Best Online Casinos (2024): Top Bonus, Real Money Sites & Biggest Payouts in USA

Best Online Casinos (2024): Top Bonus, Real Money Sites & Biggest Payouts in USA

If you make a purchase after clicking on links within this article, Lee Enterprises may earn affiliate commissions. The news and editorial departments had no role in the creation or display of this content.

Online casinos are legal in several states, and choosing the best online casinos in such places can be difficult, given the number of options. Our staff has reviewed them all in order to recommend the top sites for real money online slots, table games, live dealer games and more.

When evaluating the dozens of sites out there, we focused on game selection, welcome offers, banking options, payout speeds, customer support, and other key factors. Read on to learn our picks for the top online casinos in the US.

Table of contents

Best Online Casinos for 2024

If you aren’t in MI, NJ, PA or WV, you still have the option of playing at sweepstakes or social casino sites. These sites offer similar games, allowing you to win cash prizes. Below is our list of recommended sites.

  • Caesars Online Palace Casino — Best loyalty rewards program
  • BetMGM Casino — Best overall game selection
  • FanDuel Casino — Best for daily jackpots
  • BetRivers Casino — Best ongoing bonuses and promotions
  • DraftKings Casino — Best for exclusive games

Top 5 Online Casinos Ranked and Reviewed

1. Caesars Palace Online Casino — Best loyalty rewards program (4.8/5)

Caesars Palace Online Casino gives players a chance to enjoy all of the same thrills of Caesars’ retail properties while at home or on the go. Visitors to Caesars Palace Online Casino will discover a well-stocked slot library with stakes ranging from one cent to $2,000 a spin.

There are a number of exclusive titles, too, plus a generous selection of progressive jackpot slots with large top prizes including favorite MegaJackpots titles like Siberian Storm and Cleopatra. Caesars Palace Online Casino also features plenty of table games and live dealer games with many blackjack and roulette variants plus video poker, baccarat, craps and more.

  • Welcome bonus: Enter promo code LEECAS2500 when registering at Caesars Palace Online Casino and you’ll be eligible for a 100% deposit match bonus on your initial deposit worth up to $2,500 in bonus cash. Additionally, when you make a wager of $25 or more, you’ll receive 2,500 Rewards Credits. 
  • Ongoing promotions: Caesars Palace Online Casino runs frequent ongoing promos as well. For example, play a certain slot and receive entries into special drawings with cash prizes, or “Daily Deal” promos that award bonus cash just for making a deposit on a certain day. Caesars also has special drawings for Caesars Rewards members awarding travel packages and VIP getaways.
  • Fastest payout options: Direct to debit can take only a couple of hours, with PayPal withdrawals often taking less than a day to process.
  • User experience: Caesars Palace Online Casino is expertly designed both for desktop/laptop via a web browser or if you play using the mobile app on either Apple or Android devices. Games are arranged by category, making it easy to find particular game types, and the games are all quick to load and play. 
  • Caesars Palace Online Casino pros: Caesars Rewards loyalty program; well-curated selection of table games and live dealer games; plenty of jackpot slots, including progressives; detailed info for all games.
  • Caesars Palace Online Casino cons: Slot library not as large as some other sites; welcome offer comes with a significant wagering requirement. 
  • States available: Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

2. BetMGM Casino — Best overall game selection (4.8/5)

BetMGM Casino sits near the top of our online casino rankings for many reasons, the most significant being its enormous library of slots and table games. While the games available vary by state, BetMGM’s selection is typically larger than those of its competitors while also demonstrating the greatest variety. In big states such as New Jersey and Michigan, BetMGM Casino has well over 1,000 slots with all of the most popular games from top studios such as IGT, Light & Wonder, NetEnt, Everi, and others.

The site features a large selection of progressive jackpot slots as well, including exclusive popular titles like Bison Fury and MGM Grand Millions, for which the top prize routinely reaches seven figures. There are many variants of blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat, and other table games, plus live dealer versions. 

