Many gamers in the US are concerned about whether it is legal for them to gamble online and seem to get even more confused with the existing laws. However, fear not, CasinoUSA.com is here to clear the air on online gambling despite all the gray areas within the industry.
Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA)
Let’s begin with a bit of history. The US Government has been slow to make any firm decisions on online gambling. In the mid-1990s when gambling sites began offering services to US based players there were no guidelines or legislation imposed. In 2006 President George Bush signed into effect the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), which limited the ability of online casinos to accept US customers for real money games. However, it is important to note that the law only limited how money could be transacted between casinos and their customers and did not specifically forbid online gambling. In effect the Act restricted banking institutions from permitting their customers to send money to offshore gambling sites.
Ever since Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey legalized online gambling and a number of other states have taken notice and formulated their own licensing and regulatory regime to enable US players to gambling online legally.
Here are some of the frequently asked questions by US players.
Absolutely not. There is no law that restricts a US resident from participating in online casino gaming, which includes the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). In fact, it is always good to hear it from the horse’s mouth and US Attorney Catherine Hanaway was the one to admit at a U.S. House Judiciary Committee hearing that wagering online did not violate any federal law.
As mentioned earlier, the ban is only imposes restrictions on financial institutions such as banks from taking part in gambling-related transactions.
Your search ends right here at CasinoUSA.com. All the casinos we have listed accept USA players who have access to both play money and real money games. You will find a list of the best casinos that approve USA deposits via credit cards as well. Most importantly, they are licensed in a regulated jurisdiction.
All the sites that we recommend are absolutely legal and are among the most reputed US friendly online casinos. However, you can always look for the licensing jurisdiction such as Kahnawake to ensure that the site is regulated. Most importantly, we recommend sites that undergo third party audits to ensure fair play. This includes sites audited by eCOGRA, the most reputed third party auditors.
Several legislators have challenged the UIGEA in an effort to have online casino gambling legalized and regulated and in the same category as several other industries.
For the most part, the UIEGA has made it difficult for online casinos to accept deposits via conventional means. Credit cards do work with some banks. Our experts at CasinoUSA.com have tested several casinos that accept credit card transactions. There are several other banking methods available to US players. Currently, VISA and MasterCard is accepted by some US online casinos while American Express also works with the added benefit of being able to make large deposits.
Other payment options include eCheck, Western Union and bank transfers.
Yes, several casinos feature a mobile platform where you can play some of their best games. As long as you are within the boundaries of a state that has legalized online gambling, you should have no problem at all.
We recommend that you only gamble online with US Dollars, which is currently the only available option. Besides, it is the best way to avoid any losses due to currency conversion and exchange rate fees.
Yes, players do have the option to refer any dispute to a high authority such as organizations like eCOGRA. The licensing body is usually responsible for resolving complaints if players are not satisfied with the casino’s resolution.
As long as you are 21 years old or over you have the liberty to gamble online at US friendly casinos. In some states like Alaska, Idaho, Minnesota, and Wyoming, the minimum age limit is 18. However, it is important to note that casino policies vary.
