Bovada – Most trusted brand in United States sports betting. BetNow – Lucrative bonus opportunities for US sports bettors. SportsBetting.ag – Real money betting offered in all 50 states in the USA. BetOnline – Extensive selection of payment options with fast payouts. Sports gambling companies have employed skilled lawyers to draft their terms and conditions.To help you find some of the most trustworthy operators, we have compiled lists of the new betting sites, with a focus on betting sites with a sign up bonus, as well as a list of the horse racing bookmakers in the USA We also know where to. Online betting is the best option and SportsInsider.com has made it easier for you to bet at the best US facing sportsbook – BetOnline.ag For US sports betting, there’s a reason that the top Internet based betting sites still dominate the American marketplace.

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Compared to the rest of the world, the United States is a newcomer, inheriting and absorbing a rich variety of traditions and customs from all over, sports betting notwithstanding.

So it should be no surprise that online betting in the US has been a bit behind the rest of the world. However, there are still plenty of high quality US betting sites that are available to people in the US but they can be few and far between.

That’s the main reason why we have created this page and done the tedious research of finding the very best and most trusted US sports betting sites. Our goal was to make sure that bettors from the USA could place their bets safely online without fear of getting ripped off.

So let’s jump right into it with our list of the top US betting sites of 2020:

RANK	GAMBLING SITE	BONUS	PRODUCT OFFERS	REVIEW	VISIT
1	Sign-up 100% up to€30	READ REVIEW	VISIT SITE
2	Sign-up 100% up to€200	READ REVIEW	VISIT SITE
3	Sign-up 50% up to€100	READ REVIEW	VISIT SITE
4	Sign-up Bet €10Get €30	READ REVIEW	VISIT SITE

Today’s online betting sites allow for betting on pretty much any sport you can think of and sports betting doesn’t even need to, technically, be in conjunction with an actual athletic competition. Today’s sportsbooks take bets on the winner of the coin flip or the presidential election or even who will win a reality show competition. If there’s some type of contest, there’s probably a way to place a bet on it.

Most Popular Sports to Bet on in the U.S.

There is one significant difference in US sports betting as compared to the rest of the world in that football (aka soccer) is actually the number one sport for bettors in all other locations.

In the U.S., football is also number one, but in its American version. Professional and college football betting contribute to a substantial amount of this multi-billion dollar a year industry. Betting Sites even collect future wagers on the Super Bowl before the football season even kicks off.

Basketball is close behind football with both professional and collegiate games providing non-stop action for a good part of the year. Parlays during March Madness increase substantially and the majority of those bets being placed are not in Las Vegas casinos but rather through online sportsbooks that now cater to U.S. clientele.

Baseball and hockey also factor into the top online sports bets rounded out with mixed martial arts (MMA), boxing, NASCAR, tennis, golf tournaments, and soccer.

A 2016 Gallup Poll revealed that nearly 64% of all Americans have gambled in some way, shape or form within the span of a year’s time. That adds up to more than 200 million people gambling in total. $4.7 billion were wagered on the recent 2017 Super Bowl alone. There is an incredible amount of money bet on a relatively small amount of sporting events.

Most Popular Ways to Bet

US sports betting sites provide just as many options as their live casino counterparts in regard to the types of bets that can be placed toward any given event.

When we talk about the most popular sports being football (NFL and collegiate), basketball, baseball, and hockey, there are some consistent popular options for the types of bets that can be placed.

Straight Bet

Just as the name implies, this is a simple bet based on the final score. The odds are posted but a higher bet is not required when the favorite is selected.

The Moneyline

As we’ve mentioned, this type of bet has been in the U.S. for over 100 years now and is one of the more simplistic types. It’s a bet placed in conjunction with the published odds for a particular event or game and a higher wager is required for a bet on the favorite.

The Point Spread

This takes the moneyline bet one step further and adds a handicap of points or goals to the odds. The difference is that while moneyline bettors still need to win the game, the point spread bettors have a cushion.

Totals Bet (aka Over/Under)

This bet is not placed on the actual winner or loser of a competition but, rather, on the total of goals or points accumulated.

Proposition Bets

Typically associated with the larger one-off events such as the Super Bowl, a proposition bet, aka prop bet, is a special and very specific bet. There were more than a million proposition bets on the 2017 Super Bowl alone, and they were all over the board. How long the National Anthem would take, how many times a certain name was repeated, how many times a celebrity was shown on camera, the first song of the halftime show, and the first statement of the Most Valuable Player. It goes on and on, and these types of bets are not just in conjunction with the Super Bowl, but the bigger the event, the wider the proposition bets.

Point Buying

Point buying allows the bettor to “buy points” offsetting a point spread but, in return, the bettor loses much of the profitability of the final outcome.

Parlay

A parlay encompasses bets on multiple events all in one total bet. The bettor must win all of the individual bets that are placed within the overall bet in order to win. Parlays can be further broken down into:

• Fixed Odds and Point Spread – all of the odds are the same.
• Moneyline Matches – a combination of odds of the various separate bets. These are usually good odds, but not very profitable in winnings.

Teaser

Similar to the parlay whereas all of the teams bet on must be winning, but the point spreads are adjusted in favor of the bettor reducing the final payout.

Now, just as every live sportsbook is a bit different so are the online betting sites. Even if they offer all types of betting, some may specialize in one over another. There are top parlay sites such as 5Dimes and BetOnline and top teaser sites including BetAnySports and WagerWeb. Additionally, bettors may gravitate to some of the bigger reduced juice sites that take less of a Vig. BetMania, 5Dimes, Heritage Sports, BetMania, and BetAnySports are some of the more favored reduced juice sites for US bettors.

Most Popular US Betting Sites

With over 200 overall online sportsbooks and now a good amount of those catering to players from the United States, you would think that it would be difficult to narrow down the options, but you would be wrong. There are some top-of-the-line betting sites that have history and legitimacy behind them that come up over and over again as the most popular and most reputable. That’s not to say that there aren’t other equally as good options as there certainly are, but these four websites that we’re going to detail just seem to evoke the most attention and are very appealing to US based bettors.

The four we’re going to discuss here (in simple alphabetical order) are:

5Dimes – 5dimes.eu

The 5Dimes website stands out as a favored online sportsbook primarily for due to the quantity in games, events, and betting options that it offers. The website promotes “Over 1000 wagering options every day” and it’s definitely a huge hub of activity for bettors of all levels of experience and monetary investment.

