Pga Online Betting
Betting on golf is increasingly prevalent with the expansion of legal sports gambling across the US .
2021 Arnold Palmer Invitational Expert Analysis PGA Betting With the 2021 Players Championship set for next week, a handful of the world's best golfers will be in action when the 2021 Arnold Palmer Invitation gets underway on Thursday, March 4, live from Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando, Florida.
Justin Thomas PGA Championship (35/1) Dustin Johnson Northern Trust (14/1) Overall Units Won (+54.255) 194.22 ROI. 2018 Golf Betting: Premium Head to Head Bets (37-18-2) +26.74 Units Outright.
A pioneer of online sports betting, bet365 is one of the best for competitive live golf odds. It specializes in detailed in-play data, allowing bettors to make more informed betting decisions. Having cemented its name as a reputable European sportsbook since 1997, Unibet made the foray into the US sports betting industry in.
Golf Betting Online How to bet on golf + live golf betting odds Golf has always been a popular game with scores of fans around the world but the rise of golf betting has taken interest in the sport to a new level. PGA Tour, lower-level tour and international golf events run nearly every weekend.
The sport is one of the most popular sports betting options worldwide, as golf features international tours as well as many foreign stars.
The emergence of online sports betting sites has also made betting on golf events more engaging. Live wagering is now one of the preferred methods to bet on your favorite golfer. Golf betting at online sportsbooks for 2021
The most-viewed tour is the PGA Tour , which consists of the worlds most famous tournaments, like The Masters and the US Open .
Golfers can compete every week in a new event and are awarded money and points based on where they place. While there are several important tournaments, the four majors every year include:
The Masters
Open Championship (British Open)
PGA Championship
Besides live betting, placing a futures wager on which golfer will win a given matchup is one of the most common ways to bet on golf.
The PGA Tour schedule lasts nearly an entire calendar year, starting in mid-September and concluding with the tour championship in late August. The end of the season finishes with the FedEx Cup Playoffs , which determines the years overall champion.
You can also get action down on the European tour along with the Champions Tour , which used to be known as the Senior Tour.
With more states offering legal sports betting, golf wagering could have its biggest year yet. The Masters, the tours most prestigious event, gets the season into full swing in early April.
This years Masters, however, will take place November 12-15 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Where can I legally bet on golf online in the US? State Is sports betting legal? Is online sports betting legal? Arkansas Yes No Colorado Yes Yes Delaware Yes Yes, launch undetermined Indiana Yes Yes Iowa Yes Yes Mississippi Yes Yes, on-property only Montana Yes Yes Nevada Yes Yes New Jersey Yes Yes New Mexico Yes, at multiple tribal casinos No New York Yes No North Carolina Yes, pending launch No Oregon Yes Yes Pennsylvania Yes Yes Rhode Island Yes Yes Tennessee Yes, pending launch Yes, pending launch Washington DC Yes, pending launch Yes, pending launch West Virginia Yes Yes How to bet on golf online
Betting on golf online is convenient if you live in one of the states above that offers legal sports betting. States with online sports betting usually offer multiple betting apps, including DraftKings Sportsbook and FanDuel Sportsbook .
Registering for most mobile platforms is typically the same and should take a few minutes to complete. To sign up , youll have to enter some basic information such as:
Name
Date of birth
Address
Email
Phone number
Social Security number
Although eligibility requirements do vary slightly between different states, they are mostly similar.
In order to place golf bets, you must be at least the minimum legal age in the state youre betting. While most states require bettors to be at least 21 years or older , some only require bettors to be 18 years old.
The other requirement is that you have to be in the state where its legal to place sports bets. Every online sportsbook will use geolocation technology to determine where you are at the time of betting.
All the top sportsbooks above offer a wide variety of golf betting options. Youre able to wager on all of the major championships, as well as every tournament in-between.
These online sportsbooks will provide odds for PGA events, as well as some LPGA and Champions Tour events.
Some online betting apps also feature a browser-based website where youre able to wager. These typically have similar formats to their apps and will include the same betting markets.
If you dont want to download the app, youre often able to access the sportsbook through your mobile devices browser too. Offshore sportsbooks present serious risks
Not only are offshore sportsbooks illegal , but theyre unreliable compared to the new mobile apps in the legal US sports betting market.
Every legal sportsbook is completely secure and regulated, so you do not need to worry about your money. They provide plenty of banking methods so that you can deposit and withdraw funds conveniently.
