Many sports fans in the United States are interested in finding a place to legally wager on their favorite sports. Unfortunately, unless you live in or near Nevada or Delaware, there aren't a whole lot of real-world options, which helps to explain the popularity of online sportsbooks. U.S. sports betting sites allow you to wager from the comfort of your favorite easy chair, glass of wine in hand after a long day at the office. There are so many awesome options out there for legal USA betting it’ll knock your socks off, so make sure they are pulled all the way up!
That being said, it’s not wise to just jump right into the world of online sportsbooks without knowing some basic information. First and foremost, you have to be sure that you’re wagering safely and legally. A large part of what you’ll learn on this page is how to choose a great US sports betting site that follows every tenet of the law.
LegalUSABetting.com will cover the three major laws that affect sports betting in the USA (the Wire Act, the UIGEA, and the PASPA). It will also tell you about state laws and age restrictions, land-based sportsbooks, where to find a legal online sportsbook, and how to sign up. You’ll learn how to make your first deposit, find out about bonuses, and request payouts. Finally, you’ll discover some great extra features of sports betting sites, and we’ll even recommend some top-tier, legal online sportsbooks.
Yes, as long as you use a site that is legal. In the US, the only states that have legal online sportsbooks are Nevada and Delaware. The catch is that only Nevada and Delaware residents are allowed to use those sites. All others must use sports betting sites that are based outside the US. This is because federal law only allows a few states to regulate sports betting. Rest assured, though, that all of the sites you’ll learn about here follow the law perfectly. United States law does not affect online sportsbooks based in other countries, nor does it prevent individuals from using these sites.
There are three federal laws you need to know about that affect online sports betting in the United States. These are the Wire Act, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), and the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). Again, these laws do not have any bearing on online sportsbooks that function outside of the United States. You can learn about each of these laws in far greater detail by visiting our federal laws page.
By 1961, organized crime was becoming a major problem. To prevent criminals and bookies from “being engaged in the business of betting or wagering,” Congress passed the Wire Act, which penalizes anyone who “knowingly uses a wire communications facility” for transmitting funds or information relating to bets or wagers. The Wire Act was passed over 50 years ago, way before the internet made online betting possible. There have been attempts in recent years to update the Wire Act, but it hasn’t really worked.
As it stands, the Wire Act only affects online sportsbooks that function inside the United States. Again, only Nevada and Delaware have online sportsbooks. The Wire Act makes it so only residents of the state hosting the online sportsbook can use the site, because the law prohibits wagering information from being sent across state lines. None of the sportsbooks we recommend are beholden to the Wire Act, because they aren’t based in the US. You can find out more information at our Wire Act FAQ.
The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was another law designed to counteract the rise of unlawful sports betting. Like the Wire Act, the PASPA was enacted before the internet changed society forever. The law prevents states from running or sponsoring sports betting operations, with the exception of Nevada, Delaware, Montana, and Oregon. These few states were exempt from PASPA because they had sanctioned legal sports betting before August 31, 1990 or between September 1, 1989 and October 2, 1991.
The PASPA technically only makes land-based sports books unlawful. In other words, it doesn’t say anything about online sports betting because internet sportsbooks did not exist in 1992 when the law was passed. Therefore, the PASPA does not affect online sportsbooks in any way whatsoever. All the sites we mention on our pages are operated outside the United States anyway, so there’s nothing to worry about.
The last of the three laws you need to know about is the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. Enacted in 2006, this controversial bill was attached to the end of an unrelated bill, the Safe Port Act. No one in Congress had time to actually read the bill, prompting critics to lambast the bill as unfair and even unconstitutional.
The UIGEA specifically blocks online gaming sites from accepting money from bettors. It is not meant to penalize individuals, but rather online sports betting businesses. Nevada and Delaware are exempt from UIGEA regulation. It can’t be stressed enough that the UIGEA does not apply to the sites we review on our site. Since the sites we recommend are outside of the United States, US law doesn’t bind them. In other words, it is legal and safe to use the sites we suggest. To learn more, please visit our UIGEA FAQ.
