Is Sports Betting Legal In Uk

Get info on legal sports betting for Oregon residents and which are the best legal sports betting sites accepting Oregon residents. Learn more about Oregon sports betting laws and gambling ages for. Sports betting is legal in the UK since 1961. Thanks to wide public approval, sports betting shops and halls are found in major cities and locations in the United Kingdom. Most of these shops are decorated using attractive signage and serve as meeting places for like-minded individuals looking to bet sports. A comprehensive look at states with legal online sports betting, how it works and overview of sports betting industry in the United States.

Sports betting is popular throughout the entire world, and Canada is in no way an exception. Canadian residents frequently enjoy betting on their favourite sports such as ice hockey, curling, football, soccer, basketball, horse racing and others.

However, just like any other country out there, Canada has its own set of online sports betting laws that all citizens must abide by.

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These laws can sometimes be a bit confusing, so there isn’t a straight answer to the question of whether sports betting is legal in Canada or not.

There are also individual laws that each Canadian province and territory has, as well as some special laws that relate to their Native reservations.

In short, understanding Canadian sports betting laws is not as easy as you might have thought. Therefore, I decided to make a detailed article explaining the complexities of Canadian sports betting laws and regulations.

I will also provide you with a list of trusted and legal Canadian betting sites and offshore online sportsbooks that accept Canadian players. Read on!

The History of Canadian Betting Laws

Before we dive into the present-day betting laws in Canada, let’s reflect on the history of legal gambling in this country.

Like with any other country, casinos and gambling in Canada has a long, twisted, complex history. Going back, when it started off, gambling in all its forms was completely legal in Canada. The first known document that relates to Canadian gambling laws dates back to 1892 when the Canadian Criminal Code was written. The Code suggested that all forms of gambling are illegal in the country of Canada. Initially, the law was straight forward – gambling in all its forms was a big no and there was no two ways about it. However, a lot has changed in the previous century, as betting laws started to loosen up over time as the coppers just turned a blind eye to some more socially acceptable forms of betting and gambling even though it was technically illegal.

Bingo games and raffles were legalised in the early 1900s, although they were only allowed for charitable purposes. During the 1920s, horse racing was legalised as well. As the Canadian government saw many potential financial benefits from gambling, they also made way for federal and provincial-run lotteries during the late 1960s and 1970s. At the same time, first land-based casinos started to appear all around the country and slot machines were getting increasingly popular.

However, one of the biggest turning points came in 1985 when gambling machines such as slot machines were made legal. Legalisation of gaming machines meant that there were places you could go to where you could play on these machines, and this paved the way for land based casinos. Not too many years after the legalisation of gaming machines, slowly but surely, land based casinos started popping up across the country.

Is It Legal to Bet on Sports in Canada Today?

Canadian sports betting laws are largely outdated and need restructuring, especially after online betting reshaped the industry in the past several years.

As mentioned, the law states that companies should not operate any illegal online gambling service within Canada. However, it does not specify anything about Canadian players and residents playing such games and partaking in online gambling. Since nothing has been exclusively mentioned about this, it simply means that there is no restriction per se. Therefore, it is not illegal for anyone living in Canada to play at online casinos or even make online sports bets.

The laws do state that players should not be found in an illegal betting house, however, when it comes to online betting houses or casinos, it is simply unreasonable to expect a player to know where the server of the service is located and then determine whether the casino is legal or not as per Canadian law. Therefore, once again, the laws are anything but crystal clear. To give you a perspective, let’s just have you know that never has an online casino player from Canada been arrested for playing at an online casino. According to the Government of British Columbia, anyone 19 years or older may gamble in the state at casinos, horse racing tracks, bingos, and lottery retailers, while the BC Lottery Corporation manages and conducts all commercial gambling including online gambling.

What Is The Legal Age To Gamble In Canada

In short, it is not illegal to place sports wagers online in Canada, as long as the website you’re betting on is operated from within the country or province and holds a valid online gambling license issued by the federal government. Also, depending on the type of gambling and your current location, the minimum legal betting age can be either 18 or 19.

The laws about accessing and betting on offshore sites are murky and don’t clearly state whether pursuing this activity is legal or not. Nevertheless, there have been no persecutions or arrests made due to illegal offshore betting in Canada to date.

