Is It Legal To Bet On Sports In The US?
Legal sports betting is fully legal in the US and all 50 states have some form of legal sports betting available. Over half of the US States have established state-regulated betting and online sportsbooks that are internationally operated and still up and running. These offshore betting sites have been around for many years and have established credibility throughout the years. The new sports betting laws do not affect these international sportsbooks which offer the most diverse legal sports betting experience that includes no restrictions on college football betting and depositing through all different types of cryptocurrencies.
| Bovada | BetOnline | SportsBetting | |
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| Ranking | #1 | #2 | #3 |
| US Accepted? |  |
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| Legal States | 46 STATES EX: DE, MD, NJ, NV | ALL 50 | ALL 50 |
| Live Betting | |
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| Mobile Betting | |
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Key Points To Using Legal Online Sports Betting Sites In The U.S.
When choosing an online sportsbook to use in the US, it is important to know the specific features of the book. Most international online sportsbooks are available for bettors in all 50 states, while the state-regulated online books are only available in select states at this time. Therefore, online sportsbooks like Bovada and BetOnline are the most widely available sports betting options and feature the key points below:
- Big bonuses
- Cryptocurrency deposits
- Cryptocurrency withdrawals
- Fast processing times
- Available in all 50 states
- Credit card transactions offered
- No restrictions on betting on college sports
U.S. Sports Betting Laws
Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act
The UIGEA stipulates that gambling businesses are not able to knowingly accept payments for wagers that are made. There are several important aspects of the UIGEA to consider. The first is that it does specifically mention that intermediary computers are not considered here, meaning that the bettors are not breaking the law. The second point to remember is that payments are only potentially blocked if using an unregulated site. The most important takeaway is that regardless of the stipulations, the UIGEA does not make placing a bet online illegal.Federal Wire Act
The Wire Act dates back several decades, but it's the 2011 ruling in the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court Of Appeals that sports bettors should pay attention to. That's because this ruling made the Wire Act pertain only to betting on sports. What this law stipulates is that no form of wire communication can be used by gambling businesses to process a bet or wager made. Again though, the focus of this law is on the business, and not the bettor. Also, this only applies to states where sports betting is not legal.Professional And Amateur Sports Protection Act
This law is no longer applicable, but you may still want to know its history. PASPA was passed by the federal government back in 1992, and was the first piece of major legislation against betting on sports. This outlawed the practice of sports wagering, but did give those states with a decade of more history with licensed gaming the chance to apply for immunity. Nevada, Oregon, Montana, and Delaware were the only four states permitted to offer sports betting. In 2018, the law was declared unconstitutional and all 50 states have the right to decide whether or not to legalize sports wagering.Interpretation of Sports Betting Laws In The United States
If you look throughout history, the interpretation of sports betting laws in the United States have changed more than once. The Wire Act of 1961, for example, was written well before the advent of the internet but was still interpreted to include the World Wide Web decades later. The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was once considered to be fair and just, however 25+ years later it was found to be unconstitutional.
What this means is that sports betting laws in the United States should be considered revolving, not stationary. As times change, so do the options for betting on sports. What once only took place at a brick and mortar location can now happen from a computer or smartphone. As such, new sports betting laws will be written to stay in stride with the changing technology. What we do know is that there is no federal ban on sports betting and sports fans, therefore, have options. Generally speaking, as long as US sports bettors are of age when they gamble and do not use a local bookie, interpreting the rest of the big picture laws is secondary at this point. Sports betting is not illegal in the U.S., and you can focus more on state laws than federal legislation. If you want to read more about the specific legalities regarding the internet, see our article "Are online sportsbooks legal in The United States?".
Legal Online Sports Betting By State
There are legal sports betting options for residents of all 50 US states but the forms of betting differ by state. There are currently over 30 states that offer state-regulated sports betting specifically. But over 45 states offer online sports betting through international operators.
In most states other than New York or New Jersey, these two forms of sports betting are both accessible, and bettors can simply choose which books they want to use based on their specific needs. The best sports betting experience is through having accounts with all of the different sportsbooks to always have the best lines and odds for all major sports.
Why Some Legal Sports Betting Sites Do Not Accept US Players
So why is it tough to find a legal online sports book that will accept U.S.A. players? In the past, the combination of PASPA, the UIGEA, and the Wire Act made many online bookmakers feel like they were backed into a corner. Rather than have to determine what (if any) legal implications these federal laws would have on business, oddsmakers opted to leave the U.S. market.
Now that there is no overarching sports betting ban in the United States, it would not be unreasonable to expect an influx of legal sports betting sites to enter the market. With sports gambling-friendly states issuing licenses to eligible operators, sports fans will now be able to choose from both American and offshore online sportsbooks.