Play on the Best Casinos in the US in 2020
Gambling sites in the US are entering a boom period. A small number of states have already legalized online gambling. Many other states have plans in the pipeline for the coming years.
Currently, you can play on an online casino in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. Take note, there’s a difference between online gambling and legal gambling sites.
American Casino Guide is here to take you from the foundations to know all you need to know to make an informed decision on the best online casino for you.
How to Find the Best Casino in the US
Not all casinos online are created equal. They all offer similar gaming options. However, they each offer different levels of value.
1. Find Out What Bonus and Promotions They Offer
It is important to look at which promotions casinos offer to both new and existing players.
Welcome Bonus
Every casino offers a welcome bonus of some kind. Bonuses and welcome packages are a great way for operators to attract new customers. You can try out the different sites’ online casino games selections in order to see which online casino suits your individual gaming preferences best.
These welcome bonuses usually come in the form of a no deposit and first deposit set of bonuses.
What you need to look at are the wagering requirements to unlock the bonus money as real money. There’s a big difference between a casino offering wagering requirements of 10x vs 30x.
Why do gambling sites offer welcome bonuses?
Since gambling sites have become legal in New Jersey, these gambling sites are now facing more and more competition. As a result, gambling sites are offering all kinds of casino bonuses and promotions to draw in new players.
No Deposit Bonus Codes
No deposit bonus codes which allow players to try out casino games absolutely free – no deposit necessary. This gives you a good idea of the options in front of you before making a real money deposit.
No deposit bonus codes can be found in numerous ways. You’ll see some listed on American Casino Guide’s home page. Sometimes they are also listed on casino registration pages. Other times, casinos will include these bonuses in their special promotion email messages.
Although generally pointed toward new customers as a way of attracting new business, players will often come across no deposit bonus codes for existing players as well.
No deposit bonus codes offer free play bonuses, which are usually rewarded after signup (without even making a deposit). This allows you to get a good feel for how the sites work and what types of games they offer, before spending your own money.
Can you win real money with no deposit bonuses?
You can even win real money by playing free casino games with no deposit bonuses. These no deposit bonuses will always come with specific terms and conditions however, so be sure to read these conditions before playing in order to avoid disappointment. Usually, they will require you to wager a certain amount before withdrawing your winnings.
First Deposit Match Bonus
A deposit match bonus is where the casino matches your first deposit dollar for dollar up to a certain amount. This is usually a 100% match bonus, meaning they will match it completely. Sometimes these bonuses come in different forms such as a 50% deposit match bonus or even as high as a 200% match deposit bonuses.
When you get your hands on a match deposit bonus, depending on how much you decide to deposit, you can really achieve a massive amount of free spins and free play in the online casino.
Some gambling sites even offer second and third deposit match bonuses.
Offers and Promotions
Finally, the best gambling sites are the ones that keep on giving. Many NJ casinos will continue to offer online casino bonuses for existing players, even after they have received their welcome package. Regular promotions reward players with many different kinds of bonuses which can include free casino cash, free spins, reload bonuses, and no deposit bonus codes.
Different gambling sites have different systems of running regular promotions. Sometimes these are run seasonally, sometimes monthly, and sometimes even weekly. It is rare to find a site that runs daily promotions but not impossible! Check out our site to find the best NJ gambling sites and how their special promotion schedules work.
Terms and Conditions
Terms and conditions apply to all bonuses. Important aspects that you need to pay attention to include:
Wagering or playthrough requirements: bonuses generally require that you wager or play through the amount of the bonus a certain number of times before you can withdraw your winnings.
Game weight or game contribution: wagers made on some games only contribute a certain percentage toward the wagering requirement. Slots generally have 100% game weight, but games with higher RTP values may contribute less.
Time limits: bonus offers must be taken advantage of within a time frame specified by the casino.
Wagering Requirements
Bonus money will be subject to specific playthrough (or wager) requirements. The online casino will more than likely require you to wager a certain amount or a certain number of times before you can withdraw the winnings you have accumulated. This is why it is always important to read the terms and conditions before depositing and playing.
Compared to off-shore casinos, where the playthrough requirements are usually 50x or more, New Jersey gambling sites have very low wager requirements. You’ll often see a 20x wager requirement on matching deposits that match 100% of your deposit. This means if you deposit $100, you’d see that matched at $100, giving you a bankroll of $200. You’d need to wager $2,000 additionally to satisfy the playthrough requirement, but then you’d keep all your winnings and get $100 along the way for free.
