sports betting in the usa

Is Sports Betting Legal in the USA?

It’s always good to know your options when it comes to legal online sports betting in the USA. The face of gambling in the US is changing rapidly. Wager in America explains to you in simple terms, what your options are, and how to make the most of them.

Right now the list of states that offer legal online sports betting in the USA is a short one. Colorado, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, New Jersey, West Virginia being the main ones. However, it is getting longer all the time. This is why, for anyone interested in sports betting, Wager in America has to be included in your favourites list for online sports betting legal information.

On this page we show you where the best sports betting sites in the US can be found. We tell you what types of legal online sports wagering you can do, and importantly, how to place sports bets in the US. We also guide you through the tricky process of choosing sports betting apps. Which are the best, and how to download and install mobile apps on your phone.

Legal Online Sports Betting is the Right of Every American

In 1992 the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was introduced. What did this do? Well, effectively it outlawed sports betting in the USA for all but a handful of states.

These states, including Oregon, Delaware and Montana, were exempt only because they offered sports lotteries as opposed to offering legal sports betting. Nevada too was unaffected by the ruling, due to its existing licensing system for the ‘pooling’ of sports bets.

PASPA came about due to a Senate hearing in 1991. This hearing found US sports betting to be a national problem. Of course, in life there are always going to be those people that see any activity of this kind as a ‘problem’. For most of us it is as an innocent pastime that helps us to take an active stake in our team’s success.

sports betting in the usa

Another state that got caught up in all the hullabaloo over legalizing sports gambling in the USA was New Jersey. The original sports betting legislation allowed for a one year ‘window of opportunity’, specifically for the state of New Jersey to apply for an exemption. This it failed to do. As such betting on sports was banned in New Jersey.

Ironically, since this time New Jersey has been a leading opponent of the sports betting bill and instrumental in campaigning for it to be overturned. This led, in May of 2018, to the Supreme Court ruling, that effectively did just that. Now, all American sports bettors owe the state of New Jersey a massive debt of gratitude.

