Online betting is a popular way to place a wager on a game or sport, but you must know how to protect yourself and your money. You must look for a licensed gambling site, which is regulated by a government body to ensure the safety of your money. Legitimate sites have regulations governing business activities, security, and overall fairness of games. For example, sportsbooks in Nevada are regulated by the Nevada Gaming Control Board, one of the oldest betting oversight enforcement boards in the country.
In the past few years, states have been legalizing online sports betting. Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Delaware have all legalized betting online. The state of West Virginia opened a sportsbook in September 2018, though it was later shut down due to a dispute with the state’s tech company. Meanwhile, Wyoming has recently legalized online sports betting, and will launch the first sportsbook app in September 2021.
While most online sportsbooks focus on the big four sports (NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL), some offer betting on other sports. These include horse racing, college football, soccer, and motorsports. Some even have odds on politics. The best legal sports betting sites will have a wide variety of betting options to suit your needs.
Iowa has legalized sports betting, with retail sportsbooks opening in August 2019. The state will allow mobile users to register on sportsbook apps from anywhere in Iowa, ending the in-person requirement in December 2020. PointsBet and DraftKings are already active in Iowa.