The Legality of Sports Betting in the US
Legality of sports betting in the U.S.
The legality of sports betting in the United States is a hot topic. Many states have legalized sports betting and others are considering it. After New Jersey’s victory in the Supreme Court, various state lawmakers and Congress have been considering legislation to legalize and regulate it. Former Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch introduced the Sports Wagering Market Integrity Act in the lame duck session of 2018, which would have created a clearinghouse and federal standards for state sports betting markets. However, the bill did not gain much traction and ultimately became only symbolic. Recently, a House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on sports betting and legalization.
The lawsuit against New Jersey was launched by Senator Raymond Lesniak, who argued that PASPA was a discriminatory law. In addition, the NFL and other professional sports leagues sued to prevent legal sports betting. However, in May 2018, the Supreme Court ruled PASPA unconstitutional, which means that each state has the power to legalize sports betting, although not all of them will.
Types of bets available
Before beginning your sports betting journey, it’s important to understand the types of sports betting bets available. Sports betting is not as complicated as it seems, as there are only a few types of bets. Nonetheless, this industry is very competitive and requires a certain level of knowledge and effort on your part. In this article, we’ll give you resources and information to help you succeed.
The first and most basic type of sports betting bet is the moneyline bet. This type of wager involves predicting the exact order of finishers. The stake is usually one unit. This bet is only available when three selections finish in a specified order. Usually, moneyline bets are the first to be listed in a sportsbook, along with totals and point spreads.
Legalized sports betting in some states
Legalized sports betting is slowly making its way to more US states. More than two-thirds have approved the practice via online sportsbooks or mobile apps. The US Supreme Court’s decision in 2018 broke a longstanding federal ban on single-game wagering. Before that decision, interest in sports betting was already growing in the US. The only remaining state to prohibit sports betting is North Carolina, which limits sports betting to tribal casinos. Other states, including New Mexico and Wisconsin, have approved legalized sports wagering in some form. And Mississippi has approved online sports betting for casino-operated properties.
Despite widespread support, opposition to sports betting in some states remains strong. In states like Massachusetts, the legislature has approved regulations to regulate the industry. Online sports betting is expected to be available in the state by 2022, but in-person betting has not yet been approved. In Nevada, gambling on sports is legal but requires a casino license. In New Jersey, online sports gambling is legal. Currently, the only legal sportsbook in the state is DraftKings, which opened its doors in June 2018.