5Dimes is based out of Costa Rica and has over 15 years of experience catering to online sports bettors. They offer:

• Mini Games
• Lottery
• Poker

As far as those 1,000 wagering options daily, 5Dimes offers pretty much all of the sporting events offered anywhere else, plus some not so standard games such as handball, snooker, volleyball, and all WNBA games. The live betting option further enhances the range of possibilities.

In addition to the great magnitude of games and betting options, 5Dimes is also known for its reduced juice bets. New player accounts automatically are created as Reduced Juice Rewards accounts unless otherwise specified.

As far as other betting options, 5Dimes covers the basics but players can also select:

• Parlays
• Teasers
• Pleasers
• In-game wagering

They also offer some other alternatives that are not widely available including asian handicap, round robins, and rolling if-bets.

5Dimes’ banking transactions are competitive with other US betting sites and offer a good variety of deposit and withdrawal options that should suffice for the majority of their members.

Deposits can be made via:

• Person to Person
• ATA (Account to Account)
• Bank Wire
• Bitcoin

Deposits are all free with the exception of the money order and person-to-person option. Fees are not published but it is advised to contact customer service before finalizing any deposit to make sure you have all of the information up front.

Withdrawals do not include the credit or debit card option and do have associated fees with the exception of Bitcoin. Bitcoin is one of the best methods in regards to both turnaround time and zero fees attached. We’ll also get into Bitcoin in the banking section as it does offer the easiest and most inexpensive way to interact with an online player account.

Withdrawal methods:

Bitcoin – zero fee
Minimum Withdrawal = $50
Maximum Withdrawal – $10,000
Turnaround time – same day processing

Cashier’s Check – $40 – $80 fee
Minimum Withdrawal = $1,000
Maximum Withdrawal – $7,500
Turnaround time – 7-10 business days

Money Order – $80 fee
Minimum Withdrawal = $1,000
Maximum Withdrawal – $9,500
Turnaround time – three business days

Bank Wire – $80 fee
Minimum Withdrawal – $1,000
Maximum Withdrawal – $9,500
Turnaround time – 4-6 business days

Person to Person – $10 – $25 fee
No minimums or maximums stipulated

We want to note that 5Dimes publicizes that one withdrawal is free of charge every 30 days.

Although 5Dimes’ banking is a bit more conservative in its maximum amounts, this is a good site for the all around bettor who enjoys access to a huge number of available games and events 24/7 and 365 days of the year.

Player feedback is generally positive in regard to 5Dimes with the one downside being the length of processing time for cash out requests. There are very few online casinos or sportsbooks that don’t experience criticism in this area, though.

BetOnline – betonline.ag

Considered to be the second largest of all online betting websites for U.S. players, BetOnline initially launched in 2001 as BestlineSports but rebranding resulting in Betonline.ag in 2007. BetOnline has 15 years of experience backing it and enjoys good player feedback.

One of the outstanding features of this particular sportsbook is in the reported fast payouts. Turnaround time is relatively fast and the process is made easy for its players. It also offers some of the best Parlay betting among US betting sites.

BetOnline.ag is hosted and licensed in Panama City, Panama and is a good all-around site for sports bettors with a comprehensive stats center featuring gaming trends. This type of detailed information makes it easy for players to conduct extensive research before actually placing a bet. Additionally, BetOnline is known to post its lines earlier than some of its competitors. Compared to another one of the biggies, BetOnline posts their lines on Sunday as opposed to Tuesday for the upcoming NFL games.

New players are welcomed to a 50% sportsbook bonus on deposits up to $2,500.

Betonline.ag also offers:

• Racebook
• Casino
• Poker

When it comes to the actual sports betting options, though, there is an impressive variety presented on BetOnline. Of course, they have the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL, but they also offer auto racing, boxing, darts, esports, rugby, lacrosse, softball, and pool.

Let’s back up to “esports” because that one might be a bit surprising. Esports is online video gaming. These are video game player matches that now offer online wagering in conjunction with them. The BetOnline sportsbook details the upcoming matches for betting consideration.

Not stopping at sports and esports, betonline.ag also gets into futures and prop betting with politics and entertainment. Gone are the days of just picking a winning team as you can now throw down some money on whether or not your favorite reality show will be the last man (or woman) standing.

In regard to the actual types of bets, we have already mentioned future and prop bets but, in addition to standard moneylines, parlays, and teasers, BetOnline members can opt for special teasers that, in regard to football betting, offer either a 10 point or 13 point advantage.

Buying points is something we’ve briefly mentioned previously, and is one of the popular options at BetOnline. Bettors can buy up to two points at a cost of 10% extra for every half-point.

BetOnline does specifically post a 10% Vig providing players with full disclosure and new bettors with no surprises when it comes to final outcomes.

Getting into the funding end of things with BetOnline, you’ll see that players experience large wagering limits clearly outlined in the higher maximum withdrawals that can be requested.

Deposit methods are plentiful and range from a low maximum deposit of $600 with person-to-person and up to $25,000 with Bitcoin, Litecoin, and cheques (well, actually $24,900 for cheque deposits).

The following is the full range of BetOnline.ag accepted deposit methods:

• Visa
• Mastercard
• Bitcoin
• Litecoin
• Person to Person
• Money Orders

Skrill, Neteller, book to book, and bank wires do not have any accompanying maximum deposit amounts imposed and we haven’t found any published fees associated with any of the deposit methods listed on the website.

Withdrawals do not include the credit card, debit card, or money order option but all of the rest are available with the following guidelines:

Bitcoin – zero fee
Minimum Withdrawal = $20
Maximum Withdrawal – $10,000
Turnaround time – 48 hours

Litecoin – zero fee
Minimum Withdrawal = $20
Maximum Withdrawal – $10,000
Turnaround time – 48 hours

Person to Person – $26 – $191 fee
Minimum Withdrawal = $50
Maximum Withdrawal – $400
Turnaround time – five business days

Skrill – $20 fee
Minimum Withdrawal = $25
Maximum Withdrawal – $9,900
Turnaround time – 36 hours

Neteller – $20 fee
Minimum Withdrawal = $25
Maximum Withdrawal – $9,900
Turnaround time – 36 hours

Book to Book – “may have a fee”
Minimum Withdrawal = $500
Maximum Withdrawal – $24,900
Turnaround time – 24 hours but typically completed in a few hours

Bank Wire – no fee posted
Minimum Withdrawal – $500
Maximum Withdrawal – $24,900
Turnaround time – 7-15 business days

Cheque Express – $50 fee
Minimum Withdrawal – $500
Maximum Withdrawal – $2,500
Turnaround time – seven business days

BetOnline also provides its players with a $50 discount on one payout a month. However, this must be specifically requested and is only available on Fridays.

