Legal Sports Betting
Welcome to LegalSportsBetting.com!!! No matter which sport you want to bet on, the number of legal sports betting options may shock you. Over the last few years, sports betting has grown exponentially. What used to be a $1 billion intake during a month of the NFL season has grown to upwards of $10 billion in just five years. Knowing where sports betting is legal in 2023 is easy. But, our goal is to ensure you are up to date with sportsbook law changes, sports betting news, and current odds so you always end up on top. You will find reviews of the best legal online sports betting sites for 2023 right here on our site!!
- 39 states (including Washington DC) have approved sports betting laws within their district, though one (Vermont) has yet to launch.
- Sportsbooks extend to US territories as well, with Puerto Rico having a regulated industry.
- There are over two dozen sports to bet at legal sportsbooks online and hundreds of leagues from college to pro.
- To date, land-based and mobile betting apps have taken in over $260 billion in sports bets since May 2018.
Today In Legal Sports Betting:
December 9th, 2023
- The Los Angeles Lakers are 4.0-point favorites against the Indiana Pacers in the NBA In-Season Tournament final. Click here to see our In-Season Tournament final betting preview. Read more
- Florida’s Hard Rock Casinos officially launched sports betting, craps, and roulette across the state. Florida online and retail sports betting are fully live across the state. Read more
- Recent news about Melania Trump stating Tucker Carlson would be the best fit as her husband’s running mate. See how the odds on Tucker Carlson to become vice president for Trump compare across legal sportsbooks. Read more
- ESPN BET partnered with Quail Hollow Club and the Wells Fargo Championship, securing North Carolina sports betting access upon launch. Find out more about the benefits of this partnership. Read more
States With Sports Betting
There are 38 states with sports betting (plus DC) accepting bets within their borders, and more are on the way! Legal sports betting has been on fire in the USA and it is only going to get bigger with the growth of legal online sports betting. Here is a list of the states that already offer legal sports betting, whether it is online, in person, or both. Click on your state to find out whether or not betting on sports is legal in your state.
Where Is Sports Betting Legal In The US?
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
New Hampshire
New Jersey
Nevada
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
Washington DC
West Virginia
Wisconsin
WyomingWhich States Will Regulate Sports Betting In 2024?
2024 turned out to be a stronger year of sports betting regulation than anticipated. To start 2023, Massachusetts and Ohio launched sportsbooks in January. During the summer, Nebraska sports betting launched at WarHorse Lincoln and into fall, Kentucky sports betting started with Gov. Andy Beshear placing the first bet. While it appeared all was done, sportsbooks in Maine launched in November with Florida’s Hard Rock Bet app going live just before Veterans Day. Florida sportsbooks at Hard Rock casinos launched starting on December 7, 2023.
- Awaiting its launch, the next state where sports betting will be legal is Vermont.
- For 2024, states like Georgia, Oklahoma, and Missouri will focus on passing gambling laws. After them, California, Minnesota and Texas could be the next grouping. But, that likely won’t be until 2025.
Legal Sports Betting Sites For USA Residents
The best legal sports betting sites for USA residents all depends on where you live. While there are lots of legal online sportsbooks available, not all of them take players from every US state. Below we list our choice for the best legal sports betting sites for 2023!!! These aites accept players from most states and they have customer service that is above all others!!! The sportsbooks we reccomend have big bonuses, easy deposit methods, and much more to offer all US players.
| Rank | Sportsbook | Bonus Offer | Play Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
75% Up To $750 Read Review | Visit Bovada! |
| 2 |  |
50% New Member Bonus!Read Review | Visit BetOnline! |
| 3 |  |
50% Up To $1,000 Read Review | Visit MyBookie! |
| 4 |  |
100% Up To $300Read Review | Visit Xbet! |
| 5 |  |
50% Up To $1,000 Read Review | Visit SportsBetting! |
US Sports Betting Promo Codes + Bonuses
Every sportsbook has sports betting bonuses and promotions to offer. But, always be sure to read the fine print. Now, US sportsbooks have certain requirements when posting these betting promos after a Caesars lawsuit in 2022 made the term “risk-free” obsolete. Still, understand what you’re signing up first. And then, utilize sportsbook bonus codes to your benefit.
