Best Online Casinos for Real Money in the US

The Michigan Gaming Control Board has once again issued cease & desist letters to a total of six gambling platforms, namely NitroBetting, Crypto Slots, NewVegas, Grand Rush Casino, Las Vegas USA Casino, and Slotgard Casino. These sites were found to violate laws in the state that require them to have proper licenses for iGaming and sports betting.

The Michigan Gaming Control Board has taken decisive action against six online gambling sites accused of illegally targeting Michigan residents. In a move to reinforce the state's strict gambling regulations and protect consumers, the MGCB has issued formal cease-and-desist orders to the offending operators, all of which lack the necessary licensure to legally offer gaming or sports betting in the state.

The platforms named in the action are NitroBetting, Crypto Slots, NewVegas, Grand Rush Casino, Slotgard Casino, and Las Vegas USA Casino. According to MGCB officials, each of these sites was actively providing access to unregulated gambling services in violation of Michigan law.

"These sites were attempting to exploit Michigan players while operating outside the law," said MGCB's Executive Director, Henry Williams. "We take this seriously. When unauthorized operators offer games without regulation, Michigan players are left exposed - and we will not tolerate it."

Cease-and-desist orders serve as warning

Each of the six platforms has been served with a cease-and-desist letter ordering them to immediately stop providing gambling services to Michigan residents. The violations cited fall under several state statutes, including the Lawful Sports Betting Act, the Lawful Internet Gaming Act, and sections of the Michigan Penal Code.

Operators have been given 14 days to comply. If they fail to cease operations, the MGCB may pursue additional legal remedies in coordination with the Michigan Department of Attorney General. That could include civil penalties, blocking access to the websites, or even criminal prosecution.

Real risks for players using illegal sites

The MGCB emphasized that consumers who engage with unlicensed platforms face serious risks. Unlike regulated gaming sites, these rogue operators do not offer any legal protection or regulatory oversight. As a result, Michigan residents who gamble on these platforms may encounter:

• Delayed or non-existent payouts
• Unfair or manipulated games
• Exposure to identity theft or data breaches
• No recourse in cases of fraud or financial loss

"Unlike Michigan's licensed operators, these sites offer no consumer safeguards," warned Williams. "They're not held accountable to anyone, and that puts players in a dangerous position."

Part of a broader strategy for enforcement

This latest enforcement round is part of the MGCB's broader crackdown on illegal internet gaming. In recent months, the board has taken similar action against other unlawful operators, with investigations ongoing and additional cease-and-desist letters likely to follow.

The MGCB has made it clear that it will continue monitoring online gambling activity to protect residents from bad actors. The board also encourages Michigan players to remain vigilant - especially as illegal gambling ads increasingly appear on social media and other digital platforms.

How Michiganders can stay safe

The MGCB urges residents to verify the legitimacy of any online gambling site before engaging. A full list of licensed and authorized operators can be found on the MGCB's website at Michigan.gov/MGCB.

Consumers who suspect a gambling site may be operating illegally can report it directly to the MGCB through the following channels:

Phone: 1-888-314-2682

Email: MIGamblingTip@michigan.gov

As Michigan continues to embrace regulated internet gaming, the MGCB remains committed to ensuring that players are protected and that all gaming activity adheres strictly to the law.

Casino revenue at the Las Vegas Strip showed signs of rebounding after four straight months of drought, but there are still some concerns regarding Las Vegas' economic forecast for the year. According to the Nevada Gaming Control Board, gross gaming revenue at the Las Vegas Strip was at a high of over $765 million, which was a slight improvement from the first four months of the year.

After four consecutive months of declining gaming revenue, the Las Vegas Strip finally reversed its slide in June of 2025. According to figures released Wednesday by the Nevada Gaming Control Board, the Strip posted gross gaming revenue of $765.3 million - a modest 0.9% increase from last year. This marks the first positive monthly report for the iconic stretch since January.

The turnaround, while slight, brings a measure of relief to casino operators and investors who have grown increasingly concerned about the Strip's performance amid the broader economic uncertainty. The uptick was largely fueled by strong slot play, with slot machines generating $420.2 million in revenue - up 10% compared to the same period in 2024.

Table games, on the other hand, continued to struggle. Blackjack, roulette, and craps all experienced revenue drops exceeding 20%, with every major table game posting lower returns - except Ultimate Texas Hold'em, which narrowly avoided the downturn. Sportsbooks were another bright spot, recording $20.4 million in GGR, a substantial 47% increase over the previous year.

Statewide gains boost confidence

While the Strip's gains were modest, Nevada's gaming industry as a whole performed more robustly in June. Statewide GGR climbed 3.5% to as much as $1.33 billion, buoyed by strength in the locals' market. According to Barry Jonas, a Truist Securities analyst, local gaming markets rose 10% in the month of June and 4% overall for the second quarter.