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Contents

  • Is It Legal to Bet on Sports in Canada Today?
  • Provincial Sports Betting Laws in Canada
    • Alberta
    • British Columbia
    • Manitoba
    • New Brunswick
    • Newfoundland and Labrador
    • Ontario
    • Prince Edward Island
    • Quebec
    • Saskatchewan

The Criminal Code of Canada

The Criminal Code of Canada is essentially the name given to a piece of legislation which is responsible for defining exactly what is legal and what is illegal in terms of gambling, both online and offline on Canadian soil. Canadian provinces have been vested with the power to grant licenses, revoke licenses and regulate these licenses for both land based casinos as well as online casinos.

Specifically, the regulations which outlaw the certain gaming in Canada may be found under part 7 of the criminal code, and there is more relevant statements regarding gaming which also appear in section 207.

The Kahnawake Gaming Commission

Kahnawake Gaming Commission is a gaming regulatory body in Canada that enjoys a special status. It’s in charge of operating land-based casinos and betting sites situated in the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake. The gaming laws of this territory are not challenged by the federal laws of Canada and are therefore very favourable to online operators.

To be eligible for a gaming license from the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, there are several standards and eligibility criteria which the applying casino must satisfy.

The association itself and its powers to regulate are essentially a result of the Canadian governments push to make the legal atmosphere more accepting of gaming and more tolerant of the already thriving Kahnawake Internet gambling communities.

The residents of this territory are free to play on all websites regulated by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. Online sportsbooks that operate under the Kahnawake license offer many more betting options than other official provincial betting sites. It is estimated that around 250 online gaming sites in Canada are licensed by this commission.

Even though most forms of gambling is now legal in Canada, online gambling is still not completely out of the clutches of the law provided that the Government still refuses to issue local companies to operate web based gaming rooms. However, considering the trend and the history, it is clear that it is only going to be a matter of time before the Government is confronted with the fact that there are plenty of overseas companies that will still reap the benefits of the demand for online casinos amongst Canadian players and so it would actually just be better to allow Canadian companies themselves to start online casinos to serve the country’s growing online gamer base.

Provincial Sports Betting Laws in Canada

Sports betting laws in Canada are regulated by the federal government and the individual provincial governments of the country. The ten provincial governments include Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Saskatchewan.

Alberta

All gambling activities in Alberta must be in line with the province’s Gaming and Liquor Act that saw its latest changes in 2013. There are several official sports betting games, but there are no online betting sites operating from within Alberta.

Nevertheless, Alberta residents have plenty of alternative options where they can bet safely and legally.

What Is The Legal Age To Gamble In Alberta?

The legal gambling age in Alberta is 18.

British Columbia

Sports betting in British Columbia is regulated by the Gaming Control Act of 2012. Officially, the only recognised legal website in BC is PlayNow.com, where you can play only up to six sports betting games with heavily restricted bet sizes and limits.

Of course, you can circumvent this by playing on some other Canadian or offshore websites where the offers are much better, and you would still avoid the risk of breaking the law.

What Is The Legal Age To Gamble In British Columbia?

The legal gambling age in British Columbia is 19.

Manitoba

All gambling operations in Manitoba are regulated by the Liquor and Gaming Authority of Manitoba, alongside Manitoba Lotteries Corporation that regulates lottery games in the province.

The legal sports betting games include Pro-Line, Pro-Picks Props, Pro-Picks Pools and Point-Spread. Manitoba residents can also access and use PlayNow.com.

What Is The Legal Age To Gamble In Manitoba?

The legal gambling age in Manitoba is 18.

New Brunswick

Governing bodies overseeing online betting activities in New Brunswick include The New Brunswick Lotteries and Gaming Corporation, as well as The Atlantic Lottery Corporation.

There are several sports betting games regulated by the ALC, and they can be played at their official website ProLineStadium.com.

What Is The Legal Age To Gamble In New Brunswick?

The legal gambling age in New Brunswick is 19.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Sports betting laws in Newfoundland and Labrador are regulated according to the Lottery Licensing Regulation that was constructed in 2002.

