The history of Nevada casinos & gambling - The story so far...
Nevada is one of the US states with most colorful histories. It became a part of the Union in 1864 and it was mainly inhabited by people who came there in search of gold. So, not surprisingly, different types of gambling were a part of the state’s culture pretty much from its inception.
However, despite of this, the law that was passed in 1861 made all games of chance illegal in Nevada. When it became a part of the Union in 1864, this law was challenged but it remained in place for several more years. Finally in 1869, certain forms of gambling were finally decriminalized. But then, in 1909, harsh laws against gambling were enacted once again.
Nevada continued with this hot-cold stance towards gambling until 1931. As the country entered the Great Depression, the legislators finally decided it was time to change the laws and the state passed the bill that made it possible for the unprecedented rise of the gambling industry that would happen in the next decades, turning Nevada and Las Vegas into world’s gambling hubs. This is when the history of Nevada casinos truly started.
Not much has changed since those early days as gambling and casinos are still very much welcome in the Silver State. Until recently, Nevada was also one of a few states where sports betting was legal. However, despite all of this and despite the fact the state was one of the first to legalize online poker after the Black Friday, online casinos still remain illegal.
Gambling in Nevada - So, what can you enjoy in NV?
Gambling in Nevada is a great part of the state’s overall economy. Land based casinos are available all over the place, especially in Las Vegas, where players can find a variety of options to choose from. The state was also one of the first to regulate certain aspects of online gambling, especially online poker.
However, things have been moving much slower in terms of online casinos. While there have been some political movements towards regulating this particular aspect of the gambling niche, legislators seem much keener to allow games that go under the heading of skill games (like poker and DFS) and not so happy about classic gambling games like slots, roulette, etc.
Of course, some of the reasons for this are to be found in the land-based casino industry. Lobbies from this industry are working hard on making sure that online casinos remain illegal in the state to make sure their profit margins are unaffected. With regulated online casinos going live, land-based venues in Las Vegas could experience a sharp decline in profits.
Thankfully, that doesn't mean that online casinos are completely off the radar. In fact, we have found some fantastic alternatives in the form of social and sweepstakes casinos. Before we dive into the ins and out of how they work, let's have a look at the full legal standing of all forms of gambling in Nevada in this below guide.
Nevada gambling guide - Stay up to date with the latest legislation
| Permitted / Offered? | Notes & Restrictions |
| Land-Based Casinos | Yes | land-based casinos are completely legal in Nevada and there are many brick and mortar casino venues operating in the state, especially in Las Vegas and Reno |
| Online Casino | Yes | Only in the form of social or sweepstakes casinos |
| Sports Betting | Yes | Nevada has had regulated sports betting even before the PASPA was overturned and this continues to be the fact |
| Lottery | No | Surprisingly, lotteries aren’t allowed in Nevada, save for charitable draws. There are no major lotteries like MegaMillions or Powerball |
| Daily Fantasy Sports | Yes | DFS are allowed but operators have to apply for a state license |
| House Gambling | Yes | home games are allowed as long as the organizer doesn’t take a cut |
| Minimum Gambling Age | 21 | 21 for all gambling activities |
Land-based Casino Legal Situation - Plenty of land-based choices
There is a great number of land-based casinos operating in Nevada. The greatest concentration of casinos is, of course, in Las Vegas, but there are gambling venues available in other parts of the state as well. The land-based gambling industry in Nevada is probably the strongest one in the world with people from all over the globe traveling to Las Vegas to try their luck here.
Cities like Las Vegas and Reno bring in huge revenues for the state each and every year. So, when it comes to brick and mortar casinos, Nevada is probably one of the friendliest states for the operators and there is a huge number of venues all over the place. This is unlikely to change moving forward regardless of the online situation as Las Vegas will always remain the tourist center for eager gamblers from all four corners of the world.
Online Casino Legal Situation - Not for real money
Talking about online gambling Nevada, the situation isn’t nearly as nice or friendly as it is with regards to land-based venues. Although Nevada could be described as the gambling state, there is still no law regulating online gambling. This means that players have no access to regulated Nevada online casino sites at the moment.
This is likely to change in the near future, with the wave of gambling regulation coming across the entire US. Land-based operators will likely recognize the benefits of offering their services online as well and you will find that the best online casino Las Vegas will one day be fully legitimate for you to play at. Until then, let's hope the Nevada authorities will make a push towards passing the bill that would regulate this particular area.
