Sports Betting Sites Legal In The US
Sports betting in America is plagued by misconceptions. Arrests of illegal private bookies and the Federal Wire Act of 1961 have scared many US player away from the legal online sportsbook market. Our site exists to point you toward legal sites that are able to do business with Americans within the boundaries of existing US law.
Below, we break down many of these myths and even recommend a few sites that you can visit today to bet on sports tonight. Best of all, at least one of the sites we have listed here accept players from your state and that means you are free to go there and bet on sports. Plus, be sure to look into our FAQs as these will really help you with some of the questions that many rookie sports bettors have. Please keep reading below to learn more.
INFO ABOUT THE LEGALITY OF ONLINE SPORTS BETTING
Legal Age to Bet at Legal Online Sportsbooks
In order to be sure that you're of legal age to play at your chosen online sportsbook, check state laws or consult a legal professional. We also provide an easy to read state by state gambling age guide, and you can always contact a sportsbook's customer service page for more information on legal gambling age at that particular site.
Reality of Laws About Legal Online Sportsbooks
Regardless of how strict the language in your state's law books is, the reality is that no American state has yet to successfully prosecute a single bettor for placing sportsbook bets online. For the most part, state governments are interested in shutting down the sportsbook websites, not harassing bettors placing wagers on sports on the Internet.
What the Law Says About Legal Online Sportsbooks
The Federal Wire Act of 1961 is the most relevant national law for online sports wagering. Fortunately for American bettors, the language in that act does not make it illegal to place such bets over the Internet. Some states, such as Louisiana, Oregon, Illinois, and Utah, expressly forbid citizens from placing bets on the Internet, but there has yet to be a single case of a citizen charged with committing any crime related to betting online.
DOES THE WIRE ACT MAKE SPORTS BETTING ILLEGAL IN THE US?
The language in the Federal Wire Act of 1961 prohibits gamblers from placing sports bets over the phone across state lines, but does not specifically address wagers placed over the Internet.
DO ONLINE SPORTSBOOKS OFFER DEPOSIT BONUSES?
Offering promotions, such as deposit match bonuses and no-deposit free cash offers is the number one way that legal USA-facing online sportsbooks compete for business. You can find a variety of bonus offers, so shop around before you pick a legal American sportsbooks website.
CAN AMERICANS PLACE LEGAL SPORTS WAGERS ONLINE?
In most American states, it is perfectly legal to bet on sports on the Internet, and even in states with laws that expressly forbid such wagering, the government is more likely to target the sportsbook site itself rather than individual bettors.
HOW DO I WITHDRAW WINNINGS FROM AN ONLINE SPORTSBOOK?
When it comes time to collect your winnings from your USA-facing legal online sportsbook, you normally have many options. Depending on the site you do business with, you may be able to receive a wire transfer, a paper check by courier, or even a cashout through the same eWallet service you used to fund your account.
HOW DO I ADD FUNDS TO MY ONLINE SPORTSBOOK ACCOUNT?
Since the UIGEA bill makes credit card and direct bank transfers difficult, you'll need to find a third-party funds transfer method that you trust to add cash to your player account. Luckily, many eWallet services still do business with Americans who want to bet on sports online legally or participate in any other form of legal Internet gambling.
BEST ONLINE SPORTSBOOKS LEGAL FOR USA PLAYERS
When looking for legal online sportsbook gambling for US citizens, you should pick a site that offers bonus money, provides proof of regulation through a legitimate gambling jurisdiction, and a sportsbook page that offers the types of bets on your favorite sports and teams.
Bovada Sportsbook - 50% Match Bonus Good To $250: Legal In All States Except Maryland & Washington
In our opinion, Bovada is the best legal online sportsbook for US gamblers. Bovada was created by industry-leader Bodog Casino to do business specifically with Americans that want to place legal sports bets, and complies with all US laws related to sports gambling. As of this writing, Bovada is offering first-time depositors a 50% match bonus worth up to $250 to help pad your online sports betting bankroll. And, the sports to bet on at Bovada are plentiful. From the NFL to the Olympics and everything in between is covered at Bovada.