Is USA Sports Betting Legal?
Is USA sports betting legal? This is a popular question, and a legitimate one. The short answer to this question is yes, it is legal to wager on sports using one of these USA sportsbooks. I will elaborate on the long answer throughout this piece to give emphasis and clarity to this subject. Sports betting has had its ups and downs over the years. Right now, it is banned in all, but four states. Two of the four states actually take advantage of their exempt status, and have some form of sports betting. The rest of the country has to suffer because of the actions of a few bad eggs. Most of the legal troubles of sports betting began in the 1960’s when the Wire Act passed. This Act’s definition is that it is unlawful to send betting information or money over a wire communication between states. This law was efficient at stopping the criminals that were trying to take over sports betting to turn profits for themselves, but once the modern age began with the internet, it lost most of its relevance and weight. There are plenty of reasons why sports betting is great, but there are only a few reasons that really stand out as to why it’s bad.
Some of the reasons that sports betting gets such a bad rap in the states is because of incidents in sports history that involved cheating and fixing games. I will now give you one example of the negative impact that poor decisions have had on the rest of the responsible betting world. In the 1919, World Series 8 White Sox players were accused of intentionally losing games for money from a popular gambler and bookie Joseph Sullivan. All eight players were banned from playing baseball again after the incident, or what was later referred to as the Black Sox Scandal. I do not blame the players, they were victims of the age, back then they had no advocates to speak of, and they were stuck with a pretty lousy, cheap boss that did not compensate them accordingly even though they were one of the best teams of the time. Nevertheless, you can see how this would affect sports betting as a whole. Like the popular saying goes, “one bad apple can ruin the whole bunch.”
While there is a whole lot of depth and complexity to the question of legality, this article will reveal what the USA sports betting laws are in a clear and concise manner. Players’ minds will be put at ease about whether or not they can get into trouble for using one of these sportsbooks. This page will tell you about the legality of land-based sports betting in the USA, and all of the options that are available. Finally, players will learn why their money is safe with these sites, any laws that apply, and how deposits and payouts work.
One of the more recent laws that have passed in US surrounding sports betting, and effectively banning it in the rest of the country with only a few exceptions is the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. PASPA as it is more widely known in the betting world, passed in 1992 and its purpose was to define sports betting as a problem, and once that was done it was made very limited in the states. This ban made setting up a sports betting establishment unlawful in any state not included in the exemption. I already stated above that four states are allowed to have sports betting venues, but only two of those states participate in wagers for sports. The online sportsbooks are not affected by PASPA. Of course, the craziness of this law has caused many to point out its hypocrisy and many in the betting community have lobbied to change the current policy toward sports wagering in the rest of the country. To learn more about the laws check out our sports betting laws page.
No one will be arrested, or put on trial for using one of these USA sportsbooks. I will say as a caution to you if you are new to betting that it would be in your best interest not to wager at a land-based sportsbook, unless it is located within one of the four states that is exempt from PASPA. Land-based sportsbooks that are not in those states are more than likely nonexistent or run by hoodlums. The sportsbooks showcased here are legal sports betting sites, and you will never have to have any anxiety or second thoughts about using them.
Yes, you can wager at a land-based sportsbook, but only in you live in one of the four states that is allowed to have them under PASPA. If you do not live in one of those four states not included in PASPA then the answer is no. The two states that actually participate in US sports betting are Nevada and Delaware, so really, if you do not live in one of these two states you are SOL in the legal sports betting department. If you are so inclined to wager at one of these less than legal sportsbooks, then you run the risk of getting into trouble, and could potentially bring legal repercussions down on yourself needlessly. You can always use one of these legal betting sites, that way you know that you are safe and that you will not get into trouble.
Yes, it is safe for you to use your money at one of these sportsbooks that welcome US players. Let me explain to you how these sites work. Just like in a land-based casino, when you go to the cashier and deposit money, they in turn provide you with chips that you will use to play with. The same applies to one of the USA sportsbooks. When you sign up and make your first deposit, you are basically buying chips to use to place bets. This is also just like going to a shop and buying something. You are paying for a product. Therefore, these chips come with the same guarantees as any other type of purchase. These featured sportsbooks care about their members, and pride themselves on exceeding the expectations of players. This means that all banking procedures and transactions are shrouded with the latest in encryption and firewall software. This is to make sure that your money and account info is 100% protected and secure.