Guide to Gambling in Nevada

As you may or may not already know, Nevada is home to the world’s most famous gambling hotspot, Las Vegas, and it has been known as the gambling capital of the world for decades. It contributes massively to the USA’s casino and sports betting industry and generates billions in profits and state revenue each and every year.

Even though Nevada’s gambling landscape has been thriving since the 1930s, the first gambling establishments were only built in the 1950s; paving the way for the hundreds of other casinos that would later follow. Today, Nevada is renowned for its high-class casino resorts, hotels, and luxurious gambling dens that attract millions of money-hungry players from all over the globe every day.

Nevada Gambling Laws

Being the most developed gambling market in the world, it should come as no surprise that Nevada is very protective of its gambling industry. Any organized gambling crime or unlicensed gambling is deemed a misdemeanor and punishable by up to 6 months in jail and a minimum $1,000 fine. The same applies to people caught gambling at off-shore betting sites while in state lines.

While Nevada is understandably strict with its regulations and how it deals with unlawful gambling, many individuals who are penalized for such actions are players who have been found to have cheated during a game or who have unlawfully attempted to sway the odds into their favor – this is one of the reasons its never advised to card count in Las Vegas casinos because you can expect to be slapped with a felony charge if you get caught.

As for the legal gambling age, you have to be a minimum of 21 to enter casinos in Nevada and gamble online. Even those who are accompanied by an adult are not permitted to enter a venue if they are under the age of 21.

On paper, online gambling in Nevada is legal and the hundreds of sportsbooks and online poker rooms in existence are very successful. However, online gambling is not regulated, nor is it licensed. As a result, most casino sites are only social gambling platforms that have fixed jackpots and winning amounts. The good news is, they do not require you to make a financial deposit or buy-in order to play, and instead, players are given sweep coins and tokens to use after they’ve signed up to a sportsbook or casino.

Some of the most popular online gambling sites include LuckyLand, Chumba, and WinStar. All of these sites are home to dozens of slots and table games where players can win prizes and sweepstake contests. Some of them even offer credits that can be transferred to use in Nevada’s land-based casinos.

Deposit Options at Nevada Gambling Sites

Online gambling sites and poker rooms in Nevada accept most major credit cards, e-wallets like PayPal, Skrill and Neteller, and many other popular payment methods. Before signing up, it’s advised to check with the online platform and see what banking options are available. Do note that some sites may not accept methods like pre-paid cards or bank transfers and you may have to resort to using one of the other methods mentioned above to place wagers and make withdrawals.

In addition to cards and ewallets, many of Nevada’s casinos are beginning to accept and offer casino bonuses for crypto users. Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin are becoming some of the most widely-used cryptocurrencies at online casinos and sportsbooks, and there are plenty of sites that tailor casino bonuses to people who use these methods as well.

Some gambling sites in Nevada also permit transactions to be made using Western Union or MoneyGram. These methods may even entitle you to use bonuses or claim other rewards when you deposit a certain amount into your bankroll. Just note that the transaction times may differ for each one and you may have to wait a few working days before your winnings appear in your account.

Nevada Casinos

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you're probably well aware of Nevada’s thriving land-based casino industry. Both Reno and Las Vegas have the largest concentration of real money brick-and-mortar casinos in the US, with the Strip in Sin City being home to the world’s most prestigious casinos including, Bellagio, Caesars, Circus Circus, Luxor, MGM Grand, the Venetian, and Wynn Casino.

Other top gambling destinations in the state include Laughlin, Reno, and West Andover. Land-based slots make up two-thirds of gambling revenue generated in Nevada, and they are prevalent throughout the entire state. These machines can be found everywhere from airports and hotels to grocery stores, so you’ll never be strapped for entertainment.

Nevada Poker

Nevada is also the poker capital of the US, and the state is home to over 50 poker rooms that host high-profile tournaments such as the World Series of Poker. There are also hundreds of mini tournaments local players and residents can take part in each month, with the most publicized games taking place at venues like the Venetian, Bellagio, Orleans Casino, and Wynn Casino.