As an all around good sportsbook based upon the variety of the events as well as the accompanying betting options coupled with numerous banking methods and a relatively quick turnaround time for cash outs add up to a good go-to for online bettors in the United States.

On a side note, the platform is also available through SportsBetting.ag. Bettors will experience the same odds and the same management associated with BetOnline.ag.

Bookmaker – bookmaker.eu

If you take into consideration that Bookmaker actually launched its service via phone betting in 1985, it becomes one of the oldest remote-accessed sportsbooks around. Bookmaker’s service caters greatly to bigger bettors with higher betting limits and greater maximums on banking transactions.

Bookmaker is known for its expanded selection of the types of bets that can be made. Yes, it does offer a huge choice of events for which to bet, but also factors in a plethora of ways to bet on them.

Experienced bettors do note that Bookmaker posts lines earlier than many of its competitors but they may not have the best lines amongst those other websites.

The Bookmaker.eu website also offers:

• Racebook
• Casino
• Poker

So, just as all of the sportsbooks that we’ve been discussing offer the standard games sought out by US bettors including football, basketball, baseball, and hockey, Bookmaker’s expanded competitions cover the gamut.

Soccer, tennis, golf, Formula One racing, rugby, and boxing round out the sporting events. Politics, the Academy Awards, the Grammy Awards, and reality TV take sports betting to a whole different level. There’s no longer a need to be stats driven in order to make an educated bet, today’s bettor can simply be a fan of entertainment or a follower of the political world.

The actual types of bets that can be made allow Bookmaker to stand out and cater to even more online bettors.

Yes, you’ll find moneylines, teasers, and parlays, but you’ll also find:

• Sides
• Totals
• If Bets
• Reverses

If bets and reverses are similar in nature. “if bets” allow for the selection of 2-6 teams or other categories. If the first pick results in a win, tie or a cancellation, the subsequent ones become straight wagers

Reverse bets are two-game wager options and could be equated to a “box” in horse racing where the two “if bets” are dependent upon each other to carry the resulting win.

Bookmaker also offers no-fee deposits and, just as with the types of bets, it offers standard modes of deposits plus a few more.

Bookmaker’s accepted deposit methods:

• Neteller
• ecoAccount
• Person to Person
• Bank Wire

American Express deposits start as low as $25 but only allow for a $499 maximum deposit. Visa is a bit higher at $50 but allows for $2,500 to be transferred into the player’s account at one time. For a bigger money alternative, Bitcoin once again reigns supreme. Only $10 is needed for a Bitcoin transaction but that amount can extend all the way up to $50,000. Bank wires don’t have any associated maximums imposed.

As far as the almighty cash out, there are four withdrawals from which to select and, once again, Bitcoin is the preferred alternative.

Bitcoin – zero fee
Minimum Withdrawal = $50
Maximum Withdrawal – $25,000 (up to 25/monthly for a total of $100,000)
Turnaround time – immediate after approval

Bank Draft – $50 fee
Minimum Withdrawal = $100
Maximum Withdrawal – $3,000
Turnaround time – seven business days

Skrill – $20 fee
Minimum Withdrawal = $25
Maximum Withdrawal – $9,900
Turnaround time – 36 hours

ecoAccount – zero fee
Minimum Withdrawal = $100
Maximum Withdrawal – $1,000
Turnaround time – 2-3 business days

Person to person – $25 – $50
Minimum Withdrawal = $100
Maximum Withdrawal – $300
Turnaround time – 2-3 business days

We specifically mentioned that BetOnline was a good alternative for higher stakes bettors, but Bookmaker also caters to those players especially through bitcoin use.

The cash out turnaround times do appear to be quite reasonable, even better than most, but actual players report that they’ve experienced some delays that add to the specified processing timeline above. The games and the incredible assortment of bets that can be opted for make Bookmaker a great choice of sportsbook bettors, but players should anticipate delays in withdrawals over and above the published details provided by the website.

Bovada – sports.bovada.lv

Last, but certainly not least, we’re going to discuss Bovada, widely considered to be the largest and most highly trafficked of all US sports betting sites and one that we consider to be a more upscale online experience through a nicely designed, easy to navigate website.

Bovada launched in 2011 and placed its emphasis on building and catering to US based players seeking a dedicated go-to for online sports betting. It does accept players from the United States with the exception of residents of Delaware, Maryland, Nevada and New Jersey.

The Bovada website also offers a racebook, poker room and a casino.

Standard events and competitions are widely recognized and promoted. Bovada features basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, tennis, UFC and MMA, and golf as its core line-up but then peppers in some obscure additions in order to make things a bit more interesting.

Some of its other categories include:

• Cycling
• Handball
• Aussie Rules
• Winter Sports – such as World Cup events

Bovada also hosts one of the more extensive schedules of esports events that can be found online.

Live betting is another option that lends itself to the popularity of Bovada and is easily accessible right from the top of Bovada’s sports menu.

Whereas we’ve discussed a few other popular online sportsbooks that primarily offered no fee deposits for its players, Bovada does veer off in a different direction.

Newly registered members of Bovada can conduct one no-fee deposit as their first one but, after that, Visa transaction incur a 4.9% charge and Mastercard is even higher at 6.9%. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, Bitcoin is the best option for sportsbook transactions for American players as Bitcoin eliminates the assessed deposit and withdrawal fees.

Bovada lists only credit cards and Bitcoin among their accepted deposit methods but, in some cases, may approve a gift card transaction as well.

As far as cash outs, there are a few from which to select and the first withdrawal of the month is always free. After that, Bovada tacks on a $50 fee to subsequent withdrawals aside from Bitcoin.

Bitcoin
Minimum Withdrawal = $20
Maximum Withdrawal – $9,500
Turnaround time – 1-5 days

Check by Courier
Minimum Withdrawal = $50
Maximum Withdrawal – specified to be in $3,000 increments
Turnaround time – 5-10 business days

There are some other options available for withdrawals from player accounts such as Western Union and bank wire, but these need to be set up through Bovada’s customer service department.