Offshore books are risky and dont give you any protection like this. They also dont provide any sort of legal or regulatory protection if you happen to run into an issue on the sportsbook. Golf happenings in New Jersey, West Virginia
The PGA Tour hosts events in both NJ and WV almost annually.
With recent adjustments made to the tour schedule, the season begins in September with A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, WV . The event used to be held in July.
Although NJ doesnt feature a yearly PGA Tour outing, it does partially host The Northern Trust tournament played in August as part of FedEx Cup Playoffs. The event alternates between sites in the Garden State and other courses around the area. It will be held in Boston this year.
Bettors in PA and IN have seen some PGA Tour action in the past, as well. Both states have played home to the BMW Championship , another playoff tournament. It was last held in PA in 2018, while it played in Carmel, IN, in 2016. Basics of golf betting
Unlike other sports, wagering on golf can be a little more complex to new bettors. Lets break down all the basic types of golf bets youll find at sportsbooks. To win
The most common way to bet on a golf tournament is to choose who you think will win the entire event.
This bet is typically made with a futures wager before the start of a tournament. However, online sportsbooks now offer updated odds to win almost every event after each round. Versus the field
Another way to bet on golf is to wager on a specific golfer and how they will fare against another group of players. This wager is typically based around one of the tournaments favorites.
Youre able to bet on the favorite to win or take your chances with the rest of the field of participants. Sportsbooks will also provide odds for a player against a smaller group of given golfers. Head-to-head
Head-to-head wagering is also a standard for betting golf events. Sportsbooks will offer lines for who will shoot a lower score between two golfers. Often, youll be able to find multiple head-to-head matchups for the tours best players in each tournament.
A lot of sportsbooks provide odds for head-to-head pairings for every round, in addition to the entire event. Each-way
Each-way betting is similar to placing a futures bet on someone to win an event but allows you to select where your golfer will finish. You can bet on a player to place in the top three, five, or 10 at most sportsbooks. First-round leader
Betting on the first-round leader can make the first 18 holes of any tournament exciting.
Instead of taking which golfer will win the entire event, youre only wagering on who will be the leader after the opening round. These odds are usually similar to the initial odds offered to win the tournament. Group matchups
Group matchups are organized just like head-to-head bets but include a few golfers as opposed to just two. These will usually consist of groups of three or four golfers of similar quality.
Most sportsbooks will allow you to bet on a group matchup for the duration of the tournament, as well as individual rounds.
Generally, every golfer will have more favorable odds within a group matchup compared to just two players because theres more competition. Some sportsbooks will even let you bet that every golfer will shoot the same score and their results will end in a draw. Nationality
An interesting way to bet on golf is through prop bets . A lot of the popular online sportsbooks available today give plenty of prop options, including picking the best golfer from each nationality.
Youre able to select who among the American golfers will finish highest in a specific tournament. Betting lines will usually include several other nationalities like Australian , English and Irish .
Another twist to this prop is choosing that a player from a specific country will win.
If you believe that Dustin Johnson and Tiger Woods have the best chances in an event, then you could bet that the winner will come from the US. Golf futures
Golf futures are very common and should be available at every regulated sportsbook in the US. Like with futures wagers in other sports, you place a bet on a certain golfer before the tournament begins with hopes that they will win the event in the end.
Futures are the most popular for golf tournaments because even the best players have favorable odds for bettors. Golfers like Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka are among the best in the world and are still listed around +1000 for the biggest tournaments.
Other futures options exist for golf, too. Before the season gets underway, you can wager on lines like who will win player of the year , rookie of the year, or who will be crowned the FedEx Cup Champion . Live golf betting
Live betting is now one of the most popular ways to bet on all sports, including golf.
The growth of online apps has allowed sportsbooks to expand their live offerings and now feature a wide selection of live betting options .
With live in-play wagering, you can bet on a golf tournament even after it already started. Youre able to see how players are performing before you commit to a certain golfer or matchup bet.
Sportsbooks will allow you to bet on who will win the tournament at almost any time. They will continually update their pre-round odds to reflect the play and scores already posted on the leaderboard.
Some books may offer other live odds for head-to-head player matchups and even props on, for instance, how a golfer will finish the next hole.
The top sportsbooks available in each state offer live betting for golf.
Placing a wager by using a mobile betting app couldnt be easier. Most online platforms showcase their top live betting markets right on their home page.
