Is sports betting legal and in which states can you bet?

Is sports betting legal and in which states can you bet?

In recent years, physical and online sportsbooks that accept sports bets have sprung up in the United States. Until recently, sports betting was illegal in most of the United States. However, the legal landscape around sports betting and sports betting is changing extremely fast thanks to a 2018 Supreme Court decision. If you are wondering if sports betting is legal and where you can place a bet, this guide will cover everything you need to know.

Sportsbooks: the situation in brief

Thanks to the 2018 Supreme Court decision that struck down PASPA, sports betting is now federal in the United States. The main consideration now is whether the laws of each state allow sports betting to work. Seventeen states have already legalized online or retail sports betting to start taking bets. Also, the number of states that allow sports betting may soon increase, as nine more states are considering legalizing this form of gambling to some degree. As sports betting gains traction and states see revenue generated from this form of gambling, an even greater number of states may consider relaxing their laws to allow sports betting. From 1993 to 2018, sports betting was illegal in almost all of the United States thanks to the federal law for the protection of professional and amateur sports (commonly known as PASPA). But, in 2018, the state of New Jersey won a Supreme Court lawsuit that struck down PASPA. In doing so, the Supreme Court opened the floodgates for sports betting in the United States. Of course, this does not mean that every state instantly authorizes sports betting. Many states already had their own gambling laws in place, which took effect once the federal ban was lifted. Furthermore, the infrastructure for sports betting, and in particular online sports betting, simply did not exist because it had been illegal for 25 years. Today, sports betting is legal in 17 states in total. Who understands: This list could grow rapidly as nine additional states - Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Florida, Wisconsin and Maryland - have considered legalizing sports betting in one form or another. However, they have yet to pass new laws.

How can you place a bet?

Even though 17 states have legalized sports betting, it's not always easy to place a bet right now. In some states that have legalized sports betting, including Colorado, there is still no platform for placing bets. Additionally, different states have taken different approaches to licensing one or more sports betting operators. Several states have placed relatively few restrictions on sports betting operations. Sports betting can be online or in physical stores. The only limitation presented is the cost that sports betting operators face in state license fees. As a result, these states have seen big sportsbooks like DraftKings, BetMGM, and FanDuel establishing online platforms for residents. In other states, including Arkansas and Mississippi, sports betting can only be operated in retail stores, such as existing casinos. This means that there is relatively little sports betting in these states. Additionally, states like Oregon and New York plan to give their state lottery commissions a monopoly on sports betting. The Oregon Lottery already has online sports betting, but the New York Lottery is still in the process of setting up a sports betting platform. Keep in mind that these state monopolies mean that there will only be one set of odds for any sporting event in Oregon or New York. More on this: Play Responsibly You probably don't need us to tell you that any form of gambling involves serious risks and should never be used as a quick fix to solve your financial problems. It is worth remembering the phrase ... the house always wins! If you have a roaming problem or suspect someone you know, we strongly recommend that you call the National Trouble Hotline at 1-800-522-4700 to speak to a professional. It is very important to make the game safer for you and your loved ones.

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