Bitcoin casino USA

Unfortunately, there are currently no US-licensed casinos that directly support Bitcoin deposits and withdrawals. However, here's a list of casinos where you can use intermediary banking options to get around this and pay with bitcoin.

Jump ahead to read more about bypassing the restrictions.

In a nutshell: Bitcoin casinos in the US

Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency or digital currency. Also known as BTC, it can be bought and sold online and used to make purchases where it's accepted.

In the states where online gambling is legal, it's also legal to gamble using Bitcoin. The five states where online casinos are legal are New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

At the moment, there are no licensed US casinos that directly accept Bitcoin. But, this can be sort of bypassed by using a third-party payment service where the user may exchange BTC for USD.

Why US-licenced online casinos don't feature Bitcoin?

The simple answer can be found in the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006:

What this means is that regulated online casinos in the US can't accept such an unregulated currency as Bitcoin, and other cryptocurrencies, are.

However, this doesn't mean using Bitcoin in online gambling is illegal. In the states where online gambling has been generally legalized, it's perfectly fine if you want to use cryptocurrency. It just can't be done directly.

It's still possible to use cryptos with third-party services of which we explain more below.

Getting around the Bitcoin casino restrictions in the US

Unfortunately, you can't directly deposit bitcoin at regulated and licensed US online casinos for now. However, if you're set on using your crypto for gambling, there are ways to get around this.

Several e-wallets, crypto exchanges, and online banks have found ways to blur the line between cryptocurrencies and traditional banking solutions. In practice, you can spend crypto of your choice and the casino gets fiat, i.e. "normal money".

Here are some examples of payment providers that let you spend crypto using more conventional banking methods:

• PayPal
• Crypto.com
• Revolut

Each of these systems differs slightly from its competitors, and we won't provide detailed instructions here. However, the basic idea is this:

1. Sign up and get a traditional, widely accepted banking solution, e.g. bank account, debit card, or e-wallet
2. Buy or receive digital currencies in a wallet linked to your account
3. You can choose whether to use crypto funds or fiat for purchases
4. When you pay with crypto, each purchase is converted into fiat at the going rate and deducted from your crypto balance
5. You pay with crypto; the merchant (the casino) gets fiat

We can't give you an exact list of casinos that accept alternative ways to deposit with BTC. Luckily, we don't have to. For example, if the casino accepts a Visa card issued by a regular bank, they're likely to accept one issued by Revolut or Crypto.com.

What does the future look like for Bitcoin casinos in the USA?

It's been over a decade since Bitcoin officially started in the US, and the road has been an interesting one. Regulated online casinos haven't been around that long, but the gambling industry, in general, is evolving rapidly.

Outside the US, crypto casinos supporting Bitcoin are already in the business, and on a large scale. But, it could be years before the possibility of using cryptocurrency directly on US-licenced online casinos joins with the accepted payment methods.

So, it's probable that we're going to be stuck with using the indirect way to gamble with Bitcoin for now.

What is Bitcoin?

In 2008, a computer programmer going by the pseudonym of Satoshi Nakamoto released Bitcoin and its underlying blockchain technology to the world. As stated by Satoshi in the famous white paper, Bitcoin is an "electronic cash system that's fully peer-to-peer".

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are made possible by a technology called the blockchain. This is a shared electronic ledger in which transactions in cryptocurrency (e.g. bitcoin) are instantly validated by a network of computers, thus creating a decentralized and transparent environment.

Essentially, Bitcoin is a digital currency that can be used as a transfer of value between people, without the interference of banks or other third parties. Bitcoin is the most popular of the available cryptocurrencies and can be used for a variety of things such as booking hotels, buying food, and gambling.

What's so special about Bitcoin gambling sites?

Bitcoin casino (or BTC casino for short) brings plenty of new exciting features to the table. It's easy to understand why Bitcoin gambling is becoming ever more popular.

Take a look at how Bitcoin can improve your experience in the newest online casinos:

• A private, decentralized, and transparent currency
• Bigger bonuses for players due to extremely low transaction costs for operators
• Superfast withdrawal (usually 20 minutes)
• Your winnings may increase in value as BTC gains momentum

Low fees are also a major plus. On Bitcoin gambling sites you can expect substantially lower transaction charges than at normal, fiat currency online casinos.

Benefits of Bitcoin casinos

Here we've collected all the benefits Bitcoin casinos possess. US-licensed Bitcoin casinos are yet something we have to wait for but, once they become reality, all this comes along with them. So, it's good to know what we can expect from US Bitcoin casinos.