Most states aren’t able to regulate sports betting. PASPA is the federal law that bans land-based sports betting. There are four states that are allowed to regulate themselves, but only Nevada and Delaware choose to have sports betting. You have to be a resident of either of these states in order to use their state-sponsored sports betting sites. You are allowed, of course, to drive to Reno or Las Vegas and bet at a casino, but no most people can’t just make a day trip to Nevada. The beauty of online sportsbooks is that anyone, as long as they are of age, is allowed to use them. We review sites that are based outside of the United States, and are therefore legal and safe. You can learn much more at our state betting laws page.
The sites set the age at 18. However, make sure to check the age laws in your state, because it varies. In most states, the legal betting age is between 18 and 21. Alabama is the only state where the age is 19. Some states (District of Columbia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Alaska, Vermont, Hawaii, and Florida) do not have any age laws. If you live in any of these nine states, defer to the site’s age requirement of 18. It is important to make sure you are old enough to bet online, because otherwise you could be banned from the site, denied your winnings, or face fines or even jail time.
The only legal land-based sportsbooks are currently located in Nevada and Delaware, however Montana and Oregon could opt-in if they chose to regulate sports betting in their respective states. This is because the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act prohibits sports betting in all but the aforementioned four states. The reason Nevada and Delaware can have legal sportsbooks is because the Senate Judiciary Committee said they weren’t trying to shut down legal sports betting operations that existed before PASPA. Congress gave states that had previously allowed sports betting one year to pass legislation that would make it legal.
New Jersey is one state that missed the one-year-window. Currently, New Jersey lawmakers are taking their case to federal appeals court in order to challenge PASPA. Because most states have to comply with PASPA, it makes more sense for Americans to use the online options, of which there are plenty. To learn more, visit our land-based page.
So far, we have looked at the legal online sports betting and how it came about. We have gone over the three main federal laws that regulate sports betting in the United States. We have also gone over state laws, age restrictions, and legal land-based sportsbooks. Now it’s time to learn more about some of the great online options available. There are certain things you need to look for in an online sportsbook. First, make sure the site is legal and that you are old enough to use the site. We can’t stress this enough. Look for an online sportsbook with a good reputation and, most importantly, a gaming license. You can find all this information in the “About Us” section of most online sportsbooks. We check for all these things when we review sites, so you can rest assured that they are safe.
Once you’ve chosen a safe US sports betting site, all you have to do is sign up. This is as easy as clicking on the tab that says “Join Now.” Once you do this, you will be asked for some personal information. What you are doing is creating an account. Once you have an account, you can make your first deposit. Be sure to check for welcome bonuses and other special offers. Once you’ve created an account, you are ready to go.
In order to start betting, you have to make a deposit. This just puts money in your account that you can draw from whenever you want. Whenever you win a bet, your winnings are deposited back into your account. You can add funds to your account any time you want. The more deposits you make, the more bonuses you will be eligible for.
You can make a deposit using many methods. To see a list of deposit options, click on the tab that says “Online Cashier.” Some sites have more deposit methods than others do, but rest assured, they are all safe and legal. Most sites let you use credit or debit cards, Rapid Transit, Bitcoin, Wire Transfers, and Money Orders. Some deposit methods have minimums/maximums and fees. Please visit our legal sportsbook deposits page to learn more.
Bonuses are offered as an incentive to join the site, and as a reward for loyal customers. There are many different bonus options available. Bonus options will vary from site to site. Some are in the form of a percentage of a deposit. For example, you may get 25% of free plays when you deposit at least $50. On the other hand, you might get cash back. It all depends on what the site is offering at the time. Be sure to check the site often for new bonuses, because it changes frequently.
