Where Can You Place a Sports Bet?

With the recent legalization of sports betting in the United States, you may be wondering where you can place a sports bet.

The answer may vary depending on what state you are in, but there are a few options available to most people. You can bet online through a number of different sites, or you can visit a brick-and-mortar sportsbook.

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Introduction

In the United States, there are four states where you can place a legal sports bet: Nevada, Delaware, Montana, and Oregon. Each state has different laws and regulations regarding sports betting.

In Nevada, you can bet on any major sport at any of the state’s casinos. You do not have to be a resident of Nevada to place a bet; all you need is a valid ID. There are no limits to how much you can bet.

In Delaware, you can bet on football, baseball, basketball, hockey, and college sports. The amount you can bet varies depending on the sport. For example, you can bet up to $500 on football games, but only $100 on basketball games. Delaware also has a “parlay” system, which allows you to combine bets on multiple games into one wager. If all of your bets win, you can win a lot of money.

Montana does not have any casinos, so all sports betting must take place through the state lottery. You must be 18 years old to bet and there is a limit of $50 per bet.

Oregon has a similar system to Montana; all sports betting takes place through the state lottery. However, there are no age restrictions and no limit to how much you can bet.

If you live in any other state in the US, you cannot legally place a sports bet.

Legalized Sports Betting in the U.S.

The U.S. Supreme Court overturned a federal ban on sports betting in May 2018, opening the door for states to legalize and regulate sports betting. Since then, several states have enacted laws and regulations to allow sports betting. This section will discuss where you can place a sports bet in the U.S.

The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA)

The federal ban on sports betting in the United States was codified in 1992 with the passage of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). PASPA made it illegal for any state to “sponsor, operate, advertise, promote, license or authorize by law or compact” any form of gambling on a sporting event.

The only exception to this rule was Nevada, which was grandfathered in because it had legal sports betting at the time PASPA was enacted. Delaware, Montana and Oregon also had some limited forms of sports betting that were exempt from the ban.

PASPA was struck down by the Supreme Court in May 2018, effectively giving each state the right to legalize and regulate sports betting as it sees fit. As of September 2019, 14 states have legalized sports betting and more are expected to follow suit in the coming years.

The Supreme Court’s Decision to strike down PASPA

On May 14, 2018, the Supreme Court of the United States struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA), paving the way for legalized sports betting in the U.S.

The decision was a victory for New Jersey and other states who have been fighting to repeal PASPA for years. PASPA was a federal law that effectively banned sports betting in all but four states (Nevada, Montana, Oregon, and Delaware).

With PASPA now struck down, any state is free to legalize and regulate sports betting within its borders. Several states have already taken steps to do just that, and many more are expected to follow suit in the coming months and years.

So where can you place a bet on your favorite team now that sports betting is legal? The answer depends on what state you live in. Here is a quick rundown of the current status of sports betting in some of the most populous states in the U.S.:

Where Can You Legally Place a Sports Bet?

You can place a sports bet at a casino, online, or through a bookie. However, there are only four states where you can bet on sports legally. These states are Nevada, Montana, Oregon, and Delaware. If you live in any other state, you will have to place your bets illegally.

Las Vegas

If you want to place a bet on a sporting event, your best bet is to do it in Las Vegas. Nevada is the only state in the US where gambling on sports is legal. You can bet on any sport that you want, as long as you do it through one of the state’s licensed sports books.

There are dozens of sports books in Las Vegas, so you should have no trouble finding one that suits your needs. You can bet on any type of sport, from football to basketball to baseball to boxing. You can even bet on non-sporting events, like the Academy Awards or the presidential election.

The only catch is that you have to be at least 21 years old to gamble in Nevada. So if you’re not of legal drinking age, you’ll have to find someone else to place your bets for you.

Delaware

Delaware was the first state to introduce legal sports betting after the Supreme Court’s ruling in Murphy v. NCAA. Sports betting in Delaware is overseen by the state lottery and bets can be placed at all three casinos in the state or through online and mobile platforms offered by the casinos. The state offers single-game and parlay wagering on a variety of professional and collegiate sporting events.

New Jersey

In May 2018, the Supreme Court of the United States overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, opening up the door for states to legalize sports betting. Prior to this, only Nevada was allowed to offer sports betting.

Since the ruling, Delaware, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and West Virginia have all legalized and begun offering sports betting. There are also a number of other states that are considering legislation to legalize sports betting in the near future.

If you’re looking to place a bet on a sporting event, your best bet is to find a state that has legalized sports betting and offers online or mobile options. This will allow you to place your bets from anywhere in the state.

Mississippi

In Mississippi, legal sports betting is allowed at land-based casinos only. There are no legal online or mobile sports betting options in the state.

West Virginia

West Virginia became the fifth state to legalize sports betting when Governor Jim Justice signed a bill into law in March of 2018. The state had already passed a law in 2016 allowing sports betting should the federal ban on the activity be lifted, which it was in May of 2018 by the US Supreme Court. The West Virginia Lottery Commission oversees all sports betting in the state.

The first sportsbook to open in West Virginia was Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races on September 1, 2018. BetLucky Sportsbook followed suit on December 13, 2018. However, BetLucky ceased operations on March 5, 2019 due to “a technology vendor’s system failure.” The onlyactive sportsbook in West Virginia as of March 2019 is FanDuel Sportsbook at The Greenbrier Resort.

Conclusion

We hope this article has helped clear up some confusion about where you can place a sports bet. In general, you can bet on sports at most casinos, online sportsbooks, and through legal bookmakers. Remember, always check your local laws and regulations to make sure that you are placing your bet in a legal and regulated environment.