Decentralization

Probably the most important aspect of Bitcoin and the blockchain is its decentralized nature, meaning it isn't controlled by one single entity or institution. The pros of this are primarily the anonymity and transparency of transactions.

The intrinsic benefits of decentralization are experienced when playing at a cryptocurrency casino. These include:

• No external control over the blockchain and free from banks
• No need to enter card details or addresses during signup
• Extremely low or no transaction fees
• Fairer processes

Provably fair

Another special feature of Bitcoin casinos is that they can be "provably fair". This concept is unique to casinos that support blockchain technology.

Provably fair casinos prove themselves to operate 100% fairly through mathematical verification. Provably fair casinos cannot corrupt the fairness of their games.

Here's how provably fair gaming works:

1. The casino creates a seed number for the bet.
2. This is hashed (turned into a secret code like a digital signature) and sent to the player.
3. The player then adds their own seed number and the bet takes place.
4. When the bet's over, the player receives the seed used in the bet.
5. If it matches the bet, it's verified automatically by the system.
6. If the casino tries to manipulate the bet outcome, the bet becomes invalid.

The accuracy and fairness of a bet's outcome can be verified by players in real-time. The provably fair mechanism is strongly tied to the random number generators. It may take a while before you can play at a live casino using the same verification method.

It is important to note that not all Bitcoin casinos are provably fair. You can check whether a crypto casino is provably fair on its website. The "provably fair" label is normally found and explained on the homepage or "About us" page.

Flexibility and versatility

Bitcoin opens up the world of online casinos and banking options to users who would otherwise have access to neither. At the same time, adding Bitcoin as a payment option to a casino has become easier.

PayPal casinos have to jump through many hoops to get approval. Instead, Bitcoin has quickly become more prevalent online as the popularity of cryptocurrencies continues to grow.

Bitcoin can be transferred amongst users anywhere in the world. Bitcoin is an international digital currency which:

• Transcends borders
• Can be used by anybody regardless of background
• Makes bank accounts and credit cards unnecessary

Security

In addition to making deposits, you can also withdraw your winnings to your BTC wallet. Since using Bitcoin cuts out the middleman, it's a fast withdrawal method in a casino.

Bitcoin offers unique layers of protection that aren't found in other banking options. Every single deposit and withdrawal made in a Bitcoin casino will use a unique, encrypted digital address. All your transactions are coded. Your personal and financial information can never be disclosed as transactions are processed.

Using Bitcoin doesn't make you completely anonymous. Exchanges and wallet providers usually require you to prove your identity. Additionally, some Bitcoin casinos may ask you to provide KYC documents in exceptional circumstances.

However, Bitcoin has been designed to make users pseudonymous. The network functions with a private key and a public key:

• The private key is a secret number that allows Bitcoins to be spent and is saved in your Bitcoin wallet.
• The public key is equivalent to your Bitcoin address, which changes for every transaction you make.
• Private and public keys work together as a sophisticated two-way authentication system.

Bitcoin slots

In terms of general player experience, Bitcoin casinos are almost identical to traditional online casinos. There's the same wide collection of games available: typically slots, progressive jackpots, table games, and live dealer games.

Depending on the specific casino, players can enjoy slots and live tables from the biggest studios, such as Microgaming and NetEnt, to smaller, more niche offerings. Players can select their wager amount (within defined limits) and can make a withdrawal whenever they want.

When playing slots at a Bitcoin casino, in-game balances and winnings may be shown in different ways depending on the casino. The main way players might see this are coins, BTC, mBTC, uBTC, $, €, or £. To clear up any confusion, mBTC and uBTC are simply fractions of a Bitcoin (BTC), this helps when playing with smaller amounts.

Bitcoin casinos and responsible gambling

Playing online casino games can be entertaining and fun, but it can also become overwhelming. To prevent this from happening, we strongly recommend taking advantage of the tools of responsible gambling, offered by the casino sites. These tools can include:

• Deposit and loss limits
• Reality checks
• Option to cool off or self-exclude

It's also important to understand that online casinos are here to make a profit. They're not a solution for any financial issues or a way to earn a quick buck.

If you suspect you're gambling too much, don't hesitate to seek help. We've gathered more information about the topic and contact info for support services in the US on our Responsible gaming page.

FAQ

Article by:

Kati Saari

Kati Saari has worked in the gambling industry since 2014. She has tested hundreds of casinos and written thousands of articles while evolving into an iron-clad expert in her field. Having a true passion for her work she’s adamant not to let anything past her without thorough research.

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