Online Sports Betting in the USA: where to bet?

Now is the best time in history to take part in sports betting in the United States. That’s because the laws have finally caught up and states are allowed to make their own sports betting laws.

USA online sportsbooks are everywhere today. Over 30 states have legalized online sports betting to date. In these states, you have excellent options that accept players from your state. However, outside of these states, you can still use offshore sportsbooks to place bets.

Online sports betting is easy and convenient. Today, the best USA online sportsbooks offer a wide range of bets on nearly all sports. Additionally, most online sports betting sites offer mobile sports betting so you can place bets from anywhere on your mobile device or tablet.

Online sportsbooks also offer a range of bonuses to attract gamblers. When you make a new account at a USA online sportsbook, you will get some great offers. It’s common for online sportsbooks to offer you a risk-free bet up to a set amount for your first time.

History of Sports Betting in the USA

For a long time, sports betting was very restricted in the USA. In fact, up until 2012, sports betting in America was only legal in 4 states. 

In 1992, a law known as the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was passed at the federal level. This bill restricted sports betting across the USA to just Oregon, Delaware, Montana and Nevada. Major sports organizations had a large stake in this bill since it allowed them to get a cut of the earnings.

Sports gamblers really owe their thanks to New Jersey and then-Governor Chris Christie for getting this overturned. In 2012, Governor Christie went directly against PASPA and signed a law in that effectively legalized all sports betting in NJ. This started a major legal battle that would last almost 5 years.

When NJ legalized sports betting, it was almost immediately sued by every major league sports organization in the USA. By 2018, the case had reached the Supreme Court. In that year, the Supreme Court ruled PASPA unconstitutional because it violated state’s rights. NJ won the case! 

As a result, every US state can now decide on its own whether or not to allow sports betting. That’s why it seems like there are now online sportsbooks popping up everywhere in just the last few years.

US States with Legal Online Sportsbooks

There are more than 30 US states with legal online sports betting today. The largest legal sports betting markets in the country are New Jersey and Pennsylvania because they were some of the first ones to launch after PASPA was overturned.

Plenty of other states now offer legal online sports betting too. More are launching all the time too. Some other legal US sports betting states include Michigan, Delaware, Montana, Iowa, Indiana, and Virginia.

If you’re located in any of these states, you probably have a wide range of legal online sportsbooks to choose from. These are your best choice for USA online sports betting.

However, if your state has not yet legalized online sports betting, you do still have options. You can use offshore online sportsbooks in most US states. You can even use some of these sites from inside legal US sports betting sites. Just make sure you only use safe and reputable online sportsbooks to place your bets.

Online Sports Betting in the USA FAQ

Is online sports betting legal in the USA?

Yes it is, but it depends on which state you’re in. Not all US states have legalized online sports betting just yet. In legal states, you can easily find online sportsbooks to place bets on a wide range of sports. Outside of these legal states, you can still access offshore sportsbooks to place bets online.

Which US states have legal online sportsbooks?

There are more than 30 US states offering legal online sportsbooks. The best part is, more and more states are considering this move too. If your state doesn’t have legal online sports betting yet, it is likely coming soon. These states currently offer legal online sportsbooks:

• Colorado
• Indiana
• Illinois
• New Hampshire
• Michigan
• Montana
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode IslandIowa
• Tennessee
• Virginia
• Washington, DC
• West Virginia
• Wyoming

Which states will launch legal online sports betting next?

There are a few states which currently offer mainly brick-and-mortar sports betting. They include Delaware, Mississippi, Arkansas, and New York. These could be the next ones to launch online so keep a close eye on them.

On top of that, a few states are actively discussing the legalization of sports betting. In these states, nothing has launched yet but lawmakers are in the process of figuring out the laws. These states could be the next to launch legal online sports betting:

• North Carolina
• Washington
• Louisiana
• Maryland
• South Dakota

Do sports leagues get a cut of sports betting profits?

Under the current legal framework, there is no law that gives sports leagues any cut of betting profits. However, a few major leagues have partnered with sportsbooks in the last few years. The NBA was the first to do it when it partnered with MGM Resorts. In that deal, the NBA gets a cut of $25 million while MGM sportsbooks get to use league data and logos. The NHL followed soon after and also patterned with MGM in a similar deal. Several individual teams in the NFL, NBA, and NHL have also made their own deals with select sportsbooks in their states.

Do I need to report sports betting winnings on my taxes?

Yes you do. This is true no matter where you place bets, whether at a legal US online sportsbook or an offshore online sportsbook. You’ll report your winnings the same way you would with any casino winnings. 

Do US online sportsbooks offer bonuses?

Many of the best US online sportsbooks offer promotions to new players. They typically take the form of a risk-free bet up to a certain value. You might also find deposit match bonuses only for new players that will match any cash you add to your account up to a set amount. Nearly all online sportsbooks offer these bonuses so be sure to do some research first before you make an account.