Legal Sportsbooks

• Legal Online Sports Betting Usa
• Online Sportsbooks For Us Players

• Legal licensing and regulation are the 2 most important factors in any credible sports betting website. All of the other items on our list combine to create a better overall wagering experience. You can review these sportsbooks.
• As of May 1, 2020, sports betting is legal in Colorado as long as bets are placed with authorized, legal sportsbooks and operators. Bettors may place legal bets with the following licensed operators within.

Legal Sports betting in the United States is a rather newer topic, as every state wasn’t able to participate until May 2018. This came at the change of a federal law known as PASPA being overturned by the Supreme Court, allowing each state to set their own standards and laws regarding the sports betting industry. Numerous states across the nation have welcomed the new gambling addition, and it has proven to be profitable in terms of sportsbook revenue and taxable contributions to the state since the launch of their industries.

Bovada is one of the most popular sportsbooks on the Internet, and it is the most-trafficked venue for legal sports betting in the United States. Bovada offers a wide range of betting lines on everything you can imagine, from NASCAR to NFL odds and everything in between.

Keep in mind that US online sportsbooks have been and continue to be legal for those who are in states that have not formalized laws around the industry. As of 2021, half of all states still have not approved sports betting via a state sanctioned framework. The offshore books offer plenty of odds, more wagering choices, and promotional bonuses that are nowhere to be found at the local books. Each of these methods has their perks and disadvantages but the laws surrounding them are rather set in stone. Between federal laws and individual state laws, there can be a lot to take in, but we have done our best of providing you with a complete overview of the industry.

PASPA Overturned By The Supreme Court!

For the longest time, sports betting was illegal – from a bookmaking and gambling operations POV – in most of the United States. This was due to the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA, 1992), which effectively gave Nevada a nationwide monopoly on sports betting. States like New Jersey, with once-struggling casino industries themselves, lobbied hard for the elimination of the law, and NJ eventually got their case heard at the Supreme Court.

In the case of Murphy vs. NCAA, the SCOTUS sided with NJ, overturning PASPA on constitutional grounds on May 14, 2018. This has opened the door for every state in America to initiate and regulate their own sports betting laws and industries. While new federal regulations are possible, right now the US congress has only cursorily debated the subject. That said, it seems unlikely that the federal government won’t attempt to take back oversight of US sports betting, particularly if a majority of states don’t hurry up and implement their own rules and laws for the practice.

Legal Online Sports Betting Usa

Mobile Apps For Legal Sports Betting In The United States

Right now, you will only find mobile apps for legal sports betting in the United States in those few states that have casino-based online sportsbooks available to the public. Some of these apps are geo-fenced to the casino properties, allowing sports bettors to place wagers while enjoying any of the casino resorts’ other amenities. You might be able to wager from the on-site restaurants, game rooms, casino floors, pools, cabanas, and sometimes even the attached golf courses. Other states might be more liberal, allowing bettors to place sports bets from anywhere. Access is limited to in-state wagers only, however, with state-licensed mobile betting apps.

Online sportsbooks located overseas and serving US customers, of course, don’t have to be geo-fenced in accordance with the Wire Act, as no domestic US laws apply to their operations. However, that also means that the App Store and Google Play will not host any official iPhone betting apps or Android betting apps for these offshore brands. Fortunately, all the best offshore books have simply made mobile-optimized wagering portals available through your standard mobile browser (Safari, Chrome, etc.). This means that you can access all of your favorite sportsbook’s odds and lines in just a few taps from anywhere you’ve got an Internet connection, nationwide!

In-Game Legal Sports Betting For US Residents

In-game wagering, aka live betting, is all the rage, and it’s the newest and most popular way to gamble on your favorite players, teams, and matchups. Traditional betting is great, certainly, but you’ve always got to have your tickets in before the game starts. Not so with live betting, which is fast becoming the number-one method for legal sports wagering in the US. With live betting, you can actually place wagers as the game unfolds, in real time! Most marquee matchups will feature lots of live wagering options, with odds being refreshed and modified every few seconds.

Thanks to persistent Internet connections and high-tech smartphones, any sportsbook member can enjoy easy live betting without huddling in front of their computers. Just make sure that you place your wagers as soon as you see favorable lines, because those could disappear one play later. With live betting, you have literally thousands of extra chances to win big bucks each and every day of your favorite sporting seasons. Live betting – along with mobile betting – is the future of legal sports betting in the United States.

