino operator challenges the tribes’ exclusive rights.

States to Watch: Online Casino Bills in 2026

Online casino bills reached several statehouses in 2026, but none besides Maine became law. Below is where the main efforts stand.

State 2026 outcome
Virginia Passed both chambers in different forms, then failed in conference in March
New York Senate bill referred back to committee; tax rates remain the sticking point
Illinois House bill sent back to the Rules Committee
Indiana Shelved before the session deadline
Maryland Hearing held; no vote to advance

Virginia came closest, so it is the state most likely to try again in 2027. Until a bill passes and a market launches, real-money online casinos stay illegal in these states.

US Sate Casinos

Land-Based State Casinos: Commercial and Tribal

Land-based state casinos fall into two groups. Commercial casinos are licensed by the state, while tribal casinos run under federal law. Many states have both, but the two follow different rules on taxes, games and oversight.

Commercial Casinos by State

Commercial casinos by state range from 227 in Nevada to three in Arkansas, and each is privately owned and state-licensed. In 2025, the AGA counted 493 across 27 states, including racinos (racetracks with slot machines). Together, they earned a record $51.06 billion from slots and table games.

State Commercial casinos 2025 commercial gaming revenue Regulator
Nevada 227 $15.80B Nevada Gaming Control Board
Pennsylvania 17 $7.70B Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
New Jersey 9 $6.98B Division of Gaming Enforcement
New York 13 $5.72B New York State Gaming Commission
Michigan 3 $5.04B Michigan Gaming Control Board
Ohio 11 $3.50B Ohio Casino Control Commission
Illinois 17 $3.42B Illinois Gaming Board
Louisiana 20 $3.05B Louisiana Gaming Control Board
Indiana 13 $3.01B Indiana Gaming Commission
Mississippi 25 $2.43B Mississippi Gaming Commission

Note that revenue figures include online casino and sports betting income where a state allows them. As a result, Michigan, with just three Detroit casinos, out-earns Mississippi. For comparison, the Las Vegas Strip alone earned $8.64 billion from casino games in 2025.

Tribal Casinos by State

Tribal casinos by state operate on tribal land under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), passed in 1988. By the end of 2025, 521 tribal casinos operated in 29 states. According to the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC), they earned $43.83 billion in 2024.

IGRA splits tribal gaming into three classes. First, Class I covers traditional ceremonial games, and Class II covers bingo and bingo-based machines.

Next, Class III covers slot machines and table games. Tribes need a compact with the state before they can offer Class III games.

In Alabama, Alaska, Nebraska and Texas, tribal casinos offer only Class II games. By count, Oklahoma has the most tribal casinos, while California’s tribal market earns the most revenue.

State Casinos by State: All 50 States Compared

This table compares state casinos by state, showing which casino types all 50 states allow. Select a state for its full guide to land-based and online options.

State Commercial casinos Tribal casinos Online casinos
Alabama No Yes (Class II only) No
Alaska No Yes (Class II only) No
Arizona No Yes No
Arkansas Yes No No
California No Yes No
Colorado Yes Yes No
Connecticut No Yes Yes
Delaware Yes No Yes
Florida Yes Yes No
Georgia No No No
Hawaii No No No
Idaho No Yes No
Illinois Yes No No
Indiana Yes Yes No
Iowa Yes Yes No
Kansas Yes Yes No
Kentucky No No No
Louisiana Yes Yes No
Maine Yes No Legal, not live
Maryland Yes No No
Massachusetts Yes No No
Michigan Yes Yes Yes
Minnesota No Yes No
Mississippi Yes Yes No
Missouri Yes No No
Montana No Yes No
Nebraska Yes Yes (Class II only) No
Nevada Yes Yes Poker only
New Hampshire No No No
New Jersey Yes No Yes
New Mexico Yes Yes No
New York Yes Yes No
North Carolina No Yes No
North Dakota No Yes No
Ohio Yes No No
Oklahoma Yes Yes No
Oregon No Yes No
Pennsylvania Yes No Yes
Rhode Island Yes No Yes
South Carolina No No No
South Dakota Yes Yes No
Tennessee No No No
Texas No Yes (Class II only) No
Utah No No No
Vermont No No No
Virginia Yes No No
Washington No Yes No
West Virginia Yes No Yes
Wisconsin No Yes No
Wyoming No Yes No

Note that Nevada licenses online poker but not online slots or table games. Also, “No” under tribal casinos means no tribal gaming facility operates there, even where tribes are federally recognized.