Service NL also governs gambling activities in the province. There are several Pro-Line websites where the residents of this province can enjoy sports betting legally.

What Is The Legal Age To Gamble In Newfoundland and Labrador?

The legal gambling age in Newfoundland and Labrador is 19.

Nova Scotia

The Gaming Control Act of 1995 is still in power in Nova Scotia, and it is regulated by the province’s Alcohol and Gaming Division, as well as the Nova Scotia Provincial Lotteries and Casino Corporation. The ACL’s website ProLineStadium.com provides official sports betting games in the province. The legal gambling age in Nova Scotia is 19.

Ontario

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario was established in 1998 with the goal of regulating sports betting and other gambling activities in Ontario.

Today, both land-based and online betting is under the watch of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG).

The OLG offers several sports betting games but excludes single-game wagers, as well as some other popular options found on offshore sites.

What Is The Legal Age To Gamble In Ontario?

The legal gambling age in Ontario is 19.

Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island Lottery Commission and the ACL are in charge of regulating sports betting operations in Price Edward Island.

Due to limited sports betting options offered by the official governing bodies, many PEI residents seek their luck on offshore websites.

What Is The Legal Age To Gamble On Prince Edward Island?

The legal gambling age on Prince Edward Island is 19.

Quebec

Quebec offers several government-run lotteries and online sportsbooks that are regulated under the Quebec Alcohol, Racing, and Gaming commission formed in 1993.

What Is The Legal Age To Gamble In Quebec?

The legal gambling age in Quebec is 18.

Saskatchewan

Betting

The Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority and the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority oversee all betting activities in the province of Saskatchewan.

As is the case with many other provinces, the choice of sports betting games is very limited compared to offshore sites.

What Is The Legal Age To Gamble In Saskatchewan?

The legal gambling age in Saskatchewan is 19.

Is Online Betting Legal in Canada?

When it comes to the legality of online gambling in Canada, there is no straight forward answer. The fact is that it is a complicated issue, a grey area, if you will. In fact, when it comes to gambling laws, it isn’t only Canada where the situation is rather complex, it’s pretty much more or less the same in the rest of the world too.

Land based casinos and gambling in some forms for the most part is legal in Canada. In a nutshell, the same thing can be said for online and internet gaming as well.

However, the laws aren’t exactly clear when it comes to online gambling services which are offered by companies based overseas.

As per the current law, companies cannot lawfully operate online casinos and poker rooms in the nation of Canada. However, ironically, most of the gaming servers used exclusively for online gambling are actually located in the Kahnawake native reserve itself which is most certainly a part of the country. Therefore, it would not be an overstatement to say that even though the law says one thing, what actually happens in Canada is a completely different story, in terms of online gambling.

The bottom line – even though the law relating to online casinos are murky, there is absolutely no legal issues when it comes to Canadian players who play at online casinos.

FAQ

Sports betting is considered legal in Canada as long as you are of legal age and are playing on official government websites. However, due to a lot of confusing and outdated laws, accessing offshore betting sites in Canada is not considered an illegal activity, and you can feel free to play on them. I provided a list of sites that accept Canadian players above.
Yes, there are no restrictions regarding individual sports when it comes to online betting in Canada. Therefore, Football betting is legal and very popular among Canadians.
Matched betting is not as illegal as it is frowned upon by betting sites. If you are caught match betting, you can be banned from the website, but that’s pretty much it.
Horse race betting has been legal in Canada since 1969, and it is still legal today. Canadian online sportsbooks often have some of the most popular horse racing events in their offer, together with competitive odds.

If you are going across the border to neighbouring Michigan, you should know that sports betting is considered an illegal activity in this state. Michigan is one of the first states to allow casinos in the country, but their online sports betting laws are still pretty strict.

As a Canadian resident, you will have hundreds of different websites to choose from, both the ones run from your country and province, and the ones that are operated offshore. I have made a list of all sports betting sites that accept Canadian players, so check it out and start betting today.

In May 2018 the U.S. Supreme Court officially struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). The landmark decision restored the right for each state to individually pursue sports betting by creating their own set of rules and regulations. Over the years many states have exercised that right, creating a diverse, flourishing sports betting industry in the United States.

