If you’re interested in the US sports wagering scene, from legalities to the best sports betting sites, look no further. The good news is that close to 40 states have legalized sports betting in the country, so you can bet on your favorite team without worry.
We want to dig deeper into everything you need to know about US sports betting by discussing what you can and can’t wager on, the payment methods to use, and bonuses to claim. We’ll also highlight popular sports to bet on, and mobile apps. Think of this as your personalized US sports betting handbook.
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2018 was a breakthrough year for US sports betting enthusiasts after online betting sites for sports became legal. Individual states were now free to chart their own course regarding whether to greenlight sports betting or not.
To take you back a bit, a Federal law was passed under The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) of 1992 prohibiting sports betting in most US states. Fast forward, things took a turn on May 14, 2018, after the US Supreme Court overturned the ruling and declared it unconstitutional. Now, the legality of sports betting depends on the state in which you reside. States like New Jersey allow casino and sports betting, while Washington doesn’t allow any form of gambling.
The legal gambling age varies with each state as well as the type of gambling you want to engage in. Generally, you must be 21 or older to participate in sports betting and casino gaming activities. On the other hand, 18 is the legal age for horse betting and daily fantasy sports, but there are variations.
In the past, bettors could state their location and start betting, but some punters were blurring boundaries. As a result, states like Nevada passed laws that required online new betting sites to verify if user bets are being placed within the state lines. Bookies, in turn, use geolocation software to pinpoint a punter’s betting request within a range of meters before they approve or deny it.
Gambling winnings are fully taxable in the US, so you can’t keep every penny following your win. The percentage varies from 8% to around 50%, depending on the jurisdiction. For instance, New Jersey imposes a 15% annual tax on gross gaming revenue. New York sets it at 51% on gross gaming revenue for sports wagers.
States like Nevada require punters to present their IDs in person at physical casinos to create their online accounts. States such as New Jersey save you a trip and gas money by letting you create an online account directly at the state-licensed sports betting sites. Provided you upload your ID and follow verification measures.
To obtain a betting license in the US, sports betting sites must prepare a business plan, pick a jurisdiction, round up the collected paperwork, and apply. The licensing fee differs from state to state. Case in point: a New Jersey sports betting license costs an initial fee of $100,000. The first yearly license costs $300,000, while you pay $150,000 for renewal.
| Brand Name | Year Founded | Status | Further Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Action 24/7 | 2019 | Active | Action247 is a legal betting brand which focuses completely on Tennessee. |
| Bally Bet | 2021 | Active | Available in NY, AZ, CO, IA, IO, MD, VI and NY. This brand was recently relaunched. |
| Bet America | 2008 | Merged into TwinSpires | Merged with TwinSpires in 2021. The brand merged when TwinSpires online sportsbook and casino launched in Michigan. |
| Bet365 | 2000 | Active | A global betting brand which has a strong dominance in Europe. |
| Betfred Sports | 1967 | Active | Live and legal in Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia In PA, the brand is known as Wind Creek Bethlehem Sportsbook. |
| BetJack | 2021 | Active | Only available in Ohio - BetJack was approved a license just before Christmas in 2021. |
| Betly | 2020 | Active | Available in Tennessee, West Virginia and Arkansas - Betly came to the market in 2020 and is a relatively popular local betting website. |
| BetMGM | 1980 | Active | BetMGM is a stalwart of the national gambling landscape - but has developed a compelling online product over the recent years. |
| BetMonarch | 2019 | Active | Only available in Colorado - BetMonarch forms part of the Monarch Casino Reposrt Spa group. Fully licensed and able to operate. |
| BetPARX | 2021 | Active | Available in Maryland, Michigan, NJ and PA; BetPARX offers a wide variety of bets on very niche sports. |
| BetRivers | 2019 | Active | One of the major online betting brands in the US — BetRivers is a highly trusted online betting brand. |
| BetSafe | 2006 | No Longer Available | Owned by Swedish gambling giant Betsson - they pulled the Betsafe product out of Colorado on the 30th September, 2024. |
| Betway | 2006 | Inactive in the US | Not presently active in the US - though the group attempted to enter the US market in a somewhat lacklustre fashion, closing its online presence in Q2, 2024. |
