Is Sports Betting Legal
Some people hear the words "sports betting" and a red flag goes up. They think they are doing something wrong. Well, we’re here to explain why sports betting is not only legal, but also safe and legit. We will go over all the nuts and bolts of US sports betting law. We will look at the legality of sportsbooks on the federal level, which includes three major laws that you need to know about. We will also take a look at state laws. Finally, we’ll tell you why you will not get into any kind of legal trouble by betting on sports. Let’s start with the basics.
Federal Laws Regulating Sports Betting
There are three federal laws in America that correlate with sports betting. They are the PASPA, UIGEA, and the Wire Act. We are about to examine each of these laws in greater detail. While these laws are not the only factors for legal sports betting they are the main force that all regulation comes from.
Wire Act - The Wire Act was written in 1961 as a response to the growing problem of organized crime. At this time, many of the more popular betting destinations, such as Las Vegas and Atlantic City, were run by the mob. The Wire Act made it so betting organizations could no long transmit money or betting-related information across state lines. It became more difficult for the mob to have interstate criminal betting operations. The Wire Act is still a point of debate even today, having been amended several times throughout the years. There is even an ongoing attempt by lawmakers to restore the Wire Act to its original intent, known as RAWA, or the Restoration of America’s Wire Act. However, RAWA is not popular with many conservative lawmakers, and is not likely to make much of an impact.
PASPA - The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) deals specifically with sports betting, outlawing it in all states save for Nevada and Delaware. Many critics object to PASPA, contending that it gives unfair special treatment to Nevada and Delaware. Defenders of the law say that since those two states had legal sports betting before PASPA was written, it is okay that they are exempt. Some states, such as New Jersey, are actually fighting PASPA in court. New Jersey already has legal casino betting and online betting.
UIGEA - The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) specifically affects online betting sites. What it does is limit the ways in which online sites are allowed to transfer funds. Because of the Wire Act, it is already against the law for sports betting operations to transfer money across state lines. The UIGEA just makes it even more difficult for an online sportsbook to function in the United States. Currently, the only states that have their own online betting sites are Nevada, Delaware, and Jew Jersey (which only has online casino betting, not sportsbooks).
Are There Any State Laws That Regulate Sports Betting
The only states that are allowed to have their own online or land-based sportsbooks are Nevada and Delaware. As we mentioned earlier, these two states were granted amnesty from PASPA because sports betting was legal before PASPA. The sportsbooks in Nevada are some of the best in the world, but most people don’t live close enough to Nevada to use their land-based sportsbooks, and only Nevada residents can use their online sportsbooks. The same thing goes for Delaware, and besides, Delaware’s sportsbooks are very limited as far as what you can bet on and when. This is why online sportsbooks are so popular, because for most people, they are the only viable option.
So Is It Legal Use Online Sportsbooks Or Not?
It is legal to use an online sportsbook. You just can’t use on based inside the United States unless you live in Nevada or Delaware. However, legal betting is posible by using a online sportsbook based outside the United States. Why is this? Because overseas sportsbooks do not have to abide by US law, that’s why. The law only affects them insofar as they have to be based outside the US. Also, because of UIGEA regulations, online betting sites are not allowed to make payouts to customers using credit cards.
Will I Get In Legal Trouble For Betting On Sports?
No, you will not get in trouble for betting on sports. Any old Tom, Dick, or Harry can go to Nevada or Delaware and bet on sports as long as they are old enough. However, you cannot use an online sportsbook based in the US unless you live in the specific state where the site is based. Fortunately, it is not against the law to use an online sportsbook based outside the US. You are not breaking any laws. Nor is there any law that targets individuals who use an online sportsbook.
Has Anyone Ever Been Arrested For Betting On Sports?
No, this has never happened. People have been betting on online sportsbooks for years and have never had any problems. If anyone thought that they were doing something illegal, these sites would not have millions of members who place bets every week. The most important thing to remember is that the government isn’t interested in us regular folk, just make sure you're older than the legal sports betting age in your state. The whole reason sports betting laws were created was to prevent serious high-level criminal organizations from operating in the United States. Whether the laws have worked or not is a whole other issue, but the bottom line here is that you have nothing to worry about.
