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Legal Online Sports Betting In The U.S.

Lawbook With USA Flag Is sports betting legal in the United States? Where can I legally place bets if I live in the US?  These are questions we are asked every single day, and it is our primary objective to help you understand the current legal landscape of sports betting in the United States and be able to make an informed decision about your participation in legal betting entertainment.

This includes current news about US sports betting legislation, professional insight that will help you find the most trusted legal online sports betting sites while avoiding scams and predatory gambling operations, and access to legal betting options that give you the most value with competitive betting lines and odds.

We are avid gamblers as well as industry professionals, and we take the process by which we find legal, trustworthy bookmakers that are operating legitimately within the industry very seriously. If you want to learn more about the status of legal sportsbook gambling in the United States, we deliver this to you in a comprehensive, user-friendly format that breaks the information down into manageable pieces.

We're simply aiming to help our fellow gamblers, specifically American bettors such as yourself, understand your options and how to enjoy online gambling entertainment within the confines of US betting laws.

Table Of Contents

    Top Rated USA Sportsbooks For December 2024

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     Site NameCurrent BonusAgeU.S.Visit Site
    Top Rated #1 IconBovada Sportsbook50% Max $1,00018+USA Players Legally AcceptedVisit Site Review
    2BetUS125% Max $3,12518+USA Players Legally AcceptedVisit Site Review
    3Betonline Sportsbook50% Max $25018+USA Players Legally AcceptedVisit Site Review
    4Bookmaker Sportsbook25% Max $50018+USA Players Legally AcceptedVisit Site Review
    5sports betting logo50% Max $50018+USA Players Legally AcceptedVisit Site Review
    6MyBookie Sportsbook100% Max $1,00021+USA Players Legally AcceptedVisit Site Review
    7xbet logo50% Max $20021+USA Players Legally AcceptedVisit Site Review

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    Is Online Sports Betting Legal In The USA?

    Yes, it is, and in more ways than one. With the repeal of PASPA, which also altered the application of the Federal Wire Act, both domestic and offshore online sportsbooks are now able to provide their services to US residents, which is a huge move forward for legal sports betting in the United States.  Neither of these laws has ever prohibited offshore betting, so those destinations that operate outside of the United States do have a bit of a head start on the US-based bookmakers.

    The federal bans imposed through PASPA and the Wire Act only applied to US-based gambling businesses when they were fully in force, but they effectively prevented any type of expansion in the US domestic sports wagering market for over two decades. The changes to federal gambling regulations that have taken place have removed the chains from the state-side betting industry and many US states have embraced their newfound freedom.

    To learn more about the legality of sports betting in your area see our legal online sports betting FAQs page or simply explore the federal laws below.

    What Sports Can I Legally Bet On In The United States?

    As far as local betting goes, each individual state will dictate which sports and leagues are eligible for wagering within their borders. Most state-regulated bookmakers offer the most popular events and leagues such as NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and some NCAA sports. However, some states do impose restrictions concerning college athletics. It is also unusual to find betting options for politics, entertainment, or much in the way of international leagues at these local bookmakers. The range of eligible betting lines and wagering options will vary significantly from state to state, and even business to business.

    Offshore sports betting is a different playing field altogether and has effectively dominated legal sports betting for more than 2 decades.  These sites typically offer a much larger variety of sports coverage, betting lines, and wagering options, and include both USA leagues, matches, games and events as well as many international leagues and events. We are in the process of launching individual betting guides for each category covered at the offshore bookmakers, and below are the most popular ones that are currently available. As we complete each sports category or league page, we will add it to the main menu above with some of the most popular options to bet on featured below.

    If you are opting for one of the premium legal sportsbooks featured on this page, then you will have a wide range of options to bet on that include leagues and events from all around the world.  Here we have listed just a few of the most popular leagues, however, if you visit our categorized menus above, you will see a much longer list of options and an even more extensive list on the actual sportsbooks themselves.

