Legal Online Betting

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 break down all your options and help you get started.

Online Betting Options in Your State: State by State Legal Betting Guide

Hover on any of the states above to learn what betting options are available in your state

Find the right betting format for you

Legal betting in the U.S. isn’t always as simple as downloading an app and placing a bet. It depends on where you live - and what kind of betting you’re interested in. 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. Most people only hear about the big names like FanDuel or DraftKings. But the truth is, there are several legal ways to bet out there, each with their own rules, pros, and quirks. That’s why Betting Scanner 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, or more.

Whether you're brand new to gambling or just looking for better options in your state, we’ll guide you through the full landscape - from fantasy and social sportsbooks to real-money promos and beyond.

Learn All the Legal Ways to Bet in the US

Cole Redding
Cole Redding - 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 Betting Scanner, we break down every legal way to bet - from traditional sportsbooks and fantasy pick’ems to sweepstakes sites and prediction markets. We explain how they work, where they’re legal, and which ones are actually worth your time.

Every betting format has its own pros and cons - and we want to help you find the one that fits you. Our mission is to help you bet smarter, offering clear answers, real comparisons, and advice you can trust.

What Can You Bet On Legally? All Betting Options in the US

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.

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
Game Format
What Can You
Bet On
Types of Bets
Live Betting
Payouts
Cashout
Options
Legality
Regulator
KYC Required
Welcome Bonus
Loyalty Program
Referral Program
Sportsbooks
Odds-based betslip
Sports (NFL, NBA, UFC)
Straights, parlays, props, futures, etc
Real money
PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, debit cards, ACH, + more
State-regulated
State commissions
Daily FantaSy TraditionaL
Salary cap, roster build
Player performance
Fantasy scoring
Real money or entries
PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, debit cards, ACH, + more
State-regulated / Legal in most states
Varies by state
Daily FantaSy
Pick 'Em
Entry slip (2–6 picks)
Player props (O/U)
Over/under stat lines
Real money
PayPal, Venmo, debit cards, ACH, Paysafe + more
State-regulated / Gray area in most states
Varies by state
Prediction Markets
Buy shares in outcomes
Politics, news, crypto, sports
Yes/No binary outcomes
Real money or crypto
Crypto, ACH
Regulated by CFTC
CFTC

The Team Behind Betting Scanner

Editor-in-Chief

Cole Redding
Cole Redding - 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

Learn more about Cole →

Prediction Markets Expert

Ari Vega
Ari Vega - 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)

Learn more about Ari →

Senior Sportsbook Analyst

JD Daniels
JD Daniels - 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

Learn more about JD →

Fantasy & DFS Specialist

Nate Lin
Nate Lin - 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

Learn more about Nate →

Latest Betting Guides