How to Find Local Bookies in the US
Online gambling is one of the best things to ever happen for people who like to test their luck. Instead of driving for hours to Las Vegas or Atlantic City, people can open online accounts.
The cities we just mentioned are famous for their casinos. While online gambling also includes casino games, that’s not our primary focus for this I Get Talk feature. Instead, we’re here to help you find local bookies in your state.
It’s critical because online gambling in the US is slightly different from other countries. And we’re certainly no experts on it. That’s why we’ve invited Jimmy Daytona over to explain the legality of online gambling in the US and help you find the right bookies.
I Get Talk Interviews Jimmy Daytona: Is Online Gambling Legal in the US?
The first question we asked Mr Daytona is whether online gambling is legal in the US. We surely don’t want our readers to get the wrong idea and get into legal trouble.
But Jimmy Daytona assures us that online gambling is legal on the federal level. The “federal” bit is significant here because it’s not enough to claim that online gambling is permitted. According to the current legislation, the state governments must make the call.
The US has been known for its fondness for gambling. The fact that the world’s most renowned gambling venue is located in the country attests to that. But when it came to online gambling, the US became one of the first to ban it outright. It was back in 2006 under the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.
In the next few years after the fact, iGaming progressed a lot across the world. More and more countries were making their laws more online gambling-friendly simply because it hugely impacted revenue.
Finally, in 2013, the federal ban was lifted. But the catch was that the federal government would not regulate the paradigm. It was to be done by the local state governments. New Jersey quickly became the very first state to grant a license for an online casino.
As for online sports betting, it was still illegal. Part of the reason was the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). Thankfully, that, too, was dissolved by the Supreme Court in 2018.
Fast forward to today, the US allows both online casinos and sportsbooks at the state level. The operators must obtain licenses from the state government before offering interactive gambling to the residents. Also, the customers must be physically present within the state borders to avail of such a service.
Now that the legality of online sports betting is out of the way, Jimmy Daytona is ready to move on to the next part of this educational journey.
How to Find Local Bookies in the US?
When we say local bookies, we refer to brands that are either based or licensed in your state. Thanks to the penetration of big corporations and aggressive marketing, online sports betting is legal in 18 states!
How do you find local bookies online where you can test your hand at sports betting? We’ll let the betting expert from BetZillion take over.
Check Your State Laws
According to Tim, and the first step is to make sure that online gambling is legal where you’re physically at. You might be a resident of a different state, but it doesn’t matter. You’re good to go if your location matches a pro-gambling state.
Another critical aspect to check is the minimum age for gambling. While the global standard is 18, most US states impose a minimum age requirement between 19 and 21. You may be the right age to bet in one state but not in a different one.
Below are some states that get the most traction regarding online sports betting.
- Nevada
- Mississippi
- West Virginia
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- New Mexico
- Delaware
- New York
Check the License
Just because your state allows online sports betting doesn’t mean you can jump into any site and start swinging your bet slip. The betting site you choose must also comply with the laws of your state and have a license.
You can usually find the licensing information in the website’s footer section. Sometimes, it’s on the T&C page.
To make this part of the research easier for the punters, many modern online sites show you a list of eligible states the first time you land on the homepage. If you can see the state you’re currently in on the list, click on it, and you’re good to go.
And if you can’t, unfortunately, you’re not eligible to bet on that site. It’s a common phenomenon, as only a handful of operators offer online sports betting in the US. But it’s changing rapidly. Plenty of offshore operators are getting licensed in different states.
Eligible Payment Methods
While the state laws and the local license seem like the end of your search to find local bookies in the US, it’s not. You still need to check what payment methods you can use. Not all online payment methods are valid across all states.
You can find this information on either the T&C or FAQ pages. Many operators also offer a dedicated section listing all the payment details. You should find the names of the payment processors and the limits and fees.
The best alternative to avoid confusion regarding payments right now is to use cryptocurrencies. The US is a very crypto-friendly country. It is why most modern online sportsbooks accept crypto for deposits and withdrawals.
Local Sports Leagues
American sports teams are hugely popular in their native cities. For example, if you’re in Philadelphia right now, chances are you’re a fan of the Eagles or the 76ers. It’s equally true for basketball, baseball, soccer, American football, and every other sport that the US participates in.
Just like you, millions of other residents may share the same sentiment. That is why the sports betting sites in Pennsylvania will list all basketball and football matches for these two teams. But in other states, it might skip out on the low-voltage games.
To make your journey to find local bookies more seamless, you should look into the sports library and see whether you’re getting local matches.
Tips for Playing at Local Bookies in the US
Before we wrap this guide up, we’ve asked Jimmy Daytona for some helpful tips to make your time more enjoyable and worry-free.
- Don’t try to log in using VPNs. Before you place real money bets, the betting site will use a geolocation service to verify your location. VPNs fail in that step.
- When you register, always enter information that matches your ID. You’ll need to verify your identity before you can get any money out of your sports betting account.
- Reach out to customer support of the brand you want to bet on if you can’t find solid information on whether you can register.
