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Nevada Betting Laws

When it comes to sports betting in the United States, Nevada is unquestionably The Grandaddy.

The glittering sportsbooks, casinos, and nightspots on the famous Strip make Las Vegas THE premier in-person sports betting experience in the world.

Nowhere is quite like Vegas – often referred to as Sin City – for a weekend away or a bachelor party (remember The Hangover?).

The way the major pro leagues have embraced sports betting in recent years is quite remarkable, and Vegas provides a great example.

A decade ago it would have been unthinkable for the NFL to put a franchise in town, but now here they are – the Las Vegas Raiders are a fixture at brand-new Allegiant Stadium. Meanwhile the Vegas Golden Knights play in the NHL.

Way before the NHL and NFL came to town, Las Vegas had become the fight sport capital of the world. Casinos realized they could host major boxing bout in their often custom-built arenas and attract huge numbers of fans into town to watch and gamble.

Some of the biggest fights in history have taken place in Las Vegas – in recent years including Floyd Mayweather Jr vs Manny Pacquiao, which drew record PPV buys in 2016. The previous record had been set eight years earlier when Mayweather faced Oscar De La Hoya.

Both of those bouts took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, while MMA’s Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is also now a regular visitor with the likes of Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey fighting on The Strip in recent years.

Is Sports Betting Legal in Nevada?

Absolutely, and Nevada didn’t need to wait for the Supreme Court to strike down PASPA in 2018. Sports betting had been legal in the state since way back in 1949.

Betting was seen as a way to attract visitors to the state, and to build it back up after the Great Depression. The plan worked out spectacularly.

The state has a huge number of retail sportsbooks operating in casinos, notably on The Strip in Las Vegas. Palatial facilities like Caesars Palace and the MGM Grand are now just as much tourist sights as they are gaming spots.

Nevada also offers mobile gambling with a number of operators having products available for use by what is a very captive audience most weekends!

In effect the 2018 Supreme Court ruling changed very little for Nevada, except one thing. It no longer had a monopoly on legal sports betting in the U.S. market.

The impact of that is clear. Nevada is not only no longer the only game in town, it’s no longer the biggest. It racked up a handle of $588million from sports betting in December 2020. However, the new market leader New Jersey rolled in just south a billion bucks, at $996million.

One of the reasons for Nevada falling behind is its rule around registering accounts for mobile sports betting apps. More of that later.

Where can I Bet in Nevada?

Not surprisingly, you have a bunch of options, pretty much everything you could imagine:

Mobile sportsbooks

There are a number of apps available for bettors:

In-person at retail soortsbooks

Nevada has the best retail sportsbooks around. All the major Vegas casinos, and many away from The Strip, offer flourishing sports betting outlets.

Do you need to be Resident in Nevada to Bet there?

You absolutely do not need to be a resident of Nevada to bet in the state. You just need to be inside state lines, and of legal age.

What is the Legal Sports betting Age in Nevada?

If you want to bet (and probably party) in Nevada, you will need to be at least 21 years old.

How do I place a Sports Bet Online in Nevada?

The process is relatively straightforward, but has one pain point. You cannot register your account from anywhere in state. You have to visit a sportsbook in person, to register:

  • Be in the state of Nevada and of legal age
  • Visit a sportsbook website or download its app