Legal Sportsbooks
Bettors looking for legal USA sportsbooks will be happy to know that there are many of them out there to join. There are certainly a range of these online sportsbooks, and it's important to know that some are better than others. That is what we try to stress on this page, but don't worry, we give you the top sports betting sites that are legal for U.S. players, on this page. This differing quality has placed added importance on research and reviews of online sportsbooks, considering the fact that there are some out there that have the potential to lack in some of the important aspects. However, for those of you prospective online sports bettors, there is good news.
There are a number of online sportsbooks in the industry that are very high quality, with a reputation based on a solid foundation and a history of excellent service. And what's more, is that these online sportsbooks are legal for U.S. bettors, and allow USA players to sign up and create accounts at their site.
Each legal sports betting site offers unique features to expand your sports wagering experience beyond the bland number-games of lesser sites. Trusted Online Sportsbooks That Are Legal For U.S. Bovada Sportsbook.
Here at LegalUSASportsbooks.com, our goal is two fold. First, we want to provide you with accurate information about the legal status of online sports betting in the United States. Second, we want to provide you with the best of the sportsbooks that are legally open to USA players.
Legal USA Sportsbooks For US Players
- 5Dimes is one of the longest running and most trusted legal online sportsbooks. They give players the opportunity to bet on any number of sports and betting lines. Straight bets, spread bets, total score wagers, parlays, pleasers, teasers and more can all be found through 5Dimes Sportsbook. A free 50% match bonus can be collected upon signing up.
- If you are in a state that offers legal online sports betting, check out our reviews below to find out what sportsbooks are available in each state and see how VegasInsider rates them among the competition. To see the status of legal sports betting in your state, check out our legal sports gambling in the United States page.
Bovada is one of the leading names in legal online sports betting for U.S. players. No other online gambling site provides players with the quality found through Bovada. They accepts USA players and makes the signup process simple. It's important to note though that there are three states not accepted at the sportsbook. They are Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Nevada. The legal age to place a wager at Bovada is 18 years old, but U.S. players must also comply with state gambling laws.
Players will first be captivated by the extensive and comprehensive list of betting lines, for which they can preview all that are offered before creating an account. Creating an account implies the input of basic information, and within in minutes the process is complete.
As we said before, Bovada has one of the most extensive sportsbooks available, covering a huge number of sports and an even greater number of betting types. Bovada has become one of the most famous of all legal USA online sportsbooks, and they are easily one of our top choices.
Their commitment to their players begins with a free 50% to $250 match bonus on a first deposit. They will let you accept this bonus through both of their deposit methods, which are a Visa card deposit or a Rapid Transfer.
As a resident in the United States you have several great online sportsbook options that are legal. BetOnline Sportsbook is one of those legal sportsbooks, and they make sure that their players are very satisfied. When a player visits the site, they can browse and review the betting lines that are offered. If they choose to create an account, the 'join now' option is offered at the top of the screen.
Don't worry, it's not an extensive process to create a BetOnline account, and once you do, you will be granted complete access to the site fully capable to place a wager. The site has no short supply of special features, including betting trends, information on wager types, how to place a bet, and more.
There is a wide selection of U.S. legal deposit methods to fund your BetOnline account as a USA player as well. Credit cards are often popular to use, and the site accepts Visa and American Express. But it's not all plastic, as there is also the option of a wire transfer, and money orders, and cashier's check.
Legal Sportsbooks In Florida
Legal online sports betting for players located in the United States can be done at SportsBetting.ag. Players in all 50 states can visit SportsBetting.ag and sign up for an account right from the main screen on the homepage. Players must meet the gambling age stipulated on site, which is 18 years old to legally place a wager. State gambling age laws also come into play as well, as players need to meet the age required by their state as well.
As far as what you can find at SportsBetting.ag, the 'join now' link on the home screen will take you to the portal where you create your login information, password, and other basic information to verify who you are. From there, you're account will be affirmed, and you can make all kinds of wagers spanning hundreds of betting lines available at this sportsbook.