- Bovada offers a sports betting promo worth $750 for signing up and making a deposit with crypto. While BetOnline offers $1,000, their rollover is over 2x that of the Bovada sportsbook bonus.
How Old Do I Have To Be To Use Sportsbooks?
Every state sets its own laws for sports betting ages. Most of the time with online sportsbooks, the betting age is 18. If sports betting age laws in your state say 21 though, that is the rule to follow. You do not have to show a valid ID to sign up, but you do have to before you can withdraw your winnings.
Sports Betting Banking Options
Whether looking to make a sportsbook deposit using a card or crypto, you’re set. Also, wire transfers and debit/credit cards are methods to fund a sportsbook account too. Withdrawing is also quick and easy and you can wire it straight to your bank, grab an e-check, receive crypto, and more.
What To Bet On At Online Sportsbooks
The biggest upcoming sports betting events in 2023 focus on football. But, “small market” sports like tennis tournaments happen weekly. For the serious bettors, there are plenty of college basketball odds today too. If you haven’t already, now is the time to sign up to bet on football legally.
List Of Sports To Bet On
How To Bet On Sports
The ways to bet on sports is simple enough if you look to develop your own strategies. As far as the basic sports betting wager types, don’t freak out if you are unsure of how to start. While there can be hundreds of bets on a single game or matchup, sportsbooks offer three standard bets across the board. Start here and you’ll soon find out the style you like best.
Legal Live In-Game Betting
Still growing in popularity, live betting has become the next step for sports betting in the United States. Estimates suggest four-fifths of UK sports bets are live. For the US, it’s closer to around 25%. Though rare, betting sites with live betting also offer a way to watch games from their platform. As every betting site that offers live betting has different rules, understand them before playing.
Legal Esports Betting Sites
One of the most popular events is esports betting. With the help of COVID, this grew to notoriety from the start. Sometimes, you’ll even see sites with esports betting have their own platform outside of the sportsbook. Then again, some states modified sports betting laws to include or reject esports odds. Instead, many use BetOnline to bet esports because of their unique esports platform.
Legal Political Betting Sites
Finding legal political betting sites won’t happen with state-regulated books like FanDuel or Caesars. States limit what sportsbooks can offer and betting on politics is never in question. Still, you can bet on the presidential election with offshore sites like Bovada and BetOnline. They do not have these same restrictions and even offer odds on governor races, international affairs, and of course Donald Trump betting odds.
Famous Sports Bettors
If you’re still getting used to betting on sports, that’s no problem! At one point, everyone was a beginner. Remember, even the most famous sports bettors in the world started somewhere. So, check out our bios for some famous sports bettors to see how they can help. Knowing what to do is important. But, knowing what not to do is also a key to winning.
The Size Of The US Sports Betting Market
Looking to see how much money is bet on sports in the US is an easy feat. Every state reports their sports betting handle, revenue, and tax figures for the most part. Some tribal run sportsbooks in the US are not required to post their figures. Still, using our sports betting revenue tracker, we can see the scope of money bet in the US. Overall, legal football betting brings in the most money in the majority of states with basketball being second.
- 23 states eclipsed a sports betting handle (total bets accepted) of $1 billion all-time.
- Sportsbooks in the big 5 (NV, NJ, NY, PA, IL) account for over 50% of all legal US sports betting revenue.
- Sports betting sites have sent over $4 billion to local governments in gaming taxes.
Where Does The Money Go?
The benefits of sports betting taxes change over many states’ sports betting regulations. Most states allocate percentages of revenue to their general fund. But, some have a true plan of action. In Sept. 2022, Colorado’s gaming commission approved over $11 million into a cash fund. This Water Implementation Fund oversees the Colorado Water Plan. Therefore, this 43% YOY increase benefits water projects in Colorado, which began from legalization. Elsewhere, Mississippi sportsbooks send money into infrastructure, benefiting sewers and roads. As you can see, the money from legal betting sites that accept Americans is dependent on the state.
