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US Online Gambling Sites Âť How to Gamble Online in US

How to Gamble Online in US

Last Updated on 03/09/2025
Fact checked by: Mark Lewis

There are many helpful guides on the internet focusing on legal gambling for beginners, which makes it hard to find the best.

If you are keen on learning how to gamble online, we are here to help! Follow our U.S. gambling guide to learn about gambling for beginners, as we cover all the bases necessary for you to start enjoying betting online from the comfort of your home. Even if your state regulates gambling, our recommendations can apply to sweepstakes and social casinos as well.

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Compare the Best Sportsbooks and Casinos

Bet365
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Subject to meeting qualifying criteria. Minimum wager $5. Minimum odds -500 or greater. $10 minimum deposit. Paid in Bonus Bets. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. Available in app only. Max. prize, game restrictions, time limits and T&Cs apply. Deposit required. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply.Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
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BetMGM
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1 – 10 Days
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Caesars
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Bally Bet
6.
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Hard Rock
7.
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Bet365 Open Bet365
Deposit Methods
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Neteller
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Apps
License
Virginia (US) Lottery Board
To be eligible, the Player must be at least 21 years old, physically located in Virginia, and not on any exclusionary lists in Virginia. To be eligible all personal and contact data associated to your account must be verifiable. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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Barstool
8.
  • Excellent coverage of a wide range of sports
  • Loads of global soccer leagues for live betting
  • Competitive betting odds and limits
Best Alternative
Bet365 Open Bet365
Deposit Methods
E-Check
PayNearMe
PayPal
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Withdrawal
1 – 5 Days
Apps
License
Virginia (US) Lottery Board
Show More

Why are Betting/ Casino Guides and Strategies so Important?

Gambling is an art where skills need to be developed through practice. The best players in the world have learned through years and years of experience. Unfortunately, not everyone has a natural flair and an understanding of odds and bets.

If you’re in one of the latter categories, learning the ins and outs of betting will take some time. However, what if we told you that you don’t always have to lose on essential capital right from the start?

This is where a U.S. gambling guide comes in. Not only does it teach you about the essentials of gambling for dummies, but it also shares information you need to know before you start gambling. Gambling for beginners involves treading through unknown territory, and guides explaining how to gamble online make it a less threatening journey since you’ll know what to expect.

Whether you’re gambling in New Jersey or from sweepstakes platforms in regulated states, you will find all the necessary tools and resources to be a better player in this article. These sites are a great way to start your journey, even if you live in an area where gambling is legal, because you can play for free and learn the basics.

We suggest you read the whole guide, as an online casino list can’t tell you all you need to know about games, strategies, and more.

The Wetten U.S. sports betting guide will have you feel like you’ve had to you personally. They’ll teach you about sportsbook rules and even how sportsbooks make money. So, don’t miss out, check out the other Wetten articles too.

Who Should Make Use of the Guides?

Since there are limited numbers of physical casinos to go to and gamble in, not everyone in the U.S. can visit one. Online gambling takes away the two problematic elements and lets you place bets on the go or right from your home.

Rather than mourning losses later, it’s better to read a good online casino guide to have your doubts cleared before you place a bet. A few minutes of reading could save you a lot of dollars!

Anyone can use our U.S. gambling guide well, even if they live in regulated states because they can participate in sweepstakes casinos. The only considerable difference with a traditional online casino is that they don’t use real money transactions. Instead, they use Gold Coins (GC) and Sweepstakes Coins (SC), which are virtual currencies; the first one allows you to play for free in the casino-style games available on these platforms, while the other can’t be used later exchange it for real prizes. However, it’s fairly the same in any other aspect, like playing or making sports predictions.

Best sweepstakes casinos if you want to play for free

These are some of our best choices when it comes to sweepstakes casinos, which you can sign up for if you’re part of a state where gambling is restricted or if you prefer to play in a no-risk platform.

Real Prize
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Stake.us
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5.
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Skrill
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Mastercard
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T&Cs and 18+ apply

Betting Guides and Strategies

In our U.S. gambling guide, we will address the two most important aspects of online betting: choosing a reliable betting site and playing wisdom.

How To Choose A Reliable Betting/Casino Site

Since there are several online betting sites available in the U.S. for people to wager on, it becomes quite the question when it comes to finding a reliable one while you’re learning how to gamble online.