  • Welcome bonus: Use bonus code PLAYSPINS to receive the BetMGM Casino welcome offer. In Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, BetMGM Casino offers new players a 100% deposit match up to $1,000, plus a $25 no deposit Freeplay bonus (casino credit). In West Virginia, the 100% deposit match is worth up to $2,500 plus a $50 Freeplay bonus, and you also get 50 Bonus Spins on deposit. Enter the BetMGM Casino promo code PLAYSPINS to claim this welcome bonus. 
  • Ongoing promotions: BetMGM Casino routinely offers refer-a-friend bonuses, bet & get bonuses, a weekend slots leaderboard, daily jackpots, and the BetMGM Rewards loyalty program.
  • Fastest payout options: Withdrawing with debit cards, PayPal, or the BetMGM Prepaid Play+ card usually takes less than 24 hours. The minimum withdrawal is $10 or $20, depending on the method.
  • User experience: BetMGM Casino is smartly designed and functions well whether accessed via the website or on the mobile app. You can skim through games by type, game studio, and in other ways, or search them directly. All of the features are easy to locate and access, and games load quickly and run smoothly.
  • BetMGM Casino pros: Outstanding game selection, both in quality and quantity; many progressive jackpot slots (including large ones); many banking options; strong customer support.
  • BetMGM Casino cons: No free-to-play demo games available.
  • States available: Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

3. FanDuel Casino — Best for daily jackpots (4.7/5)

FanDuel isn’t just about daily fantasy sports and sports betting. FanDuel Casino has become one of the best online gambling sites in the states where it operates, in large part because of its user-friendly interface, great welcome offer and ongoing promos.

FanDuel Casino offers fewer overall games than other top competitors, but FD’s selection has been well-curated with all the best slot titles, table games, and live dealer options. For slot players, FanDuel Casino features a Daily Jackpot, linking many of the games, that gets reseeded every 24 hours, plus Mini and Hourly Jackpots. There is a nice selection of exclusive games offered as well. 

  • Welcome bonus: Be sure to use our links when signing up at FanDuel Casino in order to receive the welcome offer. In every state where it operates, FanDuel runs a Play It Again promo for new sign-ups. If you end up with a net loss during your first 24 hours on the site, you can get your losses refunded up to $1,000 in bonus money. In addition, in MI, NJ and PA you can deposit at least $10 and get 200 Bonus Spins. 
  • Ongoing promotions: FanDuel Casino invites players to spin the FanDuel Reward Machine each day for a chance to win casino bonuses. Other frequently offered promotions include refer-a-friend bonuses, daily jackpots, various prize drawings for depositing or playing a certain game, and more. Best of all, FanDuel Casino typically only attaches a 1x playthrough requirement to all of its bonuses, making them easy to clear and claim.
  • Fastest payout options: Players can cash out winnings within 24 hours using the FanDuel Prepaid Play+ card and within 48 hours using debit cards, PayPal, or Venmo. The minimum withdrawal is $10 for most methods.
  • User experience: The FanDuel Casino website and app feature a clear, attractive design and are easy to use. Navigation is easy and intuitive, and the games play smoothly. For those who also play DFS or bet on sports, FanDuel also makes it easy to toggle back and forth between the different products while using your same account.
  • FanDuel Casino pros: Low wagering requirements with frequent bonuses; user-friendly mobile app and website; responsive customer support.
  • FanDuel Casino cons: Smaller game library than other top sites; no free-to-play demo games.
  • States available: Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

4. BetRivers Casino — Best ongoing bonuses and promotions (4.6/5)

BetRivers Casino is another top online casino option with a wide selection of slots, table games, and live dealer games. Indeed, BetRivers challenges all other competing sites with its large slot library, full of favorites from IGT, NetEnt, Big Time Gaming and other top studios, plus exclusive slots. BetRivers Casino’s welcome offer refunds new sign-ups 100% of their losses in bonus money during the first 24 hours (the maximum (the maximum varies by state).

Even better, the bonus money comes with just a 1x playthrough requirement, which essentially you can wager the bonus and keep whatever winnings you earn.That’s much better than the 15x or higher requirements other casinos offer. BetRivers Casino’s other positives include frequent ongoing promotions, a Community Chat program that enables social interaction (and more prizes), and multiple fast payout options.

