What Are the Top 10 Trusted Online Casinos in the US

Online casino gambling in the United States developed under tighter controls than in most other markets. No national license and no single regulator is overseeing online gambling as a whole. Each state decides whether online casinos are allowed and which companies can operate within its borders.

That approach has kept the market smaller than many expected, but it has also limited who can take part. Only a short list of operators has secured approval in more than one state and those approvals come with ongoing oversight rather than one-time checks. In practice, trust comes from a company’s record with regulators, not how often its name appears online or how aggressively it markets itself.

For readers trying to make sense of the US landscape, this structure matters. It explains why the same brands appear repeatedly across regulated states and why new entrants are rare. The barrier to entry is not popularity. It is regulatory approval and the ability to maintain it.

How Trust Is Defined in the US Online Casino Market

In the US, online casinos are only allowed to operate after receiving approval from a state regulator. Agencies such as the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement and the Michigan Gaming Control Board review who owns the company, how it is financed and whether its technology meets state requirements before a license is issued.

Approval is not permanent. Licensed operators must file regular reports and remain open to audits. Regulators can step in if problems are identified, including issuing fines or suspending licenses where standards are not met. In some cases, platforms have been required to change internal processes or remove products that did not meet technical rules.

When people look for a top casino site in the US, they are usually trying to identify platforms that have stayed licensed over time and avoided regulatory action, rather than those that rely on design, branding, or promotion. Longevity in regulated markets is one of the clearest signals of reliability.

The numbers show why regulators have taken this slow approach. Data from the American Gaming Association shows that online casino revenue across the seven fully regulated states rose by 28.7 percent in 2024, reaching about $8.41 billion. Growth at that pace tends to follow stable oversight rather than loose market entry, particularly in industries tied to financial transactions.

There is also a technical side to how oversight works. Casino games must be tested before launch and random number generators are checked to confirm that results behave as advertised. These checks are handled by independent testing labs approved by regulators. The same standards apply across all licensed platforms, regardless of brand size.

What Does ‘Trusted’ REALLY Mean for US Casino Players?

In the United States iGaming market, the term “trusted” involves more than simply holding a license. Regulation provides the legal baseline, but player trust is built through several additional pillars:

• Secure identity verification processes  
• Reliable withdrawals and timely payouts  
• Transparent ownership structures  
• Independently tested casino games  
• Strong customer support records  

A truly trusted online casino is one that not only meets state requirements but consistently delivers a safe experience after launch. Bettors care about how a platform treats their money. They also care about how it handles problems when they arise. This is why enforcement systems and testing labs play such an important role beside regulators.

So while licensing is essential, trust from a player perspective is reinforced every time a withdrawal request is fulfilled without issue.

Why Regulation and State Licensing Shape Market Leaders

Gambling law in the US is set at the state level. Operators must apply separately in each jurisdiction where they want to offer online casino games. Every application involves background checks, system reviews and suitability assessments, often taking months to complete.

Operators that appear in more than one state have already cleared this process multiple times. That alone narrows the field. Many companies enter a single market and never expand further because of cost, regulatory complexity, or internal capacity limits.

New Jersey remains the longest-running regulated online casino market, having launched online casino gaming in 2013. Pennsylvania and Michigan followed later but now report similar levels of activity. Monthly reporting makes that concentration easy to see. In August 2025, online casino revenue across Michigan, New Jersey and Pennsylvania combined reached $742.9 million.

These three states now account for the majority of regulated online casino activity in the country. As a result, operators that hold licenses in all three tend to be viewed as more established than those limited to a single jurisdiction.

Geolocation and identity checks are part of the same framework. Access is limited to users physically located within legal state borders and identity verification is mandatory before play. These controls are enforced through third-party systems and ongoing monitoring. They are not optional features added by operators. They are regulatory requirements.

Common Deposit and Withdrawal Methods on US Online Casinos

Licensed U.S. online casinos rely on standardized and compliant funding methods. Most major operators offer several ways for players to deposit and withdraw funds:

• Debit and credit cards (Visa, Mastercard)  
• PayPal in select states  
• Online bank transfers (ACH)  
• Play+ prepaid cards  
• VIP e-wallet systems  
• State-approved local payment processors  

Withdrawals follow similar paths. Casinos must verify identity before processing payouts. These methods are required to comply with anti-money laundering rules and geolocation restrictions.

Unlike offshore platforms, crypto deposits are only recently becoming more common, and they must also be approved by regulators before being offered.

Regulated US Casinos vs Offshore Casino Sites

Many online casino brands advertise to U.S. players without holding any state license. These offshore casino sites may offer attractive designs and huge bonuses, but they operate outside American oversight.

Key differences include:

Regulated U.S. casinos:

• Must verify player identity  
• Only serve players within licensed states  
• Use independently tested RNG systems  
• Follow formal complaint procedures  

Offshore casinos:

• No state regulator  
• No mandatory testing  
• No guaranteed withdrawal timelines  
• Often rely solely on crypto  

For American bettors looking for reliability, regulation is the key advantage. A pretty interface does not make a casino trusted. Legal standing does.

The Top 10 Trusted Online Casinos in the US

Only a small number of US states currently allow full online casino gaming. As of 2025, seven states permit regulated real-money online casinos. That limitation concentrates market activity around operators that have secured approval in more than one location.

Taking licensing history, ownership and continued approval into account, the following platforms are commonly grouped when discussing the most established online casinos in the US:

1. BetMGM Casino
   BetMGM operates under licenses in multiple states and is backed by MGM Resorts, one of the largest casino operators in the country.
2. DraftKings Casino
   DraftKings expanded from fantasy sports into regulated online casinos and now holds licenses in several major iGaming states.
3. FanDuel Casino
   Owned by Flutter Entertainment, FanDuel operates licensed casino platforms alongside its broader US gaming operations.
4. Caesars Casino Online
   Caesars Casino Online reflects the company’s long-standing land-based casino presence and operates under state licenses in several markets.
5. BetRivers Casino
   Run by Rush Street Interactive, BetRivers was among the early entrants into regulated US online casinos and maintains a multi-state footprint.
6. Golden Nugget Online Casino
   Golden Nugget was one of the first online casinos licensed in New Jersey and played an early role in shaping the regulated market.
7. Borgata Online Casino
   Linked to the Borgata Hotel Casino in Atlantic City, this platform has maintained a long-term presence, particularly in New Jersey.
8. Hard Rock Casino Online
   Hard Rock’s online casino operates in select states and is tied to the company’s broader gaming and hospitality operations.
9. Hollywood Casino Online
   Part of Penn Entertainment, Hollywood Casino Online operates in states such as Pennsylvania and Michigan under ongoing oversight.
10. PlaySugarHouse Casino
    Another Rush Street Interactive brand, PlaySugarHouse, launched early in the regulated era and remains active in a limited number of states.

What These Platforms Have in Common

While these casinos differ on the surface, their operating structure is largely the same. All are licensed by state regulators. All use approved game suppliers. All submit to independent technical testing.

They are also backed by large parent companies with the resources to manage compliance, security and verification at scale. That backing matters in a market where regulatory expectations are high and enforcement is ongoing. Smaller operators without that support often struggle to keep pace.

Trust in this market does not sit with one company alone. It is reinforced by regulators, testing labs, payment processors and enforcement systems that continue to monitor how platforms operate after launch.

In the US market, the word “trusted” does not describe outcomes or performance. It refers to legal standing. A trusted platform is one that continues to meet state requirements year after year and remains in good standing with regulators.

This is why the same operators tend to appear across regulated states. Entry is slow, oversight is ongoing and changes happen gradually. In the US, trust comes down to regulation and nothing else.