Can Foreigners Gamble in the US? Complete 2026 Guide for International Visitors
Yes, foreigners can legally gamble in the United States. Tourists, students, and visitors from any country are allowed to play at casinos, bet on sports, and join other gambling games wherever gambling is legal in the U.S. There is no federal law that stops non-U.S. citizens from gambling. In fact, major casinos in Las Vegas welcome millions of international visitors every year, with over 17 million foreign tourists visiting Nevada in 2023 alone.
Gambling laws in the U.S. depend on the state, not the country. Land-based casinos are legal in 24 states, including Nevada, New Jersey, Florida, and California. Online sports betting is allowed in more than 30 states, such as New York, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. However, online casino games like slots and poker are only legal in 7 states: Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia. For example, a visitor from France can walk into a casino in Las Vegas and play, but cannot use online casino apps unless they are physically inside New Jersey.
You must follow U.S. gambling laws while you are in the country, even if gambling is different in your home country. For instance, if you are from the UK where online betting is common, you cannot use UK-licensed betting sites while you are in the U.S. unless that site is also licensed in the state you are visiting. In 2015, a student from South Africa studying in the U.S. was told by a Reddit legal advice community that using their home country’s licensed sports site while in the U.S. was not allowed because online sports betting was not legal in their state at that time.
Almost all states require gamblers to be at least 21 years old for casino games, especially in famous places like Las Vegas and Atlantic City. Some states allow gambling at 18 for certain activities like horse racing or lottery tickets. These age rules apply to everyone, including foreigners. For example, a 20-year-old tourist from Japan cannot enter a casino floor in Las Vegas, but a 22-year-old tourist from Brazil can gamble freely.
Foreign winners face a 30% federal tax withholding on their gambling winnings unless their country has a tax treaty with the U.S. that lowers this rate. This means if you win $10,000 at a casino in Reno, Nevada, the casino will automatically take $3,000 before giving you the rest. This 30% tax applies to casino wins, lottery prizes, and sports betting payouts. The rule is based on U.S. tax law for nonresident aliens, and over $2 billion in gambling winnings by foreigners are taxed this way every year.
To claim a lower tax rate or full exemption, foreigners must fill out Form W-8BEN and show their passport and visa. For example, citizens of Canada, the UK, and Germany often qualify for reduced rates because those countries have tax treaties with the U.S. A Canadian tourist who wins $5,000 in Atlantic City might only pay 15% tax instead of 30% if they submit the correct form. Without this form, the full 30% is taken automatically by the casino.
The most popular places for international gamblers are Las Vegas, Nevada, which has over 170 casinos and welcomed 42 million visitors in 2023, and Atlantic City, New Jersey, which has 12 major casinos and attracts over 8 million guests yearly. Florida is also growing fast, with hard rock and PVC casinos in Miami and Tampa drawing many visitors from Europe and Latin America. For online gambling, New Jersey is the top choice, with over $1 billion in online casino revenue in 2024, and it allows foreigners physically in the state to play.
Before you gamble, check which state allows it, bring your passport for age and identity check, and fill out Form W-8BEN if you want to save on taxes. Gambling is open to foreigners in legal states, but location matters more than citizenship. Whether you are from India, Brazil, or Germany, you can enjoy U.S. casinos and sports betting—just make sure you’re in the right state and follow the rules.
FAQ
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