This betting site has some outstanding offerings such as in their types of bets and fast payment processing, but there are a few things that detract from the overall experience such as fees imposed on deposits as well as withdrawals, and the lines are posted much later than some of its competing websites.

However, with a reported three million visitors to Bovada, player satisfaction is widely recognized.

Other Options

As we’ve stated, the aforementioned betting sites pop up time and time again as some of the best, but there are also some other great options for U.S. players including GTbets, MyBookie, SportsBetting.ag, BetMania, Heritage Sports, and WagerWeb.

Legality of US Online Betting

If you research sporting events open for wagering and review the odds and possible betting outcomes, everything is strictly black and white. A specific amount wagered utilizing posted odds yields a very explicit outcome. There’s definitely no gray area and no discussion needed.

Discuss the legality of U.S. players placing these bets with online sportsbooks and it’s a bit of a different story. There are numerous discussions and various points of view regarding online gambling for United States citizens as a whole, and then take into consideration 50 different state regulations and alternative positions, and we’re looking a whole lot of information, sometimes conflicting.

There are three highly-referenced laws in conjunction with gambling in the United States:

1. Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 – this is the big one that drove U.S.-based online casinos and sportsbooks overseas. This act was attached to the Safe Port Act and technically does not state that online gambling is illegal. What it does do, however, is legislate that businesses cannot process money for betting or gambling payouts. This affects the betting sites but not the bettors themselves.

2. Federal Wire Act – This act, that’s actually much older, specifically called out sports betting in 2011 and states that a betting business cannot use any form of wire communication for bets or transfer of funds used in conjunction with wagering. This, again, is a United States law in conjunction with United States’ businesses.

3. Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) of 1992 (aka the Bradley Act) – This regulation is more land-based sportsbook focused and is country-wide except for grandfathered states such as Nevada that are essentially exempt. It effectively outlawed sports betting except for those specified exemptions. There have been and still are attempts to repeal this act by various states such as California, Iowa, Missouri, New Jersey, and Rhode Island with claims that some states would benefit from revenue generated by legalized sports gambling. We would expect for some changes to occur in conjunction with this particular legislation in the very near future.

The United States maintains one of the more stringent positions on gambling, especially online gambling, in comparison to much of the rest of the world. The internet and other technological advances have expanded the possibilities far and beyond the borders for U.S. citizens, though.

So, while legal sports betting in the U.S. is limited to Nevada and Delaware, with states such as Oregon, Montana, and New Jersey moving forward with some new legislation, online sportsbooks are a different story.

So Is Betting Online Legal in the US?

Basically, it all boils down to U.S. players being able to place bets through online betting sites if both of the following criteria are satisfied:

1. The betting site operates outside of the United States
2. The betting site allows U.S. citizens to register an account and to place bets

Online casinos and sportsbooks are globally widespread but the majority who have opened their doors to U.S. players are from:

• Canada
• Curaçao
• Costa Rica
• Panama
• United Kingdom

Each betting site does carry individual stipulations in regard to US players, though. Some are 100% open to players from all 50 states as long as they are 18 and over. There are others that specify the exclusion of certain states. For example, Bovada sportsbook that has a huge online presence doesn’t allow players from Delaware, Maryland, Nevada or New Jersey. 5Dimes, another big player in the industry and licensed out of Costa Rica, doesn’t have state-specific exclusions but does stipulate that residents of Delaware, Maryland, and Washington State cannot use Visa to deposit to their player account.

Banking Options

As we’ve outlined in the earlier section when we discussed some of the featured US online sportsbooks, each operator puts forth a different list of available banking options. Some, like Bovada, are a bit more limited in regard to banking but others, such as Bookmaker have a pretty good range of methods that can be utilized for both deposits and withdrawals.

These particular methods are available to U.S. players in different combinations based upon the individual sportsbook:

• American Express
• Mastercard
• Visa
• Bitcoin
• Neteller
• Skrill

• Bank Wire
• Money Order
• Moneygram
• Check
• Person to Person

Credit and Debit Cards – The Easiest Method

The credit or debit card provides the absolute quickest and easiest method for funding a player account. Typically players do not need to involve Customer Service as they simply fill out a form and leave it to the bank to approve or not. If a player’s banking institution does approve the transfer, the funds are available instantly. However, there are some banks that will not approve any transactions in conjunction with an online sportsbook or casino so it’s a case-by-case basis.

Thumbs up:

• Credit and debit cards provide a quick and easy way to fund a player’s account.
• Funds are instantly available for immediate wagering.

Thumbs down:

• Typically are not offered as methods of withdrawal (only deposit).
• Not all transactions are approved.

Skrill or Neteller – The Most Private of Methods

With growing popularity of Skrill and Neteller accounts in the United States, they could become popular with online bettors should the laws change any time in the near future. Unfortunately, the three U.S. states that can legally offer gambling for their residents do not all count Skrill and Neteller among their payment options. Both Skrill and Neteller are basically used as either an e-wallet or prepaid credit card, and carry with them a much higher approval percentage than credit or debit cards and maintain the financial privacy of the account holder.

Thumbs up:

• High approval rate for transactions.
• Player’s personal and banking information remains private.
• Funds are instantly available for use.
• These two types of accounts were initially created with online gamblers and bettors in mind.

Thumbs down:

• Accounts do need to be established before transfers can be conducted.
• Not available options for online wagering on the majority of the three U.S. legalized gambling states.
• Fees are sometimes associated with withdrawals to Skrill or Neteller accounts.

Bank Wire – Widely Accepted Method for Deposits and Withdrawals

Bank wires essentially move funds directly from a player’s own personal banking account into his or her gaming account. Bank wires are approved dependent upon funds available and paperwork submitted but do cause delays in processing and fees can also be assessed.

Thumbs up:

• Transactions are approved as long as funds are available.
• Many US betting sites do offer the wire transfer option.
• Can typically be used for deposits and withdrawals.

Thumbs down:

• More extensive paperwork is involved.
• Relatively high fees may be assessed in conjunction with wire transfers.
• Player’s personal banking information is disclosed to the sportsbook.

Bitcoin – The Overall Best Method for Sportsbook Account Funding

With fee-free transactions and high limits imposed on both deposits and withdrawals, Bitcoin is the overall winner, hands down. Cash in and cash out both have a quick turnaround time for processing and Bitcoin is private as well as a fairly easy way to conduct banking.

