Complete and Definitive Online Gambling Guide for 2024

Is There Such a Thing as Legal Online Gambling?

Is online gambling legal? This is a question that many players ask themselves prior to signing up for a casino or sportsbook, and the simple answer is yes. Gambling at online casinos, sportsbooks, and all other possible platforms is completely legal in those jurisdictions that have made it so, and their number is growing by the minute.

However, every country reserves the right to sanction gambling online for money or make it illegal for their residents to engage in it, so there is no unified legal framework that all governments must abide by.

For example, in large countries, such as the United States, online gambling is regulated both on the federal level and on the state level, which means it is well within each state’s rights to decide whether to make online gambling legal or not. Many states, such as New Jersey, Michigan, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, have already jumped the bandwagon and made online casino gambling, together with online sports gambling, completely legal and accessible, thus fostering the growth of gambling sports online and other forms of internet gaming.

As we’ve mentioned earlier, each state is allowed to decide on its specific rules pertaining to gambling. For example, the minimum legal age in the states across the US varies from 18 to 21, depending on the form of gambling. Also, some states require players to show government-issued ID documents (personal ID, passport, etc.) in order to verify their accounts, even if they are playing in an online casino or sportsbook.

Furthermore, legal and safe online gambling apps will allow you to place bets as long as you are within the borders of a state that has legalized online gambling in the first place. Interstate online gambling hasn’t become a widespread phenomenon yet.

You will know that you are on a legal online gambling platform when it asks you to submit the last four digits of your SSN to complete the verification process so that everything is done according to the law.

What Are the Most Common Online Gambling Options

Online gambling appears in many shapes and sizes. However, below, you will find the most common forms of it and their most notable features.

Online Casino Gambling

Online casinos are digital versions of those premium casino facilities down at the Las Vegas Strip with thousands of different slot, roulette, blackjack, poker, and other games. However, online gambling casinos have a huge advantage over their land-based counterparts — they are not limited by space. You can find thousands of titles from renowned providers in the business, such as NetEnt, Microgaming, IGT, SG, and many more.

What’s more, the latest developments in the area of online casino gambling can be seen in the appearance of live casino games, which are played against real-life dealers and streamed live in HD so that the players can have the most immersive gaming experience imaginable.

Online Sports Betting Gambling Sites

Those players who prefer to place their bets on numerous professional and collegiate sports games can count on hundreds of online sportsbooks to cater to their needs. Sports betting is on par with online casino gambling, thanks to the great odds for all the top competitions, such as the NBA, NFL, NHL, UEFA Champions League, English Premier League, Euroleague, and more.

Online sportsbooks offer hundreds of betting markets for both pre-game and live betting. Some of them are moneylines, point spreads, totals, futures, props, and teasers. You can place them on football, basketball, hockey, baseball, boxing, MMA, and multiple other sports on offer.

Moreover, the bulk of sports gambling online platforms resort to juicy incentives to attract new customers and retain the existing ones. Some of those include free bets, boosted odds for specific fixtures, and other freebies that spice up the betting experience considerably.

Betting on Horse Racing

Those among you who like the action on the turf will enjoy specialized horse race betting sections at sportsbooks, which offer premium odds and a variety of betting options for the best racing events worldwide.

There are hundreds of horse races in over 30 countries globally, including the Kentucky Derby, Cheltenham Festival, Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, and others that count among the most popular ones.

Betting on Online Gambling Apps

Gambling apps have become an indelible part of the online gambling world since more and more players are looking for ways to gamble on the go. These apps are specially designed by casinos and sportsbooks to bring players a more stable online mobile gambling experience. Online gambling apps are created for both Android and iOS devices so that the players can download them from their app stores and enjoy betting wherever they are.

What to Look For When Choosing the Best Online Gambling Sites

As we have mentioned earlier, there are thousands of online gambling sites in the market, and it can be a challenge to choose the right one, despite all the help you may get from online gambling reviews. Here are some of the things to look for in each of the gambling sites before joining.

