Legal Betting Sites

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This site is dedicated to providing the best sports betting sites. As you may know, sports betting is now legal in the USA. The legality of which is based on individual state laws. It is best to consult the our list of legal states for a detailed breakdown.

Legal sports betting is up and running in Virginia. Virginia sports betting began with mobile betting apps and will continue later with sportsbooks at casinos and professional sports venues. The Virginia gambling landscape changed dramatically in early 2020 with the passage of gaming bills to authorize mobile sportsbooks, retail sportsbooks. The breakthrough Tennessee Sports Betting Laws have been a raging success, with the state recording the biggest debut sports betting month in U.S. State history through its 4 online sports betting sites. Legal Sports Betting in the District of Columbia (D.C) has been successfully up-and going since June 2020 when the D.C.

In the following sections top bonuses, betting options and much more. Carry on ready to find your chose online bookie. Read more now!

Top Online Sportsbooks in USA

Now that the market has opened in the US, it is natural that many of the world’s best bookies are fighting for a piece of the American pie. In the section below we have listed some of the best online sportsbooks for you.

Again, there are no US betting sites that can be used everywhere, but if you are from a legal state, you can play at any one of the following of USA’s best sports betting brands.

  • DraftKings Sportsbook
  • FanDuel Sportsbook
  • Unibet Sportsbook
  • William Hill Sportsbook
  • PlayMGM Sports Betting
  • PointsBet

Many Local Casinos have partnered with these top sportsbooks. Therefore, some may have different branding, for example The Mohegan Sun Sportsbook in Pennsylvania is actually run through Unibet.

At the time of writing these were the top options, as the days and weeks go by, more will enter the market, as competition is rounding up to be fierce.

The Current State of USA Sports Betting

Back in the day, online bookmakers were a thing of pure fantasy. This was until the heroes of the U.S. Supreme Court backed the gambling world and ruled the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) unconstitutional. This was in May 2018.

Since that fateful day, states can now decide to allow legal sports betting as well as other forms of gambling. This has led to a haphazard mix of rules and laws depending on the state. There are no betting sites USA-wide, and whilst some states have legal sports betting, it may be only offline or at casinos. Whilst some have fully legal online sites!

What States Have Legal Online Gambling/ Betting?

As we have already mentioned, not every state allows US sports betting sites. Instead, there are a handful that allow online wagering. What’s more, there are some states that are working towards legalization and could be added to the list in coming years.

We have listed all the states with Vegas-style sports betting below. Go to the specific state guide for the best online sportsbooks for players from that state.

  • Nevada – legal since March 19, 1931
  • Delaware – launched June 5, 2018
  • Mississippi – launched Aug. 1, 2018
  • West Virginia – launched Aug. 30, 2018
  • New Mexico – launched Oct. 16, 2018
  • Pennsylvania – launched mid-November 2018
  • Rhode Island – launched Nov. 26, 2018
  • Arkansas – launched July 1, 2019
  • Tennessee – launched July 1, 2019
  • New York – launched July 16, 2019
  • Iowa – launched August 15, 2019
  • Oregon – launched August 27, 2019
  • Indiana – launched September 1, 2009
  • New Hampshire – launched December 30, 2009
  • Illinois – launched March 9, 2020
  • Michigan – launched March 11th, 2020
  • Montana – launched March 2020
  • Colorado – Launched May 1, 2020

In the Process

Sites
  • Washington
  • North Carolina

As you can see, before 2018, there were hardly any legal sports betting sites in the land of the free. You were not allowed to place wagers on NFL, NBA, MLB and more. Of course, you were free to watch them and bet with friends, you just weren’t supposed to gamble online!

Since 2018, however, things have changed. Now a whole plethora of states have jumped on board. Even so, unless you live in that specific state, you won’t be able to bet. Although some states allow you to sign up from out of state, you’ll need to be physically in the borders to play.

What are the Best Offshore Betting Sites?

An offshore sportsbook is one that operates outside the jurisdiction of the United States of America. The most popular being MyBookie, Bovada, and BetOnline (there are plenty more). Although they are immensely popular in the US, they aren’t actually legal.

