Legal sports betting is here in the United States.

After the US Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on wagering outside Nevada in 2018, states started to move quickly to legalize and regulate sports wagering. Read on for more information about legal US sports betting.

Where is sports betting legal in the US?

So far, there are 21 states with active legal sports betting industries, with more on the way. Colorado, Illinois, Tennessee, Montana, Indiana, Iowa, New Hampshire, Michigan, and North Carolina all legalized wagering in 2019.

Here is the current status of sports betting in every state; if a state does not appear, single-game wagering is both illegal and there is no legislative activity:

State Is sports betting legal? Is online sports betting legal? Recent or planned legislative activity? Arkansas Yes No Yes California No No Yes Colorado Yes Yes Yes Connecticut No No Yes Delaware Yes Yes, launch undetermined -- Illinois Yes Yes Yes Indiana Yes Yes Yes Iowa Yes Yes Yes Kansas No No Yes Kentucky No No Yes Louisiana No No Yes Maryland No No Yes Massachusetts No No Yes Michigan Yes Yes, pending launch Yes Minnesota No No Yes Mississippi Yes Yes, on-property only -- Missouri No No Yes Montana Yes Yes, on-property only Yes Nevada Yes Yes -- New Hampshire Yes Yes Yes New Jersey Yes Yes -- New Mexico Yes, at multiple tribal casinos No No New York Yes No Yes North Carolina Yes No Yes Ohio No No Yes Oklahoma No No Yes Oregon Yes Yes Yes Pennsylvania Yes Yes -- Rhode Island Yes Yes Yes Tennessee Yes, pending launch Yes, pending launch Yes Virginia Yes, pending launch Yes, pending launch Yes Washington DC Yes Yes -- West Virginia Yes Yes --

Check out this sports betting bill tracker for more information on legislation around the country. Here is a look at the current status in some states that have taken action:

New Jersey sports betting

Timeline for sports betting: Legal as of June 2018.

Legal as of June 2018. Can you bet online? Yes

Yes Can you bet offline? Yes

New Jersey is the reason sports betting is spreading across the US. The state won a US Supreme Court case that struck down the federal ban. Wagering is legal at the state’s racetracks and in Atlantic City casinos, as well as various mobile and online platforms.

More on NJ sports betting.

Pennsylvania sports betting

Timeline for sports betting: Legal as of November 2018

Legal as of November 2018 Can you bet online? Yes

Yes Can you bet offline? Yes

Pennsylvania features a number of sportsbooks in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, with more opening proximately. SugarHouse became the first online sports betting app to launch in the state as of May 2019.

More on PA sports betting.

Colorado sports betting

Timeline for sports betting: May 2020; legalized by referendum November 2019.

May 2020; legalized by referendum November 2019. Can you bet online? Yes.

Yes. Can you bet offline? Yes.

Colorado voters approved legal sports betting in CO in 2019. Expect most major sportsbook operators including FanDuel, DraftKings, PointsBet, BetMGM, BetRivers, and many more to jump into the Colorado market.

More on CO sports betting.

Indiana sports betting

Timeline for sports betting: Legal as of August 2019.

Legal as of August 2019. Can you bet online? Yes.

Yes. Can you bet offline? Yes. The first sportsbooks started opening in September 2019.

The state legalized sports betting apps and retail sportsbooks in 2019.

More on Indiana sports betting.

Illinois sports betting

Timeline for sports betting: Legal as of June 2019.

Legal as of June 2019. Can you bet online? Yes.

Yes. Can you bet offline? Yes.

State law initially called for in-person registration for sportsbook apps. However that requirement is suspended until at least September 21, meaning bettors can downloads apps from the comfort of their own home.

More on IL sports betting.

Nevada sports betting

Timeline for sports betting : It’s been legal in the state for decades.

: It’s been legal in the state for decades. Can you bet online?: Yes, but only via mobile devices.

Yes, but only via mobile devices. Can you bet offline?: Yes, there are sportsbooks all over the state.

Nevada sports gambling is the grandfather of them all. Casinos around Las Vegas and Nevada already take bets at physical sportsbooks. And most casinos also feature a mobile app that lets you wager anywhere in the state.

