In the United States, betting on sports has seen a massive increase in popularity over the past few years. Nowadays it’s rare to watch a sporting event in-person or on TV without seeing advertisements for popular sportsbooks such as FanDuel, DraftKings and BetMGM. 

With this in mind, it is important to understand how you can legally and responsibly bet on sports to avoid any negative consequences. Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas is right around the corner - this coming Sunday, February 11th. There will be an estimated $500 million bet on the big game, as many casual fans and new bettors will try betting for the first time. But in order to legally bet, you need to take in consideration who you are and where you are located before attempting to place your Super Bowl bets.

Who is allowed to bet on sports in the United States? 

Age Requirements

In almost all of the states where some form of sports betting is legal, the age requirement to bet is 21 years old. However, there are a few states that only require you to be 18+, including Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Montana. Sports betting laws and age requirements vary on a state-by-state basis, meaning a 19-year old from Rhode Island would not be able to bet in New Jersey since the legal age there is 21+. 

Location Requirements

Sports wagering in the United States is legislated on a state-by-state basis. Currently, there are 38 states and Washington D.C. that have allowed some form of sports betting. Of those states, 29 have allowed online sports gambling, which most simply means betting from a phone or computer. 

Here are the 38 states, plus Washington D.C., that have legalized sports betting in some form:

Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington D.C., West Virginia, Wyoming.

Who is NOT allowed to bet on sports?

Professional Athletes are banned from betting on games within their sports. Therefore, any NFL player cannot legally bet on the Super Bowl. However, a professional athlete of the other leagues like the NBA, MLB, and NHL are allowed to wager on other sports and are able to bet on the Super Bowl. 

All league personnel, coaches, officials, and trainers are banned from betting on any sports, so they would not be able to legally bet on the Super Bowl. 

Additionally, any current NCAA student-athletes, coaches, or athletics staff members are prohibited from gambling on any sports, regardless of the league or division. These student-athletes are naturally not allowed to legally bet on the Super Bowl either.

Legal Sports Betting Platforms and Sportsbooks

Online sports betting availability varies state. Some states have a plethora of options to choose from while others only have one or two options. Here are some of the top sportsbooks and their availability by state. 

• FanDuel Sportsbook: FanDuel is the most popular sportsbook in the United States. Their online app is user-friendly and is best known for unique Same Game Parlay features and special boosts. For betting on the Super Bowl or any other sports, it is available for customers in the following states: AZ, CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VT, VA, WV & WY

• DraftKings Sportsbook: DraftKings is another behemoth in the sports betting industry. It is a very popular platform for users with great live-betting features. You can make bets during the Super Bowl in seconds. It is available for customers in the following states: AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VT, VA, WV & WY

• Caesars Sportsbook: Caesars offers bettors a sportsbook that is versatile and offers customers virtually any bet option they’re seeking. The platform has a countless amount of props bets, which are especially popular when betting on the Super Bowl. It is available for customers in the following states: AZ, CO, IN, IL, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA & WV 

Learn Responsible Gaming before betting on the Super Bowl

Before considering placing a bet on this Sunday’s Super Bowl showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, it is critically important to familiarize yourself with Responsible Gaming. The reality is that sports betting involves risk and can lead to multiple issues, including the potential for Gambling Addiction. 

Therefore, Birches Health offers a full suite of educational resources aimed to help ensure that gambling remains a form of entertainment. 

Gambling Addiction Help and Treatment

If you, a friend or family member may be showing signs of potential gambling addiction, Birches Health is always available to help. Birches provides effective, private treatment for those struggling with behavioral addictions. For quick access to specialists with years of experience, Birches Health offers telehealth appointments that can easily work for different schedules, without leaving the comforts of home.