Sports Betting Laws In The USA
Sports betting laws in the USA vary on a state-to-state basis. The vast majority of states have no laws against an individual wagering on sports, which allows online sportsbooks to operate in more than 45 states. In addition, dozens of states have regulated in-state sports betting markets. There are still several laws worth knowing, but the bottom line is that nearly everyone in America can legally access online sports betting.
UIGEA of 2006 - Wire Act of 1961 - PAPSA - State Laws - Age To Bet
PASPA Repeal And Its Effects
On May 14, 2018, PASPA was overturned by the Supreme Court (6-3), meaning that sports betting was no longer prohibited by the federal government. This opened up many possibilities for US based sports betting, as well as for international sportsbooks serving the US. Bettors can now access both state-based and internationally regulated legal gambling sites.
Top USA Sportsbooks
| Rank | Sportsbook | Highlights | Rating | Visit Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
50% Up To $250 Read Review |  |
Visit Bovada |
| 2 |  |
50% Up To $1000 | |
Visit BetOnline.ag |
| 3 |  |
50% Up To $1000 | |
Visit SportsBetting.ag |
| 4 |  |
50% Up To $1000 | |
Visit MyBookie |
| 5 |  |
50% Up To $300 | |
Visit Xbet |
#1
50% Welcome Bonus Up To $250
Bovada sportsbook is a site that our own writers and staff members use on a daily basis. Bovada is aimed at the North American market, which means that US players will find it very easy to fund their accounts, place bets, and withdraw their winnings. Bovada offers a nice sports betting bonus that serves up 50% extra up to $750, and it comes with a low, 5x rollover. Bovada’s customer service team speaks fluent English and is available toll-free and via live chat and email 24/7, even on holidays.
- Established Reputation
- Easy Deposits
- Crypto-Friendly
- Fast Withdrawals
- Limits On Certain Markets
- No DE, MD, NJ, NY, NV
#2
50% Welcome Bonus Up To $1,000
Though BetOnline is not designed specifically for American gamblers, they accept bets from 47 American states, and have customer service and U.S. friendly US sports betting deposit options available to the American sports bettor. All the traditional bets Americans are used to are available at BetOnline, and the site offers its members a lifetime deposit matching bonus of 20% on every deposit with the code LIFEBONUS.
- Accepting US Bettors
- Crypto Deposits/Withdrawals
- Hefty Bonuses
- Great Props
- Some Withdrawal Fees
- High Rollovers
#3
$1,000 New User Betting Bonus
MyBookie has taken their bonuses to the next level by not only offering a big paying bonus to their new users but also to their existing users. The first bonus that new users could take advantage of is a $1,000 bonus where they’ll match your first deposit by 100% up to $1,000. Once you have already used that bonus, they have a reload bonus where they will match every other deposit by 25%. Each of these bonuses can be used with any deposit method that they accept.
- Live Betting
- Available In Most States
- Accepts Crypto
- Expansive List Of Sports
- Some Withdrawal Fees
- Not Legal In NV, NJ, and NY
States With State-Regulated Sports Betting
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Louisiana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Montana
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- Washington DC
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
State-Specific Sports Betting Restrictions
Some states restrict the sports you can wager on at their regulated books. Note that these restrictions ONLY apply to the regulated books – you can still place these wagers at online sportsbooks accessible in these states.
Sports Betting Restrictions By State:
| Arizona | Collegiate prop betting is not allowed |
| Colorado | Only specific college props are allowed |
| Connecticut | No betting on in-state college teams |
| Delaware | Wagers on in-state collegiate athletics are not allowed |
| Illinois | Wagers on in-state college props are not allowed |
| Indiana | Collegiate prop betting is not allowed |
| Iowa | Wagers on in-state college props are not allowed |
| Maine | Wagers on in-state collegiate athletics are not allowed |
| Nebraska | Wagers on in-state college teams are not allowed |
| New Hampshire | Wagers on in-state collegiate athletics are not allowed |
| New Jersey | Wagers on in-state collegiate athletics are not allowed |
| New York | Wagers on in-state collegiate athletics are not allowed |
| Oregon | No college sports betting at all |
| Rhode Island | Wagers on in-state collegiate athletics are not allowed |
| South Dakota | Wagers on in-state collegiate athletics are not allowed. Collegiate prop betting is not allowed |
| Tennessee | Collegiate prop betting is not allowed |
| Virginia | Wagers on in-state collegiate athletics are not allowed. Collegiate prop betting is not allowed |
| Washington | Wagers on in-state collegiate athletics are not allowed |
| Washington DC | Wagers on college teams in the District are not allowed. |
Does The UIGEA Make Online Sports Betting Illegal?
No. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act does not make any sort of betting illegal. What it does is prevent certain financial institutions from processing deposits and withdrawals from certain sports betting websites. Nothing in the UIGEA explicitly makes these types of bets illegal.
Can I Go To Jail For Breaking The Wire Act?
Not if you’re just placing bets. The Wire Act is not the kind of law used to arrest individual sports gamblers. It was designed to prevent sports betting operations on American soil, not as a way for the government to track down and arrest bettors that drop a few bucks on their favorite sporting events on the weekend. You should not fear jail time or fines based on the Wire Act.Is It Legal To Place Sports Bets In My State?
Yes, it is completely legal for you to bet on sports in your home state regardless of the rules and regulations that they have on online sports betting. The online sportsbooks on this page are licensed and based offshore and do have rules and regulations set in place by governing bodies. The most important factor though is that the U.S. government does not have any laws that would prohibit you from using these sites regardless of where you are located.
What Is The Legal Online US Sports Betting Age?
It's safe to say that the legal betting age is either 18 or 21, depending on which American state you live in. Consult your state laws or lawyer for specific questions about online or sports betting law in your state. Some online sportsbooks accept players over the age of 18 regardless of state location.