Thumbs up:

• Quick turnaround on transactions.
• Can be used for deposits and withdrawals.
• Lower minimums and higher maximums on deposits and withdrawals.
• Private and secure.
• Saves players money in regard to fees that are typically assessed.

Thumbs down:

• Bitcoin accounts require time to establish.
• Lengthy codes are sometimes used to approve transactions.
• Bitcoin is not widely accepted elsewhere.

Most online betting websites that cater to U.S. players understand the challenges that financial transactions pose in regard to funding and receiving funds from an online player account. It is vastly different than walking into a Las Vegas casino and placing a cash bet and then turning around and collecting the winnings in cash as well. There are various considerations and hurdles that need to be overcome in order to easily conduct these online transactions.

Fortunately, because of Bitcoin, American players now have a more private and safer option that allows them to wager and claim any potential winnings.

Compared to Other Regions

The financial situation that we’ve described earlier is specifically in regard to players from the United States. With the legalities of online betting as they are, online sportsbooks need to consistently keep up with banking and new and alternative forms of account funding.

Banks in the USA are less apt to approve casino or sportsbook transactions as opposed to other parts of the world, primarily due to the perceived vagueness of online gambling legislation. However, the legislation places the challenge in the hands of the website providers who process the bets and subsequent financial transactions as opposed to the actual players who are placing the bets.

Removing the physical presence of the business from the U.S. overcomes the biggest hurdle, but the banking issue remains when pertaining to the traditional banking institutions.

Bitcoin does a great deal to facilitate easier account funding and the subsequent betting process and e-wallet solutions specifically cater to online bettors. Skrill and Neteller are widely used globally, not only because they allow for fast and easy payment processing and receipt, but also because they maintain the anonymity of the player in regard to any personal financial information.

Banks in other areas of the globe are more accepting of online betting as their laws permit these types of transactions with no gray area, but players are still moving more toward Bitcoin or one of a growing number of e-commerce solutions for transactions simply because of the privacy and ease factors.

The sports betting industry has continued to grow in the United States despite the restrictions imposed in regard to live casino sports betting as well as online betting availability to US residents.

There are some very reputable online sportsbooks that maintain quality websites and up to date information for their U.S. clientele that opt to wager on their posted events. They evolve with the new technological advances thereby offering more funding alternatives and faster and easier ways to receive payouts.

These betting sites are licensed and regulated and have proven track records of fairness and responsive player support regardless of their remote locales.

It has been more than two years since the Supreme Court of the United States struck down PASPA. That move opened the door to legal sports betting in the US as the justices effectively handed the legislative decision over to individual states.

Since that point, we have seen a flurry of activity. Many states are now completely up and running with legal sports betting. Other states are still sorting through legalization, and more are expected to follow.

While some states have retail, mobile and online options, others require bets to be placed only in-person. There are also restrictions in place to ensure that users are within state lines while placing bets via mobile devices.

The landscape has changed dramatically in a short period of time.

Legal US sports betting apps

Not all states that allow legal sports betting will choose to use online or mobile wagering platforms. Some have rules that allow online and mobile wagering anywhere within state lines, while others require bets to be placed inside a casino.

Just because you download a sports betting app that is legal in one state doesn’t mean it will work in another. Smartphone apps will verify your location within a legal betting area before allowing you to wager. You will be rejected from betting if outside the legal borders.

Where can I place a legal online sports bet?

The list of legal online sports betting states continues to grow. Currently, it’s up to 14 states and Washington, DC, but the official launch is still pending in some spots.

* Pending launch

Colorado sports betting sites

Legal sports betting was approved by voters in Colorado in 2019. The official online and mobile rollout took place on May 1, 2020, with DraftKings, FanDuel, BetRivers and BetMGM all going live on the same day. Several other operators have since gone live in the state.

Illinois sports betting sites

Legislation was also passed in Illinois in 2019 with the official launch taking place in March 2020. Initially, only retail betting was allowed, with in-person registration required for online and mobile players. That provision has been suspended for the time being because of the COVID-19 pandemic. DraftKings, FanDuel, PointsBet and BetRivers are among the available options.

Indiana sports betting sites

Sports betting was legalized in Indiana in 2019. The rollout happened quickly, with retail options opening up in September of that year, followed by online and mobile launch in October. DraftKings and BetRivers were the first sites available, followed by FanDuel a month later. The list of available options continues to grow.

Iowa sports betting sites

Iowa was also among the states that both legalized and went live with sports betting in 2019. Legislation was passed in May, with the retail and mobile launch coming in August. Through the end of 2020, online and mobile users have to register in-person at a casino that offers sports betting. DraftKings, PointsBet and William Hill are among the operators that are live in Iowa.

Michigan sports betting sites

Sports betting was signed into law in December 2019 in Michigan. Retail sportsbooks opened up in March 2020 and mobile sportbook apps became legal for sports betting in Michigan in January 2021.

Nevada sports betting sites

Nevada’s days as the only option for legal US sports betting are over. Not much has changed for the state since the SCOTUS ruling. While more known for in-person wagering at casinos throughout Las Vegas such as Westgate and Caesars, the state also has online and mobile options available from operators like William Hill.

New Hampshire sports betting sites

Sports betting officially debuted in New Hampshire in December 2019 after being approved by the state Legislature earlier in the year. The approval covered both retail and mobile, but the situation is unique in NH. DraftKings is the exclusive provider of online and mobile wagering in the state and also the operator of the lone retail shops.

New Jersey sports betting sites

The Garden State was one of the first to act after the landmark Supreme Court ruling. Retail sports betting rolled out in June 2018. DraftKings was the first online option in August, followed by PlaySugarhouse and FanDuel. There are now more than a dozen options NJ sports betting apps on the market.

Oregon sports betting sites

Oregon legalized sports betting in August 2019. Retail wagering was introduced at one of the state’s tribal casinos the following month. In October, the Scoreboard sports betting app was launched. Run by the state lottery, this is the only mobile option available for sports bettors in Oregon.

Pennsylvania sports betting sites

Pennsylvania was among the states that moved quickly in the wake of the PASPA ruling. Retail sportsbooks opened for business in November 2018. The official online launch took place in May 2019. SugarHouse was the first site to go live, and it was soon joined by sister property BetRivers and others including DraftKings and FanDuel.