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On this page we’ll breakdown all of the states that now have legal, regulated sports betting, and the online operators where you can place wagers. If you have general questions about online sports betting in the U.S., we’ve got your answers.

Is Sports Betting Legal In Uk

States With Legal Online Sports Betting

In the post-PASPA world each state is responsible for creating its own set of sports betting rules. While there are some similarities, there’s still room for plenty of variety from state to state. Some only permit retail sports betting, while some include online wagering too, and others only allow for online betting. Here’s our breakdown of every state that now has some form of legal online sports betting.

StateSports Betting StatusOnline or RetailLaunch
New JerseyLegal + LiveBothJune 2018
West VirginiaLegal + LiveBothAugust 2018
MississippiLegal + LiveRetail Only (online on premises)August 2018
PennsylvaniaLegal + LiveBothNovember 2018
Rhode IslandLegal + LiveBothNovember 2018
IowaLegal + LiveBothAugust 2019
OregonLegal + LiveBothAugust 2019
IndianaLegal + LiveBothSeptember 2019
New HampshireLegal + LiveBoth (though retail isn't live yet)December 2019
IllinoisLegal + LiveBothMarch 2020
MichiganLegal + LiveBoth (though online isn't live yet)March 2020
ColoradoLegal + LiveBothMay 2020
TennesseeLegal + LiveOnline OnlyNovember 2020
VirginiaLegal + LiveBoth (though retail isn't live yet)January 2021

Nevada

  • Status: Legal and Live
  • Market Launch: 1949
  • Online/Retail: Both

The first state in the country to legalize sports betting, Nevada thrived for years under PASPA as the nation’s sports betting capital. It’s no longer the only game in town, but Nevada, and Las Vegas specifically, are still king. Online wagering is now available throughout Nevada using a number of different apps. MGM, William Hill, Caesars, Golden Nugget, Wynn, and plenty of other leading casino brands now offer online sportsbooks and betting apps.

New Jersey

  • Status: Legal and Live
  • Market Launch: June 2018
  • Online/Retail: Both

New Jersey led the push for online sports betting in the U.S. Retail wagering began in June 2018, just a month after PASPA fell. Online sites went live in August of the same year. All of Atlantic City’s major casinos now offer luxurious retail sports betting experiences, and online bettors can join the action from anywhere in the state with more than a dozen books (and counting!) to choose from. Many bettors from New York travel to NJ to place bets while they wait for the home state to enter the market.

Pennsylvania

  • Status: Legal and Live
  • Market Launch: November 2018
  • Online/Retail: Both

Pennsylvania actually passed online sports betting legislation in 2017 while PASPA was still in play. However, despite the head start, its rollout was slower than expected. The first retail books opened in November 2018, but online bettors had to wait until May of 2019. A massive iGaming state due to its population, PA bettors can now choose from a host of top online operators including BetRivers, FanDuel, DraftKings, and FOX Bet.

Indiana

  • Status: Legal and Live
  • Market Launch: September 2019
  • Online/Retail: Both

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb placed the state’s ceremonial first bet on September 1, 2019. Within a month more than 10 Indiana brick-and-mortar casinos were operating retail sportsbooks. An efficient online rollout was completed just a month later, with BetRivers and DraftKings taking the state’s first online bets on October 3rd.

West Virginia

  • Status: Legal and Live
  • Market Launch: August 2018
  • Online/Retail: Both

West Virginia officially opened its sports betting market on August 30, 2018. It took nearly a full year for online wagering to arrive in a permanent capacity, with both FanDuel and DraftKings accepting their first online bets in August 2019. Each of the state’s five brick-and-mortar casinos now has a retail sports betting facility, and can host up to three online skins on its license… so there’s a lot of growth potential in the Mountain State.

Iowa

  • Status: Legal and Live
  • Market Launch: August 2019
  • Online/Retail: Both

Iowa was the first state to launch both online and retail sports betting simultaneously. While a handful of retail sportsbooks opened their doors on Day 1 of the market – Aug. 15 – William Hill also became the first active online bookmaker. All of the state’s 19 casinos now hold valid sports betting licenses, and and can host two online skins each. While there are some smaller, more local online options like Elite Sportsbook and Q Sportsbook, Iowa bettors also have access to major industry players like PointsBet, DraftKings and Hard Rock, too.

