Legal Betting USA
Welcome to ycgts.shop: A 50-state guide to legal betting sites and regulated online gambling in the United States.
BettingUSA’s expert team of industry insiders, analysts, and experienced gamblers dedicates our diverse skill set to providing a roadmap to betting online safely and legally.
The BettingUSA team recommends licensed online sportsbooks, DFS apps, and horse racing betting sites in every state. The following legal US betting sites offer exclusive online sports betting signup promotions, welcome offers, and deposit bonuses.
Best US Betting Sites
21+ to Play, T&Cs Apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
21+ to Play, T&Cs Apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
21+ to Play, T&Cs Apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
US Betting News
Up to date legal developments, news and promotions.
State Specific Betting Sites
Online betting apps for all states A-Z
Online gambling is a complicated and politicized issue in America. Each state in the union has a different approach to dealing with the market, and what’s accessible in one state may not be the same in another.
Tribes, land-based operators, horse racing tracks, and lotteries all have their own interests, which don’t always align.
Check our state-specific guides for current information on what types of online betting sites and apps you can play for real money where you reside.
Which US States Have Legal Online Betting?
Search our individual state pages (listed below) for state-specific legal betting sites and sportsbook recommendations.
Each state page provides comprehensive information on the available forms of in-person and online betting in the USA that are legal and accessible to bettors who are residents in the state.
What About Federal Gambling Laws?
Federal betting laws are largely hands-off on matters of sports betting. The repeal of PASPA in 2018 granted states the authority to regulate sports betting.
For now, The Federal Wire Act remains in place and essentially restricts states to regulating sports betting within their borders.
Legal US Betting Sites
ycgts.shop reviews all major US betting sites and mobile apps.
As legal online betting initiatives gain ground and new betting sites launch across the USA, ycgts.shop maintains a comprehensive list of betting site reviews – including legal sportsbooks, racebooks, and daily fantasy sports apps.
One of the many advantages offered by legal sports betting sites is that are subject to US state and federal laws, both criminal and civil.
This is in sharp contrast to the unregulated offshore online sports betting industry in which sports betting sites come and go and often make up the rules as they go.
There are countless stories of sports bettors experiencing delayed cashouts, deposit options with excessive fees, and poor customer service.
Even worse, many sports bettors have lost their entire bankrolls to rogue offshore sportsbook operators
Licensed betting sites in the United States are required to segregate player funds for safekeeping and abide by strict regulations pertaining to payout times, betting odds, randomness, transparency, and responsible gambling.
Our experience has taught us that not all online sports betting sites are a perfect fit for all customers, and not every welcome bonus is worth taking.
Our sportsbook reviews take an unbiased look at what each licensed operator has to offer in terms of betting options, payment processing, and overall quality/reputation.
Online Betting Bonuses
Current betting promotions and promo codes.
Online betting sites offer welcome bonuses as an incentive for new customers to sign up for a sports betting account, make a first deposit, and place wagers.
Deposit bonuses, free bets, bonus bets, first wager refunds, second chance bets, and no deposit bonus offers are just a few examples of the types of sports betting promotions offered to new customers at licensed online sportsbooks.
Early cashouts and enhanced odds are frequently offered by the best sports betting sites to keep loyal customers engaged.
While many sports betting promotional offers offer great value, some sportsbook bonuses are best skipped or even outright predatory.
Use our guide to find the best betting bonuses, current promo codes, and learn how specific sports betting signup offers work, including rollover requirements and important terms and conditions to watch out for.
Legal Sports Betting USA
Sports betting is legal in states that have passed legislation regulating the activity.
In May 2018, the Supreme Court of the United States struck down a longstanding sports betting law, the 1992 Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) prohibiting state legislatures from authorizing or regulating sports betting.
New Jersey challenged PASPA and framed its argument as a states’ rights issue.
Ultimately, the US Supreme Court ruled in favor of New Jersey and declared PASPA unconstitutional as written. The decision had wide-ranging implications for US sports betting.
Dozens of states have taken advantage of the opportunity to regulate sports betting.
Many states have passed legislation authorizing online sports betting apps and retail sportsbooks to operate under a free-market model.
Other states have enacted laws that authorize a single sports betting operator, while other states are in the exploratory process or early stages of passing legislation to legalize sports betting.
Horse Racing Betting USA
Horse racing betting sites and ADW’s are legal in most states.
Online horse racing betting is legal in most US states.
Due to exemptions written into federal law, states have the authority to regulate the industry within their borders.
Legal horse racing betting sites and ADW’s partner with hundreds of tracks to deliver live video simulcasting, wagering and data to fans across the country.
All wagers placed with licensed horse betting websites are pooled with bets taken at the track, supporting the local racing industry and ensuring customers are paid at full track odds.
The best horse racing betting sites are run by operators with decades’ worth of live horse racing industry experience, many of whom operate race tracks and off-track betting facilities.
All licensed racebooks and horse racing betting apps are subject to federal and state laws that ensure security, quick payouts to winners, and deliver a safe wagering experience to fans who wish to bet on horse races online.
ycgts.shop has long covered the regulated US horse racing industry. Our readers will find honest horse racing reviews, how-to guides for placing wagers, coverage of major horse racing events, and important thoroughbred industry updates.
Daily Fantasy Sports USA
Daily fantasy sports is legal in all but a handful of states.
Many states have passed legislation to formally legalize and regulate daily fantasy sports sites.
In those states, dfs operators must register with the state and adhere to certain consumer protection measures.
DFS sites serve as a legally accessible alternative to online sports betting sites in markets that have yet to formally legalize sports betting.