Yes, they accept American players, but there is no protection for them. In fact, many players in the betting community have had issues getting their money from these sites, and since they aren’t licensed in the US, there are no legal channels for US players to file a complaint.

As a result, we recommend staying away from these sites and only play with the top online sportsbooks that are legal in the States.

What We Look For in the top US Sports Betting Sites

Due to the fact that online sports betting is a new phenomenon in the US, you may be inexperienced when it comes to knowing what to look out for. In the following section, our experienced team will show you how to evaluate an online bookie, and the top sites to pick.

Safety is the Most Important on a Site

The only way to know where you are playing is truly safe, is to be sure they are licensed in the state you are playing in. Each state has its own dedicated licensing agency, and just because one bookie has one in a certain state, does not mean it does in another.

Licenses attributed to certain bookmakers can be found at the bottom of their website. It must be noted that if a state site lets you place bets from outside of the state it is probably not a trustworthy site. Check the image below for an example of a safe footer.

Major Sports Leagues & More Available

It is clear to us that the best sports betting sites will allow players to bet on all major sports as well as the major pro leagues. The most popular sports for US bettors are football, basketball, hockey, and college sports. Not to mention the lesser known sports such as soccer and bowling.

The main leagues are NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, NASCAR, and other big leagues. Other popular sports such as boxing and MMA carry big weight on the sportsbook. European sports leagues, such as the Premier League and La Liga, are also popular. It is essential to the bettor that you have the ultimate variety of choice so you can find the sport you want.

Betting

Interesting Welcome Offers and Promotions

All of the best online sportsbooks should offer top welcome bonuses and other promotions. These can be free bets, deposit bonuses, and even possibly something for the casino section that the bookie offers.

All bookies should offer the chance for new players and first-time deposits to take part in some part of offer. The best will have month promotions or specific bonuses for large events taking place.

It must be noted that you may need to enter a bonus code or ‘opt-in’ to be eligible, so it is best to always read the terms and conditions.

The Best US Betting Sites Have Numerous Payment Options

When it comes to sports betting sites compared to their land-based counterparts, online bookmakers have many more payment options. From various cards to e-wallets.

When playing at licensed site, all payments are secure, and you are protected through various encryption methods.

As a warning, if the site you are on only accepts bitcoin, and not the most popular payment methods, it’s probably not going to be found amongst out top sites.

To win real money, you’ll have to wager real money, so it’s best to make sure payments are quick and secure, MasterCard, Visa, and PayPal are all top options.

Responsive Customer Support

If you ever have a problem at online bookmakers, then it is essential they offer top customer service to help you resolve any problem. When we evaluate a site, we always test this out. This can be via e-mail, live-chat, or even phone.

Legal

A good customer support can help you with a variety of things. From being a great resource for newer players, to helping with things like payment issues. A quick response time and friendly team is also important. Overall, the quicker and nicer they are the better experience you will have!

Competitive Odds

The higher the odds on offer, the better the payout is for you. This means, you should invariably always look for the bookie that offers the best. The top betting sites in the US have great odds. This is due to the fact that there a now multiple sites competing with each other, and they are vying for your attention!

This is good for the players, as now sites must battle for customers, thus they must offer attractive odds prices. Overall, at the site we list, there is not much variance, as they are top dogs.

Online Betting Sites vs Casino Sportsbooks

Many of you may be wondering what the difference between US online betting sites and their physical casino sportbooks counterparts. Well, mainly the advantage is convenience. You can bet from your own home, any time you want.

In the image below, we have provided you with the ultimate comparison. You can come back to this any time you are struggling with the issue.

As you can see, there are many more advantages for the online player. Thing such as mobile betting and in-play options have truly put this form of gambling into the stratosphere. Obviously, the physical embodiment of sports betting is also fun when the time calls, it’s just online is better.

Key USA Sports Betting Laws

As we have already mentioned, the main law that affected sports betting was PASPA signed in 1992 by George Bush Snr. It was a response to pressure on Congress that was scared of a gambling boom. As a result, it banned sports betting in all states bar Delaware, Oregon, Montana, and Nevada.