Rhode Island sports betting sites

Rhode Island sports betting legislation was approved in 2018, but it was initially for retail only at the state’s two operating casinos. The following year, a new bill was approved that gave the green light to mobile wagering with an in-person registration requirement, which has since been removed. The Rhode Island Lottery oversees things, with William Hill handling operations.

Tennessee sports betting sites

Tennessee approved sports betting in April 2019. It’s a unique situation as there are not expected to be any retail sportsbooks in the state. Sports bettors are now able to place mobile wagers as of November 2020.

Virginia sports betting sites

Sports betting was legalized in Virginia in April 2020 and officially launched its first sportsbook in January 2021. According to state law, there will be a minimum of four and as many as 12 mobile options available.

Washington, DC, sports betting sites

The city council gave its approval to sports betting in 2018, but the bill wasn’t signed into law until the following January. GambetDC, an offering run by the lottery and powered by Intralot, is the sole online and mobile option for bettors since its launch in 2020. A William Hill retail sportsbook has since opened for business at the Capital One Arena.

West Virginia sports betting sites

West Virginia also sprang into action following the Supreme Court ruling. Retail sportsbooks opened up in September 2018. BetLucky was available for a short time as a mobile option, but it shut down the following year due to a technology dispute. DraftKings and FanDuel went live in WV soon thereafter and have since been joined by other operators.

Best sports betting apps in the US

The list of options for users in legal sports betting states continues to grow. Here are some of the top options available in multiple states.

DraftKings app

The daily fantasy sports giant was among the many operators awaiting the Supreme Court ruling in 2018. The company was the first online and mobile option available in NJ. DraftKings has since expanded to a number of other states, with plans for further expansion in the works. It’s known for having a slick platform and live betting feature.

DraftKings Sportsbook is legal in: VA, MI, NJ, PA, CO, IN, WV, NH, IA, IL, & TN

FanDuel app

FanDuel was also ready to go soon after the SCOTUS ruling. NJ was the first point of entry for the company in sports betting, but the platform has since been unveiled in several other states. FanDuel is known for being visually appealing and user-friendly, with features like single-game parlay offerings.

FanDuel Sportsbook is legal in: MI, NJ, PA, IN, WV, CO, TN, IA, IL & VA

FOX Bet app

Launched as a tag-team effort from media giant FOX Sports and The Stars Group, the platform receives great visibility throughout FOX Sports programming and has a steady stream of promotions tied in with network personalities. FOX Bet is somewhat geared toward newer bettors and is working toward launching in additional states.

FOX Bet Sportsbook is legal in: MI, NJ, PA & CO

BetMGM app

Originally known as playMGM upon its launch in NJ, the site and app have since been rebranded. BetMGM has been making a lot of headway with its entry into multiple states and various deals with teams and media entities. The company is one of several with designs on becoming one of the top sports betting destinations across the US.

BetMGM Sportsbook is legal in: VA, MI, NJ, CO, TN, WV, NV, PA, IN & IA

PointsBet app

Australia-based PointsBet debuted in NJ in 2019 and has since opened its doors in other states. The site is geared toward sports bettors and features a unique betting option known as PointsBetting. The company captured a good deal of attention with its recent deal with NBC Sports and continues to aggressively pursue market share.

PointsBet Sportsbook is legal in: MI, NJ, IL, CO, IA & IN

William Hill app

The UK bookmaker has had a retail presence in Nevada for some time. It has since expanded into other states both physically and via online and mobile offerings. The platform itself is easy to use and filled with features. William Hill has made some headway in the US in a short period of time and appears poised to continue on that path.

William Hill Sportsbook is legal in: NJ, MI, CO, WV, IL, RI, NV

BetRivers app

BetRivers comes our way from Rush Street Gaming, which is also the parent company of sister site PlaySugarhouse. The company also has a retail casino presence in several states. BetRivers has come to be known for having a solid offering and good loyalty program.

BetRivers Sportsbook is legal in: VA, PA, IN, CO, IL, IA & MI

Other legal sports betting apps

The overall list of legal sports betting sites is a lengthy one. Here’s a look at a few more that have debuted in multiple states to date.

BetAmerica Sportsbook

Horse racing fans are familiar with BetAmerica, an offering from Churchill Downs International. The sportsbook is now up and running in three states, while users in NJ and PA can also access casino games right from the same site.

BetAmerica Sportsbook is legal in: NJ, IN, PA

Caesars Sportsbook

The iconic Caesars name is well-known to both online and brick-and-mortar casino patrons. The sportsbook has launched in a trio of states to date. It’s a basic offering, but all of the bet types and sports you could ask for are available.

Caesars Sportsbook is legal in: NJ, PA, IN

SportsBetting.com

This is a newer offering that has made its debut in the Colorado market. The company also has its sights set on entering the New Jersey, Indiana and Iowa markets as soon as possible. As the name implies, the site is solely focused on sports betting.

SportsBetting.com is legal in: CO

Unibet Sportsbook

Unibet is an international operator that has a big presence on the global scene. It’s now up and running in select states in the US with plans on entering more soon. This is a basic offering without a lot of bells and whistles, but solid for just getting down to business.

Unibet Sportsbook is legal in: NJ, PA & IN

Which states are most likely to launch sports betting sites next?

The following states have passed legislation for retail sports betting at tribal casinos, but the official launch hasn’t happened yet.

• North Carolina
• Washington

Plans call for retail only in both states, but the fact that sports betting legislation has been passed in at least some form can be seen as a glimmer of hope on the online front.

Three states approved ballot measures in 2020 to make some form of sports betting legal:

• Louisiana
• Maryland
• South Dakota

A handful of states have opened up sports betting on a retail basis without launching online. Efforts to legalize online betting in these states have stalled to date, but it remains a work in progress.

• Arkansas
• Delaware*
• Mississippi
• Montana
• New Mexico
• New York

* Online legal but not launched

There are another 20 states that are at least considering some form of sports betting legislation. The list of states in which there has been absolutely no movement stands at eight.

Retail sports betting

For decades, the only state in which you could legally place a sports bet in person was Nevada. It’s a different story in the aftermath of the PASPA ruling. Here are the states (and Washington, DC) in which you’ll find retail sportsbooks.

• Delaware
• New Jersey
• Mississippi
• West Virginia
• New Mexico
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• Arkansas
• New York
• Iowa
• Oregon
• Indiana
• New Hampshire
• Illinois
• Montana
• Michigan
• Colorado
• Washington, DC

Washington and North Carolina are expected to be the next states to open brick-and-mortar sportsbooks at tribal casinos.

