If you’re looking for the best online casinos in the US Virgin Islands, you’ve come to the right place. We spent months exploring the best US Virgin Islands casinos based on their game selections, bonuses, and overall online gambling experience.
This guide will also offer mini-reviews of the top five US Virgin Islands online casinos and how to join one from the comfort of your home. We’ll also provide complete information on land-based casinos, the existing gambling laws, and the history of gambling in the territory.
After reading this article, you’ll be able to determine the best Virgin Islands online casino and know how to join one in your territory.
United States Virgin Islands Gambling Landscape
The regional gambling law allows most forms of gambling in the Virgin Islands, including horse racing betting and pari-mutuel betting at horse racing tracks. In addition, charitable bingo and a lottery are also legal in the territory.
Virgin Islands Casino and Resort Control Act legalized casino gambling in the region in 1995. As a result, there are five brick-and-mortar casinos in the US Virgin Islands. Four of those are located in the state of Saint Croix—the largest of the islands in the territory. All these five casinos provide nearly 350 slot and video poker machines.
Although poker is also legal within the casinos, only Carina Bay Beach Resort & Casino hosts a few poker tables. The United States Virgin Islands has yet to regulate sports betting.
Is Online Gambling Legal in the Virgin Islands?
According to the territory’s law, online gambling is legal in the United States Virgin Islands. However, the Internet Gaming and Internet Gambling Act that legalized online casinos do not include legal online poker within the territory. Online bingo and online sports betting also remain unregulated in the region. Although the online lottery is not yet regulated, Virgin Islands players participate in interstate lottery games like Mega Millions and Powerball using foreign online lotteries.
However, nearly a decade after the legalization of online casino gambling, there are still no locally licensed online casinos in the Virgin Islands. As of now, Virgin Islands players can play online casino games using leading offshore sites.
You can choose between dozens of online casino sites accepting USVI players. However, we recommend you play at the safest online casinos to ensure a hassle-free online gambling experience.
Land Casinos Vs. Online Casinos in the US Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands casino players can either go to a land-based casino or play online casino games. There are five brick-and-mortar casinos, most of them on St. Croix. However, the Carina Bay Beach Resort & Casino in St. Croix is the only true casino, as it includes live dealer/croupier tables in addition to gaming machines.
In contrast, there are dozens of online casinos in the US Virgin Islands. Many leading online casinos in the Virgin Islands provide the best gaming experience that you expect from a traditional casino floor. Moreover, all our recommended online casinos include live dealer games, which allow you to enjoy a real casino gaming experience from the comfort of your home.
Bonuses are another significant reason to prefer online casinos in the US Virgin Islands. No land-based casino in the territory can afford to offer thousands of dollars due to operating costs, which online casinos don’t have to bear.
Our top-rated US Virgin online casinos feature thousands of slots and hundreds of table games, as well as live dealer games. The following are our top picks for US Virgin Online gambling.
How We Choose the Best Online Casinos in the US Virgin Islands
LetsGambleUSA is a consumer-facing gambling reviewing site that aims to provide unbiased online gambling reviews. Unlike many other reviewing sites, we only rate online casinos that clear our strict scrutiny tests. While we’ve provided a list of the top USVI online gambling sites, we encourage you to conduct independent research. That said, we’ve reviewed all the recognized online gaming brands based on the following criteria. You must also look out for these aspects when finding the best online casino in the US Virgin Islands.
Licensed Platform
Always ensure that the site holds an active online gambling license from leading jurisdictions. For example, the Panama Gaming Authority and Curacao are two of the leading independent regulatory authorities.
Game Selection
Our experts explored the available game selection to ensure that USVI players enjoy a premium online gambling experience using excellent slots, table games, and live dealer games. You must also check the game selection before deciding on a US Virgin Islands casino online.
Welcome Bonuses & Promotions
We only shortlist US Virgin Islands casino sites and mobile casinos with the best welcome bonuses. For instance, Wild Casino features up to $5,000 in welcome deposit bonus. However, you should also check for a casino’s overall promotional plan. Many online gamblers may find it difficult to decide which US Virgin online casinos offer reasonable bonus terms. Don’t worry—we have you covered. All our recommended USVI online casinos offer exciting bonuses for new and existing players, and most of these bonuses carry fair wagering requirements.
One thing to keep in mind is that a smaller bonus amount with reasonable wagering requirements is often better than bigger bonuses with high rollover requirements.
Banking Options
We only choose online casinos that allow multiple banking options suitable for most types of players. For instance, Wild Casino and BetOnline provide dozens of banking options for both deposits and withdrawals. You’ll find plenty of banking options, from traditional methods like credit and debit cards to modern ones like e-wallets and cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, and Ethereum.
History of Gambling in the US Virgin Islands
The US Virgin Islands, formerly Dutch West Indies when the US purchased the territory in 1916, does not claim a long gambling history. However, the Virgin Islands Lottery, one of the oldest lotteries in the US, was established in 1937.
However, legal casino gambling kicked off in 1995 when the government voted for the Virgin Islands Casino and Resort Control Act. The act legalized land-based casinos in the territory. The USVI also established the Casino Control Commission and the Division of Gaming Enforcement to regulate and enforce gambling laws in the region.
In 2001, the US Virgin Islands were one of the first in the US to introduce a legislative bill seeking the regulation of online gambling. However, the legislation did not move forward for another decade due to US Attorney David Nissman’s directions to halt online gambling plans in the US Virgin Islands.
In 2013, the US Attorney General gave the Casino Control Commission of the US Virgin Islands the green light to legalize online gambling based on the 2001 Internet Gaming and Internet Gambling Act.
