States With Legal Sports Betting!

In the United States, few things are more popular than sports. No country watches sports quite like we do, and absolutely no other nation goes to the trouble we do to learn everything we can about our favorite teams and players. It should come as no shock then that many US residents are curious about betting on sports and want to know the states with legal sports betting.

What does come as a shock is how few US residents actually take part in sports betting. While we certainly understand that it’s not a hobby for everyone, it surprises us that many do not participate solely due to unclear or downright false information concerning legal punishments for taking part in sports betting. Contrary to what seems to be popular belief, it’s usually legal for those who live in the US to bet on sports, and no one in the history of the country has ever been arrested for doing so.

The following page and the index of state laws following will help residents all over the country understand the laws that govern them when it comes to their right to bet on sports. Those who choose to take part in the hobby legally could find that sports betting can be not just a potentially profitable venture, but great fun as well.

Here Are The Laws That American Bettors Really Need To Know:

The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) of 1992 - In an effort to battle large, organized crime syndicates and racketeering, US congress passed several laws that govern the facilitation of sports betting. Before reading anything about the Federal Wire Act, Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) or the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) is that none of these laws do not target bettors. In every case, the actual participant in sports betting is specifically exempt in the letter of the law. Instead, these laws target all those groups and individuals who would allow honest US citizens to place bets on sports.

The Wire Act of 1961 - The Wire Act and UIGEA each govern the act of betting on sports on the internet. Whereas the Wire Act prevents the use of “wired communications” (later interpreted to include the internet) to recieve any information related to sports betting across state lines. This does not apply to the person placing a bet no matter the size of said bet. The taking of bets however is a whole other ball game.

The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006 -the UIGEA put restrictions on banking used by offshore book makers. Making the transfer to fund or cashout any winnings from your sports betting account via an electronic funds transfer (EFT) a hard thing to do. It also puts debit and credit card processors at risk for making transfers related to online gambling. However, the PASPA dealt the biggest blow to sports betting in the United States. This is the law that criminalized the facilitation of sports betting whether or not the information needed to travel using a wire.

So what does all this boil down to?

How then, can these sports betting sites offer legal services to US residents? It is not a question of legal loopholes or expensive lawyers, but rather one of geography. Since all the sites we review on these pages were first established and currently operate offshore, they are well outside of US jurisdiction. This means that it is not only legal to participate in sports betting, but also that it’s legal for these businesses to operate in accordance with the laws of their native countries.

Legal Sports Betting Sites for USA players

Even though online sportsbooks are legal in most states, not all sportsbooks are capable of serving all US residents. Once you find a legal online sportsbook that you like, it’s crucial to do a bit of research on whether or not you can sign up with that site. If one turns you away, don’t give up hope! Chances are there are other legal betting sites that will allow you to sign up.

Bovada Sportsbook
Bovada Sportsbook
Bovada Sportsbook

When you want to bet with the absolute best that the sports betting world has to offer, look no further than Bovada. Unfortunately, residents of New Jersey, Nevada, Delaware, and Maryland will be unable to sign up, but for the other 46 states in the country this legal USA sportsbook is the clear cut, best choice. Between their stellar records of service they have maintained for over two decades and how complete their sportsbook is, Bovada is where both newcomers and pros go. No one has the sheer volume and creativity of their betting lines and game props.

If you’re not convinced, allow Bovada to prove you wrong. When you first sign up for this sportsbook, you will be entitled to a full 50% of your deposit back, all the way up to $250. You can use this bonus money to help explore the sportsbook top to bottom, and maybe even place a couple of bets you wouldn’t otherwise. This is a great welcome to your new sports betting account, and the best way to learn up close and personal what exactly goes into placing a successful bet.

BetOnline Sportsbook
BetOnline Sportsbook
Bovada Sportsbook

When you want to bet with the absolute best that the sports betting world has to offer, look no further than Bovada. Unfortunately, residents of New Jersey, Nevada, Delaware, and Maryland will be unable to sign up, but for the other 46 states in the country this legal USA sportsbook is the clear cut, best choice. Between their stellar records of service they have maintained for over two decades and how complete their sportsbook is, Bovada is where both newcomers and pros go. No one has the sheer volume and creativity of their betting lines and game props.