Which states are most likely to regulate sports betting next?

Sports betting legislation has at least been introduced in 20 states that have yet to act on the matter. While optimism is high that it’ll eventually be passed in each of these states, there’s nothing concrete that says it’s right around the corner for any of them. Here’s the list.

• Maine
• Vermont
• Massachusetts
• Connecticut
• South Carolina
• Georgia
• Alabama
• Ohio
• Kentucky
• Minnesota
• North Dakota
• Missouri
• Kansas
• Texas
• Arizona
• California
• Alaska
• Hawaii
• Florida

The next legal sports betting states are likely coming from the above list at some point. Meanwhile, these states are still holding out and have yet to introduce legislation to legalize sports betting.

• Wisconsin
• Nebraska
• Oklahoma
• Wyoming
• Idaho
• Utah

Legal vs. offshore betting

The best options available for US sports bettors come via the sites that have been approved for operations in the respective states. Gaining acceptance and approval is not easy, and those who have joined the list of approved operators have invested heavily to do so.

While there remains an active black market for sports betting via illegal offshore sites, there’s no reason to take the risk. Here are some of the main points to understand.

• The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was passed in 2006 to crack down on offshore operators. The law is aimed at the companies to prevent them from doing business in the US, but many still operate due to what they claim is a legal gray area.
• Offshore operators are not operating under the same rules and regulations that legal US betting sites are. There is no guarantee that your funds, data or information will be safely kept.
• Legal sports betting sites have clear terms and conditions, house rules for players to follow, a wide range of normal funding options and customer service options that can be reached easily. That’s not the case with the offshore sites.

There are a few easy ways to spot which sites are on the up and up versus those that are not. For starters, the majority of legal states maintain a running list of approved operators on their websites under the division of gambling section or its equivalent.

There’s also the eye test. When an operator is legit, it will point users to the right places for information on things such as legality and responsible gambling. That’s not something that’s high on the priority list for less-than-reputable operators.

Things you can’t legally bet on in the US

Each of the individual states is responsible for setting its own rules and regulations for sports betting. As a result, not every piece of legislation that has been passed to date reads in the exact same fashion.

The standard stuff, such as team-based professional sports and major individual competitions, are good to go at all legal and regulated sportsbooks. Each of the operators will also offer various niche sports, but the list of options may vary.

One of the biggest points of difference has been on college sports. While you can bet on college football and basketball in several states, some have expressly prohibited wagering on in-state teams or on amateur events that take place in the state.

In general, the legal sportsbooks stay away from non-sports events. That means no wagering on the weather, reality television outcomes or on elections. However, wagering on the Oscars has been allowed here and there.

Why can’t you bet on the election or weather?

While there is often chatter about the betting odds for major political events such as the US presidential election, it remains illegal to bet on the outcome of that. There may be plenty of history attached to betting on who will be the next president, but that doesn’t mean it’s legal.

Legal and regulated operators offer odds and markets on sporting events. You won’t find options to bet on the weather or reality TV at the big shops, and there’s a simple reason for that: They’re not allowed to.

Sports leagues’ stance on legal sports betting

NBA

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver took a front-facing role in advocating for legal sports betting in the US. His op-ed embracing sports betting spurred discussion on the topic long before the fall of PASPA.

Before and after the Supreme Court decision, NBA officials spent most of 2018 trying to get a cut of sports betting money from various state legislatures. They helped introduce the concept of an integrity fee in state-level legislation, claiming the league would face increased monitoring and enforcement costs in a national sports betting environment.

Silver recently added to that argument by calling NBA games the league’s “intellectual property” for which it deserves compensation.

The NBA does not permit wagering on its games through the Ontario Lottery, where the Toronto Raptors play. The same policy existed when an NBA team played in Vancouver. Provinces that do not host NBA teams offer parlay cards on games for the sport.

NHL

The NHL largely let other leagues take the lead on sports betting issues prior to signing a data and marketing agreement with MGM Resorts in November 2018. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman also weighed in during the Stanley Cup Final in Las Vegas: the league wants federal legislation (or state-level equivalents) and a slice of sports betting money.

The NHL launched a new franchise in Las Vegas in 2017, which is the first major professional sports team for the country’s gambling hub. The Vegas Golden Knightsdrew heavy betting interest through their inaugural season.

It has no issues with the activity in Canada. Some teams participate with lotteries that sell NHL parlay cards. The NHL also opposed new sports betting legislation in Canada.

MLB

Major League Baseball is sensitive to betting on its games. In the post-PASPA world, though, MLB advocates for sports betting legislation that includes integrity fees paid to the league.

The league also signed a data and marketing deal with MGM Resorts in November 2018. It will provide the company with exclusive rights to advanced data for in-play betting.

With regard to integrity fees, MLB went as far as having top executive Joe Torrelobby Governor Andrew Cuomo directly on New York sports betting legislation. This represents a major shift from the league’s historical attitude toward gambling.

The 1919 Chicago White Sox threw a World Series, a scandal the league wants everybody to forget. Pete Rose betting on his games and the aftermath involved in that scandal is another black eye MLB never wants to see again.

While MLB joined the New Jersey lawsuit, it has no issues with betting on Toronto Blue Jays games in Ontario. The Montreal Expos were also on parlay cards when that team existed.

NFL

America’s most powerful sports league remains largely opposed to legal sports betting. The NFL publicly fought sports betting for decades and now wants federal legislation addressing it after PASPA. Interestingly, the NFL is not advocating for integrity fees.

Despite its stance on US sports betting, the NFL allowed the move of the Raiders to Las Vegas from Oakland beginning in 2020.

The NFL is the only major professional sports league with no direct investment into daily fantasy sports, although 28 of its 32 teams are involved in sponsorships.

NFL games are by far the most popular sports betting events in the US, with the Super Bowl generating close to $150 million in bets in Nevada by itself. The NFL plays games in London, where betting shops are on every corner, and the league seems to have no issues with that.

NCAA

Long the staunchest opponent of legal sports betting, the NCAA finds itself in a tricky position after the repeal of PASPA.

