Sports Betting in the US – What You Need to Know

Sports betting has long been considered a way to enhance the thrill of watching a game.

After all, by participating in their favorite sports and showing a vested interest in a game, fans can feel the lows or highs experienced by the teams to a greater extent.

This feeling of connecting to their favorite sports in such a profound manner is just one of the many reasons that has made sports betting such a sought after activity for such fans. And the added advantage of making off with some extra cash doesn’t hurt.

Sports betting doesn’t only let punters enjoy the activity of placing wagers, but also lets them experience the thrill that comes with it. That is why, it is considered as a highly desired form of gambling.

Considering this, it is not a surprise to see that the activity is popular all around the world, with several nations having legalized it within their borders years ago.

But that hasn’t been the case for the U.S.

Except for select jurisdictions, U.S. citizens had not been allowed to take part in sports betting. For this, they were largely dependent on offshore bookmakers to enjoy sports betting.

This restriction was in accordance to a legislation called the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, which stopped states from allowing sports betting and essentially making it illegal for the activity to be practiced within their jurisdiction. That is why, offshore bookmakers and their provided sportsbooks seemed to be one of the select few options that punters in the U.S. had to enjoy sports betting.

All of that changed recently, where a single Supreme Court ruling opened doors to legal sports betting within the U.S.

How Sports Betting Was Legalized in the United States

In 2018, a historic decision by the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the ban on sports betting in the country and allowed states to decide the fate of the particular activity.

That meant that in addition to Nevada, Delaware, Montana, and Oregon, jurisdictions where sports betting and lotteries had already been perceived as a legal activity, other states could now come forward and introduce legislation to legalize sports betting how they wanted through both on-premise and online bookmakers.

New Jersey, was one of the first to start offering sports betting to its citizens.

This provided U.S. based bookmakers such as 888 sportsbook the opportunity to establish and advertise their sports betting operations in their respective states.

Which States Have Legalized Sports Betting in the U.S.?

At the time of this writing, 8 states have legalized sports betting within their jurisdiction, while others are either in the process of debating legislation or introducing it.  

To summarize, here are the few states that have legalized sports betting so far, with Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey being the most notable.

Nevada

The Silver State may not be considered the sole ruler of the world of sports betting in the U.S., but it is still the pioneer in regulation laws to the sector. With the largest crowd in sports betting within the state, it remains a notable state for this medium.

Delaware

As one of the few states that had framework place for sports betting, Delaware bears a distinction to its name. That is why, like Nevada, it remains formidable in terms of regulations and compliance practices.

New Jersey

As the state that took the fight to the Supreme Court, New Jersey remains the torchbearer of the legalization of sports betting. It has several on-premise and online bookmakers providing services through its jurisdiction.

In addition to these states, Mississippi, West Virginia, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island remain the ones that have brought sports betting to their citizens.

What Does It All Mean for the Sports Betting Industry?

The current climate allows more U.S. based bookmakers to offer on-premise and online sports betting services. This includes large scale casinos and small to medium bookmakers alike. This variety of options that punters can now enjoy also allows them to benefit from greater services and better options from sports betting.

Some states have made it quite easy for these bookmakers to get a license for their sportsbooks, while others have maintained a stricter approach to the process. Regardless of the means, the end translates to a very positive result for those who enjoy sports and want to enhance their experience by delving into general sports betting.

With more states planning to join in, it seems that sports betting in the U.S. may have a prosperous future after all.