By simply selecting the golf event or specific matchup you want, youll be able to see all of the live options available.
Once you find a line you like, you need to act quickly though. Live odds update rapidly and can change with every shot. Golf prop betting
Besides the more common wagers found for every golf tournament, you can find some propositional bets as well.
These are harder to come by depending on the sportsbook; however, most apps include props for at least the major tournaments.
As noted previously, betting on nationality is an intriguing option that varies from the norm. Most other prop bets are either regarded as tournament or player props.
You can choose whether there will be a hole-in-one , by how many strokes the champion will win, if the tournament will go to a playoff, or which golfer will post the best score in a given round. Betting on golf majors
There is no question in the game of golf that some tournaments mean more than others. Every season, the four biggest tournaments are considered the majors. These consist of:
The Masters
PGA Championship
US Open
Open Championship (British Open) Betting The Masters
Date: November 12 15, 2020
Location: Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, GA
Prize Pool: $11.5 million
Defending Champion: Tiger Woods
The Masters is one of the most famous golf tournaments in the world and truly marks the start of the season in early April.
Unlike the other three majors, the Masters never changes its location from year to year. Augusta National is one of the worlds most famous golf courses and hosts the worlds best golfers every spring.
Woods won the tournament again last year, earning his fifth green jacket. He trails only Jack Nicklaus for the most titles won at Augusta. Nicklaus won six times throughout his career, the last in 1986 .
Arnold Palmer ranks third at The Masters with three titles. Betting the PGA Championship
Date: August 6-9, 2020
Location: TPC Harding Park, San Francisco, CA
Prize Pool: $11 million
Defending Champion: Brooks Koepka
With the restructured PGA Tour schedule, the PGA Championship is now the second major of the year, played in May outside of 2020. The event was previously the final major played in August up until a year ago.
Koepka is the two-time defending PGA champ thanks to another win in 2019. Hes won four total majors, with two victories at the US Open too.
Again, Nicklaus is tied for most wins at the major with five. He shares that honor with Walter Hagen . Betting the US Open
Date: September 17-20, 2020
Location: Winged Foot Golf Club, Mamaroneck, NY
Prize Pool: $12.5 million
Defending Champion: Gary Woodland
The US Open marks the national championship of golf in this country. The tournament is known to be the most difficult of the four majors in terms of overall scoring. Often, the champion is only a few strokes under par.
Woodland took home his first major championship by winning the event in 2019. Last years tournament was held at the Pebble Beach Golf Links in California .
Several golfers share the record for most US Open victories with four. They include Nicklaus, Willie Anderson, Bobby Jones, and Ben Hogan . Betting the Open Championship
Date: July 16-19, 2020
Location: Royal St. Georges Golf Club, Sandwich, England
Prize Pool: $10.75 million
Defending Champion: Shane Lowry
The last of the four majors to happen is now the Open Championship, commonly called the British Open. Its the only major golf tournament that occurs overseas, in England, Northern Ireland or Scotland .
Irishman Lowry claimed his first major a year ago by winning The Open at Royal Portrush .
Harry Vardon holds the record for most Open Championships with six. He earned his last title in 1914. Betting on PGA Tour events, other tours
The PGA Tour season gets started in September and goes all the way through August. While there are only four major tournaments, there are plenty of other betting opportunities for golf fans.
Even though the major championships might include more betting options at sportsbooks, you can certainly find odds for every other tournament. At a minimum, books will offer odds to win each event along with some head-to-head matchups.
Outside of the four majors, the following are some of the most significant events on the golf schedule:
The Players Championship
The Northern Trust
BMW Championship
Tour Championship
Memorial Tournament
ATT Byron Nelson
Arnold Palmer Invitational
Waste Management Phoenix Open
Sportsbooks will offer odds for these tournaments in the PGA Tour, as well as other lower-tier tours.
Professional golf includes several others, including the European Tour, Japan Golf Tour, and the Champions Tour. Betting on LPGA
For bettors who prefer to wager on the womens golf tour, the LPGA also has a sizable schedule.
Similar to the smaller tournaments in the PGA Tour, sportsbooks might not have an abundance of betting lines for the LPGA but should have the most popular odds available.
The LPGA season begins in January and concludes in November. Here are some of the top womens events that dont include major championships:
CME Group Tour Championship
CP Womens Open
Meijer LPGA Classic
Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational
BMW Ladies Championship Betting on Match Play, the Ryder Cup
For both men and women, youll be able to bet on international golf events throughout the year.