State Guide to Sports Betting in the USA

arkansas sports bettingCurrently there is no online sports betting in Arkansas. However, as of July 1, 2019 sports bettors in the state can wager at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort and Saracen Casino Resort.
colorado sports bettingColorado legalized online and retail sports betting in 2020. By September of that same year the state had seen more than $200 million in turnover.
sports betting in DelawareDelaware became the first state outside of Nevada to accept legal single game sports bets in the US. It beat the state of New Jersey by only a few weeks following the Supreme Court decision in 2018. Despite this Delaware only accepts land-based sports bets and not online.
illinois sports bettingLegal sports betting in Illinois began in earnest in March 2020 and online in June 2020. Although both land based and online sports betting is legal in Illinois, online sports bettors must first register in person at a retail sportsbook before being able to wager online.
sports betting in IndianaSports betting in the state of Indiana went live in September of 2019. Online and retail sports betting is permitted in this state. Indiana is another state that achieves more than $200 million in annual turnover.
Iowa sports bettingIowa beat the state of Indiana to the race to have legal sports betting in the US by a couple of weeks. Initially requiring online sports bettors to register at a retail unit, they have since dropped this requirement.
sports betting in michiganLegal sports betting became a thing in Michigan in March, 2020. Recognised as one of the largest markets for sports betting in the US it has an open attitude to legislation.
Mississippi sports bettingMississippi thundered out of the blocks to legalise sports betting in August, 2018. Yet despite this sports bettors can only place mobile sports bets from within a land based casino. It may prove more challenging to fully open up the state to online gambling.
montana sports bettingAlthough the state of Montana began taking sports bets in March, 2020 it is severely limited. Owned by the state lottery, this government-run monopoly effectively blocks competitors. Betting is at state owned retail units only.
nevada sports bettingNevada is one of those states that requires prospective sports bettors to register in one of the many casinos before being allowed to bet. Maybe because of this, Nevada is not one of the bigger players in online sports betting in the US.
new hampshire sports bettingDecember 30, 2019. This is when New Hampshire opened its doors to sports betting. Currently though, there is only one option when it comes to mobile sports betting in New Hampshire. There are several retail options too.
sports betting in new jerseyNew Jersey was the 3rd state to offer legal sports betting in the US. It is the most operator friendly too. 80% of sports bets in NJ are online with an annual turnover of $5 billion. This makes NJ easily the most lucrative market for sports betting in the US.
new mexico sports bettingNew Mexico is not strictly a legal sports betting state. There has been no legislature and no apparent desire by the people. Casinos on Native American tribal lands do take sports bets regardless of this fact.
sports betting in new yorkCurrently New York has few retail bookies. New legislation in April, 2021, initiated by Governor Cuomo, will open up NY to state run sports betting. This may not be the best option for New Yorkers though.
sports betting in north carolinaLegalized sports betting has been taking place in North Carolina since 2019. Online sports betting is still not an option for North Carolinians though that may change presently.
sports betting in north dakotaNorth Dakota Has never legally ratified betting on sports. Although it is possible to place sports bets at tribal casinos there is no ND legal online sports betting in the state.
sports betting in oregonOregon has only one option for its citizens to engage in sports betting. The state owned Oregon lottery runs the only book, but in reality it is not a big earner for the Beaver State.
pennsylvania sports betting One of the biggest sports betting markets in the US, Pennsylvania has both retail and online gambling. The Keystone State lies third behind only New Jersey and Nevada for revenue generated through sports betting.
rhode island sports bettingRhode Island has been offering legal sports betting since 2018. However residents of RI have only one option online and the state does not generate a large turnover from gambling.
south dakota sports betting South Dakota legalized sports betting in November 2020. Land based casinos only at this time are based in Deadwood and tribal gaming venues. There is talk of having online sportsbooks with servers located in Deadwood.
sports betting in tennesseeTennessee is the only US state to have sports betting online only. No retail sports betting and no casinos. The state also takes 10% of the total GGR which is several percentage points higher than in other states.
sports betting virginiaJanuary 2021 was when Virginia became one of the latest US sports betting regions. The state has proved popular with all the biggest names in online sports too, which is good news for Virginians.
sports betting in washingtonWashington state legalized sports betting on March 25, 2020. Currently only tribal casinos can accept sports bets. It seems unlikely that Washington residents will have access to mobile or online sports betting anytime soon.
washington dc sports bettingWashington DC seat of the US Government. DC offers limited options for mobile gambling. State run Gambet offers disgraceful odds for sports bettors and the only other place for mobile betting is the Capital One Arena.
sports betting WVSports betting has been live in West Virginia since August 2019. Unlike many other states WV has several good options for mobile sports betting, and you can bet from anywhere in the state.
sports betting in wyomingThe state of Wyoming has full state wide legal online gambling on sports. Only the second state to allow mobile gambling without any retail outlets. However local American Indian tribes look set to add retail sports betting soon.

How to Pick the US Sportsbook That’s Right For You

Right now, in 2022, American sports bettors have never had it so good in terms of choice of legal online sportsbooks. What is more, things are only going to get better.

For those states that allow for online sports betting, huge international bookmakers such as William Hill, Bet365 and Unibet are terrific options. They come packaged with regulated sports betting experience in Europe and Asia, as well as top class infrastructure in terms of marketing and customer service.

Other sportsbook operators, more familiar to US bettors such as, Caesars sportsbook, WynnBet and MGM have also entered the sports betting world. They have injected massive resources into online sports betting apps to ensure their competitiveness. If your state is one of those that offers you the opportunity to get on board with one of these powerhouses of regulated sports betting in the USA, we would strongly advise that you do so.

All this amazing choice in world class online betting in the USA does throw up an interesting conundrum though. Which one do you choose?

5 Top Tips for Choosing an Online Sportsbook in the US

When it comes to choosing the best online betting sites, often it can be a lottery. Do not panic! Wager in America is here to help you make the correct choice of online sportsbook according to your needs. We have put together a handy little guide with 5 top tips to help you choose the best online sportsbooks in the US…

Location, location, location

The single most important factor in choosing reliable, legal sports betting sites, is the state where you are based. If a particular US bookie does not offer legal sports betting in your state then it doesn’t really matter how good they are, you won’t be able to register an account.

It also helps if your state is one that has already legalized online sports betting. Currently these are Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming.

Other states such as Nevada, Illinois, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Washington DC also offer legalized sports betting but with more severe restrictions.

Always Check for the Bookmakers License

It goes without saying that the only online sportsbooks you should be giving your business to are legal online sportsbooks. How do you know if your choice of US is fully licensed and offers legal sports betting? Check out our top legal sports betting sites for a start. WiA only deals with top rated legal online US bookies.