SportsBetting.ag offers betting lines for bettors will all types of interest, whether it's football, baseball, basketball, hockey, golf, or many others. Not only that, there are plenty more wagering options than straight bets. Wager types include parlays, if-bets, teasers, pleasers, and round robins. SportsBetting.ag encourages players to place wagers how they want.
To fund an account at SportsBetting.ag, a Visa or American Express card can be used. There is also a wire transfer option, and for those who can do neither of those, there is a money order or cashier's check that can be accepted.
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Features At Legal USA Online Sportsbooks
Mobile Sports Betting - Bet On Any Mobile Device
One of the best features of a great legal USA sportsbook is mobile betting. With this handy feature, you’ll never have to miss a bet ever again. Now you can bet anywhere and anytime from your iphone , android, or smartphone. It’s the perfect feature for the modern bettor who’s always on the move. You can bet on futures, props, betting lines, and more. One nice thing about mobile betting is you don’t have to download any extra apps. Mobile betting is the easiest and most convenient way to bet.
Live In Game Sports Betting - Bet Every Commercial
For the best interactive betting experience, try live in-game betting. This cutting-edge feature allows you to bet on the game as you watch it unfold in real-time. You can bet on individual plays if you want. You can view the action from multiple angles, side-by-side if you like. It’s all up to you, because you control the action. You can use live in-game betting from your computer or your mobile device. At any time during the game, you can see a list of current events to bet on as well as a list of upcoming events. With live betting, you’ll feel like you’re a part of the action.
Reduced Juice - Save Money On Juice
If you are a consistent bettor, reduced juice is just the thing for you! Juice, also called vigorish, means is the amount of interest a sportsbook or bookmaker collects on a bet. The average juice is usually around 10 percent. To put that in concrete terms, if the odds are -110, that means you would have to risk $110 to win $100. The juice is $10 of the $110 you risked to win $100. With reduced juice, you’re saving money on the vigorish. Some sites offer reduced juice as low as -105, which means you’re saving 50% on the juice. If you bet regularly, this reduced juice certainly adds up.
Buying Points - Make The Spread What You Want
Some of the best legal online sportsbooks for US players will let you buy points. This affects the point spread. The point spread gives points to an underdog team and subtracts points from a favorite team. The wider the point spread, the better the outcome for the underdog and the worse the outcome for the favorite. Buying points allows a player to widen or shorten the spread. So if a player really wants the underdog team to win, they can buy points to make the spread wider. Each point that is given to the underdog team is subtracted from the favorite. Bookmakers do this to even out the bets. In other words, without a point spread, no one would ever bet on the underdog team. The point spread evens the playing field.
Other Things To Know... The Legality Of Betting
We've gone ahead and shown you which online sportsbooks are legal and that are also the best ones for USA players but now let us tell you a little about why you are allowed to use them. We're going to dig right in with the big question:
Is Sports Betting Online Legal In The United States?
The legality of online sports betting is a complex question to answer. This problem is made difficult because of the lack of clear legal language relating to online gambling. There are a few pieces of legislation that have been written about, or adapted to online gambling, for which sports betting is certainly a part of.
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act has been established in order to prevent financial transactions related to online gambling, but this has not made it illegal to actually gamble online. It makes it illegal for businesses operating gambling sites to process transactions for betting.
The Wire Act of 1961 has been used to prosecute those who would actually operate an online sportsbook in the U.S., similar to the UIGEA. This law was established long before the Internet was even theorized, but like the UIGEA, it does not go after a player. A recent 2011 Fifth Circuit Court Of Appeals ruling did say that the Wire Act applies only to sports betting, but again, it applies to the transaction process of a bet, versus the actual act of placing a bet by the individual bettor.
As such, betting sports online at offshore account that accepts USA players is legal to do. There is no federal law against placing an online bet at one of these sites.