2. Check their Games and Providers Selection
The next aspect you should look at is the type of games on offer. Every major casino online will have hundreds of slots games, as well as table games. But, some casinos will have special variations of games like roulette and poker.
Some casinos also offer live dealer games, where you can play along with a real dealer. They’ll also interact with you, making it the most authentic way to play from the comfort of your own home. These games are only available during certain hours, though.
Online Card Games
Online card games don’t change when it comes to how they operate. Many blackjack games, for example, will continue to use multiple decks of cards in their games.
In the absence of a dealer, a Random Number Generator (RNG) system is used to deal the cards. The RNG system is the only system that guarantees a truly random drawing for each card. In an online blackjack game, it’s impossible to count cards for this reason.
Live dealer casino games use a classic shoe to shuffle the cards. Again, there are usually six to eight decks in the shoe. There may also be a cut card to make it even more difficult to count cards.
Most casinos will reshuffle all the decks after a certain level of deck penetration. Again, this guarantees that the cards are random. Nobody can cheat by attempting to count cards.
You may find single-deck blackjack in some gambling sites. The casino will usually compensate for this with lower payouts or shuffling after a few hands.
3. Learn About Their Payment Methods
The majority of casinos offer similar payment methods. Yet, certain casinos may have a wider range of options than others.
The big difference between casinos is whether they offer PayPal. For a long time, PayPal refused to collaborate with the gambling industry. Recently, they have allowed certain trusted gambling sites to work with them.
The number of casinos offering PayPal is still limited.
4. Make Sure They Have a Good Customer Support
Sometimes things can and do go wrong. You want to ensure a speedy resolution to any problems. The top casinos online across all legal states will have 24-hour customer support options.
The most popular customer service feature among players is the live chat option. Simply click the live chat button at the bottom of every page. The link will connect you to a real human at any time of the day or night.
Plus, unlike a phone line, it’s free!
5. Download Their Mobile Application
gambling sites realize that most players spend a considerable amount of time glued to their phones. Mobile casinos have grown in popularity over the past few years.
If you plan on playing on the go, check out your chosen casino’s mobile app. You can use the same player account on your phone, so there’s no need to register twice.
The best gambling sites have an app that’s similar to their desktop experience. Take note, mobile apps don’t have the same technology. Expect to find a fewer number of games when playing on a tablet or smartphone.
How Online Casino Differs From Land-Based
gambling sites are designed to be easy to play games on both desktop and mobile devices. A game of blackjack online comes with the same rules as playing blackjack in a land-based casino.
Unless you’re playing an advanced slots game your mouse cursor or touchscreen is all you need to play.
Before playing, make sure you read the instructions. There are many variations of casino games, such as baccarat, blackjack, or roulette. It is important to know about all the various features of a specific game.
Different Kinds of Gambling Sites
An online casino is a general term used to describe a wide variety of different casinos you play via the Internet.
Any veteran gambler will tell you there are many ways to enjoy a great gaming experience online. Before you start playing, you need to be aware of the many ways to play.
Classic Online Casino
The classic online casino is a browser-based casino. You load up your favorite browser and play from there without downloading anything.
Flash powers most games now but the technology is getting better. The majority of the gambling sites operating today are modern, displaying impressive 3D graphics. Slots games, in particular, have come a long way.
Slots games populate most classic casinos online. You can find hundreds of games both old and new. When you play with casinos this way, you also get access to some of the biggest jackpots around.
Some of the bigger jackpots in standard gambling sites can be six or even seven figures.
How to Win Jackpots in Online Casino Games
Everyone dreams of winning the big progressive jackpot. The biggest progressive jackpots are potentially worth millions. You can win a jackpot through a single hand. The more people playing the faster the jackpot rises.
So how do you go about winning these jackpots?
In short, there’s no way of increasing your odds other than to play more. No smart gambler factors in a jackpot to their strategy. They’re great to win, but it’s entirely down to luck.
If anything, the games with the biggest jackpots have the highest house edges. Most professional gamblers will avoid these games.
Mobile Casinos
Perhaps the biggest change in online gambling is mobile casinos. You no longer have to load up your computer to enjoy casino games anymore.
With the growth of the smartphone worldwide, bigger brands have come up with innovative apps. Mobile casino apps closely resemble their desktop counterparts. Although there tend to be fewer games available to play.
You won’t find the same fancy graphics on a mobile casino. Smartphones have yet to catch up technology-wise with laptop computers.
You can also access mobile casinos via tablets, such as the iPad. These casinos are responsive, so they’ll be laid out in accordance with the size of your screen and your device’s capabilities.
