Online Gambling Laws by State: Where Online Casinos Are Legal in 2026
Maya Sterling Bonus and Payments Specialist
Maya Sterling is the Bonus and Payments Specialist at PeakyCasino. She owns the publication's coverage of casino bonuses, wagering requirements, payment methods, and the regulatory frameworks governing player funds. Maya…
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As of November 2026, seven US states license and run real-money online casinos: Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and West Virginia. Maine has passed a law allowing tribal online casinos, but no licensed site had launched there as of November 2026.
In the other 42 states and Washington, DC, no state agency licenses online casino games. That includes California, Florida and Texas, the three states people ask about most. This page shows which states have licensed sites, how each regulator lets you check a site, where sweepstakes casinos are restricted, and what offshore casinos mean for you.
We built this page from regulator websites and state legislature records we opened in November 2026. Each source is named next to the fact it supports. Laws change quickly, so check your state regulator before you play. This is general information, not legal advice.
Which States Have Legal Online Casinos?
Seven states have live, state-licensed online casinos as of November 2026. In each one, only sites approved by the state regulator may take real-money casino bets, and you must be physically inside the state when you play.
A state-licensed online casino is a site approved by a state gaming regulator, which tests its games, audits its payments and handles player disputes. The table lists each regulator and the page where it publishes its approved sites.
| State | Regulator | Who may offer online casino games | Official list of approved sites |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | Department of Consumer Protection, Gaming Division | Two platforms: DraftKings (with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe) and FanDuel (with the Mohegan Tribe) | CT legal websites and apps |
| Delaware | Delaware Lottery | Online games of the state’s three casinos (Delaware Park, Bally’s Dover, Harrington) on a platform powered by BetRivers | Delaware Lottery iGaming |
| Michigan | Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) | Commercial and tribal casino operators licensed by the MGCB | MGCB legal vs. illegal gaming |
| New Jersey | Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) | Atlantic City casino licensees and the sites approved under them | DGE internet gaming sites |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) | Licensed interactive gaming operators | PGCB interactive gaming operators |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island Lottery | Online slots and live table games through Bally’s Lincoln and Bally’s Tiverton, live since March 1, 2024 | Rhode Island Lottery |
| West Virginia | West Virginia Lottery | The state’s racetrack casinos and the casino at The Greenbrier, under House Bill 2934 | WV Lottery i-Gaming license list |
Delaware, Rhode Island and Connecticut state a minimum age of 21 for online casino play in the sources above. Check the regulator page for the age rule in the other states.
Michigan Online Casinos
Michigan allows online casino games only through operators licensed by the MGCB. The board publishes the full list of legal internet gaming websites and names unlicensed operators it has ordered to stop. On April 7, 2026, it announced cease-and-desist orders to 45 offshore gambling operators.
Pennsylvania Online Casinos
Pennsylvania’s PGCB licenses online casino games alongside sports wagering, online poker and fantasy contests. Its verification page lists every licensed interactive gaming operator and asks players to look for the official PGCB logo on a site before they bet.
New Jersey Online Casinos
New Jersey ties every online casino to a licensed Atlantic City casino. The DGE publishes the approved sites under each casino licensee. If a dispute is not settled by the casino, you can file an internet gaming dispute form with the DGE, after you have first complained to the casino and received its answer.
Is Online Gambling Legal in Maine?
Maine has legalized online casinos, but they were not live as of November 2026. LD 1164 became law in January 2026 and lets the Wabanaki Nations operate internet gaming under a license from the state’s Gambling Control Unit.
The Gambling Control Unit was still writing the rules in late 2026. Industry reports from October 2026 described the first quarter of 2027 as a possible launch window, not a fixed date. A lawsuit filed by Oxford Casino in January 2026 challenges the tribal model. Until a licensed site launches, no online casino may legally take real-money bets from Maine players.
Is Online Gambling Legal in California, Florida and Texas?
No. As of November 2026, none of these three states licenses online casino games. California’s regulator says online gambling is illegal under state law, Florida’s online gambling is limited to sports betting through the Seminole Tribe, and Texas law treats most betting as a criminal offense.
Is Online Gambling Legal in California?
No. The California Gambling Control Commission states that online gambling is illegal under California law and that it has never issued a license to an online casino. It warns that some unlicensed sites show forged Commission certificates.
In-person gambling at licensed cardrooms and tribal casinos is legal. Sports betting is not regulated in California. In 2025 the state also passed AB 831, which makes it unlawful to operate online sweepstakes games that use a dual-currency system, so most sweepstakes casinos no longer accept California players.