Each State Is Different, Know The Laws Surrounding Online Sports Betting
One thing you will want to keep in mind is that each state has its own set of laws, especially pertaining to gambling. Online gambling laws are not commonly drafted. In fact, only nine states have laws covering online gambling. These states are Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, and Wisconsin.
South Dakota's laws seem to only pertain to the operator of a gambling site, but this does not necessarily mean what you are doing is going to be legal. If you are truly concerned, we advise that you speak with an attorney in your state. We are not experts on the local state laws, and always suggest that it is a smart idea to address specific state questions at your local government or legal department.
Regardless of what misconceptions surround online gambling, know that you will have no issues joining these online gambling sites, provided that they accept USA players. The legal sportsbooks for US players accept residents from almost every corner of the United States. Sport is one of the top forms of entertainment in the United States, and these sportsbooks simply add a level of interactivity to the whole affair. If you are amongst one of the many who want to bet on sports, you have plenty of options to take at your fingertips.
Legal Age To Join Online Sportsbooks
Legal age restrictions can be found at the online sports betting sites, as well as in the state that a player lives in. The general consensus is that players need to be at least 18 years old to play at these online sports betting sites for USA players, but also must meet the online gambling age in the state. Online sportsbooks don't want the player to get into trouble on the off chance that they are caught gambling underage in their state, so it is important to abide by the highest age set down. In many states across the U.S that age is 21, but it can also be 18 years of age.
Is It Safe For USA Players To Bet Online? Will I Go To Jail For Online Betting?
Sports betting sites that are legal for American players are not 100 percent guaranteed to be safe, and there are certainly sites that are better than the others. What can be guaranteed is that these online sportsbooks we review on this site are the best in the industry, and some that we play at personally as well. They excel in the most important aspects and makeup of an online betting site. They do operate offshore, but are a legal sports betting option.
As a result, jail time, or any arrest for playing at these online sports betting sites is extremely unlikely. The sites are outside of the jurisdiction of federal law in the U.S. The U.S. federal laws pertain to the operation of an online gambling site. More specifically, they target the ways in which gambling sites in the U.S. process transactions. If you are running a gambling site in the U.S., you could have problems. But if you are a bettor placing wagers at these sites we have reviewed on this page, you should not run into any legal trouble.
Depositing Into Legal Sportsbooks For U.S. Players
Credit Cards like Visa, American Express, and MasterCard are commonly found as accepted deposit methods for online sportsbooks. And while most of the time they will work, there is the off-chance they might not. This is because the online gambling transaction seen by the bank backing the card might not allow it to be processed. This stems from the federal legislation in place for online gambling, i.e the UIGEA. In many cases a credit card is able to go through, we just simply wanted to give reference as to some situations it may not, and why. The convenience of credit cards is this method's biggest appeal, and a reason it is very popular.
As for other legal depositing methods, there can be wire transfers, money orders, and cashier's checks that are offered. Western Union is a popular wire transfer company that allows bettors to fund their accounts, and to do so very quickly. For money orders and cashier's checks, the process to send to an online sportsbook is consistent with that of any money order sent. Once received, it will be processed and funded to the player's account.
Getting Money Out Of Online Sportsbooks - Payouts
Legal questions for payouts at an online sportsbook can be put at ease, as there are no problems receiving them, or any laws that are broken for doing so. Withdrawals from online sportsbooks could be the same, or differ from deposit methods offered. Checks through the mail or courier are the most prevalent as online sportsbooks for USA players. These payout methods for online sportsbooks can take anywhere from one to four weeks depending on the method, but they are certainly legal, safe, and reliable.
Oftentimes a wire transfer option will be offered as well, though fees can be associated with this method. And then at some sportsbooks, money orders and cashier's checks are even offered.
American players will always have options to withdraw their money from an account, without having to worry about and legal problems.
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2020 has been a remarkable year, to say the least. COVID-19 will be The Story that characterizes the 365 days. But legal sports betting in the US took on a life of its own in 2020 and set the table for an industry that essentially proved virus and recession-proof. It figures to be one of the few “feel-good stories” of the year.
