Bitcoin & Crypto Casinos in United States: Legal Guide

Online gambling in the US: the position in October 2026

There is no single US law that legalises or bans online gambling everywhere. Since the Supreme Court struck down the federal sports betting ban in 2018, each state has decided for itself. What you can do depends on where you are physically located when you place a bet, not where you live or where your account was opened.

As of October 2026, sports betting is legal in 39 states plus Washington, D.C., and about 31 of those states plus D.C. allow statewide online betting. Real-money online casinos are live in only seven states, with Maine authorised but not yet launched. Everywhere else, real-money online casino games are not legally available.

Offshore crypto casinos sit outside this system entirely. They hold no state licence, most exclude US players in their own terms, and state regulators and attorneys general treat them as illegal. We list only state-licensed brands for the US, and we never list sweepstakes casinos or offshore sites.

Who regulates gambling in the US

State gaming regulators license operators, approve games and enforce consumer protection rules. Examples include the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and the Michigan Gaming Control Board. Several states run sports betting through their lottery instead.

Federal law sits in the background. The Wire Act limits interstate betting transmissions, and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA) bars payment processing for gambling that is illegal under state or federal law. Together they are why unlicensed offshore sites cannot lawfully take bets from Americans and why US banks often decline payments to them.

Licensed operators must confirm you are inside a legal state using geolocation, usually through a phone app or a browser plug-in. If you travel to a state without legal online betting, your account stays open but you cannot place bets until you return.

States with legal online casinos

Maine’s law, which became law in January 2026 without the governor’s signature, gives the four Wabanaki Nations the exclusive right to offer online casino games, each through one commercial partner. The state regulator was still finishing its rules in autumn 2026 and pointed to early 2027 for launch. A lawsuit from a commercial casino owner challenges the tribal-only model.

Bills to legalise online casinos were debated in 2026 in states including New York, Illinois and Massachusetts, but none had passed by October. Nevada allows online poker but not online casino games.

States with legal sports betting

Missouri was the most recent state to launch, on 1 December 2025. The table groups states by how betting is offered, based on trackers updated in mid-2026. Some states have one operator only, often the state lottery or a tribe.

Licensed sportsbooks set their own minimum age, which is 21 in most states and 18 in a few. Our guide to reading betting odds explains American odds and how to compare prices across books.

How to check that an operator is licensed in your state

1. Go to your state gaming regulator’s website (or the lottery, in lottery-run states) and open its list of licensed operators.
2. Find the brand and its licence holder. Many brands operate under a partnership with a land-based casino or tribe, so the licence may be in another company’s name.
3. Check the app or site you are using is the one listed for your state. A brand licensed in New Jersey is not automatically licensed in your state.
4. Make sure the site asks for geolocation before letting you bet. Licensed sites always do.
5. Look for your state’s responsible gambling helpline in the footer. Licensed sites must show it.

Offshore sites and enforcement

Offshore casinos and sportsbooks that accept Americans break state law and, in many cases, federal law too. Regulators have stepped up action against them. The Michigan Gaming Control Board has sent cease-and-desist letters to offshore operators, Arizona and other states have followed, and in August 2025 a group of state attorneys general asked the Department of Justice to act against offshore sites.

For players the practical risk is money, not prosecution. Offshore sites are outside US consumer law, many forbid US players in their terms, and some use that clause to void winnings. Our guide to crypto casino licences explains why an offshore licence gives so little recourse.

Sweepstakes casino bans

Sweepstakes casinos use two virtual currencies: one for free play and one, often called sweeps coins, that can be redeemed for cash prizes. They operated for years in most states without a gambling licence. Since 2025 a growing number of states have banned the dual-currency model outright.

California’s AB 831, signed in October 2025, took effect on 1 January 2026. It makes it a misdemeanour to operate or knowingly support an online sweepstakes game that uses dual currencies, simulates casino games or sports betting and awards cash or cash equivalents. Liability reaches payment processors, geolocation providers, game suppliers and media affiliates, with penalties of up to a year in jail and up to $25,000 per violation.

Trackers disagree on the exact list and dates, and other states rely on older gambling laws to block sweepstakes sites. We do not list or review sweepstakes casinos for any state.