It’s natural to be wary when you’re gambling as a beginner, but a little research can ease your fears. The best online gambling sites in the USA should offer the following to their users.

1) Legality and licensing

Every reliable U.S. gambling guide mentions how a good betting site is licensed and certified by the world’s top gaming associations. Find the certifications, licenses, and accreditations on the gambling site; that’s the only way to confirm you’re in the best U.S. sportsbooks and casinos. If your state regulates gambling, a great way to go is with sweepstakes casinos, which are legal in 48 out of the 50 states in the USA. So, there’s a big chance you can experience casino-like gaming.

2) Deposits, Withdrawals and Buying Gold Coin Packages

How many payment and online gambling withdrawal options do they offer? According to U.S. gambling guides, the more, the better. A good tip at gambling for beginners is that a decent betting site will have a mix of payment options to choose from. Also, check the time it takes for deposits and withdrawals to reflect. Generally, the deposits should take less than 24 hours to be credited to your gaming wallet, and withdrawals take between 3-7 business days.

This is a bit different for sweepstakes platforms; you don’t make deposits, but you can buy Gold Coin packages instantly. However, when it comes to redeeming prizes, the payment methods available may take the same time as if they were a common withdrawal process in U.S. gambling apps.

3) Sports betting

Playing or gambling on sports becomes easier once you know what to look for. Does the site have a great sports betting section? How many sports do they cover? In addition to these questions, it is important to check the availability of tournaments and championships, live betting, and live streaming.

The best U.S. sportsbooks will have coverage of all the important and smaller tournaments and leagues, live betting, and high-quality live streaming. Greyhound and horse racing are two of the most popular sports betting options, so make sure they have many races to stake as a beginner.

4) Online Casino

When looking at a sweepstakes or online casino site, pay attention to the website interface. Our U.S. gambling guides will tell you there should be a wide range of games. Live casino rooms are a must to get the best experience while gambling as beginners. Apart from casino games, there are video slots to look out for. If you need more research on this, check our gambling explained guide.

5) Mobile Site or App

Does the said website have an app to enjoy gaming on the go? This is a big plus point according to U.S. gambling guides. Also, a site that is mobile-optimized makes for a better gaming experience when you’re away from your personal computer.

6) Customer Service

Guides will teach you that a reliable betting or casino website will have a well-reputed customer care team to address and solve the players’ problems in the shortest turnaround time. They generally can be reached out by email, a phone number or a live chat option. Some sites may be reliable but have limited hours on live chat.

7) Bonuses and promotions

Does your betting site offer a welcome bonus to new registrations? Most of the top platforms have a great incentive for newcomers by offering up to 600% bonuses, free bets, and more, that you can redeem using casino or sports betting promo codes. Beginners at gambling should also check out the promotions section to see how many offers, free spins, and sports bet bonuses the site gives to its members.

8) Betting odds

Checking odds is one of the most important factors when thinking about No.1 bookies. There is no benefit when you register on a site that offers its members very low odds. Cross-check your selections and zero on the site that gives you the best odds of the lot.

9) Read The Terms And Conditions

Our biggest wisdom nugget in gambling for dummies would be to read the terms and conditions of the betting site very carefully. This is for your own safety so that your funds are protected. If you have any further questions, check their FAQ section or reach out to customer support through the channels mentioned above! Gambling for dummies can be a lot easier if you read the fine print well.

Betting Tips

  • Read the betting sportsbook rules
  • Avoid shady looking websites.
  • Bet small amounts, and do not place all your money on one game.
  • Do not bet online under the influence, and it almost guarantees a loss.
  • Whether an expert or gambling as a beginner, do not give into superstitions as the online casinos have random number generators (RNG). The cards dealt are all a matter of chance.
  • Understand how to use your bonus efficiently by reading the terms of use, the minimum deposit to access bonuses, and withdrawal systems.
  • Keeping your focus by taking regular breaks is a great way to learn online gambling efficiently.
  • Build strategies to beat casinos in their own games and stick to games where your expertise can give you an advantage on a lower house edge, for example, blackjack.
  • Study gaming strategies to bring the odds in your favor.
  • Research how to time your jackpots correctly to make the most out of it to win big.

