Welcome to your one-stop guide to everything you could want to know about online gambling in Nevada! Nevada has had a long history with gambling, and until recently, it had a stranglehold on verticals like sports betting. Las Vegas is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the entire world, and with good reason – the casino scene is much more than the slots and table games.
Despite the decades of casino operation in Nevada, online gambling has been slow to take flight in the state. There has been some movement in the legislation over the last few years, which is excellent news for those who want to enjoy the benefits of being able to bet on their favorite games or sports without having to leave home. This page will cover all the different online gaming options in Nevada and, where possible, will send you to a page with even more detail on the topic.
Online/Mobile Sports Betting
Sports betting has been legal in Nevada for decades. Almost all the casinos in Las Vegas have a sportsbook on the property, where you are able to bet on your favorite teams or events happening across the U.S. and around the world.
Until recently, Nevada was the only state in the U.S. where you could bet on sports legally. That all changed in 2018 when New Jersey successfully won a case with the professional and amateur sports leagues over the right to offer sports betting in its state. The case made its way all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, where the ruling ended up with the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. From May 2018, other states are able to offer legalized sports betting if they so choose. This has not had much impact on the betting in Nevada – in fact, the handle numbers continue to increase.
When it comes to online and mobile sports betting in Nevada, the rules are a little cumbersome. You are allowed to open a sports betting account to play from your phone, tablet or computer, but you have to create an account and fund it at a live sportsbook. This is slowing down the growth of the mobile piece substantially.
Online Poker In Nevada
After the heyday of offshore online poker receded thanks to measures put in place by the U.S. government between 2006 and 2011, states like Nevada had to take some action to try to save the business. Nevada introduced and passed legislation in 2013 that would allow for licensed online poker sites. However, this did not come without some stipulations, leaving many of the larger operators out in the cold.
Online poker is alive and well in Nevada, and even though the sites don’t have the same massive prize pools that they used to, the fact that players in the state can sit at their computers or on their phones and play is a very positive step forward.
Online Casinos in Nevada
The news about online casinos is not nearly as positive as it is for online poker or sports betting. Despite the state being littered with land-based casinos and legislation in place to make online poker legal, there are no regulations for online slot machines, table games or video poker. This is a huge disappointment for players who don’t want to have to travel to a smoky casino to play their favorite games.
While there is no current legislation, all signs point towards the discussion resuming regarding the possibility of adding them to the current legislation. It is a stretch that it would happen in 2020, but the hope is that the introduction of online casino legislation in other states will prompt the government to do something about it in Nevada.
Online Horse Racing
The horse racing industry has seen better days, but the good news is that betting on the ponies is still a viable option in most places across the United States. Nevada residents can create online accounts with one of the many available horse racing betting platforms and bet on races from across the country.
Horse racing betting is legal as it has been carved out of every other gambling law in the U.S. This means that players will not have to worry about having their accounts being shut down, and the sites that are accepting players from Nevada are all legitimate sites that are subject to American law.
There are several sites to choose from, and our team breaks down what makes one site better than another and where you can get the most out of your betting dollars.
Online Lottery Games in Nevada
If you can believe this, even though Nevada is one of the top gambling locales in the entire world, there are no lottery tickets for sale in the state. This goes for online tickets as well. If you are looking to buy a Powerball ticket, the closest place to do so is on the border of California.
Now, some online sites are starting to pop up that act as agents – they will go buy your ticket and hold it for you. However, as lottery games are not available in Nevada, it is unclear how you would go about getting paid if, in fact, you won a big jackpot. The good news is that this is becoming more clear with every day, and sites like this will keep you up to date on all the latest news regarding lottery sales online.
Nevada Online Gambling FAQ:
What about these offshore sites I hear about in Nevada?
The offshore online gambling industry has been thriving in the United States for two decades. These sites, which include sportsbooks, casinos, bingo, and poker sites, are typically located in countries in Latin America and the Caribbean where they are out of reach of the arms of U.S. law. Nevada residents are able to register accounts and play games online, but with payment methods very limited and no safeguard if the site you send your money to goes down, it is not advised that anyone play with these sites. This includes some of the online poker sites that continue to qualify player for events like the World Series of Poker. We cannot stop you from taking the risk, but we think you are better off not treading into those waters.
What is the holdup in allowing online casinos in Nevada?
The holdup starts with the pushback from major casino industry players like Sheldon Adelson who have been lobbying hard in Washington against the legalization of online gambling sites. While the fight is starting to go the direction of legalization, online casinos in Nevada are clearly still in the crosshairs of these folks, and they are going to go down swinging. Ultimately, the decision to move towards a regulated online casino environment will happen, but for now, there does not seem to be any rush in moving the agenda forward.
What types of payment method exist for online gambling sites in Nevada?
If you happen to choose to gamble online, you will find that currently, only online poker sites allow you to make deposits or withdrawals via your device. Sports betting players must make all their transactions at a live casino. Poker players have the ability to use their credit cards, debit cards, and many other forms of payment to get their cash to and from their site of choice.
Can I use my Las Vegas casino loyalty card at an online gambling site?
Depending on what casino you are referring to, the answer is yes! Most of the sportsbooks allow you to earn loyalty points when you are betting using their mobile or online sports betting solutions. Poker players using the WSOP site can use their Caesars rewards card as well. This is one of the excellent benefits of legal online gambling in any state.
Do any online gambling sites in Nevada use mobile apps?
Yes, you will find apps for most of the sportsbooks available for download. Not every app is available for Android (Google is lagging behind in approving real money gambling apps these days), but if you can’t find an app, most sites are optimized for mobile use. This means you will still have a top-quality experience regardless if you are playing from your computer or your mobile device.