Located in the South West, Nevada has been synonymous with gambling for decades. The Silver State has a long history with casino gaming, with the rise of the Las Vegas Strip turning it into a gambling mecca. Today, Nevada attracts millions of people every year, hoping to try their luck in different world-class physical casinos.
Besides traditional casino gaming, Nevada is also synonymous with online gaming. However, Nevada isn’t as developed as other states in the online gaming landscape. Here’s an in-depth look at the state of online casino gaming in the Silver State and the available legal options for residents.
Is online casino gaming legal in Nevada?
Casino gaming officially became legal in Nevada in 1931, ushering in the modern era of gambling in the Silver State. That included traditional casino games like blackjack, poker, and sports betting. But can Nevada residents legally gamble in casinos online?
Yes, Nevada residents can enjoy online gambling in 2023. The Silver State was among the first US states to legalize online gambling in 2010, when the first sports betting app was legalized. Since then, the online gambling landscape in Nevada has significantly changed to give players plenty of gambling options.
Here’s a closer look at the current situation related to different forms of online gambling in Nevada online casinos in 2023.
Online sports gambling – Legal since 2010
Nevada was the first US state to legalize and regulate online sports bets at the state level. It was also the only American state with legal sports bookies until 2018 when other states joined the bandwagon. Today, Nevada hosts over 20 legal sportsbooks offering bets on the most popular sports, including soccer, baseball (MLB), American football (NFL), horse racing, and more.
When betting on sports online in Nevada, deposits and withdrawals can happen through in-person visits to the bookmaker or payment processors. Many operators today are choosing online payment processors for their convenience, although you can also write a check or send a money order depending on the bookmaker’s rules.
Social casinos – An alternative to digital casinos in the Silver State
While Nevada was among the first states to embrace online sports betting, real-money gaming in online casinos is still restricted. That means casino players looking to try their luck with games of chance like roulette, blackjack, and craps will need to visit traditional casinos in Vegas and other locations across the state. However, online gamblers looking to have fun can still enjoy sweepstakes and social casinos.
Social casinos are an entertaining alternative to online casino games in Nevada, although real money wins aren’t an option. These social games are based on entertaining games like blackjack, slots, and roulette, helping people connect and have fun without risking their hard-earned cash.
Online poker in Nevada – Legal since 2013
At the moment, poker is among the most popular casino games in physical casinos across Nevada and Las Vegas. This casino classic has attracted the attention of millions of gamblers across the Silver State, although the World Series of Poker is currently the only online poker site that’s legalized to offer online poker games to players in the state.
The World Series of Poker was launched in the 70s, overseeing the operation of 50 tables across Las Vegas. The organization has since grown to become the most popular body hosting prestigious poker tournaments online and in physical casinos.
If the World Series of Poker online tournament seems too serious for your liking, Nevada residents can still enjoy video poker in social casinos across the state. These sites deliver the online gambling entertainment of video poker without spending money.
Other forms of online gambling in Nevada
Besides betting on sports, sweepstakes, and social casinos, the online gambling landscape in Nevada is constantly evolving to feature other types of online games. These online games include:
Esports
While esports betting is rather new in Nevada’s online casino market, this gambling segment has grown tremendously in popularity since entering the scene in 2020. Today, Nevada residents can place online bets on esports titles like iRacing, Dota 2, League of Legends, War of Warcraft, and Overwatch at legal casino gambling sites.
Daily Fantasy Sports
Nevada’s Gaming Policy Committee started issuing licenses to allow online gambling operators to offer DFS betting in 2016. However, the USFantasy remains the only online DFS site that’s fully licensed to operate in Nevada. It allows players to place online wagers on basketball, football, MMA, and other popular DFS competitions.
Conclusion
Online gambling in Nevada has come a long way since the legalization of online sportsbooks in 2011. Today, online gamblers can wager on their favorite sports leagues, social casinos, esports, and daily fantasy sports. However, Nevada’s online gambling options are still limited since the state has yet to fully legalize real-money online casino gaming.
