As the Thanksgiving season approaches, there’s a chance that you may be traveling to or through a state where you can bet on sports, even if you don’t live in one.
If you have never signed up for an online sportsbook and are traveling to or through a state where that is possible, you likely have some questions about the process, as well as policies that come with placing wagers online while visting a different state.
The most important thing to remember is that you can place bets in a legal state as long as you’re physically located in the state. That is true even if your permanent residence is located in a state where sports betting isn’t legal.
This article serves as a quick primer for people who will be traveling in a state with legal sports betting for Thanksgiving weekend and any future holidays.
Can I place a bet in a legal state if I’m not a resident?
Even if you do not live in a state where sports betting is legal, you can still place wagers as long as you are located in one that is. The key requirement on top of being physically located in a legal state is being 21 years old or above. There are some states though, such as Kentucky, where sports betting is legal starting at 18 years old (though only bet365 and DraftKings allow 18 year olds to bet, other books are 21+ still).
So if you are originally from Alaska and are traveling to/in Kentucky for Thanksgiving, you will be able to sign up with an online sportsbook. However, make sure to use your real address, rather than the address of the place you’re staying at.
Should I use my real address?
Yes, you should use your real address when signing up for any sportsbook.
The main reason to use your real address is for identity verification purposes. If you use the address of a hotel or perhaps a family member you’re staying with, then sportsbooks won’t be able to confirm who you are.
That will cause an issue that will have to be sorted out with customer service, and impede your ability to place wagers, especially on a busy holiday weekend.
Isn’t it illegal to place bets if I live in an illegal state?
It is not illegal to place bets if you’re traveling, and your permanent residence is in a state like California where sports betting is illegal.
As long as you are physically located in a state where sports betting is legal, you can place bets.
How do sportsbooks check if you’re in a legal state?
Sportsbooks use geolocation to ensure that you are legally allowed to bet at your location. If you are on a mobile device, that is done by accessing your phone’s location.
It is impossible to get past a sportsbook’s geolocation services. Even if you try to use a VPN on your laptop or any other workaround method, you will fail to get past geolocation.
What states can I place bets in?
There are multiple states in which you can place bets, but not all of them have legalized sports betting in the same fashion. Here are the four types of legal states:
- Register online, bet online. States with this policy are generally the best. You can register for multiple sportsbooks at once without leaving your location, and place wagers online.
- Register online, bet online (limited sportsbooks). This essentially means that you can register and bet online, but only at a few select sportsbooks.
- Register in person, bet online. Here, you have to sign up in person at a casino, but can then place bets online.
- Register in person, bet in person. With this option, you would have to physically go to a casino and register there. Then, you would only be able to place bets at that location. Not necessarily the best option during the holiday season, but definitely a possibility.
Here is a full breakdown of the status of sports betting in all states in the US.
- Alabama – no sports betting
- Alaska – no sports betting
- Arizona – full online sports betting
- Arkansas – limited online sports betting
- California – no sports betting
- Colorado – full online sports betting
- Connecticut – limited online sports betting
- Delaware – in-person sports betting
- District of Columbia – limited online sports betting
- Florida – no sports betting
- Georgia – no sports betting
- Hawaii – no sports betting
- Idaho – no sports betting
- Illinois – full online sports betting
- Indiana – full online sports betting
- Iowa – full online sports betting
- Kansas – full online sports betting
- Kentucky – full online sports betting
- Louisiana – full online sports betting
- Maine – no sports betting
- Maryland – full online sports betting
- Massachusetts – full online sports betting
- Michigan – full online sports betting
- Minnesota – no sports betting
- Mississippi – in-person sports betting
- Missouri – no sports betting
- Montana – in-person sports betting
- Nebraska – no sports betting
- Nevada – in-person sign-up
- New Hampshire – limited online sports betting
- New Jersey – full online sports betting
- New Mexico – in-person sports betting
- New York – full online sports betting
- North Carolina – in-person sports betting
- North Dakota – in-person sports betting
- Ohio – full online sports betting
- Oklahoma – no sports betting
- Oregon – limited online sports betting
- Pennsylvania – full online sports betting
- Rhode Island – limited online sports betting
- South Carolina – no sports betting
- South Dakota – in-person sports betting
- Tennessee – full online sports betting
- Texas – no sports betting
- Utah – no sports betting
- Vermont – no sports betting
- Virginia – full online sports betting
- Washington – in-person sports betting
- West Virginia – full online sports betting
- Wisconsin – in-person sports betting
- Wyoming – full online sports betting
Can I withdraw my money once I leave a legal state?
Yes, you can withdraw your money in a state where sports betting is illegal after placing wagers in states where it is allowed. So if you were in Arizona on Thursday, bet on Sunday NFL games, and then returned to California on Saturday, you can still withdraw any winnings on Monday.
You can check odds and deposit/withdraw money on sportsbook apps if you’re located in a state like California or Hawaii. The only thing you cannot do in an illegal sports betting state is make a wager.
Which sportsbook should I sign up with?
There are a lot of great sportsbook options on the market. ESPN BET is the latest major sportsbook to make a launch but there are other established options on the market such as FanDuel and DraftKings. All three of those sportsbooks are a good starting point.
If you are looking for some other great options, bet365 and BetMGM both have quality platforms, entry offers, and odds.
