While US-facing sports betting platforms can't really compare with the European industry giants in terms of event coverage or advanced features, there's simply no denying the fact that US-based bettors have plenty of quality sportsbooks to choose from. Most of those sites tend to focus on American leagues, such as the NBA, MLB, NHL and NCAA, just to name a few. Quite obviously, important international events are also covered, and surprisingly, most of those sites have a lot to offer when it comes to strictly European contests as well.
| Site Name | Bonus Offer | USA | Review |
|---|---|---|---|
| Betonline Mobile Sportsbook | 25% Max $1000 |  |
Review |
| Bovada Mobile Sportsbook | 50% Max $250 | |
Review |
| 5Dimes Mobile Sportsbook | 50% Max $520 | |
Review |
Contrary to popular belief, federal regulations in the United States aren't very restrictive when it comes to dealing with individual players. Neither the Federal Wire Act nor the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act criminalize the act of betting real money over the internet; in fact, the provisions of those acts apply exclusively to online gambling operators and financial institutions. This means that all Americans are essentially free to use any licensed offshore betting platform they want unless the local regulations state otherwise. The PASPA law (Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act) restricts US based sports betting in all except for four states within the US, however it does not prohibit US residents from engaging in offshore sports betting that is licensed and regulated.
With the exception of iGaming-friendly states such as Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey, most states have their own general gambling regulations, but haven't regulated the online gambling up to this point in time. Furthermore, none of those states have attempted prosecuting online gamblers for breaking those broad, outdated land-based gambling laws, so it's next to impossible to determine what the court ruling in such a hypothetical case could be. Theory aside, if you live in a state that hasn't regulated online gambling so far, you don't have anything to worry about. The authorities are well aware of the fact that thousands of Americans are logging in to offshore gambling sites on a daily basis and they aren't doing anything to stop them. Washington and Utah are the only exceptions to this rule Ð both of those states have strong anti-iGaming regulations, however they are directed at the operators of illegal gambling operations and not the players thus far.
Q: I live in the United States. Can I wager on European sports and leagues?
A: This depends on the bookmaker that you've signed up with. As mentioned above, most US-facing sites tend to focus on US sports and international events, but there are a few sportsbooks that give you the option to wager on a limited selection of European leagues.
Q: Are sports betting apps expensive?
A: No. The apps available with the US-facing sportsbooks are free to use.
Q: Is betting on the go safe in the United States?
A: Yes, the data transferred between your mobile device and your offshore sports betting site is encrypted, which makes it next to impossible for someone to gain unauthorized access to any sensitive information even if you use a public WiFi network.
Q: Can I watch live video streams of sporting events using my US-friendly betting app?
A: No. Despite the fact that US-facing sportsbooks tend to offer a wide range of live in-play mobile betting options, none of them support live video streaming.
Q: Which mobile platforms support US friendly sports betting?
A: You will be happy to hear that all of the primary mobile platforms support American residents seeking legal mobile sports betting. You will find each of them represented, including Android mobile sportsbooks, iPhone mobile sportsbooks, iPad mobile sportsbooks and BlackBerry mobile sportsbooks.