Iowa elected to require in-person registration during the market’s first year but that is now a thing of the past. As of January 1, 2021, remote registration for all legal and live online sportsbooks is available. This means you can sign up anywhere there is an internet connection via your computer or mobile device.

Mississippi

Is Sports Betting Illegal

  • Status: Legal and Live
  • Market Launch: August 2018
  • Online/Retail: Retail, with online betting available on premises

Mississippi is a little tricky. Retail sports betting is alive and well at more than twenty locations around the state. Online wagering is *technically* legal, though there’s a pretty harsh restriction that requires bettors to be on premises at a retail casino. With some states accepting more than 80% of wagers online, full fledged state-wide mobile is a big miss in Miss.

Rhode Island

  • Status: Legal and Live
  • Market Launch: November 2018
  • Online/Retail: Both

Since November 2018 both of Rhode Island’s casinos have offered retail sports betting. William Hill has partnered with the state lottery to run online operations, which began in September 2019. Notably, Rhode Island is one of the few states that set the age bar at just 18

Oregon

  • Status: Legal and Live
  • Market Launch: August 2019
  • Online/Retail: Both

Oregon kicked off its sports betting industry in August 2019 with the opening of its first retail sportsbook. There’s just one online sports betting option, Scoreboard, which is run by the Oregon lottery and began accepting wagers in October ’19.

New Hampshire

  • Status: Legal and Live
  • Market Launch: December 2019
  • Online/Retail: Both, though retail has not launched

New Hampshire launched state-wide online sports betting in the final days of 2019. After agreeing to a generous, near even revenue split with the state, DraftKings was chosen to be the sole online sports betting operator. Retail sportsbooks will follow, but haven’t opened yet.

Illinois

  • Status: Legal and Live
  • Market Launch: March 2020
  • Online/Retail: Both

Illinois is a big state for online sports betting in the United States because of its large population base. The first regulated sports bets were placed on March 9, 2020, at the Rivers Casino Des Plaines. Online wagering kicked off on June 18, 2020 when BetRivers took the first online wager.

Established providers like DraftKings, FanDuel, PointsBet, and William Hill have all joined the fray, with more expected to follow.

Michigan

  • Status: Legal and Live
  • Market Launch: March 2020
  • Online/ Retail: Both

Michigan managed to push through legislation for online sports betting, casino and DFS in December 2019. The MGM Grand and the Greektown Casino became the first brick-and-mortar sportsbooks to open, accepting the state’s first bets on March 11, 2020. Online sports betting and casino gaming launched together on January 22, 2021.

Colorado

  • Status: Legal and Live
  • Market Launch: May 2020
  • Online/Retail: Both

Colorado voters narrowly approved the state’s sports betting referendum in late 2019, with the market officially launching on May 1, 2020. With 33 casinos, all of which are now allowed to offer retail betting and establish online partners, Colorado could get crowded. Wynn Resorts, theScore, Circa Sports, and a host of other sites have already confirmed that they will have an online presence in Colorado.

Tennessee

  • Status: Legal and Live
  • Market Launch: November 2020
  • Online/Retail: Online only

Tennessee bucked convention by approving an online-only sports betting bill in 2019. However, it was far from a rapid-release in the Volunteer State. Tennessee finally accepted its first legal bets on November 1, 2020.

Virginia

  • Status: Legal and Live
  • Market Launch: January 2021
  • Online/Retail: Both, though retail has not launched yet

To the surprise of many, Virginia approved legal sports betting in March 2020. Governor Ralph Northam’s signature set the gears in motion towards launch. The first online sportsbooks in VA went live on January 21, 2021. Retail sportsbooks are coming too, but will need significantly more time to get off the ground.

U.S. Online Sportsbook Operators

Many of the gaming industry’s biggest names, both within the U.S. and abroad, have expanded their operations to include online sports betting. Prominent bookmakers in the regulated U.S. market include:

DraftKings

  • Active States: New Jersey, West Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Iowa, Colorado, Illinois

DraftKings, a name synonymous with massive daily fantasy sports contests, has quickly grown its presence within the regulated sports betting industry. DraftKings Sportsbook was the first online sportsbook to go live in New Jersey, and is expected to have a presence in virtually every legal U.S. market.

