Legal Online Sportsbooks
When it comes to sports betting online, there is always a concern about the legality of the situation, and with good reason. The fact of the matter is that legislation surrounding online sports betting in the United States is a bit ambiguous. It is a complex issue that has been hotly debated over the last several years, with legitimate arguments for both sides.
The government of the United States has put several pieces of legislation in place to prevent online gambling in the United States. This action mostly relates to the operation of Internet gambling websites however, more so than the individual bettor. The laws and more will be covered as we start digging deeper into the legality of sports wagering in the U.S.
Stick here and we'll do our best to break down all the differences between sportsbooks, what makes them legal to use, whether they are safe for Americans, plus much more. Let this page be your guide to online betting in the U.S.
Is It Legal To Bet On Sports In The U.S.?
A lot of this comes down to what your definition of what legal actually is. For some, it's whatever the laws say, but for others, it is simply what will really happen when engaging in the activity.
Probably not what you wanted to hear, but that's how it is. We can say that if you stick with online betting sites that are located outside of the U.S., there will be no need to fret because these bookmakers are not subject to the laws of the United States nor the restrictions in place to keep Americans from betting online.
The bottom line here is that you will be safe if you go forward with betting online... provided that you do it at the websites we've listed out below. These are the most premium websites that Americans can choose when taking the step to actually place wagers for real-money on the web. Plus, these are the same betting sites that we use and can attest to their level of professionalism.
Bovada - New 50% To $250 Welcome Bonus For U.S.
Bovada is one of the top-rated online sportsbooks in the world, but caters specifically to players from the United States. Operating out of Costa Rica, Bovada is not subject to the laws in place in the United States, as they are outside of the jurisdiction. Bovada offers players a variety of sports to wager on, from the NFL and college football, to the NBA, NHL, MLB, and much more. Bovada offers players from the United States great bonuses such as a 50 percent bonus up to $250. They also make it easy for U.S. players to deposit into an account legally and safely.
Bovada Bonus: 50% Up To $250 On First Deposit
Sportsbetting.ag - Open To All 50 U.S. States
SportsBetting.ag is another U.S. friendly online sportsbook operating outside of the United States. And again, since the sportsbook is not in the United States, they are outside the jurisdiction. Players from the United States wishing to bet sports online can do so legally at BetOnline. And they will get a great bonus in the process, at 25 percent up to $900 on every deposit. Speaking of depositing, BetOnline has deposit methods specifically for players from the United States, making for safe and quick transactions.
Sportsbetting Bonus: Lifetime Reload - 25% to $900
Betting Site Review |
Sign Up / Deposit Bonuses |
USA Accepted? |
Visit |
| Bovada Sports | 20% Up To $100 Free |
USA Always Welcome |
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| BetOnline Sports | 25% Up To $900 Free |
USA Always Welcome |
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| 5Dimes Sports | 50% Up To $200 Free |
USA Always Welcome |
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| Sportsbetting.ag | 100% Up To $1,000 Free |
USA Always Welcome |
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Sports Betting Laws In The U.S.
UIGEA - The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 prohibits businesses from accepting payment relating to any form of a wager made through the use of the Internet. In short, a business cannot knowingly accept or make this type of transaction. The UIGEA was actually added on as Title VIII to the SAFE Port Act, which has nothing to do with Internet Gambling. This Act added on to the Federal Wire Act to cover more bases. At the state level however, many states do not have specific acts which ban online gambling. Critics of this act have argued that it was forced on the SAFE Port, which was a bill that was guaranteed to be passed, versus a controversial issue such as Internet gambling.
Wire Act - The Federal Wire Act prohibits online gambling businesses from making transactions through any form of wire communication. By transactions, the Act specifies bets or wagers that would cause recipients to receive payouts from a business would be fined. Essentially, this Act does not allow for online gambling businesses in the United States to operate legally. This is one of the main reasons that online sportsbooks have gone abroad, but still accept players from the United States.
PAPSA - The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, which has also been referred to as the Bradley Act, tried to define the legality of sports betting in the United States. In short, this act outlawed betting on sports throughout the country, with the exception of some states. Congress allowed 1-year for states which had at least a 10-year history of casinos in the state to pass laws in favor of sports wagering.