You should also take a look at the foot of the homepage for your chosen online sports betting site. Licensed bookmakers in the US will display the logo of the state gambling commission. Frequently this will link back to their physical license.

Look for Attractive Sign-Up Offers

Do you want to know what the best thing about online sports betting in the USA is? The incredible range of awesome sign-up offers, promo codes and risk free bets that are available.

Let’s be honest here. We all love FREE stuff! Best online betting sites US have some of the finest welcome offers in the business. Bonuses that you will be offered can potentially add up to $1000’s of dollars. Why would you not want to take advantage?

Of course there is a caveat. Most online sports betting sign-up offers have some sort of wagering requirements attached. This is why WiA recommends that you always check the terms & conditions before signing-up to any offer.

Do not be concerned by this though. Many of the T&Cs are reasonable and achievable. It does pay for you to know what they are though so as to avoid any complications later.

Take Note of the Deposit and Withdraw Options

Most of us in America are well used to credit cards. We all have either a Visa or a Mastercard, whether that is for credit or debit purposes. However, we don’t all want to use these when we shop online, or indeed, register an online sports betting account.

Fortunately, living in the greatest country in the world we have a wide range of other options. One of these are eWallets. Digital payment processors are widely used in the USA for paying for a multitude of goods and services online. Many of the best bookmakers in the US will accept this form of cash deposit. and also to pay out your winnings.

Some of the most popular forms of digital payment include (but are not limited to) Paypal, Neteller, Skrill and Venmo. If any of these are your preferred method to transfer and receive money online, you may want to take a look and see if your US bookmaker accepts them.

Reputation is Everything

When opening an account with a US bookmaker one of the first things you may want to check out is their reputation. Is this online bookmaker well known in the US or Europe? Are they a global player or merely a local bookie? Have they gone through the proper channels to get their license? There are many questions that you may need to ask before committing yourself.

Luckily for you this is exactly why Wager in America exists. We have gone to great trouble to check the credentials of every single US bookie we list on our site. WiA only works with top rated legalized sports betting sites in the US. In many cases we have established strong business relationships with legal online sportsbooks in the US. This means that we are always up to date with how legal online sports betting companies operate and the services that they provide.

Our operator reviews are designed to give you all the information you need to make informed decisions. We don’t hold stuff back. If it needs to be said, and it’s true, we make you aware of it. Here at WiA we feel that the more information you have the easier it is for you to choose the best legal sports betting sites.

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Online Sports Betting Promo Codes

One of the ways that top US bookmakers get sports bettors to register an account is by offering incentives. US bookmaker offers can come in many forms but the most popular of these are as a free bet using promo codes or bonus codes.

When it comes to online sports betting in the USA bettors love promo codes. Why? Because they are simple to understand and easy to redeem. Americans are brought up on ‘Special Offers’ and ‘Discount Coupons’, we love them. Therefore, it makes sense that we would expect online bookmakers in the US to use them too.

Understanding Online Sports Betting Promotional Offers

Promo codes work because they give you something tangible to exchange with your chosen bookie. You enter the promo code upon registration and in return you receive a deposit bonus, sometimes worth $100’s, or a legal sports bet. Either way, online sportsbooks in the US are more than willing to give you something back in return for your custom.

Wager in America has the latest online bonus codes from the best bookmakers in the US. If you are looking for the best sports promo codes for free bets then WiA needs to be your first stop.

Redeeming Your Promo Code

The process of redeeming your online promo code is an easy one. First of all you want to choose a bookie from the WiA list of top sites for online sports betting in the USA. Once you have made your choice from amongst the best bookmakers in America follow these simple steps…

  1. Click the CLAIM BONUS button to head over to the bookmakers registration page.
  2. Choose a username and password that you are comfortable with.
  3. Fill in your personal details (including any documents required) when prompted.
  4. *ENTER YOUR PROMO CODE* in the space provided.
  5. Go to the cashier page to deposit your bankroll.

That’s it! All done. You will now have funds in your player account, and your bonus cash or free sports bet will be activated.

Banking Your Bonus Cash

Now that you have your bonus cash in your player account you will want to begin placing your first legal sports bet. But first, we advise you to read the terms and conditions of the promotion. Each bookmaker offer, whether it is a promo code or not, will have wagering requirements (WR) attached. Before you can unlock the bonus cash you need to fulfil these requirements.