Some of these events will consist of match play, as opposed to stroke play, like the majority of tournaments.
The Ryder Cup , as well as several others, include match play, which means players go up against a single opponent in each round.
Instead of counting the total number of strokes to their overall score, the only thing that matters is defeating your opponent.
These events will alter the betting lines provided by sportsbooks. Youll no longer be able to bet on group matchups or round leaders but strictly focus on head-to-head wagers. Golf live streaming
As you can bet on the go, youre now able to watch golf on the go as well.
Many tournaments are available to stream online through different outlets, and some are even available through individual online sportsbooks.
As a result, you can view the odds for an event as the play unfolds. Streaming will be accessible through both your web browser and mobile device.
The expansion in streaming is tied to the growth of live wagering. Now you can watch real-time action on the golf course on the same betting platform.
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 doesnt 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, its up to 14 states and Washington, DC, but the official launch is still pending in some spots.
* Pending launch Colorado sports betting sites Pga Online Betting Odds
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
Nevadas 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 states 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 states 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. Its 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 wasnt 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. Its 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. Heres 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. Its 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. Its 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 hasnt 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. Pga Online Betting
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. Its a different story in the aftermath of the PASPA ruling. Here are the states (and Washington, DC) in which youll 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 itll eventually be passed in each of these states, theres nothing concrete that says its right around the corner for any of them. Heres 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, theres 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. Thats 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.
Theres 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 . Thats not something thats high on the priority list for less-than-reputable operators. Things you cant 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 cant 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 doesnt mean its legal.
Legal and regulated operators offer odds and markets on sporting events. You wont find options to bet on the weather or reality TV at the big shops, and theres a simple reason for that: Theyre 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 leagues 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. Pga Online Betting Sites 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 countrys gambling hub. The Vegas Golden Knights drew 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 Torre lobby Governor Andrew Cuomo directly on New York sports betting legislation. This represents a major shift from the leagues 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
Americas 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.
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 Associations stance
The American Gaming Association is the gaming industrys 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 hasnt been passed on a federal level. What is the safest betting site?
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. Thats 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 theres 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 wont 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
2021 Arnold Palmer Invitational Expert Analysis PGA Betting With the 2021 Players Championship set for next week, a handful of the world's best golfers will be in action when the 2021 Arnold Palmer Invitation gets underway on Thursday, March 4, live from Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando, Florida.
Justin Thomas PGA Championship (35/1) Dustin Johnson Northern Trust (14/1) Overall Units Won (+54.255) 194.22 ROI. 2018 Golf Betting: Premium Head to Head Bets (37-18-2) +26.74 Units Outright.
A pioneer of online sports betting, bet365 is one of the best for competitive live golf odds. It specializes in detailed in-play data, allowing bettors to make more informed betting decisions. Having cemented its name as a reputable European sportsbook since 1997, Unibet made the foray into the US sports betting industry in.
Golf Betting Online How to bet on golf + live golf betting odds Golf has always been a popular game with scores of fans around the world but the rise of golf betting has taken interest in the sport to a new level. PGA Tour, lower-level tour and international golf events run nearly every weekend.
The sport is one of the most popular sports betting options worldwide, as golf features international tours as well as many foreign stars.
The emergence of online sports betting sites has also made betting on golf events more engaging. Live wagering is now one of the preferred methods to bet on your favorite golfer. Golf betting at online sportsbooks for 2021
The most-viewed tour is the PGA Tour , which consists of the worlds most famous tournaments, like The Masters and the US Open .
Golfers can compete every week in a new event and are awarded money and points based on where they place. While there are several important tournaments, the four majors every year include:
The Masters
Open Championship (British Open)
PGA Championship
Besides live betting, placing a futures wager on which golfer will win a given matchup is one of the most common ways to bet on golf.
The PGA Tour schedule lasts nearly an entire calendar year, starting in mid-September and concluding with the tour championship in late August. The end of the season finishes with the FedEx Cup Playoffs , which determines the years overall champion.
You can also get action down on the European tour along with the Champions Tour , which used to be known as the Senior Tour.
With more states offering legal sports betting, golf wagering could have its biggest year yet. The Masters, the tours most prestigious event, gets the season into full swing in early April.
