What Can You
Bet On
Find All The Legal Ways to Bet
Where You Live
Not every state has legal sportsbooks - but every state has legal ways to bet.
We scan & break down all your options to help you get started.
State by State Legal Betting
Check out the latest update on legal online betting options in your state
Understanding your betting options
Legal betting in the U.S. isn’t always as simple as downloading an app and placing a bet.
Some states allow sportsbooks. Others allow fantasy contests. And in a lot of places, the most accessible option might be a social sportsbook or a prediction market.
If that sounds confusing, you're not alone. That’s why BettingScanner was built: to help regular people understand what’s legal, what’s safe, and what their best options are to bet on sports, casino games, politics, or more.
Learn All Legal Ways to Bet in the US
Editor-in-Chief
There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to legal betting in the U.S. I’ve seen too many folks miss out - or worse, fall into shady offshore sites - just because they didn’t know their options. That’s why this site exists.
At BettingScanner, we break down every legal way to bet. We explain how they work, where they’re legal, and which ones are actually worth your time. Our mission is to help you bet smarter, offering clear answers, real comparisons, and advice you can trust.
Betting Formats in the US Explained
Whether you're into traditional sports betting, fantasy contests, or looking to explore alternative betting formats like Sweepstakes or Prediction Markets - there’s probably at least one legal way for you to play in your state. Below you can learn about all the different legal betting formats available to US players.
Real Money Sportsbooks
Bet on pro & college games with licensed U.S. sportsbooks
Social Sportsbooks
Sports betting using virtual coins, with real money prize potential
Daily Fantasy Sports
Compete in pick’em & traditional fantasy formats for real money
Prediction Markets
Trade on real-world outcomes like elections, culture, sports, & more
No legalized sports betting in your state? No problem!
Live in a no-sportsbook state? Don’t stress. Social sportsbooks, DFS platforms, and Prediction Markets are legal in way more places than you’d think. The key is finding the right format for you.
Click on any of the buttons above to learn more about each betting format - or check out our betting guides for in-depth breakdowns on how to bet across every type of betting we cover.
Comparing Betting Formats
Category
Types of Bets
Live Betting
Payouts
Legality
Sportsbooks
Sports (NFL, NBA, UFC)
Straights, parlays, props, futures, etc
✅
Real money
State-regulated
Daily Fantasy Traditional
Player performance
Fantasy scoring
❌
Real money or entries
State-regulated
Daily Fantasy Pick 'Em
Player props (O/U)
Over/under stat lines
❌
Real money
State-regulated / Gray area
Prediction Markets
Politics, news, crypto, sports
Yes/No binary outcomes
✅
Real money or crypto
Regulated by CFTC
The Team Behind Betting Scanner
Editor-in-Chief
Editor-in-Chief
Cole cut his teeth as a sportswriter in Texas, covering everything from Longhorns games to small-town Friday night lights. A lifelong bettor stuck with offshore books for over a decade thanks to Texas' slow path to legalization, he eventually found his way into the world of social sportsbooks - where he uncovered a fast-growing, community of bettors.
Today, he writes for the millions of Americans in states without legal books, helping them explore safe ways to bet without running afoul of the law.
As editor-in-chief, he keeps BettingScanner honest, human, and grounded in what bettors actually care about: fairness, fun, and finding your lane - even when the state won’t give you one.
Main Expertise: Social Sportsbooks, Sweepstakes, Alt Formats
Location: Austin, Texas
Prediction Markets Expert
Prediction Markets Betting Expert
Ari started out as a poker grinder, then a crypto trader, before stumbling onto prediction markets. He’s now deep into platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket, betting on everything from politics to pop culture to tech layoffs. If it has uncertainty and odds, Ari’s in.
Skeptical by nature, Ari is fully convinced that the weirdest bets often hide the sharpest edges. If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s possible to beat the market by reading the news better than everyone else - Ari’s here to show you how.
Main Expertise: Poker, Speculative markets, crypto trading
Location: Online nomad (currently NYC)
Senior Sportsbook Analyst
Senior Sportsbook Analyst
JD has been betting since 2009, back when his bookie was a guy named Vin who ran lines out of Philly. He survived the sketchy offshore days (barely) and made the jump to regulated sportsbooks the second New Jersey legalized in 2018. Since then, he’s turned hunting bonuses and exploiting odds boosts into an art form.
These days, JD specializes in helping new bettors skip the rookie mistakes, as well as showing seasoned ones how to play the promo game like a pro. If there’s a bonus to be had or a line that doesn’t look right, JD’s probably already on it.
Main Expertise: Traditional Sports Betting, Bonuses & Promos
Location: New Jersey
Fantasy & DFS Specialist
DFS Specialist & Sports Analytics Lead
Nate is the guy in your league who drafts three RBs in the first four rounds, fades the consensus TE pick, and still beats you in the playoffs. Every year.
Living for data, matchups, and micro-edges, Nate doesn’t just play daily fantasy sports - he breaks them down like markets. With a background in data analysis and a decade of grinding DFS and pick’em formats, Nate’s built a reputation for spotting inefficiencies before the crowd.
Whether it’s NFL, NBA, or MLB, if it involves player performance and real money, Nate’s tracking it, charting it, and finding edges.
Main Expertise: Season-long fantasy, DFS, pick’em, best ball
Location: Milwaukee, WI
