It’s almost impossible to determine the legality of sports betting from scratch. There are so many complexities that can arise with regards to the subject. For example, not every state has legalized sports betting. Some states, like New York and Nevada, have very limited legislations regarding sports wagering while other states, like Alabama and Missouri, have completely banned it.
Thankfully, the law is on the side of the sports bettor. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled on several occasions that states cannot prohibit gambling in general. Therefore, betting on sports is considered to be a form of acceptable gambling. Even if a state has banned sports betting, booksmakers and individual gamblers can still operate within the confines of the law. However, things become a little more complicated when it comes to the spread betting and futures betting.
When Is Spread Betting Legal?
Every state in the U.S. has legalized some form of sports gambling. However, some states, like New York, have more restrictive laws regarding sports wagering than others. For instance, in New York you cannot specifically bet on the spread of a football game. Any bet, regardless of the sport, with a betting line is permitted in New York.
This can make it extremely difficult for sports bettors who live and/or work in New York. For example, let’s say you’re a freelance journalist who covers the New York Jets. You probably don’t want to risk being prosecuted for placing a sports bet in New York.
Fortunately, there is a simple solution to this conundrum. You can use a service like My Sports Empire that allows you to open an account in one of their affiliated states like Nevada or Florida. From there you can access your account to place bets in New York. Of course, if you win, you can request a transfer of the funds to your home state. The key takeaway from this example is that you can avoid getting entangled in illegal gambling activities by taking advantage of state-by-state legal gambling options.
When Is Futures Betting Legal?
While spread betting is legal, futures betting is generally considered to be illegal. This is mainly due to the fact that most states don’t have a legalized futures market. In those states that do have a futures market, there is a restriction on the types of bets that you can make. For instance, in Louisiana you can’t bet on the price movement of commodities like oil or gold. This could potentially lead to you being prosecuted. However, as long as you are not betting on sports, you should have no problem.
One of the primary purposes of the NFL is to regulate and control sports wagering. They don’t want to see states trying to undermine their authority by allowing gambling on football. This could lead to other forms of illegal wagering, like sportsbook promotions, which are common in the industry. If you are looking for a place to place your bets, then My Sports Empire is the option to consider.