Questions About Legal Sports Betting In The U.S.

Are there exchange rates for USA Online sportsbooks?

Typically, no. The online sportsbooks that are considered to be legal will happily accept US funds and then pay out players in the same currency. Unless noted otherwise, bettors who use American dollars will not have to calculate any exchange rate. This is especially true with any betting website listed at this resource, as these all deal directly with US dollars. One thing to note, however, is that many of these websites do accept Bitcoin, which is technically a currency that has an exchange rate that varies day to day as people trade it on the open market. One of the underrated aspects of using Bitcoin to fund a sportsbook account is that you can make a profit or take a loss simply by purchasing the Bitcoins. The sportsbooks value Bitcoin at an average price similar to the market price, so there shouldn’t be any major exchange rate issues when it comes to Bitcoin.

How do I know where to find legal sportsbooks for USA players?

Online Sportsbooks For Us Players

As noted above, American anti-gambling laws that are in effect universally pertain to the business of sports betting (i.e. the sportsbook and bookmaker), not the people making the actual wagers. Legal sports betting websites that accept USA players would not risk their business by taking such players if that practice were a risk to draw legal action. If an online bookmaker takes your action, it is typically a safe sportsbook for U.S. players, provided it is a well-known and established brand.

What are some of the laws hindering U.S. online sportsbooks?

The UIGEA is the biggest hindrance when it comes to sports betting laws in the US. This was attached to the Safe Port Act of 2006 as an unrelated (and unread) rider. In short, the UIGEA was intended to make it harder for gamblers to use funds from American banks to make their deposits and – sometimes – to receive check-based payouts. Credit and debit cards like VISA and MasterCard can sometimes be rejected when used in specific transactions with online bookmakers. When this happens, gamblers have a few options available to them: They can use a third party to deposit funds (Western Union, MoneyGram, etc.), they can purchase a prepaid credit card online (which must be good for international purchases), or they can use cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, DASH, Litecoin, and others. Bank wire transfers are usually quite stable, as well, and some sites even support a new go-between service called Direct Pay. (The Wire Act, which prevents people from accepting wagers across state lines, is not a hindrance to US online sportsbooks, as these books are not domestically-based.)

By far, the biggest hindrance to online sports betting in the US was PASPA. This law, passed in 1992 and enacted on January 1, 1993, banned all states but Nevada, Delaware, Oregon, and Montana from offering legalized sports betting, and it was the #1 reason why, for example, New Jersey was unable to include sports betting as part of its legal online gambling package that launched in 2013. However, PASPA was overturned by the Supreme Court, thereby allowing every state in the US to legislate its own sports wagering regulations. Many states have now started to provide and accept sports wagers at area casinos and racinos, and legal sports betting in the United States is here to stay.

Are there transaction fees at U.S. Accepted Sportsbooks?

Sometimes. When using third-party sports betting deposit methods, like an eWallet, you can expect to be charged a small fee of less than 5%. Credit and debit cards also sometimes carry fees for international use. As a general rule, though, the best online sports betting deposit methods – like wire transfers and crypto transfers – are fee-free.

How many off-Shore Sportsbooks offer lines on American sports?

American sports events are among the most popular in the whole world. Gamblers in Europe and Asia even bet on them. Therefore, almost every online sportsbook offers lines on American events – and not just the sites that cater to US sports bettors, but those that exclusively serve other countries, too.

Can I Be A Member Of An Offshore Sportsbook And A State-Sanctioned Sportsbook Simultaneously?

No matter where a sports bettor resides in the United States, they can always join an offshore sportsbook. For those living in one of the 23 states with legal sportsbooks available locally, they can be a member of each kind of platform because each form of gambling on sporting events is still legal. Gamblers with multiple sportsbook accounts, both state-sanctioned and offshore, have more of an advantage when betting on sports matchups because they have more options and can shop lines. Shopping lines will give players a chance at higher payouts when they bet using the outlet with the wager they want that would lead to the bigger payout. In short, yes, sports bettors can have both offshore and state-sanctioned sportsbook memberships as is their legal right in the United States.

Will I Get In Trouble For Betting Sports Online?