If this is a FREE SPORTS BET it may be that the bet has to be redeemed within a set timeframe. This is usually 7-30 days. In the case of a deposit bonus or matched bonus you may be required to turnover a certain amount in sports bets before being allowed to cash out.

This turnover (TO) may be as low as one or two times, but it could be as high as 10x. Don’t forget to check your terms and conditions to be sure you know exactly what the requirements for your offer are. Once you have satisfied the terms and conditions you are able to bank your cash.

How to Register an Account With a US Bookmaker

You will be pleased to know that online bookmakers make it incredibly easy to register an account. There are, however, a few things you need to remember first.

  • You must be age 21 or over to register a US sports betting account
  • Online sports betting must be legal in your state
  • You will need a bank account or digital wallet to deposit and withdraw money

Once these requirements have been met, you are good to go. You are now free to open an online sports betting legal account by using the following instructions.

  1. Click on the CLAIM BONUS button next to your preferred sportsbook
  2. On the bookmaker sign-up page enter your personal details
  3. You will need to set a username and password too
  4. Submit ID documents when asked (photo ID & proof of address)
  5. Navigate to the cashier page in your new player account to deposit funds

Note: Some bookmakers in some states may require you to wait a period whilst they verify your ID documents. Check the terms and conditions of your chosen bookmaker and your state’s legal information page on WiA.

Making Deposits & Withdrawals With Your New Bookie

If you thought opening a US sports betting account was easy, withdrawing your winnings is even easier! Follow these simple steps and you will soon be able to spend your hard won cash any way you choose.

  1. First, log back into your player account
  2. Navigate to the cashier section of your player account
  3. Choose your withdrawal method (usually the same as your deposit)
  4. Key in the amount you want to withdraw
  5. Hit the CASH OUT or WITHDRAW button

That’s it! Your online gambling winnings should now be on their way to your bank account or eWallet. This may be an immediate transaction, or it could take up to a few hours depending on the deposit method you chose.

Legal Online Sports Betting in the US

In order to help you to be able to dive into the great wide world of online sports betting (for those that aren’t already familiar) Wager in America have put together a handy guide to US sports bets. This guide talks you through the most popular bets in America. Here you will find information on the major sports leagues and college football as well as in person sports betting. If you are new to sportsbetting or unfamiliar with the terms then this is recommended reading.

Top 10 Sports Betting Sites in the USA

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Frequently Asked Questions:

Is online sports betting legal in the USA?

You can bet your bottom dollar it is! Since the New Jersey Supreme Court ruling of 2018 legal online sports betting in the USA is (technically) the right of every American. However, this is dependent on individual state legislation of course. More than two dozen states have opened themselves up to legalizing sports betting, not all of them online though. Of the remaining states, some, like Utah and Hawaii, are unlikely to open their doors to online sports betting. Others may place severe restrictions on sports betting which may or may not allow for online or mobile sports betting.

Do all online sportsbooks offer mobile sports betting?

US sports betting companies have invested a lot of time (and money) into ensuring that sports bettors in the US have all the tools available to bet on sports. Where online or mobile sports betting US is an option, all registered legal bookmakers offer a mobile betting app.

Can I place sports bets from outside my state?

As far as retail sports betting goes, if you travel out of state and find yourself in tribal casinos that allows sports betting, then yes. If on the other hand, you are in a state that allows mobile gambling, it may be that when you opened your account you were required to register your home address. In this case you will be limited to mobile sports betting in your home state only. Due to licensing restrictions it may be that the mobile betting app you use will not function (not be licensed) in neighbouring states. For more information on sports betting laws in your state check your individual state guide.

Will I be allowed to place in-play bets?

Some sportsbooks in the US do allow live betting. With in-play bets the odds continuously change as the play develops and you may be able to take advantage. For live betting whilst the game is in progress go to your mobile betting app and see what the latest odds are for the market you want. This type of bet is frequently used for proposition bets.

What happens if I want to cash out early?

Some US sportsbooks do allow you to cash out early. If your team is winning, and you believe that there is a chance that this situation could change in the second half, you may have this option. However, this early cash out option may only be as part of a special online promotion run by your bookie, or your team may have to be leading by a minimum points spread at the time of cash-out as set by your bookie. Please check terms and conditions if this is the case.

Did you know that Wager in America is also a reliable source of information about online casinos in the US? We offer a list of the best online poker rooms US too? Thought we should mention this, just in case you are interested. Check them out!