| BetWildwood | 2019 | Dormant | While not presently active online, Betwildwoodextra.com is promising a brand new online sports betting app. Only time will tell. |
| Betr | 2022 | Active | A fantasy sports betting app fronted by social-media maverick Jake Paul. |
| Betsson | 1963 | Active (B2B) | Active as a B2B supplier - but no longer offering betting services. |
| Borgata Sportsbook | 2003 | Active | One of the most popular land-based casinos and based in New Jersey - this brand also offers online betting options. |
| Caesars Sportsbook | 1966 | Active | Again, a much-respected land-based establishment; Caesars also offers a wide range of online betting and casino products. |
| Circa Sports | 2019 | Active | A beast in the world of Las Vegas sportsbooks - Circa Sports also offers a sports betting app. |
| ClutchBet | 2022 | No Longer Available | Left the market on the 16th September, 2024. |
| Crab Sports | 2021 | Active | Based in Maryland, Crab Sports is one of the newest sports betting sites to have launched in the state. |
| Desert Diamond Sports | 2019 | Localized in Arizona | A tribal casino and sportsbook based in Arizona - Desert Diamond Sports offers a wide range of gaming products to AZ residents. |
| DraftKings Sportsbook | 2012 | Active | One of the 'big two' - the other being Fanduel. DraftKings entered the market as a DFS product, but quickly expanded into sports betting and casino. |
| DRF Sportsbook | 2021 | Active | Available in Iowa, DRF sportsbooks offers markets on a wide range of sports. |
| Eagle Casino & Sports | 2021 | Active in Michigan | A local Michigan book - while offering a wide range of betting markets, there is a lack of promos and has a less-than-great product design. |
| Elite Sportsbook | 2018 | Active | Available in Colorado and Iowa, Elite Sportsbook is a safe and legal option for residents in these states. |
| ESPN BET | 2023 | Active | ESPNBet, with ESPN of course being a household name, has seen a dramatic rise in popularity due to its reputation. |
| FanDuel Sportsbook | 2009 | Active | Alongside DraftKings, FanDuel has arguably made the most progress in terms of becoming a household name for DFS and sports betting. |
| Fanatics Sportsbook | 2021 | Active | A relatively popular betting site with a wide range of markets on offer and is certainly a challenger against the bigger US names. |
| FireKeepers Sportsbook | 2020 | Active | A smaller, Michigan-based online sportsbook - FireKeepers offers daily odds boosts, but seemingly focuses only on popular sports. |
| Four Winds | 2018 | Active | Another smaller Michigan-based sportsbook - again, much like FireKeepers has a limited odds offering and sadly no bonus offers. |
| Fubo Sportsbook | 2021 | Shut Down | Closed down in 2021. |
| Golden Nugget Online Sportsbook | 2020 | Active | Available across Arizona, Michigan, West Virginia and New Jersey - Golden Nugget Online Sportsbook is a solid mid-tier betting option. |
| Hard Rock Bet | 2018 | Active | Leveraging the popular Hard Rock brand, Hard Rock Bet has become one of the larger and most popular sportsbooks in the US. |
| LetsBetMD | 2024 | Localized in Maryland | A niche, Maryland-based sports betting site, and a relative newcomer - will be exciting to see how this one develops. |
| MaximBet | 2021 | No Longer Accepting Bets | Has ceased trading since 2022 due to challenging economic conditions. The future of this brand is unknown. |
| Maverick Sports | 2020 | No Longer Active | Maverick has ceased offering bets in Colorado - its only active state. |
| MVGBet | 2021 | Active | MVG is, again, one of the smaller betting brands in the US - but has seen some solid gains in the last year within the Ohio gambling scene. |
| PlaySugarHouse | 2018 | Active | A PA-only sports betting brand - but being affiliated with Rush Street has certainly helped them maintain a foothold in the state. |
| PlayUp | 2014 | Shut Down | Closed down. |
| Prime Sportsbook | 2021 | Active | PlayUp shut down in 2023 after a turbulent time in the US market - with its application for an NJ licensed 'revoked for various reasons'. |
| Prophet Exchange | 2020 | Converted to Sweepstakes | Once a solid NJ bookmaker - Prophet Exchange has recently switched into the sweepstakes vertical (a now very lucrative US market). |
| Q Sportsbook | 2021 | Active | Available in just Iowa, Q Sportsbook is a decent product but has been somewhat criticised for its limited betting markets. |
| Resorts Casino | 2013 | Now Just a Casino | Tried its hand at sports betting, but decided in the end to stick to what it knows best - casino. |
| Resorts World Bet | 2019 | Active in New York | An active and prominent sportsbook in the New York scene - and one of the state's favourites. |