Individual users are within their rights to place real-money wagers on sports online. The federal laws in place cover the operation of unlicensed, US-based bookmakers, not bettors who simply wish to place wagers with these or other services located overseas. As such, offshore sites are the best options for true legal sports betting in the United States. Where players can get into trouble is if they use a website while underage. Gambling underage is a serious offense at online sportsbooks, which require their users to be at least 18 (though you should err on the side of caution and go with your state’s legal gambling age, if there is one). If you sign up and/or wager at these sites while under 18, your account will be terminated, you will be permanently banned, and all monies held in your account will be forfeited.

Best Legal Sportsbooks For U.S. Players

So, are you ready to see what you need to do to actually place a wager online? Well, look no further, because we have listed here for you the very best in online offshore sports betting websites. These are the websites we use, so we are confident enough in them to recommend them to you. Remember, we bet on sports just like you’re looking to do, and we’ve tried all of the major sites on the Internet. This is how we know what you want - because we want the same things when looking for a reputable sportsbook.

Bovada Sportsbook - Accepts All U.S. Residents Except New Jersey, MD, NV + DE

Bovada is one of the most popular sportsbooks on the Internet, and it is the most-trafficked venue for legal sports betting in the United States. Bovada offers a wide range of betting lines on everything you can imagine, from NASCAR to NFL odds and everything in between. You can also wager on a multitude of international sports at Bovada, including rugby, cricket, and soccer. Bovada also features some of the most innovative ways to bet real money on sports in an atmosphere that is friendly, inviting, and most of all, safe. And if you’re just starting out with sports wagering, Bovada actually has an excellent primer series of tutorials for all members.

Bovada also offers great rewards, like their Sports Welcome Bonus which gives you a 50% match of up to $250 when making your first deposit. This bonus is the best in the industry, with an extremely generous 5X rollover requirement. (Competing services often have bonus rollovers of 10X or greater.) Because of its wide range of wagers and its easy-to-use deposit methods, Bovada's online sportsbook is probably the best legal sports betting site that allows US residents. And that’s probably why over 10 million US betting enthusiasts call Bovada home for all their sports wagering needs.

BetOnline Sportsbook - No U.S. Residents Meeting Legal Age To Bet In Their State Turned Away

In a matter of minutes, you can be registered and wagering money on whatever betting line you choose if you decide to sign up with BetOnline. This website is very professional and would be a no-brainer if it weren't for other bookmakers like the ones listed on this page, which all have their strong points (which is why it’s a good idea to sign up at several different books, especially to shop around for the best lines, even though BetOnline will almost always bring you top value for your money). With that said, BetOnline has the best bonus promotion going, which is a 25% perk worth up to $1000 on every deposit for life, and this free money brings users back with frequency.

Of course, BetOnline's ultra-quick deposit methods are very nice, but the fast payout options are what truly separate it from the rest of the pack. At BetOnline, it can take less than 24 hours to get paid with cash depending on the day/time your payout request is made and processed. This timeline is shortened even further if users elect to be paid via Bitcoin or another supported cryptocurrency.

MyBookie Sportsbook - The Best Leisure Sportsbook Around!

MyBookie is what we like to call a leisure sportsbook. It’s optimized to provide the best betting experience to someone who just wants to see some cool lines and wager a normal amount of money on sports. It’s not meant for degenerate gamblers, it’s meant for the casual sports betting crowd, the normal people. This makes it a very accessible sportsbook, and it allows MyBookie to focus heavily on providing odds on things other sportsbooks might not touch. If you want to bet on celebrity death pools, you can check out MyBookie. If you want to bet on the Academy Awards, you can check out MyBookie. If you want to bet on whether or not Lizzo will wear a thong to the Super Bowl, you guessed it, you can check out MyBookie. On top of all the interesting odds they offer, they’re just a great sportsbook in general. Their lines are fair, and their odds are great. Take a look at MyBookie the next time you want to wager on sports.

Best Legal Sports Betting Sites

Welcome to LegalSportsbooksUSA.com, an all-in-one resource designed to deliver all of the pertinent information you should know about before signing up for an online sportsbook that accepts U.S. residents. There are many aspects to consider when joining a sports betting site, with legality being a prime factor. After reading this article, and the subsequent pages on our site, readers will be well equipped to start your online sports wagering journey.

