Sports betting in USA. Laws around sports betting are continually changing and evolving, so you must stay up-to-date on the latest developments. Check out our Legal Guides to track new legislation policies and learn key skills. Like what are the best online sports books for US players.
Sports Betting in the USA – What is the Problem?
The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, also known as PASP, was struck down by the Supreme Court on May 14, 2018. Since then, sports bettors in the US have many more opportunities when it comes to online sports betting. From May 2018 till now, several states have legalized sports betting while many others have passed legalization and it is expected till 2024 that almost every state in the US will offer to their citizens a legal sports betting.
Maybe some expected the faster response from many states. But historically, there is not much love between the US government and sports betting.
To be more precise, there are a couple of issues that are hard to overcome, from connections between sports betting and criminal organizations to several gambling scandals that took place in the US.
That’s why we decided to explain what the problem between legal sports betting and the United States of America is.
The Short History of Betting in the United States of America
In the 1800s, most forms of gambling were criminalized, and it was common for bettors to be severely punished. Later, in the 19th century, the US government saw the potential of gambling, and in 1931 the gambling became legal in the state of Nevada. After that, many states followed the steps of Nevada, and gambling became legal in most of the states.
Still, sports betting continued to be prohibited in most of the states. This negative attitude towards sports betting came from several big scandals that originated from the US soil.
The most infamous scandals are: The 1919 Black Sox scandal, the City College of New York scandal of 1950, Boston College 1978 point-shaving scandal, and the 1994 Arizona State basketball scandal.
All these scandals and several others were connected to criminal organizations. Who used players and staff from teams to make a significant profit from sports betting. Ordinary people started to believe that sports betting would make them prone to illegal activities and corruption.
But in recent years, things started to change in a positive direction. As many prominent people from the world of professional sports began to talk positively about sports betting in general.
And after all, the legalization of sports betting will bring one positive thing to the players from the USA; it will be regulated and taken away from criminals.
The Current Situation in the Sports Betting Industry
Today sports betting is one of the most popular pastimes for the citizens in the US. As the players are finally allowed to bet on sports without any restrictions.
The legalization process was slow and painful, but now when it has finally arrived, the sky is the limit for US bettors.
If you are not sure where you can place a wager, or which are the best sportsbooks for US players, we suggest you read our article How to Choose the Perfect Sportsbook.
Also, you should always remember that sports betting should be a fun and interesting pastime. So, if you feel aggravated or sad while participating in sports betting, you should consider asking for help, because gambling addiction is a serious disease.
FAQ
Currently, it is legal to place online wagers in 21 states. Those 21 states are Nevada, Delaware, New Jersey, Mississippi, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Arkansas, New York, Iowa, Indiana, Oregon and several others.
There is no federal law against online betting, so betting is completely legal.
There is no universal answer to this question. Every bettor has his preferences regarding sportsbooks. Still, in general, it is important to register at a licensed and trusted sportsbook that offers a wide range of sports and has good bonuses and a wide range of payment methods.