  • Welcome bonus: BetRivers Casino provides a 100% deposit match bonus worth up to $500 for Michigan and New Jersey players. In Pennsylvania and West Virginia, the same offer is good up to $250. In all states, players only have to satisfy that 1x playthrough requirement described above to receive the bonus. Be sure to use the bonus code CASRIV when signing up to receive the welcome offer.
  • Ongoing promotions: BetRivers has many ongoing online casino promos, including RushRace daily slots tournaments plus other slot-related events, Daily Bingo games awarding bonus money, 2x Happy Hours on select days to earn extra loyalty and bonus store points in the Rush Rewards program. There’s also Community Chat, a social forum with lots of fun events and extra ways to win rewards.
  • Fastest payout options: You can receive instant or almost instant payouts using the BetRivers Prepaid Play+ card and withdrawals within one hour using PayPal. The site’s RushPay system approves around 80% of all withdrawals to enable immediate payouts. Minimum withdrawal is $10.
  • User experience: BetRivers is smartly designed. It’s easy to find what you need, and both the website and mobile app are similarly accessible. The games load fast and run smoothly.
  • BetRivers Casino pros: Easy-to-satisfy playthrough requirement with welcome offer; great game selection; multiple fast payout options.
  • BetRivers Casino cons: Relatively few progressive jackpot slots compared with other slots; no free-to-play demo games.
  • States available: Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

5. DraftKings Casino — Best for exclusive games (4.5/5)

Like FanDuel, DraftKings is best known for providing daily fantasy sports and sports betting, but its online casino has grown in popularity. DraftKings Casino has a great selection of games, including an especially large library of slots (more than 1,300 titles in some cases) and table games. Adding to the fun are the special DraftKings Progressive Jackpots that link both slots and table games into a single progressive jackpot. Just add a dime each time you spin or bet, and you give yourself a chance to win a top prize that has previously grown to more than $3 million.

DraftKings also boasts the best selection of exclusive games of any online casino, including special blackjack variants such as DraftKings Four 20s Blackjack, DK-branded games such as DraftKings Basketball Roulette and others, Hart-Race Hold’em (starring Kevin Hart), and more. You can try them all out for free in demo mode.

  • Welcome bonus: You can receive DraftKings Casino’s two-part welcome bonus offer by using our links when registering. First, deposit $5 or more and receive $35 in Casino Credits. Second, play $5 and get $100 back in casino credits instantly. These credits come with just a 1x playthrough requirement, meaning you can play with them and any winnings you earn are yours to keep.
  • Ongoing promotions: You’ll find more ongoing promos over at DraftKings Sportsbook versus DraftKings Casino, but the online casino usually has a few offers at any given time. These can include bet-and-get bonuses, slot leaderboards with cash prizes, and refer-a-friend bonuses. You can also participate in the Dynasty Rewards loyalty program to earn additional rewards.
  • Fastest payout options: Withdrawing with debit cards usually takes 24 hours or less, with PayPal, Venmo, and bank wire taking up to 48 hours. Minimum withdrawal is $10.
  • User experience: The DraftKings Casino is especially well-designed. Both the web-based version and mobile app run smoothly and are organized intuitively. The site makes it easy to toggle back and forth to the sportsbook as well, for those who enjoy both casino games and sports betting.
  • DraftKings Casino pros: Large game library; DraftKings Progressive Jackpots; free-to-play demo versions of most slots and table games.
  • DraftKings Casino cons: Largest welcome bonus has a difficult playthrough requirement; could use more ongoing promotions.
  • States available: Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

Online Casino Games

Online casinos present the same variety of games found in retail locations, plus some variants of casino favorites found only online. Here are some popular casino games you can expect to find at all of the online casinos we recommend above.

Baccarat

Baccarat is a card-based game in which players compete against the house, much like blackjack and other “casino card games.” Unlike blackjack, however, you can’t choose whether to draw additional cards. The rules for how hands are dealt are predetermined. You can decide either to bet on the “player” or the “banker,” with the house edge being slightly larger if you bet on the banker. That edge is still quite small, though, either 1.06% (player) or 1.24% (banker), compared to other games. If you choose to gamble and bet on a tie, the house will like that because the edge balloons to 14.36%.

Blackjack

Blackjack is the most popular house-versus-player card game, and online casinos typically offer many different variations. You’re trying to make a hand totaling as close to 21 as possible without going over, and real money online blackjack certainly rewards players’ knowledge of when to hit, stand, double down, split, or surrender. If you follow basic blackjack strategy, you can reduce the house edge to less than 1%. Watch out for the online variants offering lots of side bets, though, as the house invariably has a much greater advantage with those.

Casino card games

We’ll put games like Let It Ride, Three Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Caribbean Stud, Casino War, and Pai Gow Poker under a single heading. Most sites offer some or all of these games, most of which are based on traditional poker and reward knowledge of odds and probabilities. The size of the house edge depends on which game you’re playing. Most house edges hover around 3% if you play the correct strategy (excluding those longshot side bets).

