Legal US 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.
| Legal Sports Betting Sites | USA? | Rated | Learn More | Sign Up Bonus | Bonus Cap | Bet Today: |
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Review | 50% Cash Bonus | $250 | GET STARTED |
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Review | 50% Free Play | $1,000 | GET STARTED |
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Review | 50% Free Play | $1,000 | GET STARTED |
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Review | 50% Free Play | $520 | GET STARTED |
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.