If you are a US citizen who wants to enjoy online cricket betting, then you might ask; Is online betting legal in the USA? Well, it is illegal in most states. However, you can bet online without much threat. We will tell you some of the best websites that offer safe cricket gambling and a few other points that will help you to take the first step.
1. Bovada
Here comes the best bookmaker for American cricket gamblers. In a time, were online crooks lurks all over the internet, Bovada never tries to steal your investment. If you are living in the USA and want to experience the thrill of cricket betting, then it’s the best place to register. However, you might notice that some of the international fixtures are missing from this website because cricket is not very famous in the United States.
What you should sign up with Bovada?
- Betting bonuses are higher
- American gamblers are accepted
- Excellent selection of cricket bets
- Well designed and user-friendly interface
Joining bonus:
You can get a 50 percent sign up bonus that can go up to $250. Another exciting offer is its refer a friend promotion. You can get double what your friend deposit up to $100.
2. BetOnline
The primary reason why Americans love BetOnline is its clean and well-organized interface. Available only for US players, the bookmaker is highly reputed. Apart from cricket, you can bet on multiple other sports including football, soccer, tennis, Baseball, Basketball, Snooker, and Pool.
Why should you sign up with BetOnline?
- Stylish and easy to use website
- Joining bonus is high
- Reliable and trustworthy bookmaker
Joining bonus:
Welcome bonuses with BetOnline can go up to $1000. Also, you can get an additional offer to enjoy 25 percent extra of your deposit. For instance, you will $125 to bet, if the deposit is $100. These are the primary attractions, but the bookmaker also has multiple weekly promotional offers after you register.
3. 5Dimes
Started in 1996, 5Dimes is a top-notch bookmaker that covers all the international cricket matches. It has helpful customer support that’s available 24 by 7 via live chat, e-mail, and helpline. The bookmaker accepts all the banking methods. Due to an encrypted website, you don’t have to worry about your personal information or transactions.
Why should you join 5Dimes?
- Accepts USD
- High welcome bonus
- Accepts Bitcoins as well
- Excellent customer support
Joining Bonus:
The bookmaker offers a 50 percent bonus up to $520. Apart from that, there is a Reduce Juice Award that allows you to make rewards and save on every cricketing bet you make. Free bets, free payouts, and cashback are the other rewards on 5Dimes if you stay active, play more, and remain loyal.
Gambling laws in the US
The betting laws in the USA are not easy to understand. The penalties apply to advertise cricket gambling, deposit/withdrawals, and also placing online bets. Three laws govern online cricket gambling.
The Interstate Wire Act: According to the act, placing online bets in the USA is illegal. Apart from that, the transfer of your personal information to register with a bookmaking site is also prohibited. Interstate act is only applicable for online gambling and can prosecute bookies. However, none of the online gamblers came under the scanner due to this act.
Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA): Introduced in 2006, UIGEA majorly impacts the online gambling system. The act clearly states that none of the players or bookmakers can use the internet to transfer funds related to online gambling. It’s the reason why multiple bookies stopped their betting services in the USA. Besides, banks and e-wallets like Neteller stopped payment transfers to any gambling site.
State Gambling Laws: The hardest set of rules to navigate because there are 50 states, one district of Columbia, and 2 territories. You will find specific laws against online betting in Illinois, Nevada, Louisiana, South Dakota, Indiana, Oregon, Montana, and Washington. You don’t have to worry because none of the gamblers are prosecuted till now for online cricket betting.
How you can bet online in the USA?
You must be wondering how American gamblers can place an online bet, especially when it’s illegal? Well, most of the laws target only the bookmaker, not the players. New Jersey, California, and Nevada are the couple of exceptions wherein you cannot transact with an online bookmaker. If you do, then you might be prosecuted for the same.
All the bookmaking websites that we discussed above accepts US players because they are not licensed locally. These bookmakers are located in Costa Rica, Asia, or the UK, where the US government has no authority or jurisdiction. In other words, US laws cannot stop their services.
If you will notice, all the active online bookmakers in the USA use domains like .eu, .ag, or .lv. Can you guess why? Because the US government can only control .com domains and it’s the reason why they eliminated the local services of PokerStars, FullTilt, and some more in 2011.
Depositing and withdrawing funds in the US
The banking options are limited for American gamblers because of UIGEA. It clearly states that none of the banks or credit companies can transact with illegal bookmakers, even if they are located offshore. But, you can try plastic money to deposit and withdraw from the sites we mentioned above. You can try the Master or American Express credit card. In case the online transaction is failed, you can call the bookmaker support and they will charge the card manually.
Suppose the credit card is not an option, then you can go for e-wallets like MoneyLineWallet and MyPayLinq. Digital Pins prepaid cards, e-check deposits, Western Union, and Moneygram transfers are some of the other options you can try. Credit cards and e-wallets are the most preferred options, but if both of them fail for any reason, you can go for other methods.
Conclusion
As you can understand, online cricket betting in the USA is complex and it’s going to be the same for quite some time. You can place online bets, but options are limited because the websites we recommended above do not cover all the cricket fixtures.
Betting from the USA is risky because you might the entire deposit or you might not get the winning amount at all. So, we recommend you will put less money at stake. In case of a payment seize, you will not lose much.
Mayank Chowdhary is a professional cricket player in domestic cricket in India. He is very passionate about cricket and knows ins and out of cricket betting. With this long experience, now he has decided to share his experience with other cricket lover like you. Know more at the about me page.