Craps

Online casinos typically offer the dice-based favorite craps. You’ll find many sites have cool, elaborate graphics and animation to spice up their virtual craps tables. The chance element is high in craps, although you can choose certain wagers for which the house edge is small, such as pass/come (1.41%) or don’t pass/don’t come (1.36%), or the odds bets where there is no house edge at all. Or you can go for the longshots like Yo-Leven (11.11%), Box Cars (13.89%), or Any 7 (16.67%).

Live dealer games

Most online casinos offer live dealer games, an interesting hybrid of live and online casino entertainment. The games feature dealers in physical studios who deal cards, spin wheels, take bets, and manage games just like in a casino. Meanwhile, you can make your wagers and enjoy the action from your home or on the go via a mobile device. Sometimes, you can even interact with the dealer and/or other players. Look for many of the table games discussed here (blackjack, baccarat, roulette, etc.) as common live dealer options.

Roulette

The classic ball-and-wheel gambling game of roulette is a staple at online casinos where you’ll often find American, European, and French roulette, among other variants, including some online-only ones like 100-1 roulette which features a wheel with more than 100 slots. Whether you place conservative inside-outside bets or bet on the 35-to-1 longshots, the house edge is the same for almost all bets at 2.7% for European roulette (with just a single zero) and 5.26% for American roulette (with the zero and double-zero).

Slots

Slots are by far the most popular game type both in retail casinos and online. The best online casinos have hundreds of real money slots, including lots of fixed and progressive jackpot slots. Look for classic three-reelers, cascading and cluster slots, 3-D slots, and lots of other variants, including some multi-line slots that give you literally hundreds of ways to win. When it comes to the house edge in online slots, you can usually check the RTP (return to player percentage) for each slot. When you do, you’ll find many of them are in the 95-96% RTP range, meaning a 4-5% house edge. But there are some high RTP slots where the edge can go down to as little as 1-2%.

Video poker

Video poker is another favorite at online casinos, and most offer a nice selection of variants like Jacks or Better, Joker Poker, Deuces Wilds, and others. Most online casinos offer both the Game King menu of video poker games as well as those from Ultimate X Poker, which means you are essentially playing the same games found in retail casinos. If you learn a little strategy regarding which cards to keep and which to discard in all situations, you can reduce the house edge to 1 or 2% in most video poker variants, and even get it close to 0% in certain ones.

Our Criteria for Ranking and Reviewing Online Casinos

When choosing our top online casinos, our staff considers a number of factors. We look at sites’ game libraries and measure the site’s functionality and how smoothly the games play. We also look at other criteria affecting user experience, including customer feedback and opinions.

  • Game selection and variety — We evaluate and compare the quantity and quality of games the online casino offers, looking at all the slots, table games, video poker options, and live dealer games, as well as any site-exclusive offerings.
  • Welcome offers, bonuses, and promos — We consider the site’s welcome offer as well as ongoing promotions and bonuses. We also look at the site’s loyalty programs and other ways regular players can receive free play or rewards.
  • Jackpots — We review how many progressive jackpot slots a site offers, plus any other opportunities to win jackpots. We also look at the chances of winning jackpots as well as the size of the largest jackpots offered.
  • Banking options and payout speeds — Most sites offer many ways to deposit; in most cases, deposits process immediately. The sites tend to differ when it comes to withdrawal options and payout speeds, so we take that into account as well.
  • User experience — This category covers all aspects of how an online casino functions and provides what players want, including how well-designed the sites and apps are and how well the games actually play.
  • Customer support — We look at the different ways users can receive customer service and test how responsive and helpful agents are.

Online Casino Safety, Trust, and Reputation

When deciding between available online real money casinos, consider how safe and trustworthy the site is. The site and brand’s reputation can help in this regard, but it is also worth looking through user reviews and pages like this one when gathering information about the integrity of a given site.

First and foremost, always make sure the site is legal and licensed to operate in your jurisdiction. Real money online casinos are only allowed in certain states. Unregulated sites (in states without legal online casinos) are unsafe for a variety of reasons. Notably, should you encounter any problems with gameplay, accessing your funds, or suspicions of unfairness or fraud, you have no legal recourse.

When a site is legal and licensed in a given state, it must ensure game integrity and other important elements such as keeping a player’s personal and banking information private, as well as protecting their funds, and keeping all financial transactions secure. Regulators routinely audit legal sites to make certain they are abiding by the state’s rules governing the operation of online casinos.

All of the sites we list above are licensed and legal in the states where they operate. So, too, are the game providers and other entities with whom the sites partner in order to bring you the games. Third-party payment processors such as PayPal and Venmo are similarly vetted to ensure they are safe.

