Lesson 3: Choosing A Sportsbook

Before you choose a sportsbook you need to know if it’s a legal sportsbook operating in the USA.

This is very important and could really be the difference between getting scammed and having a safe, reliable platform for sports betting.

Legal sportsbooks are regulated and have to follow strict laws in the states where they are license to operate. These laws are put in place to protect your rights as a player.

Checking if A Sportsbook is Legal

To check if a sportsbook is licensed, the first step is to research the regulatory bodies that oversee sports betting in your jurisdiction. 

Start by searching online for the name of your state followed by ‘gaming commission sports betting.’ For example, if you live in New York, you would search ‘New York Gaming Commission sports betting’ online.

This will help you find the official regulatory sports betting website in New York. Once you have identified the relevant regulatory body, visit their official website and check to see if the sportsbook you’re planning to use is listed.

Most regulatory bodies have a section on their website that provides information on licensed operators. Look for a section that specifically mentions licensed sportsbooks or a searchable database.

This will allow you to verify if the sportsbook you are interested in is licensed. Make sure that the sportsbook you choose is legal in the USA and available in the state where you live.

Signing up For A Sportsbook

Once you have confirmed that the sportsbook is legal and available in your state, you can proceed to sign up and deposit the amount of money you have set aside for betting.

Create an account on the chosen sportsbook and follow their instructions for depositing money.

Before you sign up, it’s a good idea to check if the sportsbook is offering any promotions or deals for new customers.

Taking advantage of these offers can give you some free money to use for betting. Some of the most popular legal sportsbooks used by the majority of sports bettors in the US are:

• Caesars Sportsbook
• FanDuel Sportsbook
• DraftKings Sportsbook
• BETMGM
• BetRivers
• Bet365