U.S. Sports Betting Laws + Statutes
As most gambling buffs know all too well, sports wagering is—strictly speaking—illegal in most parts of the country. Indeed, only a couple of states, Nevada and Delaware, currently condone sports betting. With that said, the advent of the Internet—and the rise of online sportsbooks—has thrown the entire legitimacy of sports betting into question, and there are plenty of new laws and statutes that gamers should know about before they begin betting on athletic events.
LegalSportsBettingUS.com will take you through those laws in greater detail. Intended solely as an educational resource for gamers, this page will look at both federal and state laws and regulations, as they affect online sports betting as well as street-level, land-based sports betting.
Federal Laws and Statutes
The first point to make is that, while individual states all have their own unique laws about sports betting, most will simply fall back on the federal laws. There are, indeed, several laws and statutes, enforced at the federal level, that gamers should know about when it comes down to figuring out if online sports gambling is legal. We have reviewed some of the most important ones in the paragraphs that follow.
Wire Act - The Interstate Wire Act of 1961, which if often just referred to as the Wire Act, is perhaps the most significant and well-known law that affects sports betting. The law prohibits several, specific types of wagering, and was intended to stop organized crime in the U.S. The Wire Act is widely considered to be restrictive to many types of sports wagering. We invite gamers to explore our site for more information on this relevant law.
PASPA - Next, there is the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, also called PASPA, which was signed into law in 1992. This bill attempts to define the legal status of sports wagering in the U.S., and it more or less outlaws sports wagering across the nation, save for in a few select states. This wide-ranging law is one that any and all gamers need to know about; explore our site for further details.
UIGEA - Finally, there is the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, passed in 2006. As its name suggests, this law specifically looks to unlawful forms of Internet gaming, and online sports betting applies, though there are plenty of caveats and some potential wiggle room. It is imperative, however, that gamers learn more about the contents of this law. Explore our site for more details.
State Laws and Statutes
Beyond federal laws and regulations, there are plenty of state statues that apply to sports betting. As we have already noted, however, only two states—Nevada and Delaware—currently sanction sports wagering. In other states, placing bets through a street-level bookmaker is almost certainly a legal violation.
With that said, the specifics of state laws vary from one state to the next. Gamers are invited to explore out page for more detailed information, and to ensure they know what the law says in their state.
Betting Age
As for the age at which one is legally allows to bet on sporting events, the standard rule—at least, the rule in Vegas—is 21. Many legal online sports betting websites—which are safe and legal for U.S. gamers, incidentally—have a legal betting age of just 18, however. Learn more about this topic through exploring our site.
Need More Help With The Legality Of Online Betting Where You Live?
With all of that, note that the information contained on this page is intended as a reference only. We are avid gamers, but not lawyers or legal scholars! It is prudent to consult with a legal professional about any specific sports betting inquiries that you may have.