If you want to bet on sports while enjoying everything else Las Vegas has to offer, the Strip is the place for you. Huge and often raucous sportsbooks can be found all around the city during major sporting events.

More on Nevada sports betting.

Iowa sports betting

Timeline for sports betting: Legal as of August 2019.

Legal as of August 2019. Can you bet online? Yes, but with in-person signup at the beginning.

Yes, but with in-person signup at the beginning. Can you bet offline? Yes.

The state legalized wagering and started both retail and mobile sports betting in August 2019.

West Virginia sports betting

Timeline for sports betting: Legal as of September 2018.

Legal as of September 2018. Can you bet online? Yes.

Yes. Can you bet offline? Yes, at the state’s casinos.

West Virginia is an early adopter of legal sports betting, approving wagering at the state’s five casinos. The state also legalized online and mobile sports wagering, with FanDuel Sportsbook and DraftKings Sportsbook live as of the summer of 2019.

More on WV sports betting.

New Hampshire sports betting

Timeline for sports betting: Launched December 2019

Launched December 2019 Can you bet online? Yes.

Yes. Can you bet offline? Yes.

The state legalized wagering in 2019 and launched with DraftKings Sportsbook late in 2019. More on NH sports betting.

Mississippi sports betting

Timeline for sports betting : Legal as of August 2018

: Legal as of August 2018 Can you bet online? Only on the grounds of a casino.

Only on the grounds of a casino. Can you bet offline? Yes.

Mississippi legalized single-game sports betting as part of a daily fantasy sports bill in 2017. That portion of the law became active with the SCOTUS ruling in May 2018, and the state-regulated industry went live a few months later.

More on Mississippi sports betting.

Rhode Island sports betting

Timeline for sports betting: Legal as of November 2018

Legal as of November 2018 Can you bet online? Yes.

Yes. Can you bet offline? Yes.

The state legalized sports wagering at two Twin River casinos in the summer of 2018. That wagering started in November 2018. Launch of mobile sports betting arrived in fall 2019.

More on Rhode Island sports betting.

Delaware sports betting

Timeline for sports betting: Legal as of June 2018.

Legal as of June 2018. Can you bet online? Possibly in the future.

Possibly in the future. Can you bet offline? Yes.

Delaware became the first state outside of Nevada to take legal wagers in early June 2018, when the state’s three racinos opened up via the state lottery. DE already booked legal parlay wagers prior to the Supreme Court ruling.

More on Delaware sports betting.

Arkansas sports betting

Timeline for sports betting: Launched July 2019.

Launched July 2019. Can you bet online? No.

No. Can you bet offline? Yes.

Arkansas is the newest state to authorize sports betting, doing so via referendum in November 2018. casino-led effort garnered enough signatures to put their proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot, and 54 percent of voters said yes.

The state’s first sportsbook launched in July 2019, with a second possible set for later in the year.

New York sports betting

Timeline for sports betting: Launched summer 2019.

Launched summer 2019. Can you bet online? No.

No. Can you bet offline? Yes, at retail sportsbooks.

The state has not yet legalized sports betting apps, but the first retail sportsbooks have opened in the state in 2019 after state regulators approved rules for them. More sportsbooks are on the way from tribal and commercial casinos in the state.

More on NY sports betting.

Oregon sports betting

Timeline for sports betting: The first sportsbook opened in August 2019.

The first sportsbook opened in August 2019. Can you bet online? Yes. A sports betting app from the Oregon Lottery launched in fall 2019.

Yes. A sports betting app from the Oregon Lottery launched in fall 2019. Can you bet offline? Yes, at retail sportsbooks at tribal casinos.

Oregon’s lottery moved ahead with online sports betting in October 2019. One tribal casino also is offering retail sports betting.

More on Oregon sports betting.

Michigan sports betting

Timeline for sports betting: Launched in March 2020.

Launched in March 2020. Can you bet online? Yes, pending launch

Yes, pending launch Can you bet offline? Yes.

The first Michigan sportsbook opened in March 2020. The state eventually will have a large online market but will not offer mobile betting until 2021.

Illinois sports betting

Timeline for sports betting: Launched in March 2020.

Launched in March 2020. Can you bet online? Yes.

Yes. Can you bet offline? Yes.