| Sahara Bets | 2020 | Dormant | Though a key player in the Arizona betting scene, Sahara Bets is somewhat in limbo since Alex Meruelo announced plans to abandon the inactive Arizona hocket franchise - leaving the brand (licensed in partnership with it) without the right to operate. |
| SBK Sportsbook | 2019 | Active | A social sports betting website available in Colorado and Indiana. One of the US's smaller betting partners. |
| SI Sportsbook | 2021 | Inactive | Potentially another victim of 'being the small guy', SI Sportsbook was 'squeezed' out of the Colorado online betting market (one of seven this year) in September, 2024. |
| Sky Ute Sportsbook | 2019 | Shut Down | Owned by the Sky Ute Tribe, the brand has offered mobile-only sports betting to Colorado residents since 2019 - but is presently attempting to sue the Colorado governor for attempting to regulate the tribal sports betting market. Shut down in 2023. |
| Sporttrade | 2018 | Active | Active in Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, New Jersey, and Virginia - Sporttrade is a betting exchange offering market-leading moneyline and spread odds. |
| SuperBook Sportsbook | 2021 | Shut Down | Shut down on the 19th July, 2024. |
| Tipico | 2004 | Shut Down | Operated for some time until being acquired by LeoVegas - which then shut down in 2024 |
| TwinSpires | 2011 | Shut Down | TwinsSpires shut down its online operations in January 2023 and now focuses on horse racing. |
| Underdog Sportsbook | 2022 | Active | A relatively new DFS platform that is making solid traction against stalwarts DraftKings and FanDuel. |
| Wagr | 2021 | Shut Down | A social betting app that was acquired by Yahoo in 2023 and was then shuttered. |
| WynnBET | 2018 | Shutting Down | While having a solid start, WynnBet is closing up its operations in the US. |
Even though sports betting is legal, other betting options are off-limits. Here is a quick rundown of what you can bet on:
| What you can bet on in the US | Description |
|---|---|
| Professional sports | Most states let you bet on professional sports, including major leagues like the NFL, NHL, and NBA. You can also bet on niche sports, such as beach soccer and netball, at select sports betting websites. |
| College sports | Bettors can legally bet on college sports in states like West Virginia, Iowa, and Colorado. |
What you can’t bet on in the US depends on the state. Here are a few examples:
| What you can’t bet on in the US | Description |
|---|---|
| College sports | Arizona allows college sports betting but prohibits college player props. Arkansas has no restrictions and permits props on college events. |
| High school | Punters aren’t allowed to bet on high school and youth sports across the board. |
| Chess | States like Massachusetts don’t allow you to bet on Chess because of a cheating scandal that involved top players in the past. |
| Non-sport events | States like Iowa and Kentucky don’t allow betting on politics or entertainment events like the Oscars. |
No doubt, sports betting is a popular way to have fun. But like any gambling activity, it has its risks and rewards.
It has been a long and interesting journey for US sports betting sites dating as far back as the 1800s. Here’s a comprehensive overview of the legal sports betting history that has shaped the US betting scene today:
| Year | Development |
|---|---|
| 1860s | President Lincoln enforced a ban on gambling, including sports betting nationwide and anyone found gambling would face severe penalties. In 1869, partial gambling was legalized, but only for the law to be reversed in 1909. |
| 1931 | Governor Fred Balzar signed Bill 98 into law, marking the legalization of gambling, including sports betting in Nevada. |
| 1949 | As the biggest gambling hub, Nevada legalized off-track betting, allowing punters to wager on horse racing events without being physically present at the races. |
| 1974 | The first legal sportsbook was opened in Las Vegas. |
| 1992 | The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was passed restricting sports betting in several states save for Nevada, Oregon, Montana, and Delaware. |
| 2018 | PASPA was overturned on May 14 2018 by the US Supreme Court ending the federal ban on sports betting. Individual states could now regulate sports betting in their jurisdictions. |
Soon after PAPSA was overturned, it didn’t take long for dozens of states to legalize gambling in the following years. New Jersey, Mississippi, and West Virginia were at the forefront. Some states are still moving to have active sports betting bills. Below is a quick update on what has been happening in different jurisdictions:
You’ll be pleased to know that registering with US sportsbooks is pretty straightforward, as shown below:
Understanding the different payment methods available at US sportsbooks is crucial for your overall sports betting experience. Each method has pros and cons regarding transaction speeds, availability, and fees, letting you pick the best one for your needs.
