The landscape of the online sports betting world in the USA is rapidly changing, as more states are eagerly looking to legalize sports betting. To understand what’s happened and caused all this change, it’s good to look back on the statewide ban.
In this article we’ll cover the following:
- Online Sports Betting: Best Bonuses and Top Sites
- Sports Betting: Where To Place Wagers on Sports in the USA
- How Old Do I Need To Be To Bet in the USA?
- Football
- Basketball
- Horse Racing
- Understanding the Odds
- Best Online Sports Betting Sites
- Sports Betting Bonuses
- Sports Betting: Conclusion
Online Sports Betting: Best Bonuses and Top Sites
In May 2018, the Supreme Court of the United States decided to lift the federal ban on sports betting. This landmark decision made way for each state to not only pass new laws but legalize sports betting as a whole.
Now each state has the authority to regulate its own sports gambling markets and laws. But what does that mean for you? With even more states legalizing sports betting, it allows people to make safe and secure sports wagers on their favourite sports teams.
Sports Betting: Where To Place Wagers on Sports in the USA
Currently, 28 states have already passed bills to legalize sports betting.
Each state varies when it comes to specific bets, and this defines what sports are allowed to be bet on and which are disallowed.
Each state has defined whether college, university games, online or mobile betting is permitted. Make sure to double-check the list when considering to place a bet.
Legalized states for sports betting (as of November 1, 2021):
- Nevada
- Delaware
- New Jersey
- Mississippi
- West Virginia
- New Mexico
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Arkansas
- New York
- Iowa
- Oregon
- Indiana
- New Hampshire
- Illinois
- Michigan
- Montana
- Colorado
- Washington, D.C.
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- North Carolina
- Wyoming
- Washington
- Arizona
- South Dakota
- Connecticut
- North Dakota
How Old Do I Need To Be To Bet in the USA?
Each of the states is different when it comes to sports betting. The majority of states declare that you must be 21 years old or over. Most state betting ages align with their current laws for betting in casinos and any on-site betting.
There are a few exceptions when it comes to online or mobile betting. Some states using online sportsbooks require you to be 18 years old or above while others still require you to be 21 years old or above. A general rule of thumb to follow is to check your state’s casino gambling laws, as these will state the age you can place sports bets on.
Which sports can you bet on? All the major sports are included when it comes to sports betting in the US, but some college or university games are disallowed from state to state.
Each sport offers different types of bets to place on teams, rounds or end result. Make sure to research and learn the differences in the type of bets before placing a wager.
Football
The NFL remains the biggest sport in America, with 16.5 million people on average tuning in to watch a single game and a total of 96.4 million viewers watching the SuperBowl final in 2021. With American Football being the most popular sport to watch and play in the United States, it’s no surprise that it’s also one of the favourite sports to bet on.
The NFL consists of 32 teams, divided across the NFL and AFC. As well as the NFL league, America’s love for football spreads to college football. Within college football, there are a total of 124 teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision, divided into 11 conferences. With so many teams to choose from, it’s important to understand the type of bets made in the games and where to get the best odds from.
Basketball
More Americans play basketball than any other team sport in the US, so it’s no surprise that the sport is the second most favorite. The NBA has produced superstars such as LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and many, many more.
The sport consists of 30 teams which play an 82 game season. The top-flight professional league is called the NBA, which is considered to be the premier men’s professional basketball league in the world.
Horse Racing
Horse racing in America dates back to 1665, with the first-ever race being held in New York. The sport itself has developed over the years but originally started from thoroughbred racing, which combined different social classes to enjoy horse racing. Something quite rare in those times.
American horse racing has had its fair share of fans fall in and out of love with the sport. But with the introduction of sports betting, Americans are rediscovering their love again for horse racing. Horse racing in the modern age has changed a great deal since the first-ever races on Long Island in New York.
The horse racing calendar is filled with exciting events from the Breeders Cup, Travers Stakes to the Arkansas Derby. The main types of horse racing are Quarter horse racing, Thoroughbred horse racing, Standardbred horse racing and Endurance horse racing. But the most prestigious and talked-about series in horse racing is the Triple Crown. The series takes place throughout May and June each year where to secure the Triple Crown champion title, a 3-year-old horse must win all three “jewels” in the series.
The three-part racing series is made up of the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore, Maryland and the Belmont Stakes in Elmont, New York.
Understanding the Odds
Understanding how betting odds work and how to read betting lines is vital for you to know what the probability of an outcome may be and the potential payout. If the outcome of the bet is very likely to happen, the odds are as low as they can be, and vice versa if they are unlikely to succeed.
Online sports betting sites will display odds differently, based on the sport and location you’re betting on. In America, the most used term for odds is American Odds or typically known as Moneyline odds. So if an online sports website uses these terms, don’t get confused as it’s the same thing. For example, a money line of +300 would mean that you would make a profit of $300 if you bet $100 and were correct. That’s also equivalent to fractional odds of 3/1 or decimal odds of 4.00.
On the flip side, a negative money line would represent the amount that you would have to bet to win $100 if you the bet was correct.
Best Online Sports Betting Sites
Some of the leading online sports betting sites available in the US:
Sports Betting Bonuses
In addition to a welcome bonus, many of the best online sports betting sites will offer bonuses to keep their players happy and make sure to keep coming back. Here’s a list of the most common bonuses:
First-deposit Bonus
To attract new players to sign up, sportsbooks will offer them additional bonus money when they make the first deposit. This can either be in the form of a set monetary amount like $100 when you deposit $40.
Another format of a deposit bonus is in a percentage form, such as 50%, 100% or 200% matched to the amount deposited. Sometimes it will go as high as 500%, so keep your eyes peeled.
Free Bet
A free bet offer is a specific amount the sportsbook is offering to pay when you make a bet. Placing a free bet can go towards your own or a completely new bet without staking that amount. If you win, all of the earnings will go into your account.
Reload Offers
One way an online sports betting site likes to reward loyal players for continuing to play on their site in the form of a reload offer. This is typically once the user has already signed up and made another deposit into their account.
Odds Boost
Odds boost bonuses are typically payout increases for a point spread, totals, or money line wager on a specific sport or game. This can be specific to a certain event, a players performance or the overall total points. It’s a good bonus to take advantage of to increase your total payout.
Sports Betting: Conclusion
Overall, sports betting in America is becoming increasingly popular with individuals and fans as a way to enjoy the game and make some cash!
After the landmark decision by the United States Supreme Court, the growth of the legal sports betting market has exploded. States are welcoming the online world as more sportsbooks open online and in-app.
Whether you’re a pro or just getting started in the world of sports betting, our top tip is to shop around for the best sites and bonuses. Take advantage of any offerings, sign up bonuses and odds boost to increase your chances of payouts. More importantly, it’s all about gambling responsibly and having fun when betting on your favourite sports team.