Sports Betting laws in the US
Since the inception of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, sports betting in the United States – minus parts of Oregon, Delaware and Nevada – has been outlawed. However, that does not mean it is impossible to bet sports, you just need to know where to look.
Knowing full well that there are some benefits to allowing sports betting in the country, states like Delaware and New Jersey have pushed to get it legalized in their states. The train of thought is that sports betting could run similarly to toll roads, raising funds for the state much in the same way that slot machines do. Currently, Delaware is testing sports betting, however it may not succeed in the long term as a federal appeals court determined that single bets violated federal law. Currently, the only way to bet on sports in Delaware is to place parlay wagers, and the odds are not the same that you would get at an online sports book or in Las Vegas. For instance, a two team $100 parlay bet in Las Vegas typically nets you $260 in profit, while in Delaware it might net you $220 or so.
The easiest place by far to bet on sports if you are not in Las Vegas or Delaware, is on the internet, in the convenience of your own home. As most online sports books do not want to get in trouble for servicing U.S. customers, they are almost exclusively run off shore in other countries such as the Caribbean or in Europe. These sites are run outside of the U.S., therefore they are not breaking U.S. law. And depending on your interpretation of the law, there may not be a way to prosecute a bettor, only the sports book that is accepting the action.
With the passing of the Security and Accountability For Every Port Act of 2006 (SAFE Port Act), all sports books listed on the London Stock Exchange no longer service U.S. customers. Sites that are not listed on the exchange do still service these customers.
The easiest way to fund money into these sports books is through a service like Western Union, which can wire money across the world in minutes. Though this is frowned upon and can be a potential misdemeanor crime, it is generally known that nobody has ever been arrested or gone to jail for betting sports on the internet.
Currently, Las Vegas does not house any professional sports teams, as there is great concern that the proximity to sports books could encourage degenerate gambling and potentially point shaving, as was the case with the University of Nevada Las Vegas in the 1990-91 season. Head coach Jerry Tarkanian was investigated because it was suspected that his basketball players were cheating behind the scenes, shaving points off games and pocketing money on the side. There is also a potential that no professional or collegiate playoffs could be hosted in Delaware due to the sports betting being legalized, though that appears to be up in the air at this time.
In the end, the issue of sports betting in the United States is one that will continue to be hotly contested for the foreseeable future, and will consistently be appealed throughout the court system for some time. In the meantime, you can legally satisfy your urge to bet on the east coast in Delaware casinos and on the west coast in Las Vegas. Many states permit betting on dogs or horses, as well. And, if you are daring, you can always bet on an online sports book.
Remember, all the online sports books listed on this website have been in business for at least 10 years and have a stellar reputation in both customer service and paying players.
