Nevada Online Gambling
Although Nevada is the undisputed global capital of land-based casinos, it maintains one of the most restrictive and narrowly defined online gambling markets.
Regulators have carefully crafted the Nevada online gambling market to protect the state’s world-famous resort industry from digital competition, leaving players with fewer options than many would expect.
Nevada law authorizes online sportsbooks, poker sites, and racebooks but tightly regulates each vertical to protect its land-based gambling industry. For example, Nevada is the only state that requires bettors to sign up for online sportsbook accounts in person at local casinos.
Online casinos, daily fantasy sports, and lottery sales are all unavailable in Nevada. Similarly, state law effectively criminalizes sweepstakes casinos and fantasy pick’em apps.
Continue below for a complete Nevada online gambling overview. On this page, we list legal Nevada gambling sites, explain the law in simple terms, and link to resources for responsible gambling.
Legal Nevada Gambling Sites
21+ and present in Nevada. T&Cs apply. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit nevadacouncil.org.
Nevada Online Gambling Overview
| Type of Gambling (minimum age) | Legal Status | Notes |
| Online Casinos (n/a) | Illegal | Nevada authorizes interactive gaming only for poker; online casino-style games prohibited |
| Sweepstakes Casinos (n/a) | Illegal | A hostile regulatory environment and laws targeting illegal operators make them de facto illegal |
| Online Poker (21+) | Legal/Regulated | Authorized under “interactive gaming” provisions of NRS 463.016425 |
| Online Sports Betting (21+) | Legal/Regulated | Authorized under Regulation 22; requires in-person registration and initial deposit at a physical casino |
| Daily Fantasy Sports (n/a) | Illegal | Regulators classify DFS contests as sports wagering and require a sports-pool license; no licenses issued to DFS operators |
| Fantasy Pick’em Contests (n/a) | Illegal | Treated no differently than standard DFS contests; no operators active in NV |
| Online Lottery Sales (n/a) | Illegal | Article 4, Section 24 of the Nevada Constitution prohibits a state lottery |
| Online Horse Racing (21+) | Legal/Regulated | Available through licensed local operators; national ADWs like TwinSpires unavailable in NV |
Nevada Online Casinos
Online casinos are illegal in Nevada.
The Nevada online gambling market is strictly permission-based, meaning any form of gambling that is not explicitly authorized by statute is prohibited by default.
The Nevada Gaming Control Act (Chapter 463 of the Nevada Revised Statutes) contains no provisions authorizing games like real-money slots and blackjack online.
The prohibition of online casinos is a clear example of Nevada’s longstanding policy of economic protectionism for its land-based casino industry. While other states have embraced iGaming as a new source of tax revenue, Nevada’s leadership views it as a significant risk to its established economic model.
Consequently, the outlook for the legalization of real-money online casinos in Nevada remains poor. There is currently no significant legislative momentum to change the law, as the state’s policy priorities remain firmly focused on driving tourism and revenue to its physical resort destinations.
Sweepstakes Casinos in Nevada
Sweepstakes casinos are effectively illegal in Nevada.
Although Nevada statutes do not contain language that explicitly names and bans sweepstakes-style casinos, the state’s regulatory environment is exceptionally hostile toward them.
State gaming regulators consider the sweepstakes casino model to be a form of unlicensed gambling. As a result, nearly all recognizable sweepstakes casino brands refuse to accept players from Nevada.
The state solidified its aggressive stance in 2025 with the passage of SB 256. This legislation significantly increased the criminal and civil penalties for operating any form of illegal gambling in the state.
A key provision of SB 256 empowers state authorities to pursue the “disgorgement” of any profits, gains, or gross receipts generated from illegal gaming activities, creating a powerful financial deterrent that makes operating in Nevada untenable for any gray-market platform.
Nevada’s enforcement posture is a direct extension of regulators’ broad interpretation of what constitutes gambling and their commitment to a tightly controlled, licensed-only market.
Nevada law defines gambling as any activity involving the elements of consideration, chance, and a prize. Although sweepstakes operators argue they remove the element of “consideration” by offering free Sweeps Coins to players, Nevada regulators view the overall business model as an illegal simulation of casino gambling that undermines the integrity of the state’s licensed industry.
Nevada Online Poker
Online poker is legal and regulated in Nevada.
Nevada was the first state in the US to legalize and regulate online poker, launching its market in 2013.
State law (NRS 463.016425) defines “interactive gaming” as the conduct of gambling games through communications technology. However, it lists “Internet Poker” as the only game type authorized for interactive gaming.
The market is small but stable, with WSOP.com (operated by Caesars Entertainment) being the sole licensed operator currently active in the state.
A critical factor in WSOP’s viability is Nevada’s membership in the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA). The compact enables WSOP.com to share its player pool with affiliated sites in other member states, such as Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, which is crucial for maintaining the liquidity necessary for a healthy online poker ecosystem.
Nevada Online Sports Betting
Online sports betting is legal and regulated in Nevada.
Nevada legalized sports wagering decades ago and launched the nation’s first legal online sportsbooks in 2010. The market is mature, with numerous operators tied to the state’s land-based casinos, including BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, STN Sports, and Circa Sports.