Betting/Casino Guide FAQs

The legality of online casinos causes confusion for many U.S. citizens. In the United States, gambling laws are formed using federal, state, and local gambling laws. Hence, the legality of online gambling completely depends on your place of residence. While gambling sites are legal in a few states like New Jersey, 49 states can enjoy playing in sweepstakes casinos where there isn’t real money involved.

Every state and jurisdiction has a different age requirement: this may be 18 in some parts of the USA and 21 in others.

Which states offer/allow online gambling sites legally?

Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware are among the states that offer and allow online gambling. We expect several other states to legalize online gambling. Players won’t be prosecuted if they bet on online and offshore betting sites.

Is it possible for me to sign up with more than one casino/sportsbook?

It is completely possible to be registered as a part of more than one casino/sportsbook. If you’re keen on learning how to gamble online, we’d advise you to scope out of options and explore as many sites as you can to see which one offers you the best returns.

Where can I find free online games to play?

Gambling for dummies can be a tough cookie to crack as there are hundreds of portals available for you to choose from. However, if you’re looking at the best gambling for beginners option, you can create an account and choose to play on practice mode for free until you gain the confidence to start betting real money!

Are online gambling sites just as fair and safe as physically established casinos?

One of the best tips in our U.S. sports betting guide would be to use your discernment to find the licensing and certifications on the website’s homepage for your own safety. Good and reliable gambling sites always promote responsible gambling and display their accreditations with the logo of the boards and councils they have been approved by.

When will the United States completely legalize online gambling?

According to our U.S. gambling guide, JP Morgan Chase predicts that over 20 states in the United States will have legalized online gambling by the year 2025. However, this metric was changed by the country’s largest financial institution since then, which means you could be looking at more states legalizing online gambling sooner than 2025.

Conclusion

In a world where knowledge is power, guides like these save dollars by avoiding gambling mistakes. Now that you know the basics about how to gamble online, we hope you put these tips and strategies to good use. With the help of the information you acquired on this U.S. gambling guide, you can make safe bets and navigate through an online casino seamlessly.

Do you have any more tips to add to our U.S. gambling guide? We love to hear from our readers! Remember to gamble responsibly and for entertainment purposes only. Now you know about gambling for beginners, may the odds be in your favor!

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Top Betting Sites
Top Betting Bonuses
Bet365
4.6/5
BetMGM
4.6/5
FanDuel
4.5/5
Caesars
4.5/5
DraftKings
DraftKings
DraftKings Review
4.5/5
Bet365
Bet365 Promo
Get $150 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose when you bet $5!
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
Subject to meeting qualifying criteria. Minimum wager $5. Minimum odds -500 or greater. $10 minimum deposit. Paid in Bonus Bets. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. Available in app only. Max. prize, game restrictions, time limits and T&Cs apply. Deposit required. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply.Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
BetMGM
BetMGM Promo
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
FanDuel
FanDuel Promo
Bet $5 Get $150 in Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins!
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Caesars
Caesars Promo
First bet back as a bonus bet up to $1000
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
DraftKings
DraftKings Promo
Bet $5 and Get $150 in Bonus Bets Instantly!
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Top Online Casinos
Top Casinos Bonuses
Real Prize
Real Prize
Real Prize Review
4.8/5
MegaBonanza
MegaBonanza
MegaBonanza Review
4.6/5
McLuck
4.5/5
Stake.us
Stake.us
Stake.us Review
4.4/5
High5Casino
High5Casino
High5Casino Review
4.4/5
Real Prize
Real Prize Promo
Up to 125 SC FREE + 625K Golden Coins + 1250 VIP Points
T&Cs apply
4.8/5
MegaBonanza
MegaBonanza Promo
150% Purchase Offer: 25 SC FREE and 50K GC
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
McLuck
McLuck Promo
27.5 SC FREE and 57.5K Gold Coins
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Stake.us
Stake.us Promo
55 Stake Cash + 260K Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
T&Cs apply
4.4/5
High5Casino
High5Casino Promo
Get 5 SC FREE+ 250 Gold Coins and 600 Diamonds!
T&Cs apply
4.4/5
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Editor
Get the best deals per mail and grab our amazing and free ebook
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21+ and present in VA. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

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