    What's Happening Now in Sports in December 2024

    It has been so awesome to see most of the major leagues and sports events return to the fields, courts, tracks, arenas, and sportsbooks.  Below is a preview of some of the most popular categories to bet on right now at our recommended betting sites.  Keep in mind that there are always futures bets available on most mainstream sports categories that are not even in season, and lots of niche sports options are available that you may never have considered betting on before now.

    What Sports Can I Bet on Right Now in December 2024?

    • Playoffs Begin April 19, 2025
      Category: Hockey

    • Playoffs Begin April 15, 2025
      Category: Basketball

    • Season Finale December 9 & 10
      Category: Entertainment

    • Finale December 11th
      Category: Entertainment

    Most Popular Sports To Bet On In 2024

    Here we've listed the most popular sports to bet on. Most of the items on this list will not be unexpected. However, you may be surprised and even intrigued by a few of them since quite a few of these categories cannot be found in the local, state-licensed gambling properties or betting sites in the US. All of these options, as well as many many other sports categories, can be accessed at the legitimate online sportsbooks you see featured on this page.

    The Best Legal Offshore Sportsbooks For US-Based Players

    Though gambling opponents and the state-licensed market attempt to paint offshore sportsbooks as illegal, this is not actually the case.  There are no federal laws that prohibit US residents from enjoying online betting at sportsbooks operating legally outside of the United States. There is only one state that has made efforts to restrict online gambling across the board, that state being WA, though nothing is done to enforce this restriction.

    There have been attempts made to restrict offshore betting, but International Trade Laws have thus far prevented any success in taking this option away from American sports bettors. Here is the legal status of the most popular and trusted international sports betting sites offering their services to US residents.

    Best Sports Betting Apps That Are Legal In The USA

    Mobile sports betting is quickly being elevated to the top of the food chain when it comes to gambling. More bets are placed from mobile devices than computers or kiosks, and with few exceptions, mobile betting is outpacing in-person wagering as well.

    If we're being honest, we'd all admit that we consider our smartphones and tablets to basically be an extension of ourselves, and we find it painful to be very far from our beloved mobile devices for any length of time. It is only natural that sports betting operators have worked hard to stay relevant to these technological advancements.

    Domestic Mobile Sports Betting Apps

    Multiple regions have launched state-regulated mobile betting options. In fact, there are even some states that have only launched mobile options with no retail sportsbooks. Some states only allow on-site mobile betting that requires you to be present within a geofenced property or general location, while others don't geofence but require you to sign up in person at a retail location. The rules and options vary by state.

    International Mobile Betting Apps

    All of the brands we recommend on this website offer their own premium, web-based, mobile-optimized betting app. You can access these apps through any browser on your phone, and they are compatible with both Android sports betting and iPhone smartphones and tablets. Since they are web-based, they require no downloads, and your sportsbook account is always synched regardless of what device you are using.

    Below are the US-friendly mobile sports betting apps that we ourselves use. Each member of our team actually has an account at all of these bookmakers so that we can shop the lines quickly for live betting. We have an entire section dedicated to legal mobile sports betting that provides more information.

    States With Legal Sports Betting in 2024

    Many states have already passed legislation that authorizes some form of state-licensed sports betting, including some combination of brick and mortar, mobile, and/or online wagering. Since the Supreme Court ruled PASPA as unconstitutional in May of 2018, the states on the map below are shown in dark red and light red have legalized sports gambling in some form, though not all have launched live betting yet.

    In addition, none of the states in this map impose restrictions when it comes to sports gambling at online betting sites operating legally outside of the US. This means that those of you in every state can enjoy online betting at the brands listed on this page without violating any state or federal gambling laws. If you want to know more about domestic gambling services see our guide to USA state gambling age and sportsbook revenue tracker to learn what options are available and how much money has been wagered to date.

    We encourage you to visit our section about states that offer legal sports betting. We cover all 50 states, which laws are in play and which online betting sites can legally accept players from each specific jurisdiction. Keep in mind that each state has its own take on what this industry should look like, so there are states that have legalized sports betting but do not offer online wagering. There is one state, Tennessee, that has only legalized online and mobile betting. Our state pages will provide you with details on what every region is allowing and/or prohibiting.

