A real-money casino app is the phone version of a licensed online casino: slots, table games and live dealer games, played for cash, in a state that allows it. Only a few states do, and the apps lock real-money play anywhere else.
The big brands score close together on the App Store, so the useful differences are where each app is licensed, how many people use it and whether its welcome offer is realistic to clear. This guide compares them on those points, using real App Store data and each state regulator’s approved list.
Before downloading anything, check that the app appears on your state regulator’s list; our New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Michigan guides link to each one.
How we compare casino apps
We start from the state regulator’s own list of approved online casino sites, so every brand on this page is legal where it’s listed. We then order the casinos by popularity: how many people have rated each casino app on the US App Store, alongside its average score. “Top” on Locals Insider means the most popular and most used casinos, not a paid placement.
Offers only appear for brands we work with, and every term comes from the operator’s own rules. If we can’t confirm a detail on an official page, it doesn’t go in.
What Is an Online Casino App?
A casino app is a mobile app for iOS or Android that lets you play slots, blackjack, roulette, live dealer tables and sometimes poker from your phone. There are two main types.
Real-money casino apps (regulated). You deposit, play and can withdraw winnings. In the US they’re legal only in states with online casino laws, with strict ID and location checks.
Social casino apps (free to play). Virtual coins, optional purchases and no cash-outs. Think of these as entertainment apps rather than gambling; sweepstakes casinos sit between the two.
Top Real Money Casino Apps
Ordered by popularity: how many people have rated each casino app on the US App Store.
| Casino app | iOS rating (ratings) | Licensed in (of NJ, PA, MI) |
|---|---|---|
| FanDuel Casino | 4.77 (207,258) | NJ, PA, MI |
| BetMGM Casino | 4.72 (148,056) | NJ, PA, MI |
| DraftKings Casino | 4.69 (113,523) | NJ, PA, MI |
| Golden Nugget Online Casino | 4.67 (53,503) | NJ, PA, MI |
| BetRivers Casino | 4.85 (53,216) | NJ, PA, MI |
| Borgata Casino | 4.72 (53,215) | NJ, PA |
| Fanatics Casino | 4.78 (38,051) | NJ, PA, MI |
| Caesars Palace Online Casino | 4.70 (30,344) | NJ, PA, MI |
| Hollywood Casino | 4.72 (19,731) | NJ, PA, MI |
| Hard Rock Bet Casino | 4.67 (18,246) | NJ, MI |
| Stardust Casino | 4.65 (9,075) | NJ, PA |
| bet365 Casino | 4.31 (7,697) | NJ, PA, MI |
Ratings are US App Store averages and rating counts, checked November 2026; BetRivers’ figure is for its combined app.
FanDuel Casino
FanDuel Casino is the most-rated casino app in the US, with more than 207,000 ratings at 4.77. It’s licensed in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Michigan, and shares a wallet with FanDuel Sportsbook.
BetMGM Casino
BetMGM averages 4.72 from about 148,000 ratings and is licensed in all three states, with poker in each. Play earns MGM Rewards.
DraftKings Casino
DraftKings averages 4.69 from about 114,000 ratings and runs in all three states, as a standalone casino app and inside the sportsbook app.
Golden Nugget Online Casino
Golden Nugget, part of DraftKings, averages 4.67 from about 53,500 ratings and is licensed in all three states.
BetRivers Casino
BetRivers’ combined app averages 4.85 from about 53,000 ratings, and its casino is licensed in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Michigan.
Borgata Casino
Borgata averages 4.72 from about 53,000 ratings and is licensed in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Fanatics Casino
Fanatics Casino averages 4.78 from about 38,000 ratings and runs in all three states.
Caesars Palace Online Casino
Caesars Palace Online averages 4.70 from about 30,000 ratings, links to Caesars Rewards and runs in all three states.
Hollywood Casino
PENN Entertainment’s Hollywood Casino app averages 4.72 from about 20,000 ratings, and PENN’s casino is licensed in all three states.
Hard Rock Bet Casino
Hard Rock Bet Casino averages 4.67 from about 18,000 ratings and runs in New Jersey and Michigan. It’s one of our partner casinos: up to $1,000 lossback on your first 24 hours plus 500 Bonus Spins, with 1× playthrough on the lossback and no code needed.
Stardust Casino
Stardust averages 4.65 from about 9,000 ratings and is licensed in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
bet365 Casino
bet365 Casino averages 4.31 from about 7,700 ratings and runs in all three states.
Betinia Casino (New Jersey)
Betinia launched in New Jersey in June 2026 and averages 4.20 from 642 ratings so far. It’s our other partner casino: a 110% match up to $1,100 plus 500 Bonus Spins with promo code LOCALS, applied automatically through our link.
What to Check Before You Download
- The regulator’s list. The app must be on your state’s approved list, not just in the App Store.
- Location access. Casino apps need location permission to confirm you’re in the state; they won’t run real-money games without it.
- Wagering on the welcome offer. A 1× lossback is far easier to clear than a 20× match; read the playthrough before the headline.
- Withdrawal methods. Check which payment methods the app pays out to before you deposit.
- Limits. Every licensed app lets you set deposit, loss and time limits; set them first.
Downloading Casino Apps and Traveling
Casino apps use geolocation to follow state law. If you’re playing on BetMGM in New Jersey and travel to New York, where online casino isn’t legal, the app restricts real-money games until you’re back in a legal state.
You don’t need to change apps when you move between states where the app is licensed. On iOS, open the App Store, search for the casino and tap Get; on Android, find it in Google Play and tap Install.
Casino Apps FAQ
By App Store ratings, FanDuel Casino leads with more than 207,000, followed by BetMGM Casino with about 148,000.
At the close of 2025: Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and West Virginia, according to the AGA. Maine has legalized online casino, but it wasn’t live yet.
Only for real money in a state where that app is licensed. Elsewhere, real-money games are locked.
Yes. Licensed apps pay winnings to your account, and you can withdraw them using the methods the app supports, after any bonus wagering is met.
Play with a plan. Set deposit, loss and time limits before you play, and treat casino games as paid entertainment, not a way to make money. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET, the National Council on Problem Gambling helpline.