Along our journey, LegalSportsbooksUSA is going to reveal the legal landscape of online sports betting, and show readers exactly why online sportsbooks are even able to allow them to wager real money on their favorite games. Our staff has provided in-depth reviews of many of the best USA friendly sports betting sites that are legal, including highlights of the various features and extras that these sites offer.

The quick answer to this question is yes, if you choose the right sports betting site. There are many legally functioning, USA accepted online sportsbooks that have been operating for decades, and there are much fewer illegitimate sites. This is because the latter get shut down rather quickly...this business is only for those who fly straight. As the end user (consumer), the ultimate goal is to find a site that functions within the stipulations of the various U.S. sports betting laws currently in place. The main regulations in place for sports betting in the United States are founded at the federal level, which we cover in depth on our online sportsbook laws pages.

Furthermore, all U.S.A sports betting sites reviewed on these pages operate within the bounds of the federal and state laws, and serve millions of sports fans every day. Our staff has taken the time to review numerous sites for you to explore, and it is highly encouraged that you to check each one out to see which is right for you. Each legal sports betting site offers unique features to expand your sports wagering experience beyond the bland number-games of lesser sites.

Bovada comes to U.S. residents through our neighbors to the north, Canada. For over two decades, this site has offered premier sports betting action to players from most states in the nation. There is one caveat to signing up for this sportsbook, not all fifty states are able to join. Because some states offer their own form of sports wagering, Bovada doesn’t accept members from Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, or Nevada. Do not let this discourage you if you are from any of these states though, as there are plenty of other legal online sportsbooks that accept players from every state.

If you are in any of the other 46 states, we highly recommend checking out Bovada. Whether you are new to sportsbooks, or an old pro, this site offers something for everyone. The powerful sportsbook offers industry-best odds on all major and most minor-league sports, including darts and rugby. You will also find political, entertainment, and e-sports odds if you want to take a break from sports in the off-season.

If you have ever conducted an internet search for online sports betting sites for US players (which you probably have if you’re reading this), then BetOnline should be no stranger to you. This site has one of the most prestigious reputations in the business, and we can’t find a reason to argue against that. This site hosts a tremendously powerful sportsbook, and eve has an “insider” section with the latest predictions and news. Being a member of BetOnline, you will be wagering with the “smart money”. Best of all, they accepts players from all fifty states.

BetOnline can afford to use the best gaming and safety software, and it shows. The entire site is gorgeous to look at, intuitive, and there has never been a complaint involving stolen information or loss of funds. If you are looking for a professional sportsbook that has been in the game since the dawn of the internet, look no further than BetOnline.

You will stand to win a lot more than fifty cents at 5Dimes Sportsbook, as this is one of the deepest online bookmakers on the web. Aimed at seasoned sports bettors, this site does away with fancy lights and astonishing graphics and instead opts to put all of their energy into creating a dynamic sports betting site. If you are brand new to the sports wagering world you might want to choose another site, as this site is geared towards those who know the difference between a straight wager and a parlay. If you have experience with sportsbooks, you will find 5Dimes to be the cream of the crop.

The main sportsbook at 5Dimes is a field of dreams, offering a wider variety of sporting events than almost any competing site, including sports you might not expect such as handball and water polo. If you are a fan of competitive games, 5Dimes will not disappoint. Sign up now to experience a top-tier sportsbook in action.

They say a lot is in a name, and this holds true for SportsBetting. This site is definitely geared towards sports fans, with amazing promotions and special tournaments going on all the time, but you will also find poker, horseracing, and a virtual casino. This site is no slouch in any of these areas, but the sportsbook is where it really shines. They combine amazing depth with ease-of-use so that seasoned sports bettors and complete neophytes will be satisfied. The help section is pages long and describes every nook and cranny of the sportsbook in simple terms. After placing a few wagers at SportsBetting, you will feel like a pro.

SportsBetting functions out of the Republic of Panama, where it has enjoyed a prestigious career for almost two decades. This site is commonly ranked among the best online sports betting sites for US players, and we can’t find any reason to argue. In order to sign up, users will need to be at least 18 years old or meet the minimum age to bet within their local jurisdiction.