Debit and credit cards such as Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover remain some of the most popular payment methods at US online betting sites. They pack a lot of benefits, from sophisticated security features to superb availability. However, speeds can be slower compared to other payment methods.
eWallets are a great option for regular bettors who value convenience and fast payouts. These platforms help you keep your gambling funds and normal finances separate. Moreover, you don’t need to share your sensitive banking information to transact. PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller are punters' favorites. You may have to watch out for additional transaction fees with platforms like Neteller.
Most US sportsbooks don’t necessarily accept cryptocurrencies, but several trailblazers are fast changing that status quo. Granted, the method might be complicated for bettors not familiar with the ins and outs of crypto, but you can’t deny the numerous perks.
For one, cryptocurrencies are renowned for their rapid transactions, where payouts are processed in minutes. In addition, cryptocurrencies are anonymous, which is a huge plus if you’d like to keep your identity under wraps while betting. Popular options include Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Ethereum.
Betting markets are plentiful, with some US sportsbooks carrying hundreds of bet types for a single game. With so many to pick from, it’s necessary to get familiar with all or at least the most popular ones to maximize your betting experience. Below are the most popular types:
| Bet type | Details |
|---|---|
| Moneyline | Moneyline has to be the simplest and most common bet type at US sportsbooks and involves picking a team you think will win a game. |
| Over/Under | The Over/Under or Total bet is a line set by bookies representing the total amount of points or goals to occur in a game from both teams. Punters must predict if the total score will be more or less than what the sports betting sites set. |
| Point Spread | This bet type levels the playing field and is the line depicting the expected final score difference between two teams. You bet on the margin of victory. |
| Futures | You can play the long game and take on Futures bets based on outcomes not settled right away. For instance, you could bet on the team you think will win the NBA, or the player to be declared the MVP. |
| Game Props | This is one of the more expansive bet types where you bet on different outcomes in a game not necessarily tied to the final result. Examples include betting on the number of corner kicks a team will have or the team to lead after the first quarter. |
| Player Props | Instead of outcomes in a game, you bet on individuals. A good example is putting your money on the player to score a touchdown. |
In contrast to pre-game wagers submitted before a contest kicks off, punters can place wagers while a game is in progress at sports betting sites. Referred to as live betting, this is any bet placed between the first and final plays of a game. It has several perks, starting with the sheer thrill it offers.
Moreover, live betting odds tend to be much more interesting than pregame odds, especially within the first few minutes of the game. You’ll benefit more from live betting if you watch the games as you wager. That way, you can make quick decisions based on what’s happening currently.
US sportsbooks offer some of the sportsbook promos and bonuses, but not all of them are created equal. We’ve included the best ones to try out below.
Bet Get offers are a great way to incentivize new bettors to sign up and test-drive the bookie. With this bonus, the sportsbook compensates you for betting a certain amount, which can be $5 or $10. What we like here is that sports betting sites give you a bonus whether you win or lose.
How this bonus type is structured depends on the sports betting sites. Other sites offer a Second Chance bonus bet where you’re refunded in bet credits if your first wager loses. If you win, nothing happens. Then you’ll find some bookmakers rewarding you with a bonus bet after you make your first deposit
This is another popular bonus at US online betting sites, where you get a bonus for loading money onto your sports betting account. Typically, the amount you deposit is matched by the bookie dollar for dollar up to a certain amount (i.e. deposit $10, get $10 in bonus credit).