Downtown Las Vegas posted a 10.5% gain to $73.2 million in GGR. Laughlin rose to $40 million, up by 7%, Boulder surged 19% to as much as $87.3 million, and Reno saw a 6% increase to $67.8 million. However, over the past 12 months, Nevada's overall GGR is still down nearly 1%, totaling approximately $15.63 billion.

Tourism declines threaten recovery

Despite the welcome gaming boost, Las Vegas continues to face troubling trends in tourism and hospitality. June visitor numbers revealed a sharp 11.3% drop compared to the same month last year, with just over 3.09 million travelers coming to Southern Nevada. Convention attendance was similarly down, falling nearly 11% to only 374,600. The Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority attributed the declines to "persistent economic uncertainty and weaker consumer confidence," noting that these factors have heavily influenced travel behaviors in 2025.

Hotel occupancy also suffered, dropping 6.5% to only 78.7% in June. Average daily room rates fell to $164 across the city and $174 on the Vegas Strip. Year-to-date figures paint an even bleaker picture: Las Vegas has hosted 1.54 million fewer visitors in the first six months of the year, a 7.3% year-over-year decrease. Revenue per available room has dropped nearly 8%, with average nightly rates falling by 5.5%.

Air travel also slides

Contributing to the visitation decline is a slump in air travel. Harry Reid International Airport reported 4.72 million passengers in June, a 6% decrease compared to last year. This brings the year-to-date air traffic drop to 4.1%, with 1.19 million fewer passengers arriving and departing through the first half of 2025. Both domestic and international travel showed declines. Domestic air passenger counts fell 6.1%, while international traffic dropped by about 10%.

While June's GGR improvement on the Strip offers a glimmer of hope, industry observers caution that a true recovery will depend on stronger tourism numbers and a rebound in consumer spending. With higher operational costs, casino operators will need more than a 1% increase in gaming revenue to return to meaningful profitability.

Still, some analysts remain cautiously optimistic. If slot play continues its upward trend and local markets hold strong, the Las Vegas Strip may yet regain its footing heading into the latter half of 2025.

Hard Rock Bet adds to its slot arsenal with its partnership with RubyPlay, another leading slot game developer. RubyPlay's new slot titles will now be made available to online players in New Jersey, and this includes popular titles such as Immortal Ways Diamond SE and Diamond Explosion Patriots, with more slot titles to follow.

Hard Rock Bet Casino has added a fresh lineup of online slot games to its New Jersey platform through a new partnership with innovative game developer RubyPlay. The agreement brings several of RubyPlay's most popular titles to the online casino, including J Mania Loco Habanero, Diamond Explosion Patriots, and Immortal Ways Diamond SE. More games are set to launch in the coming weeks.

RubyPlay specifically curated these games for the New Jersey market, choosing top-performers from its portfolio to appeal to local players while showcasing its unique game design and technology. All of the games added are live now, and we're excited to roll out another 10 titles soon, RubyPlay said in a statement. The partnership marks a significant expansion for the developer, which sees New Jersey as a key market in its US growth strategy.

“Partnering with Hard Rock Bet Casino is a tremendous opportunity to build on our early success in the US,” said Dr. Eyal Loz, RubyPlay's Chief Product Officer. “From day one, our goal has been to create content that American players love, and we're thrilled to bring our most engaging titles to an operator brand that needs no introduction and shares our commitment to quality and innovation.”

The collaboration further boosts Hard Rock Bet Casino's massive game catalog, which now includes more than 3,000 titles. The operator continues to expand its digital library, launching new games regularly and working with both established and rising development studios like RubyPlay.

New in-person Help Desk links land-based and online gambling

In a novel move to bridge the physical and digital divide, Hard Rock has also launched a new in-person customer service center dedicated to its online platform. Located within the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, the help center aims to support online gamblers by offering live assistance, gathering user feedback, and even allowing visitors to try out online slot and table games in demo mode.

The center is open 24/7, reinforcing Hard Rock's commitment to merging the convenience of digital gaming with the familiarity and support of traditional casino experiences.

National expansion continues with Colorado sportsbook launch

While strengthening its digital presence in New Jersey, Hard Rock Bet is also ramping up its national rollout. Earlier this month, the company launched its online sportsbook in Colorado, making it the ninth state in which the platform is now live. Other states include New Jersey, Arizona, Illinois, Florida, Indiana, Virginia, Ohio, and Tennessee.

“Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook is bringing an exciting new experience to Colorado players with deep betting markets on all major sporting events plus local favorites like table tennis and MMA,” said Matt Primeaux, President, Executive Managing Director and Chief Revenue Officer at Hard Rock Bet. “With our top-rated platform, weekly Legendary Reward Drops, and integration into Unity by Hard Rock, we're confident that Coloradans are going to love the Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook experience.”

The expansion reflects Hard Rock's broader push to become a leading player in both the online casino and sportsbook arenas across regulated US markets. With the RubyPlay partnership, a growing list of games, and efforts to integrate land-based and digital services, Hard Rock Bet is doubling down on its vision for the future of online gambling. As competition increases, moves like these could prove crucial to maintaining its momentum and delivering the kind of entertainment today's players expect.