If you’re looking to place a bet on a sporting event, you’ve probably heard about sportsbooks. They’re similar to bookmakers and bookies, and offer a variety of services for sports betting. Many newer models are more like marketplaces, or betting exchanges, much like Wall Street. In the U.S., however, there is some controversy over whether sports betting is legal. In this article, we’ll explore what the law says.

Legality of sports betting in the U.S.

The legality of sports betting in the U.S. was once debated. A 1992 federal ban, known as PASPA, was found to be unconstitutional on Tenth Amendment grounds. In recent lame duck sessions, former Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch introduced the Sports Wagering Market Integrity Act of 2018, which would have created a clearinghouse and federal standards for state sports betting markets. This bill was a symbolic effort, however, and it didn’t pass either. The latest effort to legalize sports betting in America was a hearing held by the House Judiciomber subcommittee on gambling.

Until recently, sports betting was legal in a handful of states. With the advent of online and mobile sportsbooks, participation in the sport has never been easier. But there are still many states that restrict sports betting, including Nevada, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia. The American Gaming Association (AGA) keeps track of the sports betting laws in the U.S. and ranks them accordingly. The majority of states are “Live-Legal,” which means that single-game sports betting is allowed by state law. Only three states, Oregon and Nebraska, are “Legal–Not-Yet-Operating.”

Legality of sports betting in New Jersey

The Legality of Sports Betting in New Jersey has been an ongoing debate since its inception. It began with a voter referendum in 2011, and then went through nearly a decade of appeals and federal lawsuits before the state finally prevailed. The SCOTUS ruling ended a decade-long legal battle with the sports leagues and ushered in a new era for online sports betting. The timeline below illustrates how New Jersey has evolved in the area of sports betting.

The legality of sports betting in New Jersey is relatively straightforward. As long as you are 21 years old, you can place a wager on all major sports. You can’t, however, bet on in-state college teams or events. Additionally, the state law prohibits affiliated personnel from placing bets on their own sports. Sports betting in New Jersey is currently legal for college and professional sports. High school sports are still not legal. However, some NJ sportsbooks have mini-reviews of their sportsbooks.

Legality of sports betting in other states

After years of pending legislation, sports betting is finally on the agenda in other states. West Virginia was one of the first states to legalize sports betting, with legislative action coming just before the U.S. Supreme Court decision. This decision helped West Virginia position itself to attract gamblers from Washington D.C., which would otherwise be out of reach. Before West Virginia, Delaware and New Jersey had already opened sports betting venues.

Delaware legalized sports betting in June 2018, less than a month after the Supreme Court decision. Three Delaware casinos opened their sportsbooks that month, and the state hopes to add more by the end of the year. In Florida, lawmakers approved sports betting in 2021, but lawsuits halted the official start of betting in the state. A judge ruled that the Seminole Tribe’s agreement with the Hard Rock Sportsbook was illegal. The Hard Rock Sportsbook initially launched sports betting online Nov. 1, 2021, but has since shut down its app due to legal disputes.