Best online casino for most U.S. players: Bovada

If you're in CT, DE, NJ, PA, or WV, online casinos are legal in your state, and you should play at a casino licensed there.

If you're in any other U.S. state, your best bet is Bovada, not because they're good, but because everything else is even worse.  I'm reminded of the Simpsons episode where the RV salesman is telling Homer, "Simpson, you're never gonna own a finer RV.  And I don't mean that in a good way, I mean this is IT for you!"

THE GOOD ABOUT BOVADA

  1. Play the practice games without having to register an account.  Other casinos force you to register so they can market to you.  Bovada is the only U.S.-wide casino I know of that lets you play right away with no registration.  (They throw up a registration box, but you can cancel it and continue to the game.)  For example, here's the free-play blackjack.  And the games play right in your browser, so you don't have to download any special software.
  2. Consistent payouts.  Online gambling is mostly unregulated and if a casino refuses to pay your winnings you have little recourse.  But Bovada has always had a good reputation for paying out properly.

THE BAD ABOUT BOVADA

  1. Not licensed.  Because online gambling in most states isn't explicitly legal, no legitimate authority will license a U.S.-wide casino.  That means if you have a dispute, you have no recourse.
  2. Customer service is pretty pathetic.
  3. Phantom bets in live dealer games.  While I was watching (not playing) a live roulette game to record spin data for an article, Bovada claimed that I made two losing bets ($45 and $15) that I didn't actually make.  I complained about this, but they insisted I made those bets.  So, you probably want to steer clear of the live dealer games.

Visit Bovada


Gambling problem?

  1. Call the 800-522-4700 hotline or get online help
  2. See these horror stories.
  3. Know that Parkinson's drugs encourage gambling.
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Gambling problem?

  1. Call the 800-522-4700 hotline or get online help
  2. See these horror stories.
  3. Know that Parkinson's drugs encourage gambling.

Site Updates

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Fall 2021

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May 2020

September 2019

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March 2019:  New article:  34 free things to do in Vegas.

October 2018

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Summer 2015:

  • Started to make the site mobile-friendly
  • Updated lots of various content

Earlier

  • Went through 1/4 of the site to make sure the info is up to date. 10/13
    .
  • Vegas Strip Map.  After ten years, I finally got around to drawing my own map, and it's getting decent reviews. 12/10
  • Airport Express bus.  Finally, a bus that goes straight from the airport to the South Strip! 12/10
  • Coupons.  What self-respecting Vegas website would be complete without a page on coupons?  Well, here ya go. 12/10
  • Gambling & Taxes.  Yes, gambling winnings are taxable, but you can deduct your losses.  Here's the full scoop. 12/10
  • Overhauled the $30,000 betting system challenge 11/10
  • All about taxis in Vegas  11/10
  • Vegas Babysitters.  Who to call if you bring your kids to town.  See especially the "Parents Night Out" services which take kids to a rec center, mini golf, etc.  11/10
  • Vegas News.  A new section, sporadically updated. 11/10
    .
  • Myths & Facts in the movie "21", recommended by Micky Rosa himself!  3/08
  • Completely redid the list of casinos  3/08
  • Completely reorganized the Vegetarian Eats page
  • Brand new page on Gambling 101
  • Brand new page on Cheap Eats
  • Completely overhauled the Comps page

Practice gambling with play money

Before you throw down your hard-earned cash in a casino, PRACTICE FIRST!  Learn the games with play money where it doesn't cost you anything if you lose.  Seriously.

You can play Bovada's games (below) right away without registering for an account.  Most every other online casino makes you give up your email address just to play the fake-money games — ugh.  That's the main reason Bovada is the only online casino that gets advertising space on my site.  (When you see the registration box, you can cancel it and proceed to the game without registering.)

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