The state legalized sports betting apps and retail sportsbooks in 2019, and betting launched in 2020, including the first sportsbook apps.

More on Illinois sports betting.

Montana sports betting

Timeline for sports betting: Launched in March 2020.

Launched in March 2020. Can you bet online? No.

No. Can you bet offline? Yes.

The state legislature legalized wagering via the lottery. The state’s market launched in March 2020, with mobile limited to on the premises of a licensee.

Tennessee sports betting

Timeline for sports betting: 2020; legalized in spring 2019.

2020; legalized in spring 2019. Can you bet online? Yes, pending launch.

Yes, pending launch. Can you bet offline? The law only allows for mobile/online wagering.

The state legalized wagering with an unknown timeline for launch.

North Carolina sports betting

Timeline for sports betting: 2020.

2020. Can you bet online? No.

No. Can you bet offline? Yes, pending launch.

Two tribal casinos in remote areas of the state will be allowed to operate sportsbooks.

Virginia sports betting

Timeline for sports betting: 2020.

2020. Can you bet online? Yes, pending launch.

Yes, pending launch. Can you bet offline? Only mobile betting will be available at launch.

Virginia could become one of the more competitive markets in the country when it launches late in the year.

Washington DC sports betting

The Washington, D.C. council passed a new sports betting law in December 2018. It approved legislation allowing its lottery to administer legal sports betting within the boundaries of the federal jurisdiction.

A few steps remain before DC sports betting can launch. Don’t expect DC sports betting until early 2020.

Sports betting news

Colorado Sports Betting Still Feeling The Table Tennis Love The Colorado sports betting market hit an important milestone in just its fourth month, with a big boost from an old friend. Handle more than doubled from July to $128.6 million in August. The ramp-up was certainly helped by a generous schedule of sports typically unseen in the month. Surprisingly, one of the top-bet sports […] The Colorado sports betting market hit an important milestone in just its fourth month, with a big boost from an old friend. Handle more than doubled from July to $128.6 million in August. The ramp-up was certainly helped by a generous schedule of sports typically unseen in the month. Surprisingly, one of the top-bet sports […] Read More Matthew Waters

Louisiana Sports Betting Gets Operator-Backed Campaign For School Funding A second campaign pushing sports betting as a way to fund education and more launched recently, this time in Louisiana. Louisiana Wins hopes to drum up support for the November referendum that would legalize LA sports betting. The legislature would need to work out the details with a sports betting bill next year. Along with […] A second campaign pushing sports betting as a way to fund education and more launched recently, this time in Louisiana. Louisiana Wins hopes to drum up support for the November referendum that would legalize LA sports betting. The legislature would need to work out the details with a sports betting bill next year. Along with […] Read More Matthew Waters

The Week In Sports Betting News: Illinois Stays Remote – For Now Happy Monday, everyone. The second week of the NFL was just like the first as news of big bets across the country showed sports betting is back in earnest. Sports betting results already started skyrocketing in August, with multiple states hitting all-time records. That rebound was one of the big discussions on the most recent […] Happy Monday, everyone. The second week of the NFL was just like the first as news of big bets across the country showed sports betting is back in earnest. Sports betting results already started skyrocketing in August, with multiple states hitting all-time records. That rebound was one of the big discussions on the most recent […] Read More Matthew Waters

From ‘Irreparable Harm’ to Moneymaker: A Brief History of NCAA Sports Betting Policy Earlier this month, NCAA member institution The University of Colorado announced a five-year agreement with PointsBet, a sports betting operator with soon-to-be headquarters in Denver. “We’re thrilled to have PointsBet as a partner and for the benefits this sponsorship will provide for our student-athletes for years to come,” said Colorado athletics director Rick George in […] Earlier this month, NCAA member institution The University of Colorado announced a five-year agreement with PointsBet, a sports betting operator with soon-to-be headquarters in Denver. “We’re thrilled to have PointsBet as a partner and for the benefits this sponsorship will provide for our student-athletes for years to come,” said Colorado athletics director Rick George in […] Read More Ryan Rodenberg