The organization detests sports betting despite the fact that college football and March Madness college betting are two of the largest drivers of handle. The NCAA instituted a de facto ban on national championship contests being held in states with legal sports betting, namely Nevada. But it reversed course after the Supreme Court decision, at least temporarily. That is in part because it already awarded future championships to states that will have sports betting.

10 Top Sports Betting Sites

The NCAA similarly does not like fantasy sports. It does not permit student-athletes to enter contests. Many conferences do not accept advertising from daily fantasy sites. The NCAA has attempted to convince sites to stop college fantasy sports contests, but DraftKings and FanDuel restarted their college contests post-PASPA.

PGA Tour

Professional golf jumped into the sports betting fray by supporting the integrity fee concept along with MLB and the NBA. The tour also wants sports betting operators to pay for official data from its ShotLink system.

The data question also comes up with other leagues, but the PGA Tour claims to have a different case with proprietary data. In-play betting that relies on data can easily be gleaned from TV broadcasts in many sports. The same can be said for golf with scoring, but anything more in-depth (driving distance, length of putts, etc.) could require official data.

How online sports betting in USA became legal

Challenge in New Jersey

New Jersey voters passed a non-binding referendum in November 2011 that instructed the state legislature to legalize sports betting. The legislature quickly passed a bill that would have regulated sports betting at New Jersey racetracks and Atlantic City casinos. Governor Chris Christie signed the bill into law.

The major sports leagues challenged New Jersey in court, claiming that the state was not exempted by PASPA; therefore it could not legalize sports betting. A lower court ruling sided with the leagues, and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed it. The US Supreme Court at that time refused to hear the case.

New Jersey tried another angle. The state attempted to deregulate and decriminalize sports betting in the same venues as before. The sports leagues returned to court and challenged the new approach to sports betting. The sports leagues prevailed in the lower court and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.

New Jersey was able to appeal and receive a rehearing in the Third Circuit, which it also lost. The Supreme Court then agreed to hear it and New Jersey won its case in May 2018.

American Gaming Association’s stance

The American Gaming Association is the gaming industry’s lobbying group. It maintains the black market of illegal gambling is too lucrative and thrives in the unregulated environment. The AGA supported the repeal of PASPA and strongly advocates for states to be able to write their own sports betting laws.

How is daily fantasy sports different from sports betting?

Daily fantasy sports is believed to be legal in at least 40 states, according to the companies that promote the product.

There are big differences between daily fantasy sports and sports betting.

In sports betting, a bettor picks a team or multiple teams to win or cover a point spread. In daily fantasy sports, a user chooses athletes and enters a competition that computes a winner based on the statistics accumulated by the players in a sport.

Current status of daily fantasy sports

Daily fantasy sports is generally considered to be legal in about 40 states, with laws on the books in about half of those.

States that restrict DFS

Daily fantasy sports are illegal in Iowa, Montana, Louisiana, Arizona and Washington. Nevada requires a gaming license to operate a daily fantasy sports site.

Opinions from attorneys general have emphasized the legal gray area for DFS in many states. DraftKings, FanDuel and others pulled out of Idaho, Hawaii and Alabama. FanDuel does not serve Texas, but DraftKings does.

FAQ for betting sites

Is it legal to bet on sports online?

Yes, but it depends on where you are located. Legal sports betting can be done online in many of the states mentioned above. You do not have to be a resident of a state to bet there, but you do need to be physically located within the state to place a legal online sports bet.

What is the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act?

The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act passed Congress in September 2006. It made payment processing of illegal gambling transactions a federal crime. It exempted gaming specifically legalized at the state level, horse racing and some forms of fantasy sports.

Is sports betting legal in Europe?

Online sports betting is legal throughout most of Europe including the UK. This includes betting shops, mobile apps and over the Internet. Some of the best online betting sites in Europe are now operating in the US.

Is online sports betting legal in Canada?

Canada lotteries offer parlay cards on a variety of sports, including football, basketball, baseball and hockey. There is a push to expand betting to straight wagers. Online betting sites operate in a legal gray area.

Is online sports betting legal in the US?

Yes, in some places. Sports betting has been legalized in a number of states to date, and the list is expected to continue growing in the coming years. In 2018, the Supreme Court placed the matter of legalizing sports betting into the hands of the individual states to decide on. While sports betting has since been legalized in a number of states, legislation hasn’t been passed on a federal level.

What is the safest betting site?

Best Betting Sites In Usa

The safest options for sports betting online come via the legal and regulated operators. DraftKings and FanDuel are two examples of operators that have received approval to open for business in a number of states. Legal and regulated sites have to go through a lengthy application process, follow specific rules and regulations, and verify that customer funds are safe. That’s not the case with the unregulated options that may be available.

Why do some sports betting sites accept cryptocurrency?

Cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, are not available as funding options at legal and regulated sportsbooks. If you see these options available, then there’s a good chance that you have stumbled upon a black-market operator that claims it can operate safely under some kind of legal gray area. A fully legal site will provide its users with standard funding options such as credit cards, PayPal and wire transfers, and you won’t have to jump through any unnecessary hoops to deposit or withdraw.

Do I have to pay taxes on my winnings?

Yes, profits obtained from sports betting or any other type of gambling are considered taxable income in the US. If you win above a certain level, operators may even provide you with a 1099-G that states your level of winnings, and the form will be filed with the IRS, as well. A complete tracking of the deposits and withdrawals you have made for gambling purposes is a good habit to get into. For specific questions in regard to your personal situation, we encourage you to consult with a tax advisor.

What legal online and mobile sports betting is available in Nevada?

Sports Connection / Station Casinos, NV Sports Books / South Point, William Hill, CG Technology, Aliante Casino, Treasure Island and Boyd Gaming all operate mobile betting apps in Nevada. Sports Connection/Station Casinos also offers a website.

Can you deposit with PayPal at legal Nevada sports betting apps?

No, at this time you cannot deposit using PayPal for any Nevada sports betting apps. You will need to deposit in person or using a pre-paid card. There are options to top off your account at some convenience stores with certain Nevada apps.

PayPal is likely to be an option for payment in other states, however.

Is it legal to play on Bovada?

No. Bovada is an unlicensed sports betting site. It is illegal for the company to operate in the US but players likely face no legal consequences.

Are there risks to betting on sports at unlicensed sites?

Offshore sportsbooks may not pay players. If a bettor gets stiffed by an unlicensed betting site, then he or she has no recourse. That does not happen at licensed sites.

Sports Betting in other countries: Australia, New Zealand