Sports betting is legal in about two-thirds of the United States. More than 20 states have legal mobile and online sportsbooks. The others require a trip to a casino to make a bet.
Maryland mobile sportsbooks opened for a soft launch on November 21, 2022, from 2pm until 10pm local time. It officially launched in full on November 23. Ohio sportsbooks opened on January 1, 2023. All these states have retail sportsbooks. Massachusetts opened for retail sports betting in February 2023 with online ones opening the following month. Since then, sportsbooks opened in Kentucky, Maine, North Carolina, and Vermont.
One of the best features of sports betting is its low cost when done responsibly. The entertainment expense can theoretically be just pocket change. Read more about how betting at a sportsbook can have a slower loss rate than most casino games. The article compares the hourly rates of major casino games with different types of sports bets.
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Colorado sportsbooks
Colorado sports betting began in 2020. Mobile statewide betting is available through more than a dozen operators. Most major casinos have a sportsbook with a betting counter. Many have sports betting kiosks.
Deadwood sportsbooks
Deadwood sportsbooks opened on September 9, 2021. There are five casinos in town with sports betting. Those are Cadillac Jack’s, Gold Dust, Midnight Star, The Lodge, and Tin Lizzie. BetMGM and IGT are among the Deadwood sports betting companies.
Maryland sportsbooks
Maryland sports betting is one of the newest legal markets to open in the US. After delays in the regulatory process, retail sportsbooks opened in December 2021. Maryland mobile sports betting officially launched on November 23, 2022.
Michigan sportsbooks
Michigan permits sports betting at casinos, on mobile apps, and internet websites. There are no college betting restrictions on in-state teams. All major industry players are in the Michigan sportsbook industry. Sports bettors must be at least 21 years old in most cases. However, there are sportsbooks at tribal casinos that have a minimum age of 18 or 19.
New Jersey sportsbooks
New Jersey was the state that got the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act overturned. It has retail and mobile sports betting. All of the major names operate in the state. Mobile betting accounts may be created and funded on phones. Read more in our New Jersey sportsbook section.
Ohio sportsbooks
Ohio sports betting launched on January 1, 2023. Bets are accepted at casinos, racinos, stadiums, taverns, and online from apps and computers. Most major online sportsbooks operate in Ohio. Like most states, Ohio sports bettors must be at least 21 years of age.
Pennsylvania sportsbooks
There are Pennsylvania sportsbooks at all but one of the state’s casinos. Bets may be made at counters or on kiosks at these locations. There is also statewide mobile sports betting. Accounts and deposits may be made on devices without having to go to a casino.
West Virginia sportsbooks
Sports betting in West Virginia is legal. Bets are accepted at all five of the state’s casinos. There is also statewide mobile sports betting. Remote registration and deposits are permitted.
Las Vegas sportsbooks
Las Vegas is home to the largest sportsbook in the world and many others close to it in size. Sportsbooks in Las Vegas range from small neighborhood betting shops to destinations to watch major events.
Mobile sports betting is legal in Nevada. Accounts must be made in person at a state sportsbook. There is no remote registration. Once the account is created, deposits may be made on the apps, depending on the company. Nevada was the only state where single sports betting was legal before the US Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in 2018.
Our Las Vegas sportsbook section was written by a professional bettor during the 2020 pandemic closure.
Massachusetts sportsbooks
Sports betting in Massachusetts launched at casinos in February 2023. Mobile sportsbooks are also available in the state.
Types of Bets
There are many ways to make a sports bet. These include moneyline, point spread, parlays, teasers, props, futures, in-play, and single-game parlays. Here are details of each type of sportsbook wager.
Moneyline
One of the most common types of sports bets is the moneyline. Moneyline bets are simply betting on who is going to win the game. These bets are found with a favorite and an underdog.
Point spread
Spread bets are used to even the playing field between a favorite and an underdog. In football and basketball, these spreads can be found at many numbers to try and create a spread that will simulate a potential final difference.
In hockey and baseball, spreads are known as puck lines and run lines. These are usually listed at -1 ½ because these games tend to finish at a much closer score.
Totals
Over/ under or total bets are used to bet on the total amounts scored in a game. In football and basketball, these are much higher numbers, while baseball and hockey are almost always in the single-digit total. For example, if the Lions vs Vikings game is listed at a 53 ½ total, if the final score is 28-24, the under hits.
Parlay
Parlays are a way of tying multiple bets together to create a bigger payout. Parlays are made though so that every “leg” has to hit for the bet to win. A type of parlay could look like this.
