The ban on sports betting in the US was just as daft as the ban on alcohol during Prohibition. All it did was create a thriving US black market for sports bets online, based on offshore bookmakers.
But this Supreme Court decision in 2018 has finally put that nonsense to rest. It struck down a 1992 Federal law called PASPA that made betting on sports illegal in most states, opening the floodgates of legal sportsbooks here in the US.
Judging by the pace at which states are legalizing sportsbooks, the American appetite for gambling on sports seems more intense than our nation’s appetite for medical marijuana!
With legal sports betting no longer restricted to Nevada, it’s high time we took a look at how things stand in 2019. Here are the top 5 things you need to know about betting at regulated US Sportsbooks this year:
Where can one find regulated Sportsbooks?
Before 2018, Americans had only place to go if they wanted to place sports bets legally – Nevada. But now, that monopoly held by the Silver State is finally broken. There are currently eight states where you can safely place bets on your favorite sporting events:
- Nevada
- Delaware
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- West Virginia
- Mississippi
- Rhode Island
- New Mexico
Another 24 or so have tabled bills related to sports betting in their legislature. The only states to NOT have any pending bills related to sports betting are:
- Alaska
- Idaho
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- Utah
- Colorado
- Nebraska
- North Carolina
- Alabama
- Georgia
- Vermont
So if you reside in any of these states, you might have to pop across the border to a sportsbook-friendly state to indulge your cravings for the foreseeable future. That goes double if you are in Utah, where anti-gambling rules are enshrined in the state constitution!
What sort of establishments offer sports betting in 2019?
Many offline venues have started offering sportsbooks in the states where betting has been legalized. Nevada, for instance, has a long history of offering bets at their famous casinos.
Other establishments where you can find bookmakers include racetracks, and in some cases like in Delaware, through the state lotteries.
Inevitably, the current arrangement will result in a complicated patchwork of laws across the US on sports bets. That’s unfortunately, is the price we have to pay for the Federal system we have in place here.
Certain states stand out with their quirks – New Mexico is a case in point. They do not allow bookmakers anywhere in the state, except a single casino on Native American land. In fact, they did not even have to change any laws for this – the existing agreement between the state and the Pueblo already allows the tribe to host bookmakers.
How legal are online sports betting amidst all this change?
In the absence of legal sports betting in the US, Americans flocked online to bookmakers based in the Caribbean islands for their sports gambling fix. With the change of laws in the US, online sports betting is also in for a massive change.
Many of the states have also started rolling out licenses for mobile and online bookmakers. License-holders like the MGM Group have already launched their dedicated sports betting app in New Jersey.
The state has been very active on the online front, having already approved around 13 online sports betting apps. Pennsylvania is another state that has made some progress with mobile apps. Four apps are expected to go live in 2019.
And all that might spell bad news for the offshore companies in the long term. All these states have an active stake in the success of betting in their jurisdiction, through tax revenue. They will not take kindly to overseas competition eating into the profits of homebrew sports betting enterprises.
In fact, New Jersey has been at the forefront of cracking down on companies that work with offshore bookmakers.
But not all states are betting as big on the mobile platform though. For instance, Mississippi has a strict rule against mobile wagering outside licensed casino properties in the state. If you want to get comprehensive information on the best sportsbooks in the US in 2019, this site is a safe choice.
Which sporting events are open for bets?
The main opposition to the repeal of the ban on sports betting in the US came from the pro sports leagues. The NBA, the NFL, the MLB, and the NCAA were all vehemently opposed to sports betting in the past.
Their opposition was based on largely unfounded fears of corruption and match-fixing. The British have a strong gambling industry that flourishes alongside a thriving soccer league. Neither has suffered from any issues related to integrity or corruption so far.
Regardless of what they think, the leagues now have no option but to embrace the change. The NBA has already taken active steps to that end, linking up with MGM Resorts as their official sports betting partner. The NHL has also followed suit, while the NFL and MLB are also warming to the idea of sports betting in their games.
Currently, legal bookmakers in the US offer bets on all major professional sports leagues like the NFL, the NHL, MLS, the NBA, and Major League Baseball. Even college sports competitions like the NCAA is available, with some restrictions.
What are some important rules to keep in mind while placing bets?
For starters, gambling in all its myriad avatars is strictly for adults. You have to be above 21 to register and place a bet on sporting events. Most states require you to register at the venue with valid IDs to gain access to their bookmakers. In fact, the offline registration requirement may be extended to online gambling as well.
Residency is going to be a key requirement as well. In the past, folks from all over the US placed bets in Nevada, either by visiting in person or through friends and family members staying in the state. Though technically illegal, it was never strictly enforced.
But that is bound to change as more states establish their own legal gambling frameworks. New Jersey and Delaware only allow sports bets made by individuals who are within the state boundaries.