Some states do not regulate daily fantasy sports but also do not prohibit the activity.
In those states, major DFS sites and real money fantasy sports apps provide their services and conduct themselves according to general business regulations.
Today, there are just a few holdout states with laws on the books that clearly prohibit fantasy sports.
Online Gambling USA
Only a few states have legalized online casinos and poker sites.
Individual states gained the authority to legalize online casinos and poker in 2011 after the Department of Justice issued a memo that opined online gambling does not violate the Wire Act if conducted exclusively within state borders.
The paved the way for states to legalize online gambling sites for the first time in American history.
Since then, eight US states have passed laws to authorize online casinos and poker sites.
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Michigan
- Nevada (online poker only)
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- West Virginia
More states are likely to legalize online gambling sites and mobile betting apps.
However, passing legislation takes time and is often a complex issue that involves navigating the competing interests of industry stakeholders, lawmakers, and the public at large.
For readers in states where it is not yet legal to bet online, remain patient and avoid unregulated offshore gambling sites.
Not only is online gambling illegal in some states, but there is a real financial risk in wagering at unregulated online betting sites.
Sweepstakes casino sites offer a much safer option for real money players in unregulated states.
The odds are good that online gambling, sports betting, or both will eventually come to most states.
Additionally, most readers already have access to legal sports betting alternatives such as online horse racing betting, sweepstakes sites, and daily fantasy sports apps.
As we wait for additional states to pass sports betting legislation, we can look at those that have already legalized online wagering as an indication of what’s to come.
In all such states, online gambling has proven profitable and able to be effectively regulated.
Successful regulation includes ensuring fair games, preventing underage gambling, and limiting access exclusively to customers located within state lines.
Online Lotteries USA
States are starting to embrace the idea of online lottery sites.
A growing number of states offer online lotteries to bolster sales and better cater to changing customer demographics.
In some states, players may now buy lottery tickets and play instant win games online or through mobile apps developed or endorsed by the official state lottery.
Additional states are likely to embrace online lottery sales as competition for entertainment dollars increases, and consumers become increasingly accustomed to convenience.
Furthermore, giving players the ability to buy lottery tickets online has now proven to increase lottery revenue, and several states that have not yet authorized online lotteries are now in the planning stages.
Opposition to legal online lotteries is fierce among anti-gambling groups and some convenience store associations.
Anti-gambling groups contend the lottery preys upon the poor and online lottery ticket sales only exacerbates the problem.
Meanwhile, convenience store owners fear the loss of walk-in traffic generated by lottery ticket sales.
Even so, momentum is clearly on the side of online lottery proponents as the legalization trend advances across the nation.
The number of states that offer online lottery sales or that are considering it grows every year.
Changing consumer preferences and state budget shortfalls are likely to accelerate the expansion of online lotteries in the United States.
BettingUSA tracks developments in the lottery industry, including updates on legalization efforts and online lottery reviews.
Is Regulated Online Gambling In The USA a Positive Thing?
We believe so, yes.
Our opinion is that people are going to gamble online because the technology exists and sports betting sites are readily accessible.
Players should have access to the best online betting sites and a secure, fair environment and governments should have the opportunity to benefit from the resulting tax revenue.
Besides, shouldn’t you have the right to spend your money how you choose in the privacy of your own home?
We definitely think so. The government doesn’t need to legislate the morality of betting on sports.
Americans are more than capable of deciding for themselves what is right.
In any case, we look forward to watching the continued growth and maturity of the developing US online betting industry.
What About The Negatives?
Bettors with addictive personalities now have unprecedented access to online gambling, and that could lead to more negatives within society.
Problem gambling is a concern ycgts.shop takes seriously, while also recognizing that people are already betting on sports online.
Our company recommends using sports betting sites that take responsible gambling policies seriously, and ycgts.shop donates a portion of our revenue to the National Council on Problem Gambling.
Successful sports betting legalization makes it easier for problem gamblers to get help and diverts funds to gambling addiction treatment.
For example, many states have gambling self-exclusion lists that anyone can join to be banned from all online betting sites.
Why Trust Betting USA
ycgts.shop was founded in 2013 as the first 50 state guide to legal online betting in the United States, long before the expansion of legal online sports betting started taking shape in America.
Our team of betting experts, each with over a decade of industry experience, supports regulated and responsible gambling in this country.
ycgts.shop and its editors are committed to listing accurate information and sharing our honest opinions as a core belief within our company.
Our sportsbook listings contain recommendations only to licensed sports betting websites and reputable operators that are legal in the US.
As a licensed sports betting affiliate in several key states, Betting USA receives compensation for player referrals to online sportsbooks.
However, we do not let that affect the integrity of our reporting and we only promote the best betting sites to our readers.
Learn more about our team, follow us (), or connect with us over email. We enjoy connecting with our readers, but we do not offer any sports betting picks or predictions.
BettingUSA also welcomes constructive criticism, feedback, and opinions from our visitors.
Our team considers ourselves a “small business” in the sports betting affiliate industry, competing against much larger corporate teams and marketing budgets.
Other media companies’ interests are often more aligned with shareholders’ results than the quality of experience players are getting at US sports betting sites.
Sometimes we get things wrong, occasionally we have a bad take. We will always try to do better.
We thank you for trusting our sportsbook reviews and for taking advantage of the special sports betting promotions and signup bonus offers we have negotiated for our visitors.
As more states embark on legislative efforts to legalize online gambling, more sportsbooks and racebooks are sure to enter the market. ycgts.shop will always strive to be your accurate source of unbiased online sportsbook information.