Safety Features

In order to provide a safe online gambling environment for their customers, online sportsbooks, casinos, and betting sites employ a series of safety features, such as SSL encryption and firewalls, to safeguard your data and transactions at all times. Safety is also guaranteed by the licenses a gambling site has. If it has been regulated by a reputable jurisdiction and commission, you can be sure that it ticks all the right boxes when safety and security are in question.

Available Payment Methods

Being able to move funds to and from your playing account is of paramount importance. Reputable online gambling websites with a long list of gambling payment methods usually include e-wallets, credit/debit cards, online banking methods, prepaid cards, and all other important processors visible in your territory. When choosing a site, it should be observed if there are any fees that apply to deposits and withdrawals.  Of course, you should also check the limits per transaction since they are a vital aspect too.

Average Payout Speed

Another aspect of the banking section at online sports gambling sites and casinos is the speed with which you can get your hard-earned cash. E-wallets and cryptos are known for processing withdrawals within 48–72 hours, while traditional bank transfers can take up to 14 business days.

Compatibility with Mobile Devices

The best online gambling sites have optimized mobile versions of their platforms so that players can access the games on the go, no matter where they are. The mobile web versions should be available on most mobile devices regardless of their operating system (Android, iOS, Windows, Blackberry). Usually, they are a pretty good substitute for the desktop version of the site.

Online Gambling Websites and Gambling Bonuses

The majority, if not all, real online gambling platforms and sites offer elaborate bonuses and promotions for new and existing users alike, in a bid to keep them playing and gain their loyalty. There are various forms of bonuses players can hope to get, and they are:

Welcome Deposit Bonuses

As their name suggests, these bonuses are aimed at newcomers to the site who have made their initial deposit. Those deposits will most likely be matched by online gambling sites 100% or even more, up to a specific sum. For example, suppose the site has a 100% match offer of up to $100 on a minimum deposit of $20. This means that, for your deposit of 50 dollars, you will be looking at another $50 in bonus cash.

It should be noted that there are many types of welcome deposit bonuses, but all of them have specific terms and conditions of use. For example, to turn the bonus from online gambling websites into real money, you will need to wager the bonus amount a certain number of times. The smaller the wagering requirements, the better.

No Deposit Bonuses

On the other hand, when it comes to no deposit bonuses, you are not required to make any prior payments to online sports gambling sites or casinos to claim free bets and bonuses. These incentives are usually given to new customers who can test the casino or sportsbook and hopefully decide to stick around. The no deposit bonuses have a predetermined value and a max win cap, and players need to be aware of those when evaluating the platform offering them.

Special Promotions and Loyalty Bonuses

Even though deposit and no deposit bonuses are the most common forms of promotions, top online gambling sites also tend to launch loyalty, reload, cashback, and other forms of offers to reward the players for putting their trust in the platform. These are usually activated when regular deposits are made or when enough money is wagered, especially when loyalty programs are concerned. The more of these bonuses the online gambling site has, the better.

Top Tips on How to Win in Online Gambling

Unfortunately, there isn’t a magic formula that you can use to win every time you play online gambling games. However, there are some things you can do to increase your chances of success.

First of all, make sure to choose a gambling site with a license and a top-notch security system. There are many scam sites out there offering bonuses and other incentives that sound too good to be true. However, you’d better avoid those at all costs — licensed casinos and sportsbooks should be your only choice.

Furthermore, look for generous bonus offers since they can help you win real money without having to stake your own (no deposit bonuses).

Finally, make sure to learn the rules of gambling games online and different playing strategies that can help you increase the odds of winning.

Responsible Gambling Policies Are Key to Safe Online Gambling

Some players tend to get carried away and lose track of how much they have spent gambling at online casinos or sportsbooks. It is vital that you only gamble the amounts you are comfortable with losing. If you feel like things are getting out of hand, you can always look for help from organizations such as The National Council on Problem Gambling and Gamblers Anonymous and get the necessary support to start fighting the addiction.