Las Vegas, also known as “Sin City”, is the entertainment capital of the world.
Every year, over 30 million people make the trip there to attend concerts, go to amazing bars, and (most importantly) do some gambling. With over 60 major casinos to choose from, including crowd favorites like the Bellagio and Caesars Palace, it’s truly something special.
So, in-person gambling is a piece of cake in “Sin City”— but how about online gambling in Las Vegas? Is it legal? Is it banned? Grab your casino chips and prepare to have the answer revealed.
Yes — Online Gambling in Las Vegas is Legal
Back in 2013, Nevada became the first state in America to legalize online gambling. This was a competitive move designed to keep Nevada, and Las Vegas, at the forefront of gambling culture. After all, Nevada has always been the poster boy for casinos and having a fun time, so this made perfect sense.
Here’s a clearer look at some of the main laws surrounding online gambling in Nevada and (more specifically) Las Vegas, courtesy of GamblingPromoCodes:
✅ You must be over the age of 21 to gamble online
✅ Sportsbooks and poker sites are legal
✅ Sites must follow regulations set by the Nevada Gaming Commission
However, despite this, online gambling is still quite limited in “Sin City”. Nevada online casinos aren’t licensed or regulated yet, with poker being the only online casino game that’s officially been given the greenlight. What this means is that any online casino that features games other than poker, such as online slots or roulette, is not legally allowed to operate in Nevada.
If you’re scratching your head wondering why online casinos are currently banned in Las Vegas, don’t worry; the explanation is pretty simple. Land-based casino operators in Vegas don’t support the implementation of online casinos because of the simple fact it could harm their business model, which is why they’ve yet to be legalized. Make sense? Great.
It’s not all bad news, though, because residents in Las Vegas can access gambling sites from other states and countries using a VPN. This has now become a common practice in the US. And (fortunately) it hasn’t affected Las Vegas tourism at all. 40.8 million people visited Las Vegas in 2023, and the Vegas Boulevard casinos pulled in a reported $8.8 billion in revenue, making it a hugely successful year for the city.
The Rise of Sweepstakes Casinos in Las Vegas
Real-money online casinos aren’t licensed in Las Vegas — but sweepstakes casinos are.
Sweepstakes casinos are online casinos where you don’t bet real money. Instead, you play with Sweeps Coins (SC) and Gold Coins (GC). These are classed as virtual currencies, which is why sweepstakes casinos are legal and not classed as gambling sites in Nevada.
Inside sweepstakes casinos, you can win:
🏆 Cash prizes
🏆 Gift cards
🏆 Cryptocurrencies
The prizes you win depend on the specific sweepstakes casino that you join. This is why it’s a nifty idea to double-check the prizes that a sweepstakes casino offers before joining one.
Moving forward, this might be a trend worth keeping your eye on. The demand for online gambling is going through the ceiling, so Las Vegas residents aren’t going to stick with traditional brick-and-mortar casinos forever (and they also don’t want to be relying on VPNs to access off-short gambling sites all the time). This is why sweepstakes casinos have huge potential and could play a big role in Vegas gambling over the coming decades.
Summary
Every year, millions of people gamble in Las Vegas. However, the majority of this gambling is done in person at land-based casinos and gambling establishments, as this is the preferred legal gambling method for most people living in or visiting Vegas. 
However, you’re also allowed to use online poker sites, sportsbooks, and sweepstakes casinos, which are good options for those who prefer online gambling to in-person.
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