‘Haters’, ‘Critics’ Welcome Barstool Sportsbook To PA Sports Betting Market The anticipated launch of Barstool Sportsbook formally occurs Friday as the company’s PA sports betting app is available for download. Penn National Gaming partnered in January with Barstool Sports to serve as its primary US sports betting brand. Pennsylvania becomes the first state with the reskinned Kambi app in time for Week 2 of NFL […] The anticipated launch of Barstool Sportsbook formally occurs Friday as the company’s PA sports betting app is available for download. Penn National Gaming partnered in January with Barstool Sports to serve as its primary US sports betting brand. Pennsylvania becomes the first state with the reskinned Kambi app in time for Week 2 of NFL […] Read More Adam Candee

US Supreme Court overturns federal sports betting ban

On May 14, 2018, the US Supreme Court issued its long-awaited decision in Murphy vs. NCAA, which centered on states’ rights to regulate sports betting.

By a 6-3 vote, the court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), the federal ban which stood since 1992. It’s officially off the books, and states are free to legalize and regulate the industry at their discretion.

Sports betting sites

Sports betting is one of the oldest pastimes in the world. Betting on fights, sports matches and races has occurred for hundreds of years throughout the world. Some bets were made among friends, while others were made through professional services. Bookmaking moved from an underground business to betting shops in Europe in the 20th century.

Sports betting moved to the Internet in the 1990’s. It all started on Jan. 17, 1996 when Intertops accepted the first online sports wager. It has since exploded into a business worth well into the billions of dollars every year.

The Internet gave access to parts of the world that never had easy availability to sports betting. That changed the industry forever.

Sports betting has become more mainstream and with that comes deals like the IOC and Genius Sports who have agreed to track betting on the summer Olympics.

Types of sports bets

There are many ways to bet on a sporting event. The most common option is to pick an outright winner. Handicapping with a point spread is another way to make a wager. There are different methods of combining this action.

Moneylines

A moneyline is a way of taking an outright winner in a contest. This can be in a team sporting event, fight, tennis match or any other game where there is just one winner.

This type of wager is made with a moneyline. Moneylines can apply to a straight winner or act as a handicap on a point spread, run line or puck line.

There are two ways that money lines are published:

American odds

Most online sportsbooks will publish odds in the American format. This is where one side has a plus and the other side a minus that is based on $100 increments. For example, one side will be -200 and the other side +170.

The minus side, which is the favorite in this example, would need to lay $200 for every $100 the player would like to win. The plus side would bet $100 for every $170 that the player wants to win. The difference is the vigorish (vig) the house wins for accepting the wager.

Decimal/European odds

Odds in European sportsbooks are published differently that US books. These odds show as decimals that pertain to a $100 bet. The total decimal number displays what a player would receive by betting $100. This number includes the $100 in the original wager. The decimal odds cannot ever be below 1.0.

In the -200 example, the decimal would show as 1.5. That means a player that bets $100 would receive $50 on the win for a total of $150. The +170 would equate to 2.7. That is the $170 won plus the $100 original wager.

Point spreads

A point spread is a handicap for an American football or basketball game. Some alternative lines in baseball and hockey use this. In baseball, it is called a run line. In hockey, it is called a puck line.

American Football and basketball games often use point spreads alongside money lines. This gives two ways to make a bet.

The point spread shows how many points a team must win by or lose less than by for the ticket to get paid. For example, a favorite that has a -3.5 point spread must win by four points for that side to cover the spread. An underdog that is +3.5 gets paid if that team loses by fewer than four points.

Point spreads may be whole numbers or half points. A whole number can tie. When that happens, all tickets push the same way that a player and dealer 20 would in blackjack. Half points eliminate the push possibility.

Most point spreads require a -110 lay using American odds. This means that a player must bet $110 for every $100 he hopes to win. That same line is published as 1.91 using decimal odds.

American football spreads around 3 and 7 may vary from this number. For example, it is common to see a -3 favorite also require a -115 or -120 lay. This is done because moving a number on or off of three is a major difference in American football.

Alternative run line and puck lines will most often be plus or minus 1.5. This means that the favorite must win by two runs or goals.

There is also a money or decimal line tied to the alternative line. If the underdog only loses by one, then that side wins these alternative lines. It is likely that the side receiving the +1.5 will be the money line favorite. The side laying 1.5 runs or goals will be plus money. That is because winning by two in baseball and hockey is extremely difficult. A very strong team would have to play a very weak one for the 1.5 favorite to also lay money.

