If you love watching sports and frequently hear sports betting tips from commentators, you’re likely wondering how you can get involved and make money from your passion. However, an essential first question to ask is how to do it legally.
Check out our guide of legal sports betting tips before you place your first wager. That way, you can focus on having fun and making money rather than worrying about potential violations.
Where Sports Betting Is Legal
When it comes to sports betting legislation in the U.S., the laws all come down to the states. The Supreme Court has ruled that the federal government doesn’t have the power to determine a state’s law regarding gambling. This means you’ll need to look at where you live to determine whether online sports betting is legal.
Want to know if you can get started with sports betting in your state? Take a look at this list to know whether your state allows sports betting:
- Alabama: No
- Alaska: No
- Arizona: No
- Arkansas: No
- California: Yes
- Colorado: Yes
- Connecticut: No
- Delaware: Yes
- Florida: No
- Georgia: No
- Hawaii: No
- Idaho: No
- Illinois: Yes
- Indiana: Yes
- Iowa: Yes
- Kansas: No
- Kentucky: No
- Louisiana: No
- Maine: No
- Maryland: No
- Massachusetts: No
- Michigan: Yes
- Minnesota: No
- Mississippi: Yes
- Missouri: No
- Montana: Yes
- Nebraska: No
- Nevada: Yes
- New Hampshire: No
- New Jersey: Yes
- New Mexico: Yes
- New York: Yes
- North Carolina: Yes
- North Dakota: No
- Ohio: Yes
- Oklahoma: No
- Oregon: Yes
- Pennsylvania: Yes
- Rhode Island: Yes
- South Carolina: No
- South Dakota: No
- Tennessee: Yes
- Texas: No
- Utah: No
- Vermont: No
- Virginia: No
- Washington: No
- West Virginia: Yes
- Wisconsin: No
- Washington, D.C.: No
- Wyoming: No
Don’t despair if your state didn’t make online sports betting a “Yes.” There is legislation being pushed throughout the country to legalize gambling. For example, Ohio just added legal sports betting legislation that made it legal to place bets on your favorite sports after a successful campaign by its citizens.
If you’re interested in making it legal to make sports betting legal in your state, contact your legislators and let them know. But in the meantime, legal sports betting is only available to people in the states where it’s currently allowed by law.
Finding Legal Platforms
For any online sports betting and gambling, the proper authorities should regulate the platform you use. This guarantees that they’re operating legally and that you as a user are protected.
Before signing up with a platform, ensure that they can legally operate in your country. This should be clearly stated so that you have a guarantee that you’re protected should anything go wrong. Depending on your country, the platform may need to be locally regulated.
Any platform you use should also require you to confirm your identity. That way, everyone is of the legal age to place bets, and your identity is protected.
Sports Betting Tips to Get Started
You know you can legally place bets in your area, and you’ve found a platform you’re excited about. It’s time to jump into the exciting world of online sports betting! If you’re a beginner, here are some sports betting tips to keep in mind as you place your wagers:
- Start Slowly: There is often a minimum deposit on platforms, but you can still begin placing wagers slowly. This will give you a chance to discover your preferred strategies and lose less money as you decide what works best for you.
- Stick to What You Know: You’ve heard about what may be a great bet. But if you know nothing about the sport or team, you’re probably better off withholding a bet. Since you don’t have your prior knowledge to rely on, you can’t accurately assess how much of a risk you’re taking.
- Don’t Get Overconfident: There’s nothing like the thrill of winning! However, if you take that confidence with you into a risky bet, you may find yourself making poor decisions and wasting your money. Every pick is fresh. Just because you won yesterday doesn’t mean your next risk will pay off. Continue doing your due diligence to find the best picks.
Keeping It Legal — The Bottom Line
Various platforms have made it easy to ensure your safety when enjoying online sports betting. So for those wanting to do everything by the book, it’s never been more straightforward. With a bit of research into a platform’s regulations and your local laws, you’re sure to find a reliable sportsbook so you can start making some serious cash without breaking the rules.
Frequently Asked Questions about Online Sports Betting
Where Is It Legal to Bet on Sports?
Each country has its own laws regarding gambling and placing bets. For those in the United States, you’ll need to check out your state’s laws. If you’re not sure whether it’s legal, take a look at your local laws and ensure you’re good to go.
Which Sports Betting Apps Are Legal?
Before you make a deposit to a sportsbook, look at their credentials. Each sportsbook should adhere to local regulations. If regulated by your state and country, it’s a legal and safe place to place your wagers.
Which Sports Allow for Betting?
Because betting is separate from the teams and organizations you’re placing wagers on, you don’t have to worry about if a team allows gambling. The process will be done through a third-party app or site. So as long as you sign up with a platform that is compatible with your favorite team or sport, you’ll be able to place a wager.
You may only run into a problem if you’re interested in less popular targets for betting. The most popular choices for wagers are association football (soccer), American football, and basketball. You can also bet on both professional and amateur teams, like college football and, of course, March Madness.
How Can I Get Started with Legal Online Sports Betting?
Getting started with a sportsbook is fast and simple when you’re ready. First, find some platforms you’re interested in placing your wagers with. You’ll want to make sure that they’re properly regulated and have a good track record with customers — check out reviews online to see what their users have to say).
Next, compare the bonuses, perks, and money lines that each platform offers. If you’re looking to place bets on a specific team, ensure you have access to those matchups on the platform. Compare the bonuses they offer to new users and what perks you’ll enjoy down the road to help narrow your decision.
Once you’ve chosen a safe and feature-filled platform, it’s time to sign up. Sign-up processes vary, so you may want to look for the platforms with the easiest verification system. This could take minutes to complete or days as you need to confirm your identity before placing any wagers.
Are you signed up? Then follow our sports betting tips, place a deposit, and start sports betting on the biggest games!