Mobile Sports Betting Sites
Mobile sports betting apps and sites offer betting lines around the country. Some mobile sports betting needs the downloading of an app on an iPhone, Android, or any device. When using a state-licensed betting app (Caesars), users must stay within state lines. But, there are no location restrictions like this at offshore sportsbooks.
Where To Use The Top Rated Sports Betting Apps
- States Where FanDuel Is Legal: Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming
- What States Allow DraftKings Sportsbook: Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia, Wyoming
- Parts Of The US Where BetMGM Is Active: Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington DC, West Virginia, Wyoming
- States Where You Can Use ESPN Bet: Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia
Sports Betting Contests At Legal USA Betting Sites
Finding sports betting contests can be the easiest way to win. While entries are generally only a few dollars ($5-$25), payouts can be in the thousands. Advertised through emails, also be on the lookout for tweets and posters around local casinos for sports betting contests covering all sports.
Legal Horse Racing Betting
In 2023, pretty much every legal sportsbook online also has horse racing odds. TwinSpires and BetMGM are solid horse racing apps. But, they aren’t available everywhere and can see limitations in the types of horse bets. If you follow smaller races, legal horse racing betting sites like Bovada may be the decision.
Legal Entertainment Betting Sites
Looking to bet on TV shows or celebrities? Legal entertainment betting sites have odds on it all. In short, the easiest way to engage in entertainment betting is with legal online sportsbooks taking US residents. Most of the time, DraftKings and FanDuel don’t have approval from gaming commissions. But, this depends on the state. While it might not be “sports” betting, if the book offers a way to bet on entertainment, we’ll always think about it. Most of these sites with entertainment betting don’t allow for large bets. Still, you can still earn some betting units along the way.
Regulated Sports Betting In The US & Abroad
Regulated sports betting in the US has become more popular ever since the repeal of PASPA in May of 2018. Proponents have argued players have more protection and integrity of games remain intact. In reality, regulated US sports betting is a way for governments to collect taxes. This is one of the main reasons why US sports betting regulations grew so fast. Regulated sports betting helps bolster revenue and states are taxing sportsbooks from 6-51%. Without such revenue lost, legal online sportsbooks can offer better odds and lines. Evidence of this has been common, with networks like ESPN and FOX Sports having used odds from Bovada.
US Sports Betting Laws
There have been many changes to US sports betting laws over the past couple of years. And now, the federal government let states look at how to best regulate US sports betting. But, this may confuse those wondering what states is sports betting legal in. Still, federal sports betting laws in America are clear.
Interstate Wire Act of 1961
- The Wire Act can sound scary. In short, it makes it against the law to “assist” in placing bets when using a “a wire communication facility”. But, per 18 U.S. Code § 1084 (b) it rejects making online betting sites illegal. This is because they permit betting where sports betting is legal, even internationally.
Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992
- Also known as PASPA, the Supreme Court repealed this in 2018. Doing so, this is why states have their own laws for sports betting. Originally, this restricted “a governmental entity” to support sports betting laws. Due to that, New Jersey challenged this federal sports betting law. Stating sportsbooks should fall under the state’s jurisdiction, they won the case.
Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006
- Or, the UIGEA for short. As the most burdensome federal law, this still affects sports betting sites that are legal. The Act prohibits “businesses from knowingly accepting payments in connection” with sports betting. In other words, banks can’t process a transaction if they suspect it’s geared toward a betting site. However, notice that this federal sports betting law focuses on the banks. This means if you run into trouble, try to rerun your credit card. If it keeps failing, try using a different sportsbook deposit method to prevent this.
Regulated State Betting Timeline
The growth of sports betting regulation in the United States can be divided into three segments.
2018-2019 – The Early Years
During the early years of US sports betting law changes, states were trying to figure out policies that would work. Some states modeled their laws after Nevada, while others waiting for more states to regulate before looking at their own rules. Many states wasted no time and by the end of 2018, eight states had open sportsbooks to locals and tourists.
