US players no longer have to be in the dark about the online gambling law in their country. More specifically, bettors that are curious about the legislation relating to sports betting in America. Legal sports betting online has been a contentious topic for a long time, leading bettors to try their luck at offshore gambling sites that accept US players. Nowadays, there are several legit sportsbooks that offer US-centric betting odds on sports games in America.
In 2018, the US Supreme Court repealed a longstanding federal ban on online betting in the United States of America. This led to a nationwide deliberation of the legalities that are involved in sports gambling. Wagering on sports games outside of Nevada was initially prohibited, as regulated by the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). Find out more about the history of gambling, along with where you can bet online in the US online.
Where to Bet on Sports In USA
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Can You Gamble Online?
Yes, American bettors can bet on sports games online without fear o0f prosecution. It is, therefore, the player’s responsibility to ensure that the state in which they reside allows players to wager on sports. The gambling law in the USA is regulated by federal law as depicted on the PASPA bill. As of May 2018, the US Supreme court overturned a rule that prohibited players from gambling on sports online. A 6-4 vote ruled that the initial language on the legislation did not cover the specifications of sports betting.
The law was banning online casino gambling and casino operators within the borders of America. Covered under the Interstate Wire Act of 1961, US congress put the law in place as a means to combat organized crime. There was a lot of ambiguity in the language used and the US Department of Justice clarified this position in 2001.
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was a bill that Congress passed in September 2006 as a counterterrorism measure, banning all forms of gambling online. The terminology used was the prohibition of payment processors that help move money for illegal casino sites. The ban, however, did not include horse racing as well as fantasy sports betting.
Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act
Also known as the Bradley Act, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was passed by the US Senate back in 1992 to halt the spread of sports betting in the United States of America. There were a select number of states that were exempted from the prohibition. Namely, the PASPA exempted Nevada, Delaware, Oregon, and Montana respectively. These states were exempt because they offered sports lottery markets to the US players.
The language used in the bill was scrutinized, with New Jersey at the forefront of the contestation of the statute. The challenge was supported by the sports leagues who stand to make a huge profit in kickbacks from sportsbooks.
States Where Gambling Is Legal
Sports betting in the USA is a contentious subject that is left to the legal opinion of the state. Please find a list of states in the US that allow players to gamble on sports in America
- New Jersey Sports Betting
- Pennsylvania
- West Virginia
- Nevada Sports Betting
- Mississippi Sports Betting
Here’s the official list of states that are in the process of legalizing sports betting
- Indiana Sports Betting
- Illinois
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Kentucky
- New York Sports Betting
- New Hampshire