Prediction markets: Kalshi, Polymarket and the states

Prediction markets such as Kalshi offer contracts on the outcome of sports games and other events. Kalshi is registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission as a derivatives exchange and argues that federal law overrides state gambling rules, so it offers sports contracts even in states where sports betting is illegal. Polymarket, Robinhood and Crypto.com offer similar products.

States disagree, and so do the courts. In April 2026 the Third Circuit sided with Kalshi against New Jersey. In August 2026 the Ninth Circuit held that Nevada can apply its gambling laws to Kalshi, and on 25 September 2026 the Sixth Circuit ruled that Ohio and Tennessee can do the same. New Jersey has asked the Supreme Court to take up the question, and around 20 states are challenging sports event contracts. In late September 2026 New York sued Polymarket, alleging it is running an unlicensed gambling operation.

Until the Supreme Court settles the split, the legal status of sports event contracts depends on where you live and which court covers your state. We do not list prediction markets as sportsbooks, and they are not covered by state self-exclusion schemes.

Advertising rules in the US

Advertising rules are set state by state. Common rules include no marketing aimed at people under 21, no ads on college campuses or with college athletes, mandatory responsible gambling messages and helpline numbers, and limits on describing bonuses as “free” or “risk-free”. Most large operators also follow the American Gaming Association’s Responsible Marketing Code, which restricts ads to audiences that are mostly over 21.

Promoting illegal gambling is a different matter. California’s AB 831 expressly reaches media affiliates that knowingly support sweepstakes casinos, and state regulators have sent cease-and-desist letters to promoters as well as operators. That is why this page names only state-licensed brands.

Payments and crypto

Licensed US sportsbooks and casinos accept debit cards, online bank transfer (ACH), PayPal and other e-wallets, prepaid cards such as Play+, and cash at partner casinos. Credit card acceptance varies by state, operator and card issuer, and some states ban it. Withdrawals usually take one to five days, depending on the method.

In practice, state-licensed operators take US dollars only, not cryptocurrency. If you hold crypto and want to bet legally, sell it on a regulated exchange, move the dollars to your bank and deposit from there. Selling crypto can be a taxable event in its own right. Our deposits and withdrawals guide explains how the main methods compare.

Tax on US gambling winnings and the 2026 loss rule

All gambling winnings are taxable income at the federal level, whether or not you receive a tax form. Operators issue Form W-2G for larger wins and may withhold tax. Many states tax winnings too, at their normal income tax rates.

Losses can be deducted only if you itemise deductions, and never beyond the amount of your winnings. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act tightened this from the 2026 tax year: you can now deduct only 90% of your gambling losses, still capped at your winnings. That means a player who breaks even can owe tax on money they never actually made.

Bills to repeal the 90% rule were introduced in Congress, but none had passed by October 2026. Keep records of every win and loss, and speak to a tax professional if you bet regularly.

Self-exclusion and the national helpline

Most states with legal online gambling run a self-exclusion list through the regulator, which bars you from every licensed operator in that state for the period you choose. Some states also share lists with neighbouring states or tribal operators. Licensed operators must also offer deposit, time and spending limits and cool-off periods.

In January 2026 the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) launched 1-800-MY-RESET as its national helpline number. It is free, confidential and open 24 hours a day, and it connects you to the National Problem Gambling Helpline Network of 24 contact centres. You can also text the same number or chat online. The older 1-800-522-4700 number still works. Many states also have their own helplines, which appear on licensed sites.

Self-exclusion lists do not cover offshore sites, sweepstakes casinos or prediction markets. Our responsible gambling guide covers blocking software and bank tools that can, and our responsible gambling page explains how we approach the subject.

What changed in 2026

How we list operators for the US

We list state-licensed sportsbooks and casinos only: DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, Fanatics, bet365, BetRivers, Hard Rock Bet, Borgata, theScore Bet and Bally Bet. Each is licensed only in specific states, and most offer online casino games only in the seven online casino states. Confirm the operator is licensed where you are before you sign up.

Our sportsbook rankings and crypto pages are written for a global audience and include brands that cannot serve US players. For other markets, see our Canada page or the market pages linked from our coverage overview.