    Tracking 2024 Sports Betting Legislation By State

    Since PASPA"s repeal, legislation to legalize domestic betting has literally been sweeping across the United States.  Many states have already passed bills authorizing local options while others have pending legislation on the docket.

    In order to keep up with this whirlwind of change taking place in the US gambling market, we've created a State Sports Betting Bill Tracker page to monitor and provide updates in real-time for each state currently involved in the legislative process relevant to sports wagering.  To use this page - you simply click on your state in the map and you'll have a view of current and recent legislative activity.

    Why Legal Offshore Sportsbooks Are Still So Popular in 2024

    Sports betting is definitely experiencing an uptick in popularity, and this means more and more bookmakers are welcoming US-based players to participate in real money wagering on current events such as athletics, politics, movies, music, and more. Even though a number of states have launched legal domestic betting options, in many cases they still can't compete with the more experienced offshore sportsbooks.

    Technological advancements have made it possible to experience secure, high-quality sports betting action online using computers and mobile devices.  Here are a few reasons international online betting sites have been able to maintain tremendous momentum among USA bettors:

    • Mobile Friendly - betting on the go from anywhere with an internet or cellular connection.
    • Bonus offers - multiple incentives to attract and retain new bettors - International promotions are typically significantly larger than domestic sportsbook promos.
    • Variety of betting lines and wagering options - including extensive prop bets and live betting that allows wagers to be placed during live events.
    • Access to additional platforms online, including casino games, live dealer games, poker, esports, and horse racing.
    • Range of sports coverage - international bookmakers typically offer far more sports categories and on a global scale that spans both domestic and international events.
    • US friendly online payment options for deposit and withdrawals, including cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, Ripple and more.

    Convenience: A Driving Force For Online Sports Betting

    Convenience is certainly an important factor in online betting popularity. Multiple states have launched online betting options, but in some cases, bettors must be within a specific proximity to a retail sportsbook location in order to participate and are required to create an account in person.

    Technology provides the opportunity for sports events to be broadcast on a global scale, ensuring more of the world's population is engaged and certainly makes live-in-play betting even more popular.

    Offshore gambling sites facilitate live betting on your PC, laptop, or mobile device.  These advancements have expanded the betting market to most corners of the world. In addition, online bookmakers also offer inviting sports betting bonus offers and promotions that sweeten the deal quite a bit.

    What We're Here to Do for U.S. Sports Gamblers

    Our primary goal here at sportsbetting.legal is to offer a comprehensive and up to date guide about gambling legally throughout the world. Currently, we have a focus on helping bettors in the United States since it's one of the most confusing markets from a legal perspective.

    Sports betting is not a zero-sum game. The more that people bet, the more money there is to be won! So we want you to find the best and most reliable online gambling sites at which to bet. It works out better for everyone that way.

    We're going to direct you to the leading and most trusted online betting sites that are operating legally within the industry after we've thoroughly vetted them from head to toe. We look at reputation, credentials, security, sportsbook funding options, who the fastest paying sportsbooks are, betting lines and options, software used, how each book establishes its lines, and so much more.

    When we find a quality betting site for you, we'll offer our recommendation along with a detailed sportsbook review of each brand we include in our content. We hope that through our efforts you find what you need to make informed decisions that coincide with your needs and preferences when it comes to betting entertainment. It's that simple.

    In addition to offering our expert knowledge of online sportsbooks, we have created how-to guides to assist you in making informed wagering decisions and learning how to enjoy online betting. Some of our best guides include how to calculate betting odds, how to shop sportsbook betting odds, and how to buy cryptocurrency with the Atomic wallet to fund an online betting account. We also offer recreational reading guides like our Sports Betting Hall of Fame list of today's top bettors and why their bets are important.

    Legal Sports Betting By Country

    Along with monitoring the status of domestic and offshore sports betting in the United States, we also closely watch the growth of betting markets on a global scale.  As we compile our resources for each relevant country, the list below will be updated to show our progress.