- Lions +5 ½ (-108)
- Michigan -17 (-110)
- Michigan State +3 (-115)
This three-leg parlay would have about +587 odds. If a leg pushes, the number of teams on the parlay drops by one. It does not cause a parlay to lose. If a two-team parlay has a push and a win, it is paid as a straight bet.
Teasers
Teasers are similar to parlays in the fact that multiple bets are tied together. The difference with a teaser is that instead of going for a bigger payout, you can add points to spreads to help it cover the point spread. In football, the standard teasers are 6, 6.5, and 7 points. In basketball, it is usually 4, 4.5, and 5 points.
An example of a teaser would be if you took Lions +5 ½, Packers +1 ½, and Rams -3 ½, you could add 7 points to each to bring the Lions up to +12 ½, Packers to +8 ½, and Rams to +3 ½ for +120 odds.
If a leg in a teaser pushes, it is dropped. For example, a four-team teaser with three wins and a push is paid as a three-team win. There are some exceptions. One is an exotic 14-point football teaser. Ties lose in these.
There may also be some exotic football teaser cards at sportsbooks that have this rule. Be careful of those. The cards often move point spreads to common numbers, like 3, 4, and 7.
Future Bets
Futures bets are a way of predicting a major outcome over the course of a season or postseason. You can bet something like who will win the Super Bowl or MVP. It can also be the team that wins a division or conference. The less likely an outcome is, the higher the payout.
Prop Bets
Prop bets are a way to bet on individual stats or rare outcomes of a game. These prop bets can include the over/under on a certain quarterback’s passing yards in a game or whether or not a player will score a touchdown. It can also involve the number of wins a team has during an entire regular league season.
Same game parlays
Same-game parlays have become a big thing as of late in sports betting and add the ability to wager on multiple parts of a game. You can add the outcome, over/ under and some prop bets all based on the same game. You can find risk-free or profit-boosted SGP’s on these sites from time to time.
Live betting
Live betting, sometimes referred to as in-play or micro-betting, is a wager on an event that has already started. Bettors make a prediction based on the current score of the game and how they think that will change before it ends. This is an active market. A player may cash out of it by purchasing the other side of it to lock in a profit or stop a loss. Due to lag in streams, these types of bets are often only available during commercial breaks in sporting events.
There are some differences between betting on different sports. We have betting guides for the four most popular sports.
How to create an online sports betting account
There are two ways to open an online sports betting account. One is to go to the website of the sportsbook on a computer or mobile device. The other is to download the mobile app for it. iOS and Android platforms are available for mobile sportsbooks.
You must provide your name, address, phone number, date of birth, and email address to create an account at an online sportsbook. This information is used to verify your identity and to prevent fraud. Once your account is created, you may play for real money. The next step is making a deposit.
How to deposit into a mobile sports betting app account
Online sportsbooks offer several real money deposit options. Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express credit and debit cards are popular methods. PayPal, electronic checks. Play+ prepaid debit card, cash at the partner casino, bank wire, and PayNearMe are other options. Most online sportsbook deposit options are free from fees. However, credit card deposits may be processed as cash advances.
The Play+ prepaid debit card is like an electronic wallet. Players may fund it with a credit card, debit card, or bank account. It comes with an ATM card to withdraw winnings, which may also be moved into a bank account. PayNearMe is a cash bill pay service available at some gas stations and drug stores.
Deposit options will vary among real money sports betting sites. Check out the cashier or deposit support section of your preferred site for specific options that are available.
How to withdraw from a mobile sports betting account
There are several withdrawal options available at mobile and online sportsbooks. Some only take a few hours to process, like the Play+ prepaid debit card or PayPal. Electronic checks, bank wires, checks by mail, and cash at the partner casino’s cashier cage may take one to three days.
Legal sportsbook FAQs
Are online sportsbooks legal in the US?
Almost half of the states have legal online and mobile sportsbooks.
Which states have legal online sportsbooks?
Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington DC, West Virginia, and Wyoming have legal online and mobile sportsbooks.
What is the minimum age for online sportsbooks in the United States?
Players must be at least 21 years old in most states. It is 18 in New Hampshire and Wyoming. The minimum age for mobile sportsbooks in Washington DC is 19. Offshore online sportsbooks accept players who are 18 and up.
Do online sportsbooks have bonuses for new players?
Most online and mobile sportsbooks have either a deposit bonus or loss rebate available for new players.
What types of sports are available for betting at online and mobile sportsbooks?
Baseball, basketball, football, hockey, tennis, golf, rugby, soccer, boxing, mixed martial arts, auto racing, cricket, darts, snooker, table tennis, and lacrosse are among the sports available for betting at legal books. The exact selection depends on the state.
Last Updated on June 26, 2024 by John Mehaffey