2020-2021 – The COVID Years
During the COVID years, mobile and online sports betting took centerstage. Because of nationwide lockdowns and lack of revenue to governments, legislators leaned on sports betting to keep budgets balanced. From March to November of 2020, another eight states began sports betting operations. However, many others ensured bills passed so they wouldn’t fall behind the curve. By the end of 2021, 30 states had legal sports betting fully operational.
2022-2023 – The Regulation Years
During the regulation years, only a few states added laws and opened up shop. But, this time was spent by legislators and regulatory bodies tweaking laws to maximize the benefits of sports betting in their areas. Some looked to add sportsbook apps and modified the bet types available or restricted them. Others focused on increasing their sportsbooks’ tax rate and licensing fees or limiting on how they could advertise promotions.
Which Countries Have Legal Sports Betting?
Even outside of the US, knowing some country’s sports gambling laws is important. Whether traveling abroad, living there, or wanting to bet on sports in an airport, understand which sportsbooks work outside the US. Some countries with sports betting have laws in place but others rely on sportsbooks online to take their action, leaving the market unregulated.
Find Your Country:
Argentina
Australia
Brazil
Canada
China
Colombia
Costa Rica
Ghana
India
Kenya
Mexico
New Zealand
Nigeria
Peru
Philippines
Russia
South Africa
United KingdomLatest Legal Sports Betting News
FAQ's About Legal Sports Betting
Let’s face it, the United States sports gambling industry is complex and the rules change. This running list of FAQs should help navigate the US sports betting industry.
- Is sports betting legal in Texas? Yes, you can bet on sports in Texas using online sportsbooks. While there aren’t any Texas sportsbooks in the state, these sites will do just fine.
- Is sports betting legal in California? Yes, despite failing to pass a constitutional amendment in 2018. There are still legal sportsbooks taking California players active in 2023.
- Is sports betting legal in Florida? Yes. Also, regulated Florida sportsbooks are the furthest along in the process. Tied up in lawsuits, the Hard Rock Bet app should launch sooner rather than later.
Expand the other sports betting FAQs below to learn more.
List Of Other Sports Betting FAQs
Will I Go To Jail For Online Sports Betting?
No, you will not go to jail for online sports betting. States that don’t offer regulated sportsbooks can use online gambling websites. These fall outside state and federal jurisdiction. Additionally, anti-gambling laws focus on operators and providers rather than individual gamblers. No individual has ever gone to jail in the United States for only betting on sports.
Is it legal to Bet On Sports With My Friends In The USA?
Some states do have prohibitions against social betting with somewhat archaic laws. States do not enforce social betting laws unless there’s other criminal acts. Your March Madness office pool is completely legal as long as the house doesn’t take a cut.
Can I safely wager on sports with a local bookie?
No betting with an underground bookie is against the law. While you likely won’t face charges, your money could be at risk of government seizure. Local bookies sometimes aren’t trustworthy. Also, you may get worse odds and their payouts are unreliable at best. If you want to wager on sports safely, do so with legal online sportsbooks taking US residents.
Can I use the phone or Internet to place a bet at a sportsbook in another state?
No, all sportsbooks in the US are off-limits to those located in another state. You don’t have to be a resident there, but you must log in and bet from their jurisdiction. This is the result of the Federal Wire Act of 1961. Even still, the Wire Act does not apply to licensed online sportsbooks outside the US.
When Will My State Have Legal Sports Betting?
Unless you live in Utah, soon. Since the 2018 Supreme Court repeal of PASPA, states have passed sports betting laws. While some have heavy opposition to sports betting, it is prevalent in many places. But, religious groups and tribal casinos cause the largest issues for sports betting legislation.
Do I have to pay taxes on my winnings when betting on sports?
Yes, you have to pay federal and (when applicable) state taxes on your sportsbook winnings. If not, failure to report these winnings could land you in legal trouble. The federal gambling winnings tax rate is 25% and many states tax gambling winnings as income. Also, gambling losses are deductible up to the same amount as your winnings.
How To Contact LegalSportsBetting.com?
The team here is always ready to answer any questions you may have about legal sports betting in The United States. Just shoot us an email to the address below and one of our team members will get back to you as soon as possible.