If you had asked the question, “Is it legal to bet on sports online?”, 5 years ago, the answer would have been an easy “no.” People were not allowed to legally bet on sports online or anywhere in the U.S. except in Las Vegas at that time.
But that all started to change after Delaware legalized sports betting. Since then, about half of the U.S. states have put laws into place that permit people to bet on sports online.
That being said, there is still some confusion over who can take part in online sports betting and where online betting can take place. We’re going to aim to clear up some of this confusion today by breaking down where you can legally bet on sports online and by talking about how to bet on sports online.
Continue reading to get the inside scoop on online sports betting in the U.S.
Is It Legal to Bet on Sports Online?
The easy answer to the question, “Is it legal to bet on sports online?”, these days is a resounding “yes.” Online sports betting is no longer outlawed in all 50 U.S. states.
But in spite of that, you should know that it’s not legal to bet on sports in every single state in this country. While online sports betting has become a lot more widespread, almost half of the U.S. states have not yet legalized it.
This is something you should keep in mind before you start betting on sports online. You don’t want to inadvertently break the law by putting in sports bets online in a state where it hasn’t been legalized as of yet.
Where Can You Legally Bet on Sports Online?
Now that you know the most current answer to the question, “Is it legal to bet on sports online?”, we know what you’re wondering next. “Is it legal to bet on sports online in my state?”
Great question. And the answer to it is, “It all depends!”
Here are the states where online sports betting is legal:
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Washington, D.C. is also included on this list. If you live in any of these parts of the U.S., you’re welcome to give online sports betting a try if you would like.
How Can You Legally Bet on Sports Online?
Although online sports betting is legal in each of the states that we just mentioned, one thing worth pointing out is that you cannot bet on any old sports betting website. There are many overseas sportsbooks that will still be off-limits to sports bettors.
But not to worry. There are tons of domestic online sportsbooks that you can use to bet on sports in your specific state. You need to check out your options and see which one you like the most.
Caesars Sportsbook is a great choice in many of the states that we just talked about. Read through this Caesars Sportsbook review to see why you should think about placing sports bets through that particular site.
What Should You Know Before Betting on Sports Online?
Regardless of whether you win or lose, betting on sports is going to be a blast. But obviously, you’ll have more fun winning than you will losing!
So prior to betting on sports online, you should be sure that you know what you’re doing. Here are some steps you can take to increase your chances of winning while betting on sports online:
- Try to bet on the sports that you know the best
- Learn about all the different types of sports bets that you can place (moneyline bets, point spread bets, teaser bets, parlay bets, prop bets, etc.)
- Take advantage of any bonuses that online sportsbooks provide for you
- Do at least a little bit of research before placing sports bets; you can go to https://pticica.com to check for genuine and safe sites.
- Avoid chasing your losses while betting on sports
You aren’t going to be able to turn yourself into a sports betting expert overnight. But you should be able to put yourself in a much better position to win by taking the correct approach to online sports betting.
Will Betting on Sports Online Ever Be Legal for Everyone?
The answer to the question, “Is it legal to bet on sports online?”, will always be “no” for some people out there. Certain states, like Utah, aren’t ever going to come around to legalizing sports betting.
But you should be aware of the fact that some states that don’t allow sports betting online now are in the process of trying to change their laws. So you might see your state legalize sports betting sooner or later.
Keep your eyes on the news to see where your state stands on sports betting. It might not be too long before you’re able to legally wager on sports in your state.
Start Betting on Sports Online If It’s Legal in Your State
If the answer to the question, “Is it legal to bet on sports online?”, is “yes” in your state, you should take full advantage of this. It would be worth setting up an account with an online sportsbook in your state so that you can participate in online sports betting.
Follow some of the advice that we’ve provided for you here and you might be able to walk away a winner after betting on sports online. You might also find that you’re pretty good at it and want to continue to bet on sports online for the foreseeable future.
Browse through our other blogs to read more about sports betting.