As for online video poker, it is legal and regulated in Nevada, however, of the three licensed online poker rooms that were permitted to operate, only one of them gained enough traction from fans to warrant keeping them active. As you can probably guess, this was also the official site for the WSOP, which essentially makes up 90% of all the state’s online website traffic. This may seem like Nevada has a bad rep for online poker, but it actually works in its favor as the online WSOP works in conjunction with neighboring New Jersey and Delaware, allowing residents to compete with players outside of the state.

Nevada Sports Betting

Up until 2018 when the Amateur Sports Protection Act was abolished, Nevada was the first and only US state that permitted sports betting. The first sportsbook was established here in 1949, way before PASPA had any say in what activities were banned and which were permitted. As sports betting was legal here prior to 1992, Nevada was the only state that wasn’t affected by the ban, and more than 60 venues continue to offer licensed sports betting in Nevada today.

These services are now available online and through mobile gambling apps, including CG Sports, B-Connected Sports, NV Sports, MGM Resorts, South Point, Station Casinos, Treasure Island, Wynn, Westgate SuperBook, and William Hill. Do note that you cannot complete the registration process online and you must visit the casino in person to set up an account.

Nevada Daily Fantasy Sports

Daily Fantasy Sports are also legal in Nevada, but this only became a possibility in 2015 after the Gaming Control Board ruled out that paid Daily Fantasy Sports Contests fit in line with lawful gambling. Despite being “legal”, residents of Nevada are forbidden to take part in DFS contests, and only players in other states are permitted to place wagers at these sites.

The most popular DFS platforms in Nevada are Draftkings and FanDuel, which were the first two operators to jump on the bandwagon when Nevada began issuing gaming licenses. At this point in time, no other sites are running DFS services, but this could well change in the foreseeable future.

Nevada Lotteries

Under Article 4 of the Nevada Constitution, lotteries are currently banned in the Silver State. If a change to this were to be successful, it would require two separate voter referendums that would need the approval of the state legislature beforehand. As the casino lobby is vehemently opposed to the notion, it’s unlikely discussions around the idea will take place any time soon. In addition, residents are big lovers of progressive jackpot slots, so the public consensus is that a state lottery wouldn’t really be necessary.

Nevada Esports

In 2020, lawmakers in Nevada approved 12 esports events and leagues for placing bets across a range of video game titles, including Dota 2, Call of Duty, iRacing, League of Legends, and Overwatch. Nevada currently holds the record for licensed eSports operators in America, and all of them are able to accept bets for the following three wager types: head to head, match winner, and overall winner.

Nevada Bingo

Commercial and charitable games of bingo are permitted in Nevada. Some of the most popular establishments that host regular bingo games include South Point Bingo, Palace Station Casino Bingo Hall, Plaza Hotel & Casino Bingo Room, and the Bingo Room at Green Valley Ranch. The legal outlook for online bingo is the same as it is for online casino games, which means residents in Nevada are not permitted to gamble at bingo sites, regardless of their legitimacy.

Nevada Horse Racing

Horse racing and off-track betting have been legal in the Silver State since 1949. This means residents and visitors have been able to wager on these games at physical sportsbooks for several decades, however, the laws for betting at horse racing tracks are different than betting on horse races at brick-and-mortar casinos or bookmakers.

At this moment in time, Nevada has only 2 land-based horse racing and greyhound racing venues. There haven't been too many races held here for the past few years, but there are options for residents to view 24/7 live streams of other prolific events in and outside of the state.

Nevada Tribal Casinos

To put it frankly, all Native Indian casinos in Nevada are located on tribal lands, which are federally recognized by the US government. Under the agreement of the compact treaty between Nevada’s Indian casinos and the state, the tribes have exclusive rights to offer certain classes of games that commercial casinos cannot. They also have sovereignty over the lands which are located on the outskirts of Las Vegas.

At current, only two tribes operate casinos in Nevada and only one tribe operates casinos in Arizona. The latter is home to several Indian casinos, albeit, they are much smaller than their commercial Las Vegas counterparts. They also offer a much smaller selection of games.

Most of Nevada’s Indian casinos are located in a small town around 50 minutes outside of LV called Moapa. Laughlin and Gardnerville also each have an Indian casino. Even though none are directly situated in Sin City, these casinos are still highly popular and see large numbers of visitors every year, though, most of them are residents of the state as opposed to tourists. These venues mostly offer classic casino games like roulette and club.

Land-Based Casinos in Nevada

Among the hustle and bustle of Sin City’s gambling and nightlife scene resides a beautiful hub of the world’s most renowned casinos. Some of these venues are truly extraordinary in terms of the facilities and services offered to clients. Others have been known to fall a bit short in these attributes, but they surpass their competitors in other ways such as through superior game offerings, drinking and dining, shows and entertainment, and overall customer satisfaction. Nevertheless, if you want to experience all of the delights of Las Vegas, you’ll want to pay a visit to these casinos below:

Bellagio

Bellagio is considered one of Las Vegas’s best land-based casinos. The gaming floor houses thousands of slot machines, over 40 table games, a sportsbook, and several high-class poker rooms designed for both veterans and amateurs alike. Regular tournaments take place here and guests can try their hand at a mix of limit Hold ‘Em and no-limit Hold ‘Em. While playing, you can expect to be hooked up with free drinks, food bites, and even a mobile masseuse to relieve some of the tension that comes with playing a high-stakes game.

The Venetian

The Venetian is one of the classiest gambling joints in Sin City. The casino is licensed and operated under the Palazzo and provides an array of services in addition to some fantastic casino game offerings. One of the highlights of visiting this venue is the 134,000 square foot spa, which offers over 150 different services consisting of massages, facials, and scrubs. There is also a swimming pool, fitness centre, salon, and restaurant all located in this part of the resort alone, making it a sports enthusiast and wellness lover's dream.

Flamingo Las Vegas

The Flamingo is another superb casino venue that doubles up as a high-class eatery. It has a fantastic selection of games to play including poker, table games like blackjack, roulette, craps, and baccarat, plus a few thousand slot machines that players can enjoy 24/7. Even as you play at the casino, you can also tuck into some delicious cuisines at the in-house restaurant. If you want to make the most out of your stay, you can also book a room for a night or two at the casino hotel.

Caesars Palace

When it comes to sports betting, Caesars should be at the top of your list to get your fill of sports action when paying a visit to Sin City. Not only can you bet on and view the world’s hottest events on dozens of big screens, but you can also partake in a wide range of casino games such as slots, table variants, specialty games, and many other categories. We suggest booking into one of the casino’s luxurious hotel suites because this is also a venue that boasts fantastic cocktails and regular show-stopping entertainment and concerts that you won’t want to miss.

Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino

If you’re looking for top-shelf entertainment, Mandalay Bay Resort is the place to be. Aside from a huge casino floor, you also get first-class access to its other facilities including the hotel, restaurant, nightclub, conference and meeting space, plus offers and discounts for groups & weddings. In the casino itself, you can look forward to playing a selection of the best and most popular games such as roulette, craps, and blackjack. You can also take a seat at one of the venue's 1200 slots and video poker machines.

Nevada Gambling FAQ

Is real money online gambling legal in Nevada?
As long as you stick to real money licensed gambling sites, it is legal to gamble online in Nevada, but only for social gaming purposes. Placing wagers at off-shore sites is strictly prohibited and may result in a felony charge of $1000 plus 6 months jail time if you get caught.

Does Nevada offer any intrastate online gambling?
Yes. The Silver State launched its fenced online gambling market to accommodate the World Series of Poker with Delaware and New Jersey. However, sites other than the WSOP cannot compare in terms of website traffic and popularity, which is why it's best to stick to the major poker networks.

What types of gambling are available in Nevada?
As some of the world’s biggest casinos are situated in Nevada, you can expect the full spectrum of casino games, plus sports betting action, horse racing, and more. On the Strip alone, there are 250 gaming establishments, each offering a myriad of slot machines, table games, and poker rooms.