This years Masters, however, will take place November 12-15 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Where can I legally bet on golf online in the US? State Is sports betting legal? Is online sports betting legal? Arkansas Yes No Colorado Yes Yes Delaware Yes Yes, launch undetermined Indiana Yes Yes Iowa Yes Yes Mississippi Yes Yes, on-property only Montana Yes Yes Nevada Yes Yes New Jersey Yes Yes New Mexico Yes, at multiple tribal casinos No New York Yes No North Carolina Yes, pending launch No Oregon Yes Yes Pennsylvania Yes Yes Rhode Island Yes Yes Tennessee Yes, pending launch Yes, pending launch Washington DC Yes, pending launch Yes, pending launch West Virginia Yes Yes How to bet on golf online
Betting on golf online is convenient if you live in one of the states above that offers legal sports betting. States with online sports betting usually offer multiple betting apps, including DraftKings Sportsbook and FanDuel Sportsbook .
Registering for most mobile platforms is typically the same and should take a few minutes to complete. To sign up , youll have to enter some basic information such as:
Name
Date of birth
Address
Phone number
Social Security number
Although eligibility requirements do vary slightly between different states, they are mostly similar.
In order to place golf bets, you must be at least the minimum legal age in the state youre betting. While most states require bettors to be at least 21 years or older , some only require bettors to be 18 years old.
The other requirement is that you have to be in the state where its legal to place sports bets. Every online sportsbook will use geolocation technology to determine where you are at the time of betting.
All the top sportsbooks above offer a wide variety of golf betting options. Youre able to wager on all of the major championships, as well as every tournament in-between.
These online sportsbooks will provide odds for PGA events, as well as some LPGA and Champions Tour events.
Some online betting apps also feature a browser-based website where youre able to wager. These typically have similar formats to their apps and will include the same betting markets.
If you dont want to download the app, youre often able to access the sportsbook through your mobile devices browser too. Offshore sportsbooks present serious risks
Not only are offshore sportsbooks illegal , but theyre unreliable compared to the new mobile apps in the legal US sports betting market.
Every legal sportsbook is completely secure and regulated, so you do not need to worry about your money. They provide plenty of banking methods so that you can deposit and withdraw funds conveniently.
Offshore books are risky and dont give you any protection like this. They also dont provide any sort of legal or regulatory protection if you happen to run into an issue on the sportsbook. Golf happenings in New Jersey, West Virginia
The PGA Tour hosts events in both NJ and WV almost annually.
With recent adjustments made to the tour schedule, the season begins in September with A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, WV . The event used to be held in July.
Although NJ doesnt feature a yearly PGA Tour outing, it does partially host The Northern Trust tournament played in August as part of FedEx Cup Playoffs. The event alternates between sites in the Garden State and other courses around the area. It will be held in Boston this year.
Bettors in PA and IN have seen some PGA Tour action in the past, as well. Both states have played home to the BMW Championship , another playoff tournament. It was last held in PA in 2018, while it played in Carmel, IN, in 2016. Basics of golf betting
Unlike other sports, wagering on golf can be a little more complex to new bettors. Lets break down all the basic types of golf bets youll find at sportsbooks. To win
The most common way to bet on a golf tournament is to choose who you think will win the entire event.
This bet is typically made with a futures wager before the start of a tournament. However, online sportsbooks now offer updated odds to win almost every event after each round. Versus the field
Another way to bet on golf is to wager on a specific golfer and how they will fare against another group of players. This wager is typically based around one of the tournaments favorites.
Youre able to bet on the favorite to win or take your chances with the rest of the field of participants. Sportsbooks will also provide odds for a player against a smaller group of given golfers. Head-to-head
Head-to-head wagering is also a standard for betting golf events. Sportsbooks will offer lines for who will shoot a lower score between two golfers. Often, youll be able to find multiple head-to-head matchups for the tours best players in each tournament.
A lot of sportsbooks provide odds for head-to-head pairings for every round, in addition to the entire event. Each-way
Each-way betting is similar to placing a futures bet on someone to win an event but allows you to select where your golfer will finish. You can bet on a player to place in the top three, five, or 10 at most sportsbooks. First-round leader
Betting on the first-round leader can make the first 18 holes of any tournament exciting.
Instead of taking which golfer will win the entire event, youre only wagering on who will be the leader after the opening round. These odds are usually similar to the initial odds offered to win the tournament. Group matchups
Group matchups are organized just like head-to-head bets but include a few golfers as opposed to just two. These will usually consist of groups of three or four golfers of similar quality.