However, Nevada has one major requirement that distinguishes it from all other legal sports betting markets: in-person registration. Under state law, users cannot establish sports betting accounts online. Every new customer must first visit the operator’s physical casino sportsbook, present a valid ID, and fill out an application to activate their account.
Nevada established the law to tie mobile wagering directly to the state’s physical casino properties and ensure strong age and identity verification. Regulators have repeatedly declined to change the in-person registration policy.
Nevada Daily Fantasy Sports
Daily fantasy sports contests are illegal in Nevada without a sports pool license.
In October 2015, the Nevada Attorney General’s office issued a legal opinion that definitively classified paid-entry DFS contests as a form of gambling under state law. The opinion concluded that DFS falls under the statutory definition of a “sports pool,” which requires a full Nevada gaming license to operate legally. The opinion resulted in all major fantasy sports apps ceasing operations in Nevada.
The Attorney General’s office based the opinion on NRS 463.0193, which defines a “sports pool” as “the business of accepting wagers on sporting events or other events by any system or method of wagering”.
The Attorney General determined that because DFS contests require participants to pay an entry fee (a wager) to win a prize based on the collective performance of athletes in real-world sporting events, they fit squarely within this definition.
DFS operators like DraftKings and FanDuel had argued that their contests were games of skill and therefore exempt from gambling laws. However, the Attorney General’s opinion rejected this argument, noting that once a player sets a lineup, they have no control over the performance of the athletes. Because the outcome is dependent on the performance of third parties, chance is a dominating element, and the activity constitutes gambling under Nevada’s legal tests.
Since then, Nevada has not issued a single sports pool license to a fantasy sports operator. As a result, Nevada has zero legal fantasy sports apps.
Fantasy Pick’em Contests in Nevada
Fantasy pick’em contests are illegal in Nevada without a sports pool license.
Nevada law treats fantasy pick’em contests the same as standard DFS games. According to local regulators, fantasy pick’em contests constitute sports wagering, and operators must acquire the appropriate licenses to offer their games to residents.
Currently, none of the nation’s reputable fantasy pick’em operators serve the Nevada market.
Nevada Online Lottery Sales
Online lottery sales are illegal in Nevada because the state does not have a lottery.
Nevada is one of only several states in the nation without an official state lottery. Article 4, Section 24 of the Nevada Constitution explicitly states, “no lottery may be authorized by this State, nor may lottery tickets be sold”.
The constitutional ban is a formidable barrier, as it can only be overturned through a multi-year process of passing a constitutional amendment in two consecutive legislative sessions, followed by approval from a majority of voters in a statewide referendum. Over the years, lawmakers have introduced numerous proposals to initiate this process, but all have failed to pass.
Online Horse Racing Betting in Nevada
Online horse racing betting is legal and regulated in Nevada.
However, Nevada’s approach to online horse racing betting (advance deposit wagering) is unusually restrictive. Licensed race books offer in-person wagering, and some online sportsbooks offer mobile wagering on horse races held around the world, but state law prevents national ADWs like AmWager and TwinSpires from accessing the Nevada market.
NRS 466.155 specifies that wagering on a licensed horse race is only lawful within the enclosure of a licensed race track or at a licensed gaming establishment (a race and sports book). This regulation effectively blocks national ADWs from accepting bets from Nevada residents.
Residents who wish to bet on horse races must do so through a mobile sports betting app that requires in-person registration or by visiting a physical race book.
Nevada Gambling Regulators
Nevada’s gaming industry is governed by a two-tiered system known for its rigorous standards.
- Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB): Nevada’s primary enforcement and investigative body. The NGCB investigates applicants for gaming licenses, enforces regulations, collects gaming taxes, and makes recommendations to the Commission.
- Nevada Gaming Commission (NGC): This is the state’s part-time, five-member panel that serves as the final authority on licensing and regulatory matters. The NGC has the power to approve, deny, revoke, or condition any gaming license and is responsible for adopting the state’s official gaming regulations.
Responsible Gambling Resources in Nevada
Nevada addresses responsible gambling primarily through regulatory requirements imposed on its licensees, with support from dedicated non-profit organizations. Nevada’s approach emphasizes operator responsibility for providing information and tools to patrons who may be experiencing problems with their gambling.
Unfortunately, Nevada lacks a statewide self-exclusion program. Unlike other major gaming states that maintain a single list for individuals to ban themselves from all licensed facilities, Nevada’s system is fragmented.
Under Nevada Gaming Commission Regulation 5.170, each licensee is required to establish its own program that allows patrons to self-limit their access to casino credit, check-cashing privileges, and direct mail marketing.
Nevada’s operator-based model places the burden on the individual to enroll in separate programs with each casino company or online operator.
Self-Exclusion Resources
- Operator-Specific Programs: To enroll in a specific self-limitation or self-exclusion program, individuals must contact each casino or online operator directly.
Responsible Gambling Organizations
- Nevada Council on Problem Gambling (NVCPG): Nevada’s leading non-profit organization focused on advocacy, education, and referral services. It provides resources for individuals and families and partners with the gaming industry on awareness campaigns.
- National Problem Gambling Helpline: A 24/7 confidential helpline that connects callers to local resources, including the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling. Call 1-800-GAMBLER, text 800GAM, or chat online.
- Gamblers Anonymous: Provides peer-to-peer support for individuals seeking recovery from a gambling problem. Meetings are held regularly throughout Nevada.