Sports Betting Laws in the USA
If you're ready to learn about the laws that surround sports betting in the U.S.A., good news, as you have definitely come to the right place! Many sports fans in the U.S. are probably unaware or unsure of the legal landscape of sports betting in the U.S., or even in the state they live in. This is unfortunate because the sports betting laws in the U.S. This article will help get you caught up with the current legal situation regarding sports wagering in America.
There is a big difference between wagering online and on land, which we will point out in this article. You will discover exactly what you can and cannot do, wherever you live. The great news is that there are many options for everybody in the nation, and you won’t have to look far to find a safe place to wager on your favorite game.
The short answer is yes, U.S. residents can wager at world-class sportsbooks legally. It all comes down to choosing a safe place to play the odds. For instance, most Americans do not have access to a legal land-based sportsbook. In fact, only one state in the nation actually offers full-fledged sports betting events to take place. This might make it seem like you are out of options, but we haven’t talked about the online sphere yet. There are many legal online sportsbooks that accept U.S.A. players, and most of them allow residents from all 50 states to join. This is how 99% of the U.S. population is able to bet on their favorite games safely, and legitimately.
Throughout this article, we will discover why U.S.A. online sportsbooks are able to serve sports fans all over the world. We will also explain why land-based sports betting is so limited, and look at the few places where you can find it. Let’s take a look at the federal and state laws that affect online & land-based sports wagering in the U.S.
More: Is It Safe To Bet On Sports?
Sports betting is a fun pastime for millions of people around the world. Placing a wager on your favorite team can add excitement to whichever game, contest, or tournament you are watching. Because of a history of organized crime, several laws were passed to help protect the average bettor and help to crack down on the nefarious elements in the field. We will walk you through all of these federal laws to help you feel more comfortable in your gaming experience.
The first law that pertains to sports betting is the Federal Wire Act of 1961. This law functions with the express purpose of breaking the mafia’s hold on the gambling trade, and to protect the average bettor. This act is in place in order to assist states in rooting out and dealing with organized crime syndicates. The Wire Act targets only those engaged in the business of betting or wagering and not the casual bettor. In fact, this was expressly stated by Congressman Emanuel Celler, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee who stated the bill is not intended to punish the person "who bets $2,". The spirit of the law has always been to punish those who profit from accepting sports wagers from others, and to protect the casual or even sophisticated bettor using legitimate sportsbooks such as the many online sports wagering sites for U.S. players.
In order for someone to be prosecuted under this statute, the government must establish that the individual was not a casual bettor but instead was engaged in the business of facilitating a betting establishment. Therefore, unless you own or operate a sports betting venue you have nothing to worry about. As you can see from the above paragraph, this does not concern the casual bettor but only those involved in the facilitation or business of online gaming.
The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) is another law pertaining to sports wagering. It specifically limits the number of states that can offer land-based sports betting. Those four states are Nevada, Oregon, Montana, and Delaware. Don’t worry if you don’t live in one of those states because you can still enjoy the online gaming experience by using one of the trusted sites that we will review below. These sites are located outside the U.S. and therefore are not affected by this law.
Sports betting has been around forever, but in 1991 concerns arose about the problems that betting might cause for the different sports leagues and even college sports. David Stern, the commissioner of the NBA came out in support of this law and it passed through legislation despite the objection of the Department of Justice, which saw it as an overreach of Federal authority into states’ rights.
There is an important point here for the sports bettor. While this law only allows land-based sports betting in a handful of states, it has nothing to say about participating in betting online. Again, if you aren’t a bookie or running a sports book it is perfectly legal for you to bet online at one of the trusted sites we review below.
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006 passed on the last day of the congressional session by tacking it onto the Safe Port Act. In fact, Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) says that no one on the Senate-House Conference Committee had seen the final language of the bill before it went through senate. This law should not concern you as someone placing bets online as it only limits the types of financial transactions that institutions can process. The UIGEA does not affect the average bettor; in fact, the only thing the law restricts is the ability for sports betting sites to send payouts directly to a credit card. These legal online sportsbooks utilize many safe and fast funding methods that circumvent this restriction. The online sites overseas can still take deposits using credit cards they just cannot payout directly to a credit card.
The UIGEA targets businesses that facilitate gambling and the transfer of electronic funds for the purpose of online gambling. It proclaims itself as a prohibition on acceptance of any financial instrument for unlawful internet gambling. Since the sites you will be using are located outside U.S. jurisdiction, the UIGEA does not apply to them. Since there is nothing in the law that restricts the average bettor from using a legal sports betting site, you will be safe.
Taken as a whole, some of these laws can seem intimidating. However when broken down and looked at individually it actually should make it clearer that you as the average bettor has nothing to worry about when it comes to online sports betting provided you are using one of the legitimate sites listed below.
Deposits To US Sportsbooks | Bonuses and Promotions for US Sportsbooks | Payouts From US Sportsbooks
With the PASPA in place, individual states do not regulate sports betting. If you look through your state gambling laws, you will rarely find a mention of sports wagering, online or otherwise. PASPA allows land-based sports betting in four states, but only two of them actually have any real opportunities. Delaware has very limited sports betting events that have minimums and maximums, and you will not find many sports represented in their sportsbooks. This leaves Nevada as the only real place that has full-featured sports wagering events. In Nevada you can place bets on all of your favorite teams, and wager as much money as you are willing to lose.
For those not in Nevada, the online sportsbooks are your best options. These sites host amazing sportsbooks that rival anything in the real world, and you can do it all from the comfort of your own home. Check out our state laws page to learn more about each state, and what they allow.
Each of the states that allow sports betting has a betting age, usually 18 or 21. Most U.S.A. sports betting sites require players to be 18 to join. When signing up for a site, always check your local laws to see what the betting age is in your state. If the site asks you to be 18, but the state requires you to be 21, it is wise to follow the state law. Underage sports wagering can result in forfeiture of funds, and even legal trouble. It's not hard to see that it is in your best interest to make sure you are following the rules in this regard.
As you have read, there are three main laws that affect sports betting in the states. At first glance, these can seem daunting and cryptic. Once you pick the legal language apart however, you will see that there are many safe avenues to take to get in on some great sports betting action. We believe that the best sports betting site for U.S.A. players should have many exciting features, profitable bonuses, and betting options that would suit even veteran sports gamblers which is why we've assembled a list of a few that meet that criteria. Check them out below:
SportsBetting offers a top-notch sportsbook that offers the fastest lines on all major and semi-professional sports. You will find expert odds for whichever teams or athletes you root for, from basketball to professional wrestling. This site allows users from all fifty states to sign up, and millions of Americans use it every day. SportsBetting has been a legally functioning company for over two decades, and their stellar reputation just keeps on growing. If you want to sign up, just click any SportsBetting banner on this page, head to the registration screen, fill out all the necessary info, and submit; you just need to be 18 years old, or the minimum age to bet in your state to join.
Besides being trusted and respected among its peers, the online sportsbook at SportsBetting is loaded with opportunities to win money by wagering in a variety of different ways. Most only think of betting game to game on basic lines like the spread. Of course, SportsBetting has all your standard game lines, but they also have a plethora of other ways to bet including on individual player props, future odds for a team/person to win a championship, or even wacky 'yes/no' props that are very popular for big sports events. The point is that this sportsbook has what you want, and we know they are legit, both of which make them a fabulous choice for anyone seeking a US sports betting site that makes the grade.