Looking back, there were a few major headlines that characterized the record-year for the US legal sports betting industry. How it navigated the COVID shutdown of retail betting locations and sports itself, the number of states that joined the legal sports betting family, and the emergence of internet-based betting were just a few. Let’s take a closer look.
Sports in the Time of COVID
The sports world endured an unprecedented pause in the action in 2020 thanks to COVID-19. “The Bubble” became the way that paused leagues such as the NBA and NHL were able to carry on with their season in March. Fast thinking saved those leagues.
It all started in March with Rudy Gobert’s positive COVID-19 test and the shutting down of the NBA season, a shutdown that lasted 141 days and caused leagues around the world including the NHL and European Football Leagues to follow suit. Casinos in participating states also shuttered during that time.
The cancellation of March Madness, which annually contributes $1 billion to the sports betting industry was the first real sign that the gambling industry was in trouble. MLB’s delayed and shortened 60-game season also put COVID on sports’ front burner.
For months, the sports betting world had to rely on table tennis, sumo wrestling, and Belarussian professional soccer. But then, once North American sports ramped up, bettors enjoyed an unprecedented period in which the NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL were all playing meaningful games simultaneously, forcing sportsbooks to scramble just to keep up.
Half of US States Poised to Have Their Own Legal Sports Betting Platform
Growth in the legal sports betting industry was remarkable in 2020 despite COVID-19. By the end of the year, 19 states and the District of Columbia had launched live, legal sports gambling. Many others actually made sports betting legal in their states during 2020 by legislation or by referendum on the November Election Ballot.
Illinois, Michigan, Colorado, Tennessee, Montana, New Hampshire, and Washington D.C. all came on board in 2020. States waiting in the wings to launch their own platform, thanks to some work done in 2020 are Maryland, Louisiana, South Dakota, Virginia, North Carolina, and Washington.
Legal Sports Betting
Whispers at the end of the year have the “Big-3” states of California, Texas, and Florida at least considering ways to bring a legal platform to their states in order to capitalize on the tangible tax revenues sports betting could bring to their jurisdictions.
Mobile Betting Takes the Lead
Mobile betting sites were the biggest winner in the US legal sports betting scene in 2020, thanks in part to COVID-19. We had record mobile hauls being smashed, new mobile betting sites emerge, Governors temporarily reversing their own in-person sign-up requirements, and even one state that launched a mobile-only platform during the year.
Mobile betting platforms in 2020 separated the “Haves” and the “Have-nots” in the US legal sports betting industry. States like New York that employ a retail-only model didn’t even register on the “success radar” in 2020 and Nevada, the grand-daddy of all betting states, fell behind because of an antiquated in-person sign-up requirement for mobile sites.
All-in-all, betting apps became responsible for just north of 80% of the record-setting National sports betting handles of 2020. In New Jersey alone, $872 million of the insane $931,620,415 November handle, or 93.6% came from internet betting. Nevada, by contrast, saw $344 million come in from mobile apps in November, or just 56.43% of its total.
Barstool Sports, perhaps one of the most anticipated mobile app launches ever came to fruition in 2020. Tennessee, the nation’s first mobile-only platform exceeded expectations during their first full month of operation in November. Illinois’ Governor J.B. Pritzker saw the writing on the COVID wall, and he has temporarily lifted that state’s in-person only sign-up procedure.
It was quite a year for mobile betting in the US. Momentum was definitely created and is expected to continue into 2021 and beyond.
In The End…
2020 was somehow a record-setting year for the US sports betting industry despite the impacts of COVID-19. The 365 days identified just what is important for bettors, and separated the contenders from the pretenders in the race to be America’s most bet-friendly state.
The arrow keeps pointing way up on the US legal sports betting industry as we head into this new year. The October National handle reached $3.25 billion, November should approach $3.5 billion. December, with the return of Basketball, could even eclipse that record-number.
In the end, there wasn’t a whole lot of good that came from the year 2020, but the exponential growth and the overall acceptance of the legal sports betting industry in the US was certainly one.