Most sportsbooks will allow you to bet on a group matchup for the duration of the tournament, as well as individual rounds.
Generally, every golfer will have more favorable odds within a group matchup compared to just two players because theres more competition. Some sportsbooks will even let you bet that every golfer will shoot the same score and their results will end in a draw. Nationality
An interesting way to bet on golf is through prop bets . A lot of the popular online sportsbooks available today give plenty of prop options, including picking the best golfer from each nationality.
Youre able to select who among the American golfers will finish highest in a specific tournament. Betting lines will usually include several other nationalities like Australian , English and Irish .
Another twist to this prop is choosing that a player from a specific country will win.
If you believe that Dustin Johnson and Tiger Woods have the best chances in an event, then you could bet that the winner will come from the US. Golf futures
Golf futures are very common and should be available at every regulated sportsbook in the US. Like with futures wagers in other sports, you place a bet on a certain golfer before the tournament begins with hopes that they will win the event in the end.
Futures are the most popular for golf tournaments because even the best players have favorable odds for bettors. Golfers like Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka are among the best in the world and are still listed around +1000 for the biggest tournaments.
Other futures options exist for golf, too. Before the season gets underway, you can wager on lines like who will win player of the year , rookie of the year, or who will be crowned the FedEx Cup Champion . Live golf betting
Live betting is now one of the most popular ways to bet on all sports, including golf.
The growth of online apps has allowed sportsbooks to expand their live offerings and now feature a wide selection of live betting options .
With live in-play wagering, you can bet on a golf tournament even after it already started. Youre able to see how players are performing before you commit to a certain golfer or matchup bet.
Sportsbooks will allow you to bet on who will win the tournament at almost any time. They will continually update their pre-round odds to reflect the play and scores already posted on the leaderboard.
Some books may offer other live odds for head-to-head player matchups and even props on, for instance, how a golfer will finish the next hole.
The top sportsbooks available in each state offer live betting for golf.
Placing a wager by using a mobile betting app couldnt be easier. Most online platforms showcase their top live betting markets right on their home page.
By simply selecting the golf event or specific matchup you want, youll be able to see all of the live options available.
Once you find a line you like, you need to act quickly though. Live odds update rapidly and can change with every shot. Golf prop betting
Besides the more common wagers found for every golf tournament, you can find some propositional bets as well.
These are harder to come by depending on the sportsbook; however, most apps include props for at least the major tournaments.
As noted previously, betting on nationality is an intriguing option that varies from the norm. Most other prop bets are either regarded as tournament or player props.
You can choose whether there will be a hole-in-one , by how many strokes the champion will win, if the tournament will go to a playoff, or which golfer will post the best score in a given round. Betting on golf majors
There is no question in the game of golf that some tournaments mean more than others. Every season, the four biggest tournaments are considered the majors. These consist of:
The Masters
PGA Championship
US Open
Open Championship (British Open) Betting The Masters
Date: November 12 15, 2020
Location: Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, GA
Prize Pool: $11.5 million
Defending Champion: Tiger Woods
The Masters is one of the most famous golf tournaments in the world and truly marks the start of the season in early April.
Unlike the other three majors, the Masters never changes its location from year to year. Augusta National is one of the worlds most famous golf courses and hosts the worlds best golfers every spring.
Woods won the tournament again last year, earning his fifth green jacket. He trails only Jack Nicklaus for the most titles won at Augusta. Nicklaus won six times throughout his career, the last in 1986 .
Arnold Palmer ranks third at The Masters with three titles. Betting the PGA Championship
Date: August 6-9, 2020
Location: TPC Harding Park, San Francisco, CA
Prize Pool: $11 million
Defending Champion: Brooks Koepka
With the restructured PGA Tour schedule, the PGA Championship is now the second major of the year, played in May outside of 2020. The event was previously the final major played in August up until a year ago.
Koepka is the two-time defending PGA champ thanks to another win in 2019. Hes won four total majors, with two victories at the US Open too.
Again, Nicklaus is tied for most wins at the major with five. He shares that honor with Walter Hagen . Betting the US Open
Date: September 17-20, 2020
Location: Winged Foot Golf Club, Mamaroneck, NY
Prize Pool: $12.5 million
Defending Champion: Gary Woodland
The US Open marks the national championship of golf in this country. The tournament is known to be the most difficult of the four majors in terms of overall scoring. Often, the champion is only a few strokes under par.