Totals

Totals are also referred to as over/unders. A total is the number of points scored in a match. In boxing, it means the total number of rounds a match goes.

The points from both sides count in a total. There are alternative lines where the points of just one side count towards the number. Totals may push if they are on a whole number.

A look at sports’ over/unders:

Basketball totals tend to be the highest.

NBA games can often be over 200 on an over/under.

NCAA basketball is often in the 140 range.

NCAA football will have totals around 70.

NFL games are typically around 45.

Baseball will be in the 7 or 8 range.

Hockey is typically around five.

Soccer/football matches will be around 2.5.

Parlays

A parlay is when a bettor buys a ticket that wins based on two or more outcomes. This can be money lines, point spreads, totals, alternative lines or a combination of all.

Plays that are correlated may not be placed on the same parlay card. For example, a money line bet on one team and taking the point spread on the same game is not permitted. A total with one of those is typically permitted.

The house edge on parlays is well above 10 percent. The more teams that are involved in a parlay, the higher the payout. Higher payouts also equal a higher house edge. Parlays are typically thought to be sucker bets because of the high juice charged by the sportsbook.

All portions of a parlay ticket must win. A tie will drop the card’s payout by one team. Some parlay cards disclose that ties lose.

Teasers

Teasers are available in American football and basketball. A teaser includes two or more outcomes. The bettor receives points in his favor. Football teasers can be 6, 6.5, 7, 10 and 14, depending on what the sportsbook offers. Basketball teasers are typically 4, 4.5 and 5 points.

A bettor picks at least two outcomes on a teaser and adds the number of points in the wager to his team’s point spread. A player that takes two three-point underdogs in a six-point teaser would move the line to nine for those teams. If the bettor took the favorite, it would move the favorite from -3 to +3.

All parts of a teaser must win. A tie typically drops the number of plays on a card down by one. Some teaser cards force ties to lose. This will be disclosed on the card.

Pleasers

Pleasers are reverse teasers. This is where a player gives the house seven points in American football or five points in basketball. Two or more teams must be taken.

For example, a team that is a seven-point favorite in American football would move to a fourteen-point favorite on a pleaser. This puts the player at a massive disadvantage but also gives the player huge payouts if the long shots hit.

The house edge is often 40 percent or higher on pleaser cards. Ties typically lose.

Futures

Futures bets are when a player picks an eventual winner in a field. This may be the winner of a division, league, championship, golf event or tennis tournament.

There is typically just one winner in a futures bet. The house edge on these bets is typically about 15 percent.

In-play

An in-play wager is when a player bets on an event that is already in progress. A bettor can enter the action during breaks in play, typically television timeouts. Bettors use this to get into action when late to a match or to hedge a bet.

Propositional bets

A propositional bet, often called a prop for short, may be a wager on an individual player’s statistics. It may be a play between two athlete’s performances. It can also be the number of points scored by a team.

For major events like the Super Bowl, it can be as odd as the coin toss, halftime show performance, amount of money bet on the game, or statements made by the announcers.

The house edge of propositional bets is often double or triple that of a straight bet. This is due to the lower volume of action.

Elections and entertainment

Elections and entertainment bets are exotic wagers that are similar to futures bets. This is where a bettor picks a winner in a major election or popular reality television show.

Virtual sports betting

Virtual sports betting is a computer generated event with the winner decided by an algorithm.

How to make a sports wager in a sportsbook

The old school way to make a sports bet is to go into a sportsbook.

The bettor looking to make a straight bet on single events can see the prices for games on the board or on sheets provided by the sports desk. A bettor should find the three- or four-digit number by the bet and tell that to the ticket writer along with the amount he would like to wager. This process is the same for in-play and futures bets.

Parlays, teasers, pleasers and other exotic bets have a different procedure. There are often cards throughout the sportsbook.

These have the list of all the events available to put in a multiple-outcome ticket. These will be attached to a bubble form. A player uses a pencil to mark the sides he wants to choose for the ticket. The ticket writer simply puts this card into a machine that writes the card.

