All legal and safe sports betting sites for US players must abide by PASPA. The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was passed in 1992. The purpose of the law was to regulate land-based sports betting in the United States. The law was effective in making land-based sports betting illegal in 46 states. There were four states that were given one year to pass state legislation that would make sports betting legal. In order to claim exemption from PASPA, a state had to have allowed legal sports betting before August 31, 1990, or between September 1, 1989 and October 2, 1991. The only states that met this requirement were Delaware, Montana, Nevada, and Oregon. However, only Nevada and Delaware took the necessary steps to pass legislation making sports betting legal. As it stands, Nevada and Delaware are the only states that allow sports betting. That’s the basic background on PASPA. Now we shall answer some frequently asked questions about PASPA.
Q: Why was PASPA created?
A: Congress believed that sports betting was becoming a major problem. The idea was that outlawing sports gambling would lead to a reduction in sports-related scandals and criminal activity. In reality, PASPA may have led to an increase in illegal activity.
Q: What was the original intent of the law?
A: To decrease what lawmakers saw as a negative influence on American sports. PASPA was supposed to reduce the number of scandals and mob-related activity. Lawmakers thought that sports gambling was tarnishing a beloved American pastime.
Q: Does PASPA apply to online sports betting?
A: PASPA, by itself, does not apply to online sports betting. After all, it was enacted in 1992, before the proliferation of sports betting sites. When combined with the Federal Wire Act and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, however, it does restrict online sports betting in all states except Nevada and Delaware.
Q: So, PASPA mainly affects land-based sports betting?
A: Yes, that’s true. However, all states that don’t all land-based sports betting also don’t allow online sports betting, but because of different laws. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act and the Wire Act close any loopholes regarding online sports betting.
Q: Which states are allowed to have online sports betting?
A: Currently, the only states that allow online sports betting are Nevada and Delaware. However, the use of state-sanctioned sports betting sites is restricted to Nevada and Delaware residents only, respectively. This is not a problem for US residents, because there are many legal and safe sports betting websites that reside overseas, and anyone can use them. New Jersey lawmakers are currently taking steps to legalize sports gambling, both land-based and online.
Q: Do all four states have legal sports betting options?
A: No, only Nevada and Delaware do. Again, you have to be a resident of either of those states to participate. The other two states that are exempt from PASPA, Montana and Oregon, were given the opportunity to pass state laws making sports betting legal, but failed to take advantage of the one-year window of opportunity.
Q: Do I have to live in one of those states to use an online sportsbook?
A: No, you can use any of the trusted US online sportsbooks that we review. If you want to use an online sportsbook based in Nevada, you must be live in Nevada. If you want to use an online sportsbook based in Delaware, you must live in Delaware. This does not mean you can’t use an online sportsbook that is based outside of the US.
Q: Since the sports betting sites are located overseas, are they safe?
A: Yes, they are safe for the everyday bettor to make a wager, as those online sportsbooks are not subject to PASPA. More importantly, there is no law that prevents an individual US player from participating in an overseas online sportsbook.
Q: Do I need to worry about anything else?
A: You just need to make sure you are old enough to use the site(s). Individual states have their own betting age laws, but some states have no laws. The minimum age set by the site(s) is 18. But if the site sets the age at 18 and your state says you must be 21, always go with the higher number.
Now that you know a little bit more about PASPA, it’s time to find a legal sports betting site for US residents. The most important thing is to make sure you are following the law when joining an online sportsbook. All of the sites we recommend are safe and reliable. They are all reputable and have gaming licenses. You will have nothing to worry about by joining any of these sites. Just remember to check your state betting age laws.
Americans have a number of options when it comes to betting online. New sites seem to pop up every day, and the same amounts tend to be taken down just as fast. This is why it is wise join a US sports betting site with a stellar reputation. SportsBetting has been around the block and back many times, serving sports fans from every state in the nation for almost two decades. This kind of staying power only comes with a site that knows how to function legally and safely.
One of the best things about SportsBetting is that they take players from all fifty states. They can do this because they are nationally syndicated and own a host of certifications and gaming licenses. This is as legit as it gets, and SportsBetting holds true to their name. There isn’t a larger or deeper sportsbook out there on the web. You will find industry-leading odds on all professional and most amateur sports and competitions, as well as political and entertainment props.