Woodland took home his first major championship by winning the event in 2019. Last years tournament was held at the Pebble Beach Golf Links in California .
Several golfers share the record for most US Open victories with four. They include Nicklaus, Willie Anderson, Bobby Jones, and Ben Hogan . Betting the Open Championship
Date: July 16-19, 2020
Location: Royal St. Georges Golf Club, Sandwich, England
Prize Pool: $10.75 million
Defending Champion: Shane Lowry
The last of the four majors to happen is now the Open Championship, commonly called the British Open. Its the only major golf tournament that occurs overseas, in England, Northern Ireland or Scotland .
Irishman Lowry claimed his first major a year ago by winning The Open at Royal Portrush .
Harry Vardon holds the record for most Open Championships with six. He earned his last title in 1914. Betting on PGA Tour events, other tours
The PGA Tour season gets started in September and goes all the way through August. While there are only four major tournaments, there are plenty of other betting opportunities for golf fans.
Even though the major championships might include more betting options at sportsbooks, you can certainly find odds for every other tournament. At a minimum, books will offer odds to win each event along with some head-to-head matchups.
Outside of the four majors, the following are some of the most significant events on the golf schedule:
The Players Championship
The Northern Trust
BMW Championship
Tour Championship
Memorial Tournament
ATT Byron Nelson
Arnold Palmer Invitational
Waste Management Phoenix Open
Sportsbooks will offer odds for these tournaments in the PGA Tour, as well as other lower-tier tours.
Professional golf includes several others, including the European Tour, Japan Golf Tour, and the Champions Tour. Betting on LPGA
For bettors who prefer to wager on the womens golf tour, the LPGA also has a sizable schedule.
Similar to the smaller tournaments in the PGA Tour, sportsbooks might not have an abundance of betting lines for the LPGA but should have the most popular odds available.
The LPGA season begins in January and concludes in November. Here are some of the top womens events that dont include major championships:
CME Group Tour Championship
CP Womens Open
Meijer LPGA Classic
Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational
BMW Ladies Championship Betting on Match Play, the Ryder Cup
For both men and women, youll be able to bet on international golf events throughout the year.
Some of these events will consist of match play, as opposed to stroke play, like the majority of tournaments.
The Ryder Cup , as well as several others, include match play, which means players go up against a single opponent in each round.
Instead of counting the total number of strokes to their overall score, the only thing that matters is defeating your opponent.
These events will alter the betting lines provided by sportsbooks. Youll no longer be able to bet on group matchups or round leaders but strictly focus on head-to-head wagers. Golf live streaming
As you can bet on the go, youre now able to watch golf on the go as well.
Many tournaments are available to stream online through different outlets, and some are even available through individual online sportsbooks.
As a result, you can view the odds for an event as the play unfolds. Streaming will be accessible through both your web browser and mobile device.
The expansion in streaming is tied to the growth of live wagering. Now you can watch real-time action on the golf course on the same betting platform.
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 doesnt 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, its up to 14 states and Washington, DC, but the official launch is still pending in some spots.
* Pending launch Colorado sports betting sites Pga Online Betting Odds
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
Nevadas 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 states 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 states 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. Its 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 wasnt 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. Its 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. Heres 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. Its 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. Its 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 hasnt 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. Pga Online Betting
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. Its a different story in the aftermath of the PASPA ruling. Here are the states (and Washington, DC) in which youll 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 itll eventually be passed in each of these states, theres nothing concrete that says its right around the corner for any of them. Heres 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, theres 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. Thats 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.
Theres 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 . Thats not something thats high on the priority list for less-than-reputable operators. Things you cant 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 cant 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 doesnt mean its legal.
Legal and regulated operators offer odds and markets on sporting events. You wont find options to bet on the weather or reality TV at the big shops, and theres a simple reason for that: Theyre 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 leagues 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. Pga Online Betting Sites 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 countrys gambling hub. The Vegas Golden Knights drew 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 Torre lobby Governor Andrew Cuomo directly on New York sports betting legislation. This represents a major shift from the leagues 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
Americas 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.
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 Associations stance
The American Gaming Association is the gaming industrys 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 hasnt been passed on a federal level. What is the safest betting site?
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. Thats 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 theres 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 wont 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