States Without Casinos: Where Gambling Is Restricted

States without casinos number eight: Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah and Vermont. Of these, only Hawaii and Utah ban all forms of gambling.

The other six allow at least a state lottery, and several have added sports betting.

State Lottery Other legal gambling
Hawaii No None
Utah No None; banned by the state constitution
Georgia Yes None beyond the lottery
Kentucky Yes Historical horse racing machines, sports betting
New Hampshire Yes Charitable gaming rooms, historical horse racing, sports betting
South Carolina Yes Casino cruises to international waters
Tennessee Yes Online sports betting
Vermont Yes Sports betting

Historical horse racing machines look like slots but pay out based on past races. For example, Kentucky and New Hampshire use them, along with Virginia and Wyoming. Even so, the AGA does not count these venues as casinos.

How State Casinos Are Regulated: State and Federal Law

State casinos answer first to a state gaming commission, control board or lottery. In practice, these bodies issue licenses, test games, audit operators and handle complaints. Above them, federal law sets the outer limits on what states can allow.

Federal law Year What it does
Wire Act 1961 Bars interstate wire bets; a 2021 appeals ruling confirmed it covers sports betting only
Indian Gaming Regulatory Act 1988 Creates the framework and three classes for tribal gaming
Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act 2006 Targets payment processors handling illegal online bets, not players
Murphy v. NCAA ruling 2018 Struck down the federal sports betting ban, letting states legalize it

Playing at a state-licensed online casino does not break federal law. However, the licensing protections, dispute routes and safeguards apply only to state-licensed operators. Our guide to US gambling laws covers each law in more depth.

Sweepstakes and Offshore Casinos by State

Sweepstakes and offshore casinos fill the gap in states without licensed online casinos, but neither offers state-level protection. However, they work very differently, so it pays to know which one you are looking at.

Sweepstakes casinos use two virtual currencies, and one can be redeemed for cash prizes. Yet a growing list of states now bans them by statute.

California, Connecticut, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York and Tennessee have bans in force. Oklahoma’s ban follows on November 1, 2026.

By contrast, offshore casinos hold licenses from places such as Curacao and accept US players without state approval. As a result, no US regulator oversees them. If a site refuses to pay, you have no state agency to complain to.

Gambling Age by State

The gambling age by state is 21 at nearly every commercial casino and online casino in the US. However, tribal casinos set their own limits under their state compacts, so some admit players from 18.

Venue type Typical minimum age Notes
Commercial casinos 21 Some racinos and card rooms allow 18
Online casinos 21 All seven live states set 21
Tribal casinos 18 to 21 18 is common in states such as California, Minnesota, Oklahoma and Washington
State lotteries 18 in most states 19 in Nebraska; 21 in a few, such as Mississippi
Sports betting 21 in most states A few states allow 18

Always check the age rule at the specific casino before you travel. Our legal gambling age guide lists the limits for every state.

Best Online Casinos by State: Our Picks

The best online casinos by state depend on where you live, because each brand holds separate state licenses. For that reason, every casino below is listed with its licensed states. Bonus terms and payout speeds can change, so confirm them before you deposit.

Casino Best for Licensed states Welcome offer Payout speed
BetMGM Casino Best overall MI, NJ, PA, WV Up to $1,000 bonus 1–3 days bank; instant e-wallet
DraftKings Casino Sports integration CT, MI, NJ, PA, WV Up to $100 bonus + $50 credit 24–48 hrs PayPal; 2–5 days bank
FanDuel Casino Mobile app MI, NJ, PA, WV; CT as Mohegan Sun Casino Up to $1,000 back if down Day 1 24 hrs PayPal; 3–5 days bank
Caesars Palace Online Loyalty rewards MI, NJ, PA, WV 100% match up to $2,500 1–5 business days
Golden Nugget Online Slots variety MI, NJ, PA, WV Up to $1,000 match + 200 spins 24–48 hrs e-wallet
Fanatics Casino Sports fans MI, NJ, PA, WV Up to $1,000 in bonuses 24–72 hrs e-wallet
Borgata Online Table games NJ, PA 100% match up to $1,000 24–72 hrs e-wallet; 3–5 days bank
Resorts Casino Online New Jersey players NJ Up to $1,000 deposit match 24–48 hrs PayPal; 5 days bank
Hard Rock Bet Casino Brand recognition NJ Up to $1,000 deposit match 1–3 business days
Pala Casino Online Poker players NJ Up to $500 welcome bonus 24–48 hrs e-wallet; 5–7 days check