Is Online Gambling Legal in Florida?
Online casino games are not licensed in Florida as of November 2026. The 2021 gaming compact between the state and the Seminole Tribe of Florida allows the Tribe to offer sports betting, including mobile sports betting statewide, but it does not create licensed online casinos.
The Florida Gaming Control Commission regulates pari-mutuel wagering, cardrooms, slot machine facilities and the Seminole compact. It runs regular operations against illegal gambling. Florida’s problem gambling helpline is 1-833-PLAYWISE (1-833-752-9947).
Is Online Gambling Legal in Texas?
No. Texas has no law that licenses online casinos or online sports betting. Chapter 47 of the Texas Penal Code makes most betting on games of chance an offense, with exceptions such as the state lottery and certain animal racing.
The Texas State Law Library describes Texas as one of the strictest states on gambling and confirms that online sports betting is still illegal there.
Where Are Sweepstakes Casinos Restricted?
A sweepstakes casino is a free-to-play site that uses two virtual currencies, one of which can be redeemed for cash prizes. Several states have passed laws aimed at this dual-currency model since 2025, and operators set their own lists of excluded states on top of that.
The table lists state laws we confirmed on official legislature or government websites in November 2026.
| State | Law | What it does | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | AB 831 (2025) | Makes operating or offering online sweepstakes games with a dual-currency system unlawful | Enacted 2025 |
| Connecticut | Public Act 25-112 (SB 1235), section 14 | Bars sweepstakes that allow real or simulated online casino gaming unless the operator holds a state license | Effective October 1, 2025 |
| New Jersey | P.L. 2025, c.128 (A5447) | Defines sweepstakes, including dual-currency systems, and treats them as unlawful gambling unless they meet the law’s exceptions | Enacted 2025 |
| New York | S5935A, Chapter 605 of 2025 | Bans dual-currency online sweepstakes casinos; fines of $10,000 to $100,000 per violation | Enacted 2025 |
| Maine | LD 2007 | Prohibits online sweepstakes games that use a dual-currency system and simulate casino games | Effective July 29, 2026 |
| Oklahoma | SB 1589 | Widens the state’s gambling offense to cover online sweepstakes-style games | Veto overridden May 14, 2026; effective November 1, 2026 |
Outside these states, sweepstakes casinos say they rely on promotional sweepstakes law, which allows prize promotions when no purchase is necessary. Each operator still blocks a different set of states in its own terms. Our US sweepstakes promotional law guide explains the legal model, and our sweepstakes casinos page shows which states each reviewed site excludes. Social casinos with no cash prizes are a separate category, covered on our social casinos page.
Are Offshore Online Casinos Legal?
No state licenses offshore online casinos. An offshore casino is a site licensed in another country, such as Curaçao or Anjouan, or not licensed at all, that accepts US players. State regulators in Michigan, California and Connecticut call these sites unlicensed or illegal.
Whether a player can be prosecuted for using one depends on state law, and we do not give an opinion on that. What regulators do agree on is the practical risk. The California Gambling Control Commission says players at unlicensed online casinos have no recourse for disputes. Connecticut’s Department of Consumer Protection says it is difficult to recover funds for consumers from illegal platforms.
The main risks at an offshore site are:
- No US regulator handles a withdrawal dispute; you rely on the foreign licensing body, if one exists.
- State self-exclusion lists do not apply, so a self-excluded player can still sign up.
- Card and bank deposits may be declined, which pushes players toward crypto.
- Terms such as withdrawal caps and bonus rules are set by the operator, not a US regulator.
If you choose an offshore casino anyway, check its license first. Our guides to the Curaçao gaming license, the Anjouan gaming license and Costa Rica casino licensing explain what each one offers. Our offshore casinos page compares the offshore sites we have reviewed.
How Do You Check if an Online Casino Is Legal in Your State?
Look the site up on your state regulator’s list before you deposit. If your state has no licensed online casinos, no site is state-licensed there, whatever its marketing says.
- Find your state in the table above and open the regulator’s list of approved sites.
- Match the exact website address, not just the brand name, against that list.
- Check the site’s footer for the regulator’s seal and license details.
- Confirm you are inside the state; licensed sites check your location before you can bet.
- For an offshore site, verify the license number with the foreign regulator and read our casino rating method to see what else we check.
Gambling Laws and Your Own Limits
A legal casino still has a house edge, so every session has an expected cost. Set a deposit limit and a time limit before you play. Visit our responsible gambling guide for tools and support. In the US you can call or text the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET, or call 1-800-GAMBLER, for free and confidential help.