FanDuel

  • Active States: New Jersey, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois
Site

Another DFS giant, FanDuel is now one of the biggest online sportsbooks in the business. New Jersey was first on its list, launching online operations on September 7, 2018. Like DraftKings, the FanDuel Sportsbook brand is expected to be among the most common operators around the country.

PointsBet

Legal
  • Active States: New Jersey, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois

A relatively new, innovative Aussie-based bookmaker, PointsBet has made serious waves during its short history. New Jersey was up first, followed by Iowa, Indiana, and more. PointsBet’s clean mobile interface and unique offerings make it a stand out option.

BetMGM

  • Active States: New Jersey, West Virginia, Indiana, Nevada, Colorado

A blue blood of retail casino gaming in the U.S., BetMGM is now strengthening its online presence. Like many operators, NJ was the first step, with WV, IN, an NV following. BetMGM has also announced intentions to operate in PA and MI as well, but is not yet live. It’s likely that every state with an MGM property (and even some without!) will eventually host a BetMGM online sportsbook.

FOX Bet

  • Active States: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Colorado

FOX Bet, operating through its partnership with the Stars Group, originally launched in New Jersey under the BetStars name. In August 2019 a full rebrand was completed to FOX Bet, which will serve as the company’s primary sports betting platform in the U.S. Though not yet live, FOX Bet has already announced an agreement to offer sports betting in Indiana and Michigan.

BetRivers

  • Active States: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Colorado, Illinois

BetRivers is the online extension of the B+M Rivers Casinos, which operate in Pennsylvania, Illinois, and New York. Online operations for the company first began in New Jersey under the SugarHouse brand, and then expanded to include Pennsylvania when the market launched. BetRivers was first to market in Illinois (live and online) thanks to its retail sportsbook in Des Plaines.

William Hill

  • Active States: New Jersey, Nevada, Rhode Island, Iowa, West Virginia, and Illinois. WH is also in Pennsylvania (retail only).

William Hill is one of the world’s largest bookmakers, accepting wagers in the UK since the 1930s. Will Hill now offers online sports betting in numerous U.S. states, and operates as a retail sportsbook sponsor in several more. New partnerships in both Colorado, Indiana, and Michigan have already been established.

Borgata

  • Active States: New Jersey
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For the moment Borgata online sportsbook is a one hit wonder. They’re one of the top grossing books in the busy New Jersey market thanks to the tie in with its luxurious Atlantic City resort. However, the brand has yet to expand outside of the Garden State.

Caesars

  • Active States: New Jersey, Nevada

Caesars is one of the most iconic names in the retail casino industry. Opening first in New Jersey and Nevada, the Caesars online sportsbook ties in beautifully with the company’s popular Caesars Rewards program, and offers an excellent sports betting experience to boot. Expansion to the midwestern states of Indiana and Iowa is expected soon.

BetAmerica

  • Active States: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Indiana

Backed by its enormous parent company, Churchill Downs Inc. (CDI), the BetAmerica brand is quickly becoming a prominent sports betting fixture. Online sports betting with BetAmerica online sportsbook first opened in New Jersey, followed by Pennsylvania, with Indiana joining at the tail end of 2019. As more states legalize sports betting, expect to see more BetAmerica sportsbooks nationwide.

Unibet

  • Active States: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Indiana

Unibet is a massive European bookmaker that’s been around since the late 90s. Its first venture into the U.S. market took place in 2019, partnering with Golden Nugget to provide online sports betting in New Jersey. A few months later through an agreement with the Mohegan Sun, operation spread to Pennsylvania.

888Sport

  • Active States: New Jersey

Headquartered in Gibraltar, 888 Holdings has maintained a strong presence in the iGaming world since 1997. In the U.S. 888 currently offers online sports betting, casino, and poker in the state of New Jersey. Likely future destinations include Pennsylvania and Michigan, where the company could capitalize on its ability to offer all three products.