Whatever method of placing a bet your local shop uses, there is one very important part of the transaction. Always make sure that the ticket is correct before leaving the betting window. An incorrectly written ticket can only be fixed immediately after the transaction is made.

Online sports betting 101

Sports betting is easily accessible to players in most countries. The procedure for opening an account at an internet sportsbook varies by region. Most European countries’ sportsbooks ask a player his name, age, and address. Software verifies the player’s identity and then permits a deposit to be made.

The minimum age in most countries is 18. Some countries, especially where sports betting is not regulated, require no such verification process. European players and those in many other countries outside the US can deposit funds without ever setting foot inside a betting shop.

Nevada players have a different procedure. A Nevada online and mobile sports bettor must make an account in a sportsbook. This requires a player to be at least 21 years of age. A valid photo ID is required. Anybody of age can create a Nevada sports account. A Nevada residency is not mandated.

Once an account is created and funded, the process of making an online or mobile sports bet is simple. A player logs into his sports account with a username and password.

The next step is to choose a type of bet. The options online typically include straight, parlay, teaser, in-play or future. Some exotic bets like elections or entertainment may also be options, depending on the country where the wager originates.

The next step is to choose sides within a sport. This is as simple as clicking the corresponding box within the app or website. A player then chooses how much to wager on this. A secondary window will confirm the wager. The app or website then ensures that a player is within the proper jurisdiction to make the wager. Once that process is complete, the bet is booked.

How to deposit at an online sportsbook

One convenience of online sportsbooks is the ability to make a deposit remotely. This eliminates the nuisance of having to visit a betting shop.

Many online sportsbooks offer a wide variety of deposit methods. The options available depend on the country of the player. Sportsbooks outside of the US offer Visa, MasterCard, Neteller, Paypal, Skrill and debit cards common in the local jurisdiction. Some also permit bank transfers. The deposit minimum is often just $5 or $10.

Which countries can you legally bet online: Austria, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and UK.

Nevada sportsbooks often require a player to walk into the local shop to make a deposit. The deposit minimum in Nevada is at least $50, but it is common to find books that demand $100, at least when opening an account.

William Hill offers two ways for players in Nevada to deposit without having to visit a sportsbook. There are more than 50 taverns with deposit kiosks. These operate in the same bars where Golden Gaming owns the slot route. The minimum deposit at a kiosk is $5.

William Hill also accepts PayNearMe. This is a cash transfer service similar to Western Union and MoneyGram. A player gets William Hill’s merchant information and goes to a kiosk at any of the 217 7-Eleven convenience stores. The minimum deposit is $20. The maximum is $500.

Station Casinos has a prepaid debit card. This is a carryover from its failed online Ultimate Poker venture. Players may deposit by Visa, MasterCard, Discover or an electronic funds transfer, often referred to in the online gaming world as an eCheck. Credit card deposits will incur a cash advance fee.

How to withdraw from an online sportsbook

Players outside the US may withdraw through any method available for deposits. This includes Visa, MasterCard, Neteller, Skrill, bank transfer and local debit cards.

Nevada players must go to a sportsbook to pick up winnings. The only exception to this is the Station Casinos prepaid debit cards, which can be used at ATMs.

The fees associated with the Station Casinos prepaid debit card equal about $5 per transaction. This may make it worthwhile for these players to go to a sportsbook to pick up the cash, especially since a trip to a cash machine may be required.

Sports betting FAQ

What is a straight bet?

A straight bet is where a player picks one side. It wins if that team either covers the point spread or wins outright, depending on whether a money line or point spread wager was made by the player.

What is a money line?

A money line is where a bettor picks a team or player to win a match outright. A bettor either chooses the favorite and lays money or takes the underdog and receives more money than was wagered.

What is a point spread?

A point spread is a handicap applied to a favorite. The team most likely to win lays points, while an underdog gains points. The point spread hopes to find the most likely number that a favorite is predicted to win by in a team sport. Point spreads are often found in American football and basketball. Alternative lines in hockey and baseball use point spreads on 1.5.

What is a parlay?

A parlay is a bet that includes two or more outcomes. The more teams picked, the higher the payout. All teams in a parlay must win. Ties will lower the payout by one team unless otherwise disclosed by the betting shop.

What is a teaser?