However, online gambling licensing has remained an unsettled issue in the US Virgin Islands due to various problems and legal glitches.
In 2013, offshore gambling was allowed in the US Virgin Islands.
Timeline of Gambling Legislation in the US Virgin Islands
- 1994: Residents vote for legalized gambling in the USVI.
- 1995: The Virgin Islands Casino and Resort Control Act of 1995 legalizes casino gambling in the USVI.
- 1999: A hurricane ravages the Virgin Islands, causing significant damage to the under-construction casinos and delaying the opening day by a few more years.
- 2001: The US Virgin Islands become the first US jurisdiction to legalize online gambling. However, the legislation does not extend to awarding licensing to local operators to launch online gambling. The law allows residents of the territory to participate in online gambling activities.
- 2001: The delayed casino construction finishes, and Divi Carina Bay opens for the first time.
- 2013: US Attorney General greenlights online gambling in the USVI 12 years after the territory requests to that effect.
Top Land-Based Casino in the US Virgin Islands
Land-based casino gambling in the United States Virgin Islands has been regulated since 1995. Of the five casinos in the territory, the Carina Bay Beach Resort & Casino is the largest gaming establishment and the only one with live dealer tables.
Bushwackers Gaming Center, Winner’s Circle, and Parrot Club are the other gaming venues in the US Virgin Islands. Caravelle Hotel & Casino on the waterfront also houses slot and gaming machines. However, all these venues are more like slot halls than premium casinos with live tables. The only exception is Carina Bay Beach Resort.
Carina Bay Beach Resort & Casino in St. Croix
Address: 5025 Turner Hole Rd, Christiansted, St Croix 00820, USVI
Formerly known as Divi Carina Bay Beach Resort & Casino, this venue is the largest casino in the United States Virgin Islands.
This 200-room hotel & casino features all the major gaming machines, tables, poker, and more. It’s also part of a grand luxury hotel.
The Parrot Club (Cruz Bay) in St. John
Address: Wharfside Village, Cruz Bay, St John 00830, U.S. Virgin Islands
Established in 2008 on the beautiful island of St. John, the Parrot Club has become the premier location for exquisite craft cocktails and gaming entertainment. Please note: The Parrot Club only offers gaming machines. There are no table games or live poker.
Winner’s Circle in St. Thomas
Address: Port of Sale Mall Havensight, Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas 00802, U.S. Virgin Islands
One of the best spots to gamble in St. Thomas is Winner’s Circle at Port of Sale Havensight. They offer video blackjack, keno, poker, roulette, and plenty of slot machines.
Who Regulates Online Gambling in the US Virgin Islands?
Online gambling is also legal and regulated by the Virgin Islands Internet Gaming and Internet Gambling Act.
Although online casino gambling has been legal since 2013, no licenses have been issued to local operators for various reasons. However, local authorities do not prosecute US Virgin Islanders for participating in offshore casinos.
This means you can enjoy online casino games from the comfort of your home in the Virgin Islands using the best online casino sites like BetOnline and Bovada.
All our suggested online casinos accepting players from the US Virgin Islands provide many generous online casino bonuses.
What Is the Legal Gambling Age in the US Virgin Islands?
You can participate in all gambling activities in the US Virgin Islands if you’re at least 18, except for casino gambling, for which you must be 21 or older.
Gambling Responsibly in US Virgin Islands
Although the Casino Control Commission (CCC) and the Division of Gaming (DGE) are the regulatory authorities, there are currently no licensed online casinos in the US Virgin Islands. However, because online gambling has been legal since 2013, you can join the best online casinos that accept Virgin Islands players.
You should only join licensed offshore casino sites that are properly overseen by leading organizations such as the Panama Gaming Authority, Curacao Gaming Commission, or Kahnawake Gaming Commission. All our recommended online casinos use fool-proof security measures and are among the safest online casinos. Most of these operators—like BetUS and BetOnline—have served US Virgin Islands gamblers for decades.
US Virgin Islands Online Casinos FAQ
Is gambling in the US Virgin Islands legal?
Yes, gambling has been legal since 1995 when USVI lawmakers passed the Virginia Islands Casino and Resort Control Act. The Act legalized land-based gambling in the territory.
Are online casinos legal in the US Virgin Islands?
Yes, online casinos are perfectly legal in the United States Virgin Islands. In fact, the territory was the first in the nation to legalize online casinos in 2001. However, the federal government did not allow the USVI to legalize the industry until 2013. Since 2013, online casino gambling has been legal, and you can play your favorite casino games using leading offshore online casinos.
Which is the best online casino in the US Virgin Islands?
It depends on what you expect from an online casino. All our recommended Virgin Islands casino sites are the best options for gambling online. However, you should read our mini-reviews to make informed decisions. For instance, if you’re a slot lover, Wild Casino is the best US Virgin Islands online casino. But if you want the most online gambling options from a single platform, you can’t go wrong with BetOnline. Similarly, if you’re looking for the best online blackjack casino, you should try BetUS.
Can you win real money on Las Atlantis in the USVI?
Yes, Las Atlantis is one of the best casino sites in the US Virgin Islands. You can claim the biggest online casino bonus of up to $14,000 in bonus money. By making a minimum deposit of $10, you can claim the maximum bonus amount to win max cash on this site.
Does St Croix have a casino?
Carina Bay is the largest land-based casino in the US Virgin Islands, providing over 250 slot, video poker, and multi-game machines. In addition, you choose from live table games such as blackjack, roulette, craps, Mississippi Stud, Texas Hold’Em, or three-card poker.
Who regulates gambling in the US Virgin Islands?
The Casino Control Commission and the Division of Gaming Enforcement are two government organizations that license and enforce gambling laws in the US Virgin Islands.