However, things may move slower than most players would like. Nevada has a very specific situation on its hands as their economy greatly relies on revenues generated by brick and mortar casinos. Regulating online gambling could affect this and the state could actually lose some of its income in the process, which is something legislators are definitely not keen to see happen.
Mobile Casino Gambling Situation - Sorry, not just yet!
When it comes to mobile gambling in the state, the situation is pretty much the same as with the online segment. Operators can’t offer any of their games via web and they’re not allowed to offer mobile gambling apps, either. While poker players and sports bettors can do their gambling remotely, those who enjoy slots and table games don’t enjoy the same privileges.
While some of the best Nevada casinos do have their own apps, these don’t have any features that would enable players to play remotely. These apps usually contain the information about the casino and provide users with some other convenient options but not the option to play for real money. Luckily, you can also enjoy some top social and sweepstakes casino action through a mobile browser or dedicated mobile app.
The legality of Nevada sweepstake casinos and social casinos
Good news! You can now legally play at Nevada social casinos and sweepstakes casinos anywhere from Las Vegas to Carson City. That’s right, as long as you are aged 18 years or over and are based somewhere within the Silver State, it’s perfectly fine for you to play at any Nevada sweepstake casinos.
This is great news because although Nevada is one of the nation’s casino gaming hotspots, our state’s laws haven’t exactly caught up when it comes to online gambling. Simply put, this means that you can’t legally play at any of the sites featured on a list of the best online casinos if you are playing from Nevada.
While this is somewhat ironic, we can at least get some practice in at all of the various Nevada social casinos. This is because these online gaming sites let you play for free and you can even win prizes as a result.
The fact that you play for free means that these sweepstakes and social casinos cannot be classed as having any kind of gambling. Great news for all gamers in the Silver State!
- Legal to play from Nevada
- Not classed as gambling
- Usually have to be 18 years and older
Great US casinos
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Social Casinos - A risk-free alternative to traditional casinos
There aren’t many US states offering regulated and licensed online casinos. Nevada is one of those states where you can’t gamble for real money from the comfort of your own home despite a huge number of land-based operators scattered all over the state. So, what should you do when you have an urge to play?
Social casinos represent a decent answer to this quandary. These sites offer all sorts of casino games, from a variety of slots to numerous table games and more, all available for free. If you want to know more about these casinos, check out sites like Billionaire Casino, Slotomania, or Caesar’s Social Casino.
With these sites, you don’t have to risk any real money to enjoy the action. Instead, these social operators offer you a chance to play all of your favorite games in a play mode, meaning you only risk and compete for virtual coins.
This may not seem as exciting as the real thing, but many of these social casinos have done a great job setting up environments where you get to progress through different levels, unlock new rewards, and gain access to new games. All of this creates a lot of buzz and excitement even though there are no monetary prizes up for grabs.
How do Nevada social casinos work?
Social casinos are just like regular online casinos, except that you play for fun rather than with real money. Plus they are ‘social’ in the way that you are expected to play against family and friends.
So let’s imagine that you’re somewhere out past Mesquite, NV and you want to start playing at one of these social casinos. What do you need to do?
Well, first of all you check out our shortlist of social casinos and pick one. Don’t worry, as they’ll all be checked to make sure that they are good. Now, you will have to create a user account and this basically just means giving the site your name, date of birth and so on.
Once you have set your account up, you will probably find that it’s already got some kind of virtual credit added to it. You can now use that credit as stakes for playing anything from online slots to table games. Here’s a look at the basics of how social casinos work:
- Play for fun
- Use virtual currency
- Sometimes win prizes
Our favorite social casinos and sweepstakes casinos in Nevada
1.
5% Rakeback
Players from Virginia accepted
2.
30 SCs on 1st Purchase + 4.5 SCs FREE + 30 Sweepstake Coins
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Get up to GC 360,000 + Free FC1,000 + $8 FREE Coins
Players from Virginia accepted
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Players from Virginia accepted
5.
5,000 Gold Coins + 2.3 Sweepstakes Coins
Players from Virginia accepted
Are Nevada social casinos worth playing at?
We think so! While they might not offer the same experience as going to one of those massive casino resorts in Las Vegas, they still offer you a fun way to play classic casino games anywhere from Reno to Henderson. Here are some big reasons why you should consider downloading the latest social casino apps!
You can’t win all the time when you play casino games, but at least social casinos are free to play, meaning that your losses won’t cost you a cent.
