Legal Sports Betting States
Sports are kind of a big deal in the United States, and as such, betting on them is one of the nation’s most popular hobbies. LegalBettingUSA.com wrote this article to help US residents come to a better understanding of what is allowed in their hometown, and which states with legal sports betting can offer the very best options, be they online or land based. We will take a look at the laws that govern sports betting throughout the United States as well as point out where the best places to bet on sports are. We will also guide you towards our very favorite sports betting venues, and try and answer any questions that we can along the way. With so much to do, we should get started straight away!
Despite what popular belief may be, there are actually several ways to take part in legal sports betting that are safe for US players. While some have come under the impression that it is not legal to place a bet on sports, this is an incorrect assumption, and can be easily dispelled upon a close reading of the laws that affect sports betting in all 50 states.
The most important law to understand is the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, or PASPA, which passed in 1992. This law prohibited the act of bookmaking, online or on land, in all but four states in the union. The important hitch to catch in the language here is that only BOOKMAKING is prohibited, not the mere act of placing a bet. This means that while you cannot find a sanctioned bookmaker in any states besides Nevada, Delaware, Oregon or Montana, the act of placing a bet is not a criminal act no matter where in the country you reside.
Of the four states that are exempt from the PASPA, only two in Delaware and Nevada actually sanction sports betting. This means that if you want to place a bet in person, you must travel to Nevada, the only state in the US that offers fully sanctioned, custom sports betting, or play the state lottery in Delaware where you are forced to choose from pre-determined parlay bets at close to even odds.
For convenience, Nevada residents may place their bets with land based sportsbooks online, but state law requires they sign up and collect their winnings in person, meaning you really can’t avoid a trip to crowded sportsbook one way or the other. For the 99.6% of the population that does not live in Nevada, land based sports betting is usually an expensive plane ticket away. For this reason, many of those who live in other states that offer sports betting choose to use legal online sportsbooks that accept USA residents.
Those interested in sports betting who do not live within an easy drive to the Vegas strip have found that their best options are online. In fact, given the quality of service that most legal sports betting sites for US players exhibit, many Nevada residents have even decided that these online options work best for them.
As for the legality of these sites, remember that we have established that only bookmaking is a criminal act in the United States. This means that bettors in the US can bet legally no matter where they are, and as long as they access a legal online sportsbook that operates in a foreign territory that is outside of US jurisdiction, the bookmaking laws will not apply to them. This makes these legal USA betting websites immune to the PASPA which has restricted land based sports betting throughout most of the United States as well as the Federal Wire Act and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, or UIGEA.
When the Federal Wire Act passed all the way back in 1961, it was major effort to cut down on organized crime. This law banned bookmakers from using wire facilities (later ruled to include the internet) to transmit information related to sports betting across state lines. This act is why the websites for land based sportsbooks in Las Vegas cannot serve interstate residents. The UIGEA merely restricts websites from offering Electronic Fund Transfers to major credit cards in order to deliver wining related to sports betting.
By opting to use a site that operates offshore, out of reach of US sports betting laws and functions legally in accordance with the laws of their native countries, players in all 50 states may legally bet with a legal enterprise.
Although residents of all 50 states can find a legal online sportsbook to bet with, not all states with legal sports betting may sign up with all sportsbooks. It’s worth investigating whether your state is accepted at a certain sportsbook or not, and if not, you may have to seek out another option. When deciding is a US sports betting site is right for you, remember to check for how long the site has been in service, and verifying any user reviews or major endorsements may also be a good idea.
In over 20 years of service to US bettors, many have found time and again that Bovada offers the very best option. Unfortunately, residents of New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware or Oregon will be unable to sign up with this sports betting site for US players, but residents in the other 45 states will have access to one of the very best online sportsbooks in the business. All betting lines, game lines and props are open to Bovada users, and the ease of access helps to ensure that members never run out of opportunities to bet.
All those outside of the five states that Bovada will not accept memberships from have seen that the best part about a Bovada membership is its portability. Boasting one of the best mobile sports betting app in the business, Bovada is always open, no matter where its members are. Carrying your sportsbook with you in your front pocket can provide a great boost to your betting activities since it’s always on hand when you get your insider tips. This powerful app ensures the betting power is always with you.
Good news! Residents of all 50 states can enjoy top notch service and efficiency when they choose to “BetOnline.” This legal sports betting site for residents of all 50 states has spent more than a decade perfecting its interface and employing some of the top bookmakers in the world. The odds at BetOnline are not only perfectly tailored, but they’re available fast – before just about any competitor on the market. This has led to many major media outlets consulting BetOnline as a news source, which has helped to boost its profile as of late.
If you’re still on the fence, this US sports betting site will jump at the opportunity to prove its worth for itself. When you make your first deposit, you’ll find that not only did your entire deposit make it over safe and sound, but that BetOnline added an additional 25% of your deposit right on top in the form of free bonus money. This is an excellent opportunity to try out some obscure bets and get a feel for the betting landscape without putting any of your initial bankroll at risk. The best part? This is not a mere sign-up bonus – BetOnline members can collect this reward throughout the life span of their account.
| LEGAL SPORTS BETTING | Details | BONUS REWARDS | Find Out More |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bovada Sportsbook | review | Collect Up To $250 / 50% Match | |
| BetOnline Sportsbook | review | 25% Match Up To $1,000 - "FIRST" | |
| SportsBetting | review | Bonus To $1,000 / 50% Match - "SB50" |
There is really only one rule that US players must abide by in order to legally bet on sports: the legal betting age. Federal guidelines have not established a universal betting age, so it will vary from state to state. As a rule, it will be between 18 and 21. All those 21 and over should be safe from and legal trouble, but everyone else will want to consult their individual state laws to ensure that they are in full compliance before they attempt to bet on sports online or on land.
This really is a double edged question. If you want to know whether land based sports betting is safe or not, obviously, the major sportsbooks in Las Vegas offer opportunities to bet with legitimate businesses. If you’re not in Nevada, land based betting will generally force you to criminal element in order to place your bets, which is obviously unsafe not only for your person, but for your hard earned money.
Legal sports betting sites for US players on the other hand offer a high degree of safety as long as you’re choosy. Know that sports betting is a competitive industry, and that sportsbooks come and go at an alarming degree. If a website operates for an extended period of time, it’s safe to assume that they pay their members out consistently on a timely basis, and that they are not susceptible to hacks that will leave their members’ information exposed. All of the websites we recommend on this page have been serving US players for well over a decade, more than enough time to establish a proven track record for providing safe and reliable service to members who crave legal sports betting in all 50 states.
Read More: Are Online Sportsbooks Safe For USA Players?