If you’re not convinced, allow Bovada to prove you wrong. When you first sign up for this sportsbook, you will be entitled to a full 50% of your deposit back, all the way up to $250. You can use this bonus money to help explore the sportsbook top to bottom, and maybe even place a couple of bets you wouldn’t otherwise. This is a great welcome to your new sports betting account, and the best way to learn up close and personal what exactly goes into placing a successful bet.

BetOnline Sportsbook
BetOnline Sportsbook
BetOnline Sportsbook

Residents from all 50 states are starting to see why BetOnline is the world’s fastest growing online sportsbook. After almost a decade of stellar service, this legal US sports betting site is finally beginning to garner a name for itself. We don’t know what makes this site more popular than the rest. It could be corporate sponsorships like those with FOX Sports. Maybe the fact that decorated sports journalists, like those at ESPN, will cite their odds as a point of reference. Possibly just because BetOnline obviously puts their money where their mouth is when it comes to providing a complete product paired with excellent service, but bettors are finally standing up and taking notice.

There is not a sports betting site that is more state-of-the-art than the one found at BetOnline. All the standard betting fare is present, along with bells and whistles like live or mobile betting. These innovative features allow you to enjoy betting in more ways and from more places. When it comes time to bet on some sports, make no mistake. The best option is always to BetOnline.

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Do Any States Sanction Land Based Sports Betting?

When Congress passed the PASPA in 1992, it prohibited any states in the US from sanctioning sports betting – with one key exception. If the state already allowed sports betting, then US congress has no interest in preventing any betting operations. This means that Oregon, Montana, Delaware and Nevada are al exempt from the PASPA, and could sanction sports betting.

As for which states actually do, that’s a different story entirely. The only state with fully functioning land based sportsbooks is Nevada, and we surely don’t need to repeat any lurid tales out of Vegas. Delaware offers some state lottery based parlay bets, but the level of customization available is no match for the online sportsbooks open to Delaware residents.

Unfortunately, unless you’re in Vegas, land based sports betting is an impossibility. Luckily, there are many legal sports betting sites for US players.

Do Any State Laws Govern Sports Betting?

Although US players are free to bet on sports online with fear or prosecution for the federal government, it’s important to understand that each of the 50 states in the union have their own laws and regulations regarding sports betting. As a rule of thumb, most will follow the template set forth by the federal law where bookmaking and facilitating betting is a criminal action but it’s legal to participate in sports wagering.

Still, it’s important to have a functional knowledge of all the laws that apply to you. We wrote these pages so that residents of all 50 states could garner a full understanding of their states laws. It’s vital that you read up on the laws governing your home state, if not with us than by consulting your state’s legislation directly. There is a lot of bad information available – it’s vital to procure yours from a trusted source.

While the policies may vary from state to state, we feel we should let you in on a trade secret. While it’s true that all state laws are a little different, there is one universal truth. No otherwise honest US citizen has ever been arrested for betting on sports online. While there have been several busts involving large, illicit betting operations and those involved in bookmaking, no state has ever prosecuted a mere user of an online sportsbook. No matter what the laws governing your state are, that has to provide a bit of comfort.

What's The Betting Age At USA Online Sportsbooks?

Just as with state laws, you will want to research the legal betting age for your home state on a case-by-case basis. Betting ages at USA online sportsbooks will usually vary between 18 and 21, and finding them can be a little tricky. In generally, you will want to adhere to whatever the legal casino age in your home state is. If there are no legal casinos in your state, you will want to defer to the pari-mutuel betting age, then, finally, the state lottery age.

Finding this number is critical because no matter what, you do not want to violate it. Anyone caught betting underage will surely stare down a steep legal fine as well as potential jail time if the offender is over 18. In addition, whenever you’re arrested for betting underage, your online sportsbook will delete your account and seize all the funds. Underage bets are bets made in vain. The best advice for underage bettors is to wait until they are of legal betting age to partake.