If you live in Delaware, your licensed choice is BetRivers through the state lottery. In Rhode Island, Bally Casino is the only option. For full reviews with wagering terms and game libraries, see our casino reviews, rated using our casino rating process.

State Online Casinos

Responsible Gambling at State Casinos

Responsible gambling at state casinos starts with free support that every licensed operator must point you to. Above all, treat each deposit as money spent on entertainment, not money invested.

  • Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER, the National Council on Problem Gambling helpline, 24/7
  • Set deposit, loss and session limits in your casino account
  • Join your state’s self-exclusion list to block access to every licensed operator
  • Find a local or online meeting through Gamblers Anonymous

Our self-exclusion guide explains how each state’s program works. For more support options, visit our responsible gambling hub.

State Casinos FAQs

These state casinos FAQs answer the questions US players ask most about casinos and gambling laws by state.

What States Have Casinos?

States with casinos number 42 out of 50. That includes 27 states with commercial casinos and 29 with tribal casinos, with many states having both. Nevada has the most commercial casinos, while Oklahoma has the most tribal casinos. Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah and Vermont have no casinos of either kind.

Which States Have No Casinos?

Eight states have no casinos: Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah and Vermont. Hawaii and Utah ban all gambling. The other six run a state lottery, and some allow sports betting or historical horse racing machines. Alaska and Virginia do have casinos, despite some older lists saying otherwise.

What States Have Legal Online Casinos?

Seven states have live, legal online casinos: Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and West Virginia. Maine legalized online casinos in January 2026, but no sites have launched yet. In every other state, real-money online casinos are not licensed, and offshore sites offer no state protection.

How Many States Have Casinos?

Forty-two states have at least one casino. The AGA counts 493 commercial casinos in 27 states, while 521 tribal casinos operate in 29 states. The totals overlap because states such as Michigan, New York and Florida host both. Online casinos are far rarer, with only seven states running live markets.

What States Have Tribal Casinos?

Tribal casinos operate in 29 states under IGRA compacts. Oklahoma has the most venues, and California’s tribal market earns the most revenue. Other major tribal gaming states include Arizona, Connecticut, Minnesota, Washington and Wisconsin. In Alabama, Alaska, Nebraska and Texas, tribal casinos offer only bingo-based Class II games.

What Is the Legal Gambling Age by State?

The legal gambling age is 21 at nearly all commercial and online casinos in the US. Tribal casinos follow their state compacts, and many in California, Oklahoma, Minnesota and Washington admit players from 18. State lotteries usually start at 18. Always confirm the limit with the specific casino before you visit.

Is It Legal to Play at Offshore Online Casinos?

Offshore online casinos sit in a legal grey area for players in most states. Federal law targets payment processors rather than individual players, but offshore sites hold no state license. As a result, no regulator checks their games or handles disputes. Some states also ban the sites from serving their residents.

Dave Cooper

Dave Cooper

Dave Cooper is the Senior Content Manager at CasinoUS.com, leading the creation of informative and engaging content for casino players. Fueled by a fascination for the intricate world of online gaming and a talent for storytelling, Dave holds a journalism degree from UNLV, a perfect launchpad for his illustrious career.

Editorial Statement: Casino US is your trusted source for timely industry updates, in-depth analysis, and honest operator reviews. Our editorial team brings years of specialized gaming industry knowledge to every story, holding ourselves to strict standards of accuracy and objectivity. We're dedicated to providing straightforward, unbiased, and reliable reporting on the US gambling landscape and beyond.