by Over the last few years, there have been many changes in sport betting in different US states. When the US supreme court quashed the federal ban in 2018 which prohibited betting outside Nevada, many states moved in to legalize sports betting. So far, there are 22 US states with legal sports betting industries, and more are in the process of legalization. In 2019 alone, Tennessee, Montana, Illinois, Colorado, Michigan, New Hampshire, Lowa, and North Carolina legalized sports wagering. Of the 22, 5 recently legalized sports betting, and so far, there is no betting yet.
The Wire Act 1961 and Sports Betting
But there are also uncertainties in the sports betting industry, especially from the Wire Act of 1961. This Wire Act was enacted to prevent organized crime in 1961 before the internet became a reality. In 2011, the Obama administration said that the act doesn’t affect online gaming. However, in 2018 the Trump administration revised this ruling, saying that the law prohibits any type of online gaming. Though this ruling was challenged, it’s now evident that the Wire Act affects sports betting away from the state.
States where sports Betting is Legal (22 States + Washington DC)
- Delaware
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- Mississippi
- West Virginia
- New Mexico
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Arkansas
- New York
- Iowa
- Oregon
- Indiana
- New Hampshire
- Illinois
- Michigan
- Montana
- Colorado
- North Carolina
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Washington
Moving Towards Legalization2020 (3 States)
- Maryland (On the November Ballot )
- Massachusetts (Under consideration by the legislature)
- Ohio (Under consideration by the legislature)
Projected 2021 ( 15 States)
- Alabama
- Arizona
- California
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Georgia
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Missouri
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Vermont
Projected in 2022 & Beyond
- Alaska
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Minnesota
- Nebraska
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- Utah
Online betting in the US and other Countries
- Registration
Online sports betting is almost similar in every country in the world. The player must be 18 years or older to register with an operator. Players outside the US can make online deposits and withdrawals without ever visiting the sportsbook offices.
But in Nevada state in the US, the players have a different procedure. Any online and mobile sports better must create their account with a sportsbook. The user must be 21 years or older, and they must carry their original ID when going to create the account. However, it’s not mandatory that one is a Nevada resident.
- Deposits
The best advantage of an online sportsbook is you’re able to deposit money conveniently from any part of the world. In countries such as Austria, the UK, and Spain, where online betting is legal, you can deposit the money more conveniently. Nevada sportsbook requires a player to visit their shops for a deposit. The minimum deposit can be as low as $5 or high as $50 for an account.
- Withdrawal
When withdrawing money, players outside the US can use various payment methods such as PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, and credit cards. Nevada players, on the other hand, must pick their winnings at a sportsbook. They can only withdraw the money on ATMs when they win Station casinos prepaid cards. More than half of the US states have also legalized online sports betting.
College Betting in US
College betting was only legal in Nevada some years back, but it’s now legal across various states of the US. These states include New Jersey, Nevada, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Iowa, Indiana, and Oregon. The NCAA, which oversees college athletics, has been against college betting, but over the recent years, it has been quiet. But it’s still advocating for a federal ban on in-state level laws and collegiate events when possible.
Currently, most US states have legalized sports betting, and those who have not are in the process or are likely to do it in the future. Ever since 2018, when New Jersey managed to overthrow the federal ban on sports betting, the industry has been booming, and as we reach the mid of 2020, we expect more states to legalize sports betting. This will result in more growth for the betting industry as most people are also working home due to the coronavirus pandemic.