Golden Nugget

  • Active States: New Jersey, Nevada

The Golden Nugget casino has been an icon of old town Vegas since 1946. It waited nearly 60 years to expand east. With an eye on iGaming in New Jersey, Golden Nugget purchased the bankrupt Trump Marina in 2011 and now operates online sportsbooks in both NJ, and NV.

Hard Rock

  • Active States: New Jersey, Iowa

In conjunction with tech provider GiG, Hard Rock’s online sportsbook premiered in New Jersey in 2019. Just a few months later Iowa became its second state of operation in December of the same year. Its a safe bet that any state with legal sports betting and a Hard Rock Casino will also have access to Hard Rocks online sportsbook.

theScore Bet

  • Active States: New Jersey

theScore is a Canadian digital media company that specializes in providing sports related news, information, and of course – scores. theScore Bet, its mobile sports betting app, debuted in New Jersey in September 2019, operating on the Monmouth Park gaming license. theScore has recently announced plans to offer mobile sports betting Colorado and Indiana as well.

Parx

  • Active States: Pennsylvania

Philly-based Parx has long been a regional contender, spreading online casino games in both NJ and PA. Sportsbook has remained exclusive to the Pennsylvania market, though expansion to Michigan will be coming through a recently announced agreement with the Gun Lake Casino.

Wynn Sports

  • Active States: Nevada

The Wynn has been a luxurious fixture in Las Vegas since it first opened in 2005. Wynn Sports extends the company’s reach beyond the strip, as bettors are able to enjoy a premium sportsbook experience online, from anywhere in the state of Nevada. Wynn has also reached an agreement with Full House Resorts to expand the brand slightly further east, to operate in Colorado.

Barstool Sportsbook

  • Active States: None, yet…

In early 2020 Penn National Gaming purchased a 36% stake in Barstool Sports with the intention of making it the company’s primary sportsbook brand. Expect to see Barstool Sportsbooks, both retail and online, around the country soon.

Online Sports Betting and Major U.S. Sports

Just like how sports betting law looks different in each state, the same can be said for each of the United States’ principal sports leagues. Some have taken an active, progressive, stance – while others have yet to embrace it fully. In this section we’ll summarize each major league and its stance on sports betting.

NFL

In the U.S., the NFL is king – and the king has started to come around on sports betting. While not quite all-in – at the very least, years of outright opposition from the NFL are a thing of the past. The Oakland Raiders are now the Las Vegas Raiders, and will play all of their home games in the gambling capital of the world. On the franchises first official day in Las Vegas it announced a lucrative partnership with MGM Resorts International.

Elsewhere, NFL owners clearly have sports betting on the mind. The Washington Redskins will be tenants of FedEX Field in Maryland until 2027, however, owner Dan Snyder has made it clear that he wants the team to become a sports betting licensee. This has lead to Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia all aggressively pursuing sports betting legislation in hopes of landing the team. Wherever they end up, it’s clear that sports betting will only increase in stature with the league over the coming years.

Use our NFL odds comparison tool to compare lines between legal U.S. sportsbooks.

NBA

In recent years the NBA has been, perhaps, the most progressive U.S. sports league when it comes to sports betting. It hasn’t always been that way, though. The former Commissioner, David Stern, was part of the lobby that led to the creation of PASPA in 1992.

However, since the regime changed in 2014, things have been different. Just months after taking over, new Commissioner Adam Silver published an op-ed piece with the New York Times entitled “Legalize and Regulate Sports Betting” – adamantly advocating for the legalization, and regulation of sports betting in the United States.

Today, the NBA has a growing list of authorized sports betting partnerships with major operators including DraftKings, The Stars Group, Unibet, theScore, MGM, and FanDuel. The agreements grant the sports betting sites access to the use of NBA trademarks and official league data.

The NBA has been a big proponent of integrity fees, which essentially earns the league a cut of the sports betting profits. It uses these fees to invest in its own league, and ensure the integrity of its games remains intact.

In addition, the Washington Wizards’ Capital One Arena looks set to become the first sports venue in the United States to house a retail sportsbook.

Use our NBA odds comparison tool to compare lines between legal U.S. sportsbooks.

MLB

In the years post-PASPA, the MLB has become far more accepting of sports betting. For one, after seeing a decline in popularity amongst younger fans, it’s a new and exciting way for the league to engage with new demographics. Often criticized for its slow pace, it’s now possible to create excitement through in-game wagering.

