In short: You can gamble for real money on an iPhone only through apps from licensed operators in places where online gambling is legal. In the US that means seven states with legal online casinos: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Connecticut, Delaware and Rhode Island, where apps such as BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel and Caesars are available to players aged 21+. Elsewhere, App Store casino apps are social games whose virtual coins cannot be cashed out.

The iPhone is one of the most popular devices for casino games, and there are two very different kinds of casino app on Apple’s App Store: real-money apps from licensed gambling operators, and free social casino apps that use virtual coins. This guide explains Apple’s rules, lists the regulated real-money apps in the US and other major markets, and covers the free alternatives. It was updated in October 2026.
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Apple’s rules for real-money gambling apps
Apple’s App Store Review Guidelines (section 5.3) set out the conditions for gambling apps:
- Licensing: apps that offer real-money gaming, such as casino games, poker or sports betting, must hold the necessary licences in every place where the app is used.
- Geo-restriction: the app must be limited to those locations, which is why a casino app can be missing from the App Store in your country or refuse to let you play outside a licensed state.
- Free to download: real-money gambling apps must be free on the App Store.
- No in-app purchases for gambling: apps may not use Apple’s in-app purchase to buy credit for real-money play, so deposits go through the operator’s own cashier.
- Submitted by the operator: apps in regulated fields such as gambling must be published by the company providing the service, not by an individual developer.
Even with these rules, an App Store listing is not a guarantee that a casino suits you. Check the operator’s licence for your location, its terms and its withdrawal rules before you deposit.
Real-money iPhone casino apps in the United States
There is no federal licence for online casinos in the US: each state decides. As of October 2026, real-money online casino apps are live in seven states:
| State | Regulator | Online casinos since |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | Division of Gaming Enforcement | 2013 |
| Delaware | Delaware Lottery | 2013 |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board | 2019 |
| West Virginia | West Virginia Lottery | 2020 |
| Michigan | Michigan Gaming Control Board | 2021 |
| Connecticut | Department of Consumer Protection, Gaming Division | 2021 |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island Lottery | 2024 |
Nevada licenses online poker but not online casino games. Maine has passed a law allowing tribal online casinos, but no app had launched as of October 2026. Bills in other states, including New York, Maryland, Virginia and Massachusetts, did not pass in 2026, so online casino apps remain unavailable there even where sports betting apps are legal.
How US casino apps work
- Age 21+: US casino apps require players to be at least 21, even though the App Store shows an 18+ rating.
- Geolocation: you must be physically inside a state where the app is licensed when you play. Visitors can usually play while in the state, but residents of other states cannot play from home.
- Identity checks: you sign up with your name, date of birth, address and the last digits of your Social Security number, and the operator verifies them before you can withdraw.
- Location services: keep location services on for the app; VPNs are blocked.
US real-money casino apps on the App Store
These apps are published by licensed operators. The states listed are where each casino app was live in October 2026; availability changes, so check the operator’s own site.
| App | Operator | Casino states |
|---|---|---|
| BetMGM Casino Visit New Jersey site | BetMGM (MGM Resorts and Entain) | MI, NJ, PA, WV |
| DraftKings Casino | DraftKings | CT, MI, NJ, PA, WV |
| FanDuel Casino | FanDuel (Flutter) | MI, NJ, PA, WV |
| Caesars Palace Online Casino Visit New Jersey site | Caesars Entertainment | MI, NJ, PA, WV |
| Horseshoe Online Casino | Caesars Entertainment | MI, NJ, PA, WV |
| Fanatics Casino | Fanatics Betting & Gaming | MI, NJ, PA, WV |
| Golden Nugget Online Casino Visit New Jersey site | DraftKings | MI, NJ, PA, WV |
| bet365 Casino | bet365 | MI, NJ, PA, WV |
| BetRivers Casino & Sportsbook Visit New Jersey site | Rush Street Interactive | DE, MI, NJ, PA, WV |
| Borgata Casino Visit New Jersey site | BetMGM | NJ, PA |
| Hard Rock Bet Casino | Seminole Hard Rock Digital | NJ, MI |
| Bally Bet Sportsbook & Casino | Bally’s | NJ, PA, RI |
| Mohegan Sun CT Online Casino | Mohegan (with FanDuel) | CT |
In Connecticut only two online casino brands operate, DraftKings and Mohegan Sun, and in Rhode Island Bally’s is the only operator. Delaware’s online casino runs on the BetRivers platform.
Sweepstakes casino apps are not the same thing
Some apps and websites aimed at US players are “sweepstakes” or “social” casinos that use two virtual currencies, one of which can be redeemed for prizes. They operate outside state casino licensing, and a growing number of states have banned them, including California, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Montana and Nevada in 2025, with more following in 2026. They are not licensed real-money casino apps, and the protections of a state regulator do not apply.
Real-money iPhone casino apps in the UK, Canada and Europe
Outside the US, real-money apps are offered where the operator holds a licence for that market. Examples available on the App Store include:
- 32Red (Visit casino) (Kindred, owned by FDJ): UK Gambling Commission licence.
- Unibet Casino (Kindred): UK Gambling Commission licence, plus other European licences.
- Coral Casino (Entain): UK Gambling Commission licence.
- Paddy Power Games (Flutter): UK and Ireland.
- Sky Casino (Visit casino) (Sky Betting & Gaming, Flutter): UK and Ireland, live dealer blackjack, roulette and slots.
- 888casino (Visit casino) (Evoke plc): casino, sports and poker apps in licensed markets.
- bet365 Casino: available in the UK and in Ontario, where bet365 is a registered iGaming Ontario operator.
- Betway Casino: available in Ontario as a registered iGaming Ontario operator.
- LeoVegas (MGM-owned LeoVegas Group): Malta Gaming Authority licence and, for Great Britain, a UK Gambling Commission licence.
- Mr Green (Evoke plc, owner of William Hill and 888): licensed in markets including Denmark.
In the UK, Ontario and most of Europe, you must be 18 or over and complete identity checks; credit cards cannot be used for gambling in Great Britain.
Native apps or the mobile website?
Many casinos offer both an App Store app and a mobile website that runs in Safari. The account, balance and games are usually the same. Apps can add Face ID login and notifications; the website needs nothing installed and works where an operator has no app for your location. Casino games now run in HTML5, so older requirements such as Flash no longer apply.
Free social casino apps

In most countries the casino apps on the App Store are social casinos. They are free to download, use virtual coins and sell extra coins through in-app purchases, but winnings cannot be withdrawn as real money. Well-known examples include Slotomania from Playtika and DoubleDown Casino. They are a way to try game formats without risking money, but in-app purchases still cost real money, so set limits if you buy coins.
Advantages and drawbacks
- Advantages: play wherever you are within a licensed area, quick login with Face ID or Touch ID, and the same account as the casino’s website.
- Drawbacks: real-money apps are only available in licensed markets, geolocation can block play near state borders, not every game in a casino’s desktop lobby is always on mobile, and it is easy to play more than intended on a phone.
Play safely on your iPhone
Use the deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion tools in your casino account. iOS Screen Time can also limit how long you spend in an app. Only download casino apps from the App Store or the operator’s own website, and never install a profile or app from a link sent by someone else. In the US, the National Problem Gambling Helpline is 1-800-GAMBLER; in the UK, GAMSTOP lets you block all licensed gambling sites at once.