Using Responsible Gambling Tools

Another factor that helps make an online casino more attractive to us is the site’s efforts to promote responsible gambling and protect its players. All legal, licensed online casinos are required to follow certain guidelines to help their users gamble responsibly and try to prevent problem gambling. Some sites are more rigorous than others in this regard, however. Usually, an online casino that is focused on responsible gambling is also conscientious about other ways to improve players’ experiences.

It is always important when gambling for real money to practice moderation and set limits on your play when necessary. That means limiting the money you spend gambling and the time you devote to it. Always study the games and understand the risks involved before you play them. Acquaint yourself with the odds of winning, the potential payouts, and the game’s return-to-player percentage (RTP). Understanding how the games are played can help you estimate the risks involved and be smarter with your bankroll when playing them.

Many online casinos also provide specific responsible gambling tools designed to help you be responsible when playing. These tools can be very useful to help you avoid spending more than intended (even just mistakenly) and/or avoid other pitfalls that can lead to problem gambling.

Next time you log onto an online casino, look for the following responsible gambling tools:

  • Deposit limits — Sites will allow you to set a maximum on how much you deposit into your account each day, week, or month.
  • Time limits — Some online casinos will also let you put a limit on how much time you spend on the site during a given session.
  • Wagering limits — You can additionally set a maximum amount you are willing to wager at once on the site, which can be useful sometimes to help avoid accidentally playing higher-stakes games than you intend to play.
  • Voluntary self-exclusion — Sites generally allow you to voluntarily self-exclude or “ban” yourself from playing either for a designated period of time or permanently.

You’ll find online casinos also often provide additional information and resources to players seeking to learn about responsible gambling or to find help preventing or treating problem gambling. Some work with GameSense, an organization dedicated to helping educate gamblers about responsible gambling.

Online casino game players can also find state-by-state resources via the National Center for Responsible Gambling or Gamblers Anonymous.

Whether you are just looking for responsible gambling advice or are in need of assistance with problem gambling, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of the many resources available.

Enjoy Exciting, Safe Gameplay

Online casinos can be a great source of entertainment. Legal, licensed sites provide a safe and secure place to enjoy online casino games. That said, any sort of real money gambling necessarily involves risk, so always be smart and responsible whenever you play on the sites.

Check out our reviews of the best online casinos above, and do even more research into the sites and what they offer when making decisions about where to play. Search the sites and read user reviews to find out about banking options, customer support, responsible gambling tools, and other elements affecting players’ experience.

Best Online Casinos FAQ

Which real money online casino is the best for US players?

While we recommend all of the top online casinos listed above, Caesars Palace Online Casino stands out thanks both to its selection of games and the industry-leading Caesars Rewards loyalty program. 

Do I need a bonus code when signing up at an online casino?

In some cases, you will need to enter a bonus code when registering to receive the online casino’s welcome offer. Other times, you won’t need to enter a code. Just click our links above to visit casinos like FanDuel and DraftKings.

Is it possible to win real money at online casinos?

Yes, when playing at legal and licensed online casinos in the US, you can win real money. In fact, all the games require real money and award winnings in cash, which you can subsequently withdraw. Note that only some states allow real money online casinos.

Which online casino has the most slots?

BetMGM Casino, BetRivers Casino, and DraftKings Casino have relatively large slots libraries. They tend to provide the widest selection among sites operating in the same states. In places such as New Jersey and Michigan, all three online casinos offer more than 1,000 slots.

Which states have real money online casinos?

Currently, you can play at legal and licensed online casinos in Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Rhode Island. Nevada also allows online poker, but there are no online casinos operating in Nevada. There is also hope that 2024 will bring life to New York online casinos.

Are online casinos safe?

If you make sure only to play at legal and licensed online casinos, you can trust the sites to provide fair games and keep your personal information and funds safe and secure. That said, if you risk playing at unlicensed and unregulated online casinos, you enjoy no guarantee that the games will be fair or your money and personal information (including your banking information) will be protected.

If you make a purchase after clicking on links within this article, Lee Enterprises may earn affiliate commissions. The news and editorial departments had no role in the creation or display of this content.

Catena Media provides exclusive gambling and casino content to The Buffalo News, including reviews of legal online casinos and information about casino games, odds and probabilities, and site offers and promotions to help inform and educate players. If you register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. Always practice responsible gambling.

Related Articles