Is Sports Gambling Legal In The United States?
This is the bottom line question that sports fans across the USA are asking. "Is online sports betting legal in the United States?" The answer is actually a combination of yes, no and maybe. Yes, there are legal sports betting options for US players, but they exist predominantly online. And as far as state-based or federally recognized sports gambling options in the United States, no, that is not an option. Unless you count the land-based sportsbooks in Las Vegas. And maybe, with several pieces of legislation existing at the state and federal levels, the US will eventually develop what its citizens are already begging for - local and Internet-based state regulated sports gambling options. The bottom line? If you live in or happen to be located in the United States, you can legally place online sports bets to your heart's content. Because there is not one single piece of legislation at either the state or federal level that prevents an individual USA citizen from placing a real money gambling wager of any kind.
One of our recommended online sportsbooks that is legally licensed to provide their sports betting services to players in the US is Bovada. In fact, they only accept US players as customers. This being said, their site is designed around the needs and preferences of sports bettors in the United States, including in their banking suite. Bovada boasts one of the most successful credit card transaction approval records in the industry. I personally use my Visa there on a regular basis and have never had any trouble. They pay their players timely, and customer support has always been knowledgeable and responsive to my inquiries and requests. They provide their new players with a 50% deposit match bonus that maxes out at $250 on your first deposit. While all of the brands featured in our guide are reputable and high quality destinations, Bovada is by far my personal favorite.
Top Legal Online Sports Betting sites For USA Players
| Sportsbook Site | Bonus | Rating | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bovada Sportsbook | 50% Max $250 |  |
Visit Site |
| Betonline Sportsbook | 25% Max $1000 - On All Reloads | |
Visit Site |
| Sportsbetting.ag | 25% Max $1000 - On All Reloads | |
Visit Site |
| Diamond Sportsbook | 20% Max $500 |  |
Visit Site |
| Bookmaker | 15% Max $2500 | |
Visit Site |
UIGEA, PASPA, Federal Wire Act ... What Do They All Mean?
If you are one of the many Americans who wants to know if online sports betting is legal in the United States, you may have been confused by the above referenced pieces of legislation. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) is a 2006 law aimed at preventing US businesses from using the Internet to "knowingly" accept payments in connection with a bet or wager. Fantasy sports has an exclusion from UIGEA coverage as a game of skill, as do state recognized Indian tribes which offer casinos and other forms of gambling.
The Bradley Act is better known as the Professional And Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). Passed in 1992, grandfather clause exemptions were made to four states which offered sports lotteries, sports pools and other forms of sports betting. Very simply put, this federal legislation makes it illegal to run a sports betting operation based in the United States. The Federal Wire Act of 1961 prohibits accepting bets using wired or wireless communications for the transmission of bets or wagers. Would you like to know why all of those constrictive USA sports betting laws don't matter if you would like to legally place sports bet as a citizen of the United States? Then read on.
Are There Any Legitimate Non-US Internet Sports Betting Jurisdictions?
If you are still wondering, "Is online sports betting legal in the United States," consider this. The United Kingdom, Canada, Panama and Costa Rica are recognized and legitimate world economies. But you know what? They also happen to be home to some of the most recognized and respected Internet sports betting industries in the world. And since the Internet can reach the entire globe, at any time, companies licensed and certified by those jurisdictions to manage reputable online sportsbooks have free reign to offer their product to sports fans and gamblers in the United States. Any applicable US federal and individual state laws can definitely keep a US-based company from accepting sports wagers, but the United States has no say-so over industries safely and securely run in other parts of the world. That's why online sports betting is legal in the United States, as long as you know where to turn for properly certified and legally licensed online sportsbooks that accept USA players.
Okay, Since Online Sports Betting Is Legal in the United States, What Is My Next Step?
If you would like to place a wager on your favorite professional or college sports team, here's what you need to do. Click the links we provide, open an account, and you can legally place sports wagers. It's that easy, and legal. But not all Internet sportsbooks offer the integrity and legal licensing that you are looking for. Those qualities are present at just the handful of legitimately certified and regulated USA online sports betting sites we have listed here. Correctly licensed in non-US Internet gambling jurisdictions, and offering generous welcome bonuses and other benefits, the top ranked, reputable sports betting websites that we have reviewed and recommend legally support players from the United States and abroad. So click, bet, enjoy.