Even so, some states did not give up the fight. In particular, New Jersery led the charge to get sports betting legalized. This culminated in 2018, when the Supreme Court ruled PASPA unconstitutional.

In the past couple of years, sports betting is getting more and more mainstream. Pro leagues and teams have even struck sponsorship deals with some famous sportsbooks – MGM resorts signing a deal with the NBA being the most famous.

What States are Trying to Legalize Sports Betting?

Higher up the page we listed some of the states that have legalized sports betting. For the most up to date information we recommend checking the specific state guides for more info.

In the table below, we have listed the current state of affairs when it comes to sports betting in states that are expected to get legal gambling in place soon.

StateCurrent Status
WashingtonExpected to Legalize in 2021
North CarolinaExpected to Legalize in 2021
OklahomaIn Congress
VirginiaApproved as July 1 2020

Sports Betting Market & Industry Outlook

Now that the gates have opened the industry outlooks for online bookmakers and sports betting is very favourable. In a recent investors meeting sponsored by Morgan Stanley, it was predicted that revenue would reach at least $8 billion by 2025. That is an astronomical amount!

It is rumoured 10 new operators are looking at joining the US market and it looks as though competition will be fierce. Currently, Nevada and New Jersey are the leading states that offer sports betting, but with expansion coming, things could change in the near future.

Frequently Asked Questions

Now we have come to the end of the page, it is perhaps pertinent to address some of the most frequently asked questions that our readers pose. We have collected the top ones below, and provided you with detailed answers in each one.

Is online sports betting legal in the America?

This depends on the state you are living in, but it is legal in certain states. This is great news for sports fans, and since the overturn of PASPA in 2018, it has signalled a new dawn for the US.

Where can I bet online in the USA?

There are many places you can bet online in the USA. However, we advise you to do so only if you are located in states with legal online sports betting.

What are the USA's best betting sites?

There are a few select operators that are already top of the pile when it comes betting in the US. We have listed the top sportsbook brands and these will be a good place to start. In the coming years, we expect this list to change and expand.

How do I place on online sports bet?

In order to place a bet online, you have to be located in a state that allows legal online sports betting. We suggest consulting our individual state betting guides if you are unsure. Then all you need to do is sign-up and deposit at your chosen site, and then place a bet.

What is the safest offshore betting site?

There are no safe offshore sportsbooks. Playing on these sites, you do so at your own risk, with no protection against money lost, or if you feel cheated. We recommend avoiding them and sticking with legal alternatives based in the US.

Sports Betting Guides by State

For the quickest way to find the most important info for you and guides to the best way to bet on sports in your state then consult our individual state guides.

  • Arkansas Sports Betting Guide
  • Colorado Sports Betting Guide
  • Delaware Sports Betting Guide
  • Illinois Sports Betting Guide
  • Indiana Sports Betting Guide
  • Iowa Sports Betting Guide
  • Michigan Sports Betting Guide
  • Mississippi Sports Betting Guide
  • Montana Sports Betting Guide
  • Nevada Sports Betting Guide
  • New Hampshire Sports Betting Guide
  • New Jersey Sports Betting Guide
  • New Mexico Sports Betting Guide
  • New York Sports Betting Guide
  • North Carolina Sports Betting Guide
  • Ohio Sports Betting Guide
  • Oklahoma Sports Betting Guide
  • Oregon Sports Betting Guide
  • Pennsylvania Sports Betting Guide
  • Rhode Island Sports Betting Guide
  • South Carolina Sports Betting Guide
  • South Dakota Sports Betting Guide
  • Tennessee Sports Betting Guide
  • Texas Sports Betting Guide
  • Utah Sports Betting Guide
  • Vermont Sports Betting Guide
  • Virginia Sports Betting Guide
  • Washington Sports Betting Guide
  • West Virginia Sports Betting Guide
  • Wisconsin Sports Betting Guide
  • Wyoming Sports Betting Guide