Online casinos are increasingly a favourite pastime in many U.S. states. Players can now play their favourite casino games, such as slots, blackjack, poker, and roulette, on their phones or computers. Due to this rising trend, lawmakers in several states are debating whether they should authorize real-money online casinos, also known as iGaming.
Today, only a few states allow online casinos. However, the states that have legal online gaming are generating very good tax revenue, which is motivating other states to explore similar laws. This article provides an overview of the current legality status of online casinos and discusses states that are likely to legalize them in 2026 or the near future.
Currently, seven states have completely legalized online casino markets where players can fund their accounts and enjoy real-money casino games on the Internet. These states regulate online casinos through official gaming authorities that make sure the platforms follow strict rules.
These regulations protect players, ensure fair gameplay, and require casinos to offer responsible gambling tools.
| State | Year Online Casinos Launched | Regulatory Authority | Number of Online Casinos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | 2021 | Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection | 2 |
| Delaware | 2013 | Delaware State Lottery | 3 |
| Michigan | 2021 | Michigan Gaming Control Board | 15 |
| New Jersey | 2013 | New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement | 30 |
| Pennsylvania | 2019 | Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board | 23 |
| Rhode Island | 2024 | Rhode Island Lottery | 1 |
| West Virginia | 2020 | West Virginia State Lottery | 9 |
In 2013, Delaware was the first state in the U.S. to legalize online casinos. A little while later, New Jersey also legalized online casinos, and it soon became one of the largest markets. Pennsylvania came onboard in 2019, West Virginia in 2020, and both Michigan and Connecticut established online casinos in 2021. Rhode Island is the latest legal market in 2024. At present, New Jersey is the state with the most online gambling websites, having 30 licensed sites, while Rhode Island only has a single operator.
We can also consider Maine, which is legislatively ready for online casino operation, but none of the platforms is running yet.
Besides lawmakers, regulators are also involved in the formation of rules and licensing requirements to authorize online casinos effectively in the state. When everything is set, Maine will be potentially the third online casino state in the U.S.
The fact is, only seven states allow online casinos, but the majority of others are considering the possibility. All of them have online sports betting already, and such a development usually facilitates the launch of online casino laws.
Several new bills have been introduced in different state legislatures in 2025 and 2026.
| State | Online Sports Betting | Status of Online Casino Bill |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | Yes | Interest but no active bill |
| California | No | No legislation yet |
| Florida | Yes | No casino bill currently |
| Indiana | Yes | Bill stalled in 2026 |
| Maryland | Yes | SB 340 introduced |
| New York | Yes | SB 2614 proposed |
| North Carolina | Yes | Possible future proposal |
| Ohio | Yes | SB 197 introduced |
| Texas | No | No legislation |
| Virginia | Yes | SB 118 and HB 161 |
| Wyoming | Yes | Proposal introduced but stalled |
These states are often discussed as the next potential markets for online casinos.
Right now, Virginia is doing great in legalizing online casinos. Lawmakers have brought up two separate bills for this, both of which have already gone through parts of the legislative process.
In case lawmakers come to an agreement on a final bill, online casinos could be legally running as early as 2026 or 2027. Yet, the proposed legislation might need to be approved in two legislative sessions, which means the launch could be delayed.
New York is undoubtedly a very significant state in the gambling industry. Recently, it has been recorded that the state has a thriving online sports betting market, generating billions of dollars in wagers.
Due to the success of this market, it is believed by many experts that online casinos will be profitable in New York as well. A new bill, SB 2614, has been proposed for online casino legalisation, but it still needs more support before it can pass.
Maryland lawmakers are once again debating online casinos. A new bill was filed for the state senate in early 2026.
This idea had passed the House before, but the Senate did not take it up. If legislature agrees this time, Maryland might be added to the list of legal iGaming states.
Ohio is working on an online casino issue called SB 197. The lawmakers are looking at the possible tax revenue and economic benefits.
There are even some suggestions that online casinos could be launched in March 2026, but this is totally dependent on the speed of the legislative process.
Some of the biggest states in the U.S. are still far from the idea of legalizing online casinos. These include:
These states are still sorting out their sports betting legislation, so online casinos are not on the agenda yet. But, due to their large populations, these markets could end up being very significant if the laws were to change.
One big reason why states are thinking about online casinos is the tax money they bring in. States that have legalized online casinos have recorded millions of dollars in tax revenue from casino operators.
Besides that, online casinos lead to different kinds of job opportunities such as IT, customer service, and casino operations.
Player safety is also a big factor. Only licensed online casinos are able to operate as they are required to comply with strict rules. Besides fairness in games which are being tested, players can benefit from responsible gambling tools such as:
These safeguards are in place to ensure players have a good time playing online games without risk.
Even though online casinos in the U.S. are still quite restricted in 2026, the industry is still moving toward gradual expansion. At present, seven states are providing legal real-money online casinos, and Maine is anticipated to be added to this list once its system is operational.
A few other states, like Virginia, New York, Maryland, and Ohio, have also indicated that they are planning to bring iGaming to their jurisdictions.
Thanks to lawmakers who are assessing the economic advantages and regulatory difficulties, the number of states with legal online casinos in the U.S. is very likely to grow over the next few years.
Yes, online casinos are legal in some U.S. states in 2026. Only a few states allow people to play real-money casino games online.
You are allowed to gamble at online casinos in Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia.
States such as Virginia, New York, Maryland, and Ohio are likely to legalize online casinos.
States want to legalize online casinos as they are a good source of tax revenue and also provide safe gaming facilities to players.
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