Major League Baseball isn’t a stranger to sports betting controversy. Pete Rose is perhaps the most well known betting scandal in the history of U.S. sports. One of the leagues all-time greats, Rose was famously banned for life in 1989 after illegally betting on the team he was managing at the time. Arguments for his Hall of Fame candidacy continue more than 30 years later.

MLB, like the NBA, has been a big advocate for integrity fees – seeking to promote a healthy sports betting atmosphere while avoiding any Rose-like scandals. The league now has numerous sports betting partners, including FanDuel, MGM, and FOX Bet.

Use our MLB odds comparison tool to compare lines between legal U.S. sportsbooks.

NHL

The NHL surprised many in the sports betting world by awarding the gambling Mecca, Las Vegas, with its first professional sports franchise in 2017. In their inaugural season the Las Vegas Golden Knights had roughly 10-15x more action placed on them than any other NHL team.

Since PASPA was overturned in 2018, the NHL, like the NBA and MLB, has also engaged in exclusive agreements with sports betting operators. William Hill, FanDuel, and MGM are amongst the current partnerships. These operators have the right to use the official league data and other intellectual property.

Use our NHL odds comparison tool to compare lines between legal U.S. sportsbooks.

NCAA Sports

It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, but the NCAA is strongly anti-sports betting. That doesn’t mean they aren’t popular events to bet on. For example, opening rounds of the NCAAB March Madness typically rank amongst the busiest days of the year for sportsbooks.

While still seeking to protect amateur athletes at all cost, the NCAA has come around a little bit. After originally banning championship games from taking place in states with legal betting, in 2019 they performed an about-face as more and more states pursued it. It’s now possible that we’ll see NCAAF bowl games at the new Raiders Stadium in Las Vegas, or the NCAA tournament hosted at T-Mobile.

Collegiate sports remain one of the most common restrictions for states to specify when legalizing sports betting. Many have elected to exclude sportsbooks in their state from offering action on in-state college teams, college props, or even college events taking place within the state.

Use our NCAAB odds and NCAAF odds comparison tool to compare lines between legal U.S. sportsbooks.

PASPA

So why is sports betting taking hold around the country now? It all has to do with a 30-year-old, now overturned law: the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). Originally passed in 1992, PASPA sought to protect the integrity of both professional and amateur sports by essentially outlawing sports betting throughout the country. Nevada, having already legalized sports wagering, was exempt – and flourished as the nation’s sports betting capital under PASPA.

However, other state’s wanted a piece of the pie. New Jersey was pivotal in the fight to overturn PASPA. After years of efforts, Governor Chris Christie finally succeeded in getting a case in front of the Supreme Court in 2017. In May 2018 the court finally reached its verdict, declaring the law unconstitutional by a 6-3 vote. The Supreme Court decided that PASPA took too much power away from the states, and was subsequently struck down. Post-PASPA, all states were legally allowed to pursue and regulate sports betting as they saw fit.

New Jersey became the first new state to offer sports betting in decades, launching its industry in June 2018, just a month after PASPA was repealed. Now, sports betting has become more and more common throughout the U.S. with the number of legal states growing with each legislative session.

Online Sports Betting FAQ

Is online sports betting legal?
Yes it is, but not everywhere. Since PASPA was overturned in 2018 all U.S. states have been able to pursue and legislate sports betting. Since then a growing number of states have established safe, regulated sports betting markets.

What states offer legal online sports betting?

Online sports betting is legal in select states like Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, Rhode Island, Michigan, and more. The list of states that have legal online sports betting is constantly growing!

Is there an age limit for sports betting in the United States?

Yes there is. Generally speaking its 21 and up, but the states are allowed to specify this. For example, New Hampshire elected to set their legal betting age at just 18.

Do legal online sportsbooks have to have my Social Security Number?
Legally, they do. Online sportsbooks and casinos will use the last 4 digits of your SSN to confirm your identity. It’s used to verify that all of the information you’ve provided is accurate.

Is it legal to bet on sites like Bovada or BetOnline?

Unfortunately not. These sites are not licensed sports betting operators in the U.S.

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