Live Casino
Live dealer casinos are the closest thing you’ll get to actually playing in a land-based casino.
When playing in a live dealer casino, you’ll watch the dealer throw down cards and spin the roulette wheel in real-time. You’ll also get to play alongside your fellow players.
To further add to the atmosphere, you can interact with the dealer through a chat lobby. Most live dealer casinos request that their dealers respond to players.
Live dealer casinos are often operated through a dedicated studio. For that reason, live dealer casinos are only open for business during certain hours.
These games have also become available via mobile devices. Strong Internet connections make this possible.
For now, only a select number of casino games come with a live dealer, such as blackjack, roulette, and craps. This is due to the limitations imposed by players not being physically present. So you’re less likely to come across live versions of more complex games like craps.
How to Play at Gambling Sites
1. Check the Casino Requirement
You must be 21 years or older to play at an online casino in the US.
Whenever you play online or create an account, the online casino will check your location. If you’re outside a state where gambling with casinos online is legal you won’t be able to play.
This applies even if you’re a resident of a state like New Jersey but are trying to access the casino from, say, Iowa.
VPNs don’t work to get around this requirement.
2. Visit Their New Account Registration Page
Playing in a casino online couldn’t be easier. All you need to do is visit your casino of choice. Navigate to the casino registration page and click the ‘Create an Account’ button.
3. Make Sure to Opt-In for a Welcome Bonus
There are plenty of Welcome Bonuses to choose from. Be sure to choose an online casino that offers a hefty Welcome Bonus. When you are registering, make sure you opt-in to receive your Welcome Bonus benefits.
4. Submit Your Contact Details
You’ll need to enter your personal information, such as your full name and address. You’ll then receive a verification email. Find the email, click the link, and your account is good to go.
5. Watch Out for a Verification Email or SMS
Casinos online will ask you to verify your identity at some point. They’re required to do this by law. They will ask you to verify your identity when making a withdrawal for the first time.
USA casinos online need to verify both you and your address. You’ll need to supply a high-quality image of a photo ID. A passport or a driving license will suffice, along with a utility bill/bank statement.
These days it’s easy to produce a high-quality image with most modern smartphones. Avoid using a webcam as the information required won’t be visible enough.
Upon submitting your images, it will take around 72 hours to verify your identity. Once they process your withdrawal you won’t need to do this again.
You’ll then receive a verification email. Find the email, click the link, and your account is good to go.
6. Once verified, deposit your first playing funds
When you make your first deposit, the casino will most likely offer you even more bonus money! Check the minimum deposit requirements for earning free-play, however, they are usually quite reasonable.
7. Choose your game and start playing!
After depositing money, you can start playing casino games and winning real money! Navigate through the game library and start playing!
How to Make Money Playing at Gambling Sites
There are some tips that every player should follow when they join an online casino in the USA for the first time.
Play with Good Bankroll Management
Your bankroll is the total amount of money in your real money wallet on the casino’s platform. You need to manage this well and play within your limits. This prevents busting and needing to reload your funds from your bank account.
Let’s say you’re playing with $100. You should never be making a bigger bet than $5 on any specific game. This represents 5% of your bankroll already. Ideally, you should be making $1 and $2 bets.
Only when you grow your bankroll should you consider playing with higher stakes.
Never Play Emotionally
Casinos thrive off emotion, whether online or offline. Most gamblers lose their money when they’re not in the right state of mind. Whether it’s playing while intoxicated or chasing losses, there are many easy ways to deviate from an established strategy.
Only play when you’re capable of sticking to your strategy and when you’re stable.
Always know when to stop.
Practice on Free Money Tables
A lot of gambling sites allow you to play with free money. This gives you a chance to check out a game and practice.
Obviously, certain games require more practice than others. You don’t need to practice to know how to play a game of keno.
With the more complex games, such as craps, it’s worth playing on a free money table. This allows you to get used to the interface and the correct strategy.
For newer players, this can be the difference between winning and losing.
What States Offer Legal Online Gambling?
Gambling laws are rather ambiguous in the US. The states currently offering online gambling are New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania.
States like Nevada may have legalized land-based casinos without having legal gambling sites. In Nevada, only online sportsbooks are legal so far.
Other states have no forms of legal gambling apart from state lotteries.
Thankfully, the burden is always placed on the operators. No individual player was ever prosecuted during modern times for making a wager.
You must be a resident of either of the above three states and be within state lines when playing online.