Sports Betting Q&A
Frequently asked questions about sports betting

Are sports betting apps and sites legal?

Last Updated: Apr 6, 2023
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Fact Checked By: Josh Collacchi

Yes. After the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) was repealed in 2018, sports betting was legalized on a state-by-state basis.

Passed in 1992, PASPA banned sports betting for all but four states. Delaware, Montana and Oregon were allowed to have ongoing sports lotteries, while Nevada had licensed sports pools. The lone state to take advantage of legalized sports betting was Nevada, which has grown into a powerhouse and destination for sports bettors across the country.

Since PASPA was overturned, numerous states have legalized sports betting and many more have legislation in the works.

As of spring 2023, there are 30+ states (and Washington D.C.) that have legalized sports betting, and more are set to pass bills in the coming years.

  • Arizona
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Louisiana
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • Ohio
  • Oregon
  • Pennsylvania
  • Tennessee
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • West Virginia
  • Wyoming

There are others that allow sports betting in person, such as Delaware, Mississippi, and others.

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Yes. Where legal, the Super Bowl is one of the most popular sporting events to bet on in the world, if not the most popular.
A hedge is a method to reduce risk and secure winnings for a specified bet.
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Vig, or vigorish, is the cut or amount charged by a sportsbook for taking a bet, also known as juice.
Yes. Tennessee sports betting was legalized in 2019 and launched in 2020.
Yes. Sports betting is legal in North Carolina, but it will be fully operational on March 11, 2024, with pre-registration beginning on March 1, 2024.
Pennsylvania passed legislation to allow sports betting in 2017 and sportsbooks began taking bets in 2019.
Yes. Indiana passed a bill to allow sports betting in 2019 and wagering started in October with online betting opening a couple months later.
Yes, sports betting is legal in the state of Ohio.
Yes. Sports betting is legal and regulated in Arizona as of football season in 2021.
Yes. Pennsylvania passed legislation to allow sports betting in 2017 and sportsbooks began taking bets in 2019.
Yes. Michigan passed legislation to allow sports betting in December 2019 and the first physical sportsbooks opened in March 2020.
Yes, sports betting is live in Massachusetts.
Yes, sports betting is legal in Maryland. It launched on November 23, 2022.
Sports betting is legal in Ohio, and takes bets as of January 1, 2023.
Yes. Sports betting is legal in Virginia and residents began betting via FanDuel in January 2021.
NFL Week 1 odds came out on all the best sportsbooks following the release of the 2024-25 NFL schedule in May.
Yes. Colorado legalized in-person and mobile sports betting in November 2019.
Yes. New Jersey was one of the first states to legalize sports betting and online wagering after the 2018 Supreme Court decision.
Yes, FanDuel pays out real money. Whether you use the DFS portion of the website, sportsbook, or online casino, you will be paid out in real money.
Yes. Illinois passed sports betting legislature in 2019 and launched at legal sportsbooks in March 2020.
Yes. Sports betting can be a career if you make it your full-time job and put in the hours.
Bonus bets in sports betting are often connected to deposits and are also referred to as bonuses.
The plus (+) and minus (-) in sports betting can refer to either the point spread or betting odds.