Is Online Sports Betting Legal?
Sports wagering has had a long and storied career in the states, and the tides are still shifting every day. A lot of potential bettors out there might not know what options they have, or might have been misinformed about the legality of the current sports wagering landscape. The fact is, everyone has safe options, but knowing where to find them is the key. Everyone knows that there are sportsbooks in Vegas but online options might not be on some people’s radar.
This page is going to outline your legal options, show you a little background, and simply cover the wide gamut of information that has to do with sports betting in America. You will learn about the federal statutes, as well as what individual states have to say. Most importantly, you will learn where you can legally put a few dollars on a game the next time your favorite team plays.
To get the hardest question out of the way, I will go ahead and tell you that using a land-based or online sportsbook is legal in America as long as you choose a good one. For instance, you can travel to Nevada today and find a brick and mortar venue with a legitimate bookmaker willing to take your bets. Alternatively, there are plenty of equally legitimate places to do it online. Let’s take a look at the laws that regulate all of this so you can get all the background information that you will need.
The Wire Act
The first law to understand is an old one. The Wire Act of 1961 was brought about to battle the criminal elements that were pervading the betting world at the time. This is when big mafia syndicates were pretty much running the show. The Act restricted the use of wire communication devices used to transfer betting information across state lines. These days the Wire Act is only affects sports wagering venues, and still has the same restrictions. This is one reason why many states won’t open a bookmaking operation, because they wouldn’t be able to transfer money outside of their own borders. The Wire Act does not affect online sportsbooks though, because they are not located in America. We will cover why this is important in a little bit.
The Professional And Amateur Sports Protection Act
PASPA is a law that deals directly with sports betting in America. Created in 1992, this statute deemed the sports wagering business to be harmful to American values and sports franchises. While this is a very controversial stance, it nonetheless passed. Because of PASPA, the only states that have sports betting establishments are Nevada and Delaware. Yes, you read that right, there are only two states with legitimate bookmakers willing to take your tickets. The breath of fresh air in this suffocating law is that it doesn’t affect online sportsbooks that operate overseas. They are not in the jurisdiction of PASPA, and there is nothing stopping you from signing up today.
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act
In the early 2000’s, online betting sites were everywhere in the United States. As with any booming market, there were plenty of scam sites popping up that were trying to steal player information. The UIGEA restricted businesses from knowingly accepting funds from wagering sites, and therefore shut down almost every online venue in the America. The only way this affects the online sportsbooks that you will us is by how they can send you funds. Since the UIGEA only regulates American businesses, it doesn’t make sense for overseas sites to send funds to U.S. bank via a credit card transaction. Therefore, you will not find credit/debit withdrawal options at these sites. The good news is that there are plenty of other methods available to get you your winnings.
Now that you know a little something about the laws that govern sports betting, and how Vegas online sportsbooks are the greatest things since sliced fruit, now you should know where to find the best ones. There is plenty of competition in the online wagering world, but a few sites unanimously tower above the rest. These are the domains that we will point you to, and picking any of them will ensure a great experience. Heck, sign up for more than one so you can hedge your bets. There’s nothing to lose.
Bovada functions and sounds like a high class casino in Vegas, and you will feel like you’re in one when you play the odds. This site has pulled out all the stops, offering a massive sportsbook with up-to-the-minute odds and a super slick layout and generous online sportsbook bonuses. You can also play poker or visit the virtual casino while you are waiting for your ticket to come in. Very few sites offer this level of excitement and variety, and Bovada is free to join.
If you have ever put some money down on a game, you know how exciting and frustrating it is to watch the action go in and out of your favor throughout the competition. Bovada is offering a feature that will up that excitement factor tenfold. With live/in-game wagering, the sportsbook gives you up to the second odds for propositional bets on all aspects of a game as it is playing out in real time. This means you can place numerous bets on the ever-changing odds. This will bring you much closer to the action and is a must for fans that know the games and the teams inside and out.
Checking out SportsBetting.ag is going to be worth anybody’s time. The site is simply one of the best on the web right now for hard to the core sports betting excitement. You will find everything from baseball to softball, and the futures and props section is the best we’ve ever seen. You will find a pulldown list at the top of the sportsbook to list the lines as American, decimal, or fractional odds, and the bet slip is simple to navigate. Choose between a straight bet, parlay/robin, IF bet/reverse, teaser/pleaser, or head to the more exotic options. This site with it's easy sportsbooks deposits is a wonder to behold and a true sports fans dream come true.
Signing up at SportsBetting.ag is simple and free. Just click on the “click to join” button on the top of the homepage. Here you will give your email, create a password, and enter some contact information. They will send a confirmation link to your email, and once you click on that you are in. After joining SportsBetting.ag, we have never felt the need to use another sportsbook, and we know you will feel the same.