A teaser is similar to a parlay. Its payouts are lower because a bettor receives extra points to apply to each leg of the teaser. American Football teasers are typically 6, 6.5 or 7 points. Basketball teasers are normally 4, 4.5 or 5 points. A six-point football teaser on a +3 team and +7 team would become +9 and +16, respectively.

Teasers must be at least two teams. Teaser bets are accepted with as many as 10 teams, depending on the shop.

What is a pleaser?

A pleaser is a reverse teaser. This involves a player giving points away from the published line. That number is typically seven. Pleaser cards are often even where ties lose so books will try to place the lines on important numbers. Pleasers are normally available only in American football. Sportsbooks will try to place teaser lines on important numbers like 3, 7, 10 and 14. Ties lose in a pleaser.

What is a futures bet?

A futures bet is where a player makes a wager on a winner of a division, tournament or league.

Can I bet on a game that is in progress?

Many online sportsbooks accept bets on games that are in progress. This is called in-play. Most in-play bets are only accepted when a game is on commercial break. Bettors making these wagers should note that television feeds often run behind the actual event, often called latency.

What is vigorish?

Vigorish, often referred to simply as vig or juice, is the price a sportsbook charges for accepting a bet.

What is the vig on a straight bet?

The vig on a straight bet of -110 is 4.5 percent.

What sports can you bet on?

If the sport exists, you can probably find a sportsbook that will take action on it. In Nevada, it may be difficult to find lines on sports outside of the US that are relatively niche.

Online sportsbooks outside of the US will often take bets on nearly any sports.

How old do I have to be to bet sports online?

European sports bettors must be at least 18 years of age. This is a common minimum age in many other countries. Nevada requires players to be at least 21 years of age. Some states have a lower age of 18.

Can I bet on sports on Android?

Sports betting is available on Android apps in most countries outside the US and in the state of Nevada.

Can I bet on sports on an iPhone?

Yes. Most online sportsbooks offer iPhone apps. For those that do not, there often are workaround solutions to allow browser-based wagering?

Can I legally bet at online sports betting sites?

Yes. Many US states allow wagering via online sports betting sites. Some only allow wagers through mobile apps, however.

Are online sportsbooks legal in the US?

Yes. More than half of states that have legalized sports betting have added an online component. Sports betting websites that accept action from other jurisdictions are illegal and unlicensed.

How do I deposit at legal European online and mobile sportsbooks?

European sportsbooks like Bet365 accept a variety of credit and debit cards. eWallets, which include Neteller, Skrill, Ukash, and Instadebit, are also available as deposit options.

How do I deposit for Nevada online and mobile sportsbooks?

Nevada sportsbooks require bettors to deposit cash in sportsbooks with narrow exceptions. William Hill offers kiosks in more than 50 taverns in Nevada. Cash may also be deposited through PayNearMe at 217 convenience stores under the 7-Eleven flag. Station Casinos offers the Sports Connection prepaid card that accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover and electronic checks.

Are there any Nevada sportsbook sites?

Yes. Every major operator in Nevada offers some form of online wagering. The quality can vary greatly from book to book.

How do Nevada mobile sportsbooks locate players?

Nevada sportsbooks use geolocation technology to locate players. William Hill and NV Sportsbooks (operated by South Point) permits players to use wifi connections. This method maps nearby wifi routers and pinpoints the user through Google technology. All other sportsbooks require three cell phone towers that use ping speed to determine a bettor’s location.

Which Nevada casinos offer mobile apps?

Station Casinos, William Hill, CG Technology, Aliante Casino, Treasure Island, Boyd Gaming, MGM, Wynn and South Point all offer mobile apps to players located in Nevada.

Can I bet on elections in Nevada?

No. Nevada does not permit wagering on elections.

Can I bet on reality television in Nevada?

No. Nevada does not permit wagering on reality television.

Can I legally bet on sports anywhere else in the US?

Yes, in many other states in fact. In addition to Nevada, you can legally make single-game sports wagers in 16 other US states as of April 2020.

Are there any other states where sports betting might be legal soon?

Several other states have also introduced sports betting bills that hinged on the result of Murphy vs. NCAA.

About a dozen others were considering bills prior to the ruling, and that number is expected to grow quickly now that the federal hurdles are gone.