Federal Sports Wagering Laws - Now that you know where to find a great online sportsbook, it’s time to take a peek behind the curtain of the law to see how these sites are able to continually serve up world-class sports betting action to players from all over the nation. There are two main laws that regulate online sports betting in America. The Federal Wire Act, created in 1961, is a very outdated law that was originally meant to stamp out organized crime involved in gambling. Now the Act only affects online sports betting by restricting the transfer of wagering information across state lines. The great thing is that the Wire Act only impacts online sportsbooks that exist inside the U.S. All of the premier sites operate overseas, and so therefore do not function under the influence of the Wire Act. Anybody can use these sites as long as the site accepts your state.

The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006 is the other federal law that affects online sportsbooks. The UIGEA only involves itself with funding methods, and does not restrict a site from functioning in any way. In order to stay within the parameters of the UIGEA, the sports betting sites must not transfer funds directly to a players’ credit card. This is a simple rule to follow, as there are a plenitude of ways to send money these days. We will go over the various payment methods later in this article. Check out our federal laws page for more detailed information about each law.

Learn More: Federal Sports Betting Laws

Sports Wagering Laws In The States - It may surprise many readers to know that individual states do not regulate online sports betting in the US. The states defer to the federal government to decide this issue. The only states that have general sports betting laws are the ones that the federal government deems ok to host such activities. The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) restricts any land-based sports betting to Nevada, Delaware, Montana, and Oregon. Therefore, these are the only states that have any sports betting laws. Only Nevada and Delaware actually have regulated bookmaking, so those are the only states where you will find actual sports wagering events. This is why the U.S. online sportsbooks are so popular; anyone from any state can use them as long as they accept your state. Check out our state laws page to learn more.

Learn More:State Sports Betting Laws

Now that you know the background on the federal and state laws, it is about time to pick out a sportsbook. Before picking one out, you should understand a few things about features and payment methods. Every sportsbook worth its salt should offer a certain minimum of features, which we will go over in the proceeding sections. These “requirements” include deposits, payouts, live and mobile betting, bonuses and more. Should you find a sportsbook that doesn’t offer all of these, it is time to look elsewhere.

Learn More:Bonuses at Sports Betting Sites

Deposits are arguably the most important part of wagering online. In order to start winning real money, you must first load your bankroll. Many folks wonder why these sites can’t just conduct transactions to and from a bank account directly. This is because of the UIGEA that we mentioned earlier. To get around this, these sites have online cashiers where you will deposit your money. This works a lot like a casino, in which you buy chips to bet with, and then cash out at the end. With the online sportsbooks, you are buying “chips” or “points” to wager with, and then the site sends you your winnings when you request them. Most sites offer numerous deposit methods including credit/debit, cash wires, bank wires, money orders, bitcoin, and many more. Check out our online sportsbook deposits page for more information.

Much like deposits, the sites that you want to use should offer at least a few different payout options. This is a very important part of wagering as it dictates how you receive your money. Since the UIGEA restricts sites from transferring funds directly into credit card accounts, these sites offer many safe and efficient alternatives such as checks, MoneyGram, Western Union, bank wires, and bitcoin. Every method comes with different fees, processing times, and limits. You can read all about each payout method at our legal online sportsbook payouts page.

With the rapidly advanced technological age we live in, convenience is a prime factor for most web-based companies. These reputable online sportsbooks do their best to keep up with the times, or they risk losing members. One of the best features around is mobile sports betting, which you will find at all of the sites we review. Mobile betting allows players to access the entire sportsbook from the palms of their hands. This unique and innovative feature lets you bring the game with you, wherever you might be. Check out our mobile betting page to read all about it.

Another exciting feature that is relatively new to online sportsbooks is live/in-game betting. This section of the site will open up a completely new sportsbooks that only covers games that are currently happening, or starting soon. This interactive sportsbook allows you to wager on all aspects of a game, as it is playing out in real-time. You can put money on the odds as you watch them change in front of your eyes. If you have never experience live betting, then you have never seen how exciting sports betting can actually be. This feature also allows you to jump in on an in-progress game is you are late to wager on it.

Those looking for some real-world social sports wagering are either going to be very happy, or quite disappointed with the reality of the situation. If you happen to live in Nevada, then you will be able to find sports betting events around every corner. The federal law PASPA, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, allows four states to host sports betting functions, but only Nevada actually takes them up on it fully. Delaware has very limited options (only during NFL season, and only certain wager types with limits), so Nevada is the only place to find a true blue sportsbook. Everyone else should check out the online sports betting sites that we review because they offer the best action around.