Top US sportsbooks understand the need to keep existing punters engaged and enhance odds for specific games. The idea is to allow you to enjoy more rewards from a winning wager.
As a sports betting-loving nation, the US is filled with all sorts of sports and leagues you can bet on. Have a look at the most popular sports and leagues covered by most US sportsbooks.
Football is king in the US, with the NFL being the most popular league to wager on. A regular season has 272 games, giving punters loads of betting options. Recent surveys reveal that 61% of Americans bet on the NFL betting sites. What makes the NFL more popular in the USA is the Super Bowl, which is the most wagered-on single event in the country.
Basketball betting is another popular occurrence in the US, particularly the NBA best books, and 58% of Americans participate. 30 teams compete for the championship title and play 82 games to get there. The top teams to look out for include the Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics.
Sitting in third place with 51% of bettors is the MLB, one of the oldest professional baseball leagues in the world. 30 teams battle for the number one spot with 162 games played in a regular MLB season. The World Series is another of America's most wagered-on a single event.
With a 42% bettors participation, boxing also has its loyal band of followers. The US is responsible for producing some of the industry greats including Mike Tyson, Mohammed Ali, and Floyd Mayweather. The high-profile matches at the best betting sites in the USA are a hit among bettors who especially like to place live wagers and bonus bets on the sport.
Horse racing has been popular in the US since the 1600s and still garners massive attention, especially for sports betting. By the late 1800s, more than 300 race tracks were functioning in the country. Post PAPSA, horse racing betting still has over 35% of bettors punting on popular events like the Belmont Stakes and Kentucky Derby.
Most sports betting action in the US happens on sports betting apps. The best sports betting sites have designed native apps that are reliable, responsive, in-depth selection of sports, betting lines, and overall top-notch user experience. However, most bookies only allow gaming using apps with geolocation to confirm if punters are indeed betting from within the respective state borders.
Those without apps also adapted their websites for mobile betting on Android and iOS devices. Punters can access the online Sportsbook in the USA directly from their mobile browsers to start conveniently betting on the go.
Each state has the mandate to determine the kind of gambling it approves within its borders, where the gambling can take place, and who can participate, these things players need to check before making their WNBA predictions. Have a look at the different types of gambling permitted in the US.
While over 30 states have regularized sports betting, around 8 have legalized online casino gaming. These include Connecticut, Delaware, and Michigan. States like New York, Indiana, and Maryland are working to legalize online casinos soon. For example, Maryland lawmakers wrapped up their 2024 legislative session with a bill to regulate online casinos.
If you’re a poker lover, you won’t have any issues playing poker legally in 8 US states. Currently, Nevada, Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Rhode Island have regulated poker. Even though states like Kentucky continue to pass bills, no other states have legalized poker since 2023.
Should you exhaust your MLS futures, presently, most US states have made Daily Fantasy Sports betting legal. States like Arizona allow both Traditional and Pick ‘em contests and some only one type. Traditional DFS are salary cap contests where you pick a lineup, enter contests against other users and the house gets a cut. Pick ‘em style involves betting against the house, not other users.
As mentioned, horse racing has been prevalent in the US for a while now. It’s no wonder it’s legal in around 32 US states. However, a handful of states, such as Alaska, have outright banned the activity.
On a federal level, sports betting is very much legal in the US, and individual states are responsible for its sports betting laws. This has seen close to 40 states approve sports betting, with more to join.
Naturally, the growth of sports betting across the US comes with many US sportsbooks gunning for a piece of the pie. You, therefore, need to sift through the lot and pick a licensed site with several sports, betting markets, payment methods, and attractive bonuses.
Yes, sports betting is legal in the US after the Supreme Court passed a ruling in May 2018. Whether or not it's legal in your state depends on the respective state laws.
Yes, online bookies are legal in the US provided they hold the betting license required by the state they wish to operate in, so enjoy your NFL live bets.
Football betting sites are one of the most popular platforms now for placing your bets in the US, followed by basketball, baseball, and hockey.
Some US bookies let you make sports betting payments using various eWallet options, including PayPal.
Yes, you can bet on esports, depending on the state you’re in. Oregon and Illinois are some of the states that allow you to wager on esports.
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