The most popular bonuses are welcome bonuses and reload bonuses. The welcome bonus is a one-time offer usually in the form of a percentage of your first deposit. There is usually a maximum deposit limit for welcome bonuses. Reload bonuses are nice because they don’t end. It might be something like 50% of free plays for every $100 deposit. Most sites offer mobile bonuses. The way this works is, you get a certain amount of cash that will either be added to your winnings or reimbursed if you lose. Make sure to read the fine print though, because bonuses usually come with stipulations like minimums/maximums and rollovers.
Most people, when looking for a safe US online sportsbook, want to choose an option with a good selection of payout methods. You want to make sure that you can withdraw your winnings safely, swiftly, and with ease. To find a list of legal sportsbook payout methods, visit the online cashier. As with deposit methods, some sites have more options than others do. Please note that, because of the UIGEA, which prevents the transfer of funds for online betting purposes, you can’t use credit cards for payouts.
There are, however, a whole host of other methods by which you can request a payout. You can use checks, Person to Person wire transfers, Bank Wire Transfers, Bitcoin, and Cash/Gift Cards, to name a few. Some of these methods have minimum/maximums and fees, so be sure to look into each method. You can learn more by visiting our payouts page.
We’ve gone over all the legal stuff. You’re familiar with the Wire Act, the UIGEA, the PASPA, state laws, and betting age limits. You’ve learned how to choose a safe online sportsbook for legal US betting and how to sign up. You know about deposits, payouts, bonuses, and features. So, what’s the next step? Why, choosing a sportsbook, that’s what. We’ve conducted a thorough investigation and come back with some outstanding results. We have found what we believe are some of the finest online sportsbooks on the planet.
If you are a sports fan looking for a fun way to pass the time, 5Dimes is a wagering paradise. Operating out of sunny Costa Rica, this site manages to condense the breezy and laid-back vibe of its country of origin into an online wagering experience like no other. We can’t explain exactly why this US online sportsbook is so fun to play on, but we keep coming back day after day. Maybe it has something to do with the world-class customer service that you can talk to live, 24/7.
The 5Dimes group outshines the competition by offering a massive selection of odds and lines, as well as a myriad of funding options. The best thing about this site is that it has been operating legally for over two decades, which makes for a comfortable wagering experience since you know that you and the site are not breaking any laws. For those looking for a safe and secure online sportsbook that accepts US players, 5Dimes is the place to be.
The incredible sportsbook at Bovada can show you why taking your wagers to the internet gives you the most options and the best chances to make real money. You can find the generous odds on all your favorite teams and the best part is, betting on Bovada is 100% legal. Take the large number of sports categories, like the NFL and the NBA, and multiply that by all the different ways to bet and you’ve got thousands of lines to play. It won’t cost you a dime to sign up and see what’s on the sportsbook and if you decide to become a member, this bookmaker provides their players with some deposit methods that can get an account loaded for free too.
This company has been doing business for almost 30 years and thousands of Americans and people from all over the planet have decided to trust this company for all their sports bets. This internationally acclaimed Kanhawake Gaming Commission has been regulating and auditing this website from its very start. They’re keeping this bookie on the straight and narrow and offering a fair place on the web for US players to make bets safely. Plus, this online sportsbook is hosted from the US’ northern neighbor of Canada, so no one has to feel weird about using some website based in a third world country. Getting a membership at this site will be one of the smartest choices you could make if you want a real opportunity to earn a few extra bucks from an awesome sports betting site without any worry.
The best online sportsbooks for US players offer some fun, cutting-edge features for your betting enjoyment. One such feature is mobile betting. This feature allows you to bet from a portable or mobile device such as an iPhone or smartphone. This way, you’ll never be out of luck when a bet goes down. You can be at a conference-meeting, take a 5-minute break, and you’re set. You can be beachside with a margarita in hand and never miss any action. Mobile betting is ideal for the serious bettor.
Live in-game betting is another great feature you’ll want to take advantage of. It lets you watch the action in real-time. You won’t constantly need to check for scores and updates, because you’ll be able to place bets as the action unfolds. It’s the next best thing to being right there, front and center!