Tired of arguing with friends on social media? Then consider inviting them to a social casino. You’ll find there’s nothing like a game of online blackjack for keeping things interesting.
OK, we know that it’s pretty easy to drive out to any of the casinos in Nevada, but nothing is as convenient as being able to play social casino slots and table games from your own home!
Your guide to Nevada sweepstakes casinos
We love all sweepstakes casinos. After all, you can play for free at these sites and you can even win some decent prizes as a result. This is because sweepstakes casinos let you play with two kinds of virtual credit.
There’s the standard credit called something like gold coins, which can only be used for playing for free. Then there’s another kind of credit that might be called sweepstakes coins, and you can use these to play games where you win prizes.
While you can buy gold coins, you will never be able to buy sweepstakes coins. Instead, you’ll only get sweepstakes coins as a gift for buying gold coins, or you can even win them with special promo offers.
The prizes you get will be awarded simply as a result of you taking part in the games, rather than your actual gameplay. But as we’ve seen lots of new sweeps casinos offering cash prizes, we think it’s a great reason to take part!
- Play casino games for free
- Enter into promotional tournaments
- Win sweepstakes prizes
Getting more from Nevada sweepstakes casinos
The good news is that it’s very easy to pick up some sweepstakes casino bonus codes. This is where the sweepstakes casino will simply give you lots of virtual credit just for carrying out some basic tasks. Here is a quick overview of the kinds of offers you might stumble across:
- Sign up offers
- Daily login bonuses
- Social media giveaways
- Special tournaments, challenges and races
Top social casino and sweepstakes casino bonuses in Nevada
1.
5% Rakeback
Players from Virginia accepted
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30 SCs on 1st Purchase + 4.5 SCs FREE + 30 Sweepstake Coins
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3.
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Players from Virginia accepted
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Players from Virginia accepted
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Players from Virginia accepted
Our top choice - Fortune Coins
For New York residents and visitors, there is no dispute that Fortune Coins is the top choice. The popular sweepstakes casino allows you to enjoy a play-for-fun platform or a platform that allows you to walk away with cash prizes and presents over 50 great casino titles to play across.
Registering at Fortune Coins is a simple process that requires you to link your Facebook or input a few personal details. Once verified, you'll be able to walk away with a huge welcome bonus that promises 140,000 Gold Coins and 500 Fortune Coins to those who link their account. If you don't have a Facebook account or don't wish to link it, you'll still be presented with a substantial Gold Coin and Fortune Coin welcome offer.
As noted, you'll have 50 casino titles to choose from, including slots, Keno, video poker, and fish games. You can access your full account and all casino games online or through your mobile browser. For those playing with Fortune Coins, it is worth noting that 500 Fortune Coins is the equivalent of $5 and you'll need 5,000 Fortune Coins before you can make your first conversion. Should you encounter any issues, customer support is on hand 24/7.
Get up to GC 360,000 + Free FC1,000
Conclusion - make the most of our social and sweepstakes casino reviews
Real money online casino action is still prohibited across New York but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy a top casino experience. In fact, you can enjoy over 50 casino titles at Fortune Coins after unlocking one of the largest social and sweepstakes casino bonuses around. Of course, Fortune Coins isn't your only option and you'll find plenty of honest and authentic reviews by heading back to CaptainGambling.com. Whether it's a social or sweepstakes casino in New York you are after, we have got you covered.
Online casino Nevada FAQ
❓How many legal online casinos operate in Nevada?
The online gambling situation in Nevada is complicated. Whilst online casino gambling is not strictly permitted. Many land-based casinos offer their own online social casinos that enable players to gamble using tokens or coins.
🥇What is the best online casino in Nevada?
This is entirely down to personal preference. So before playing at online casinos, consider factors such as your budget, your risk aversion and your previous experiences at online casinos.
What is the best mobile casino in Nevada?
Again, this is entirely down to personal preference and your favorite style of gaming. You should also consider the compatibility of your device and the online casino you are using.
📱 Where can I play using my mobile device?
The situation with mobile devices is exactly the same as with other forms of online gambling. While these devices can be used to play poker or place sports wagers, you won’t be able to play slots, roulette, blackjack, or other casino games.
💻Who is responsible for regulating Nevada online gambling?
The Nevada Gaming Commission is in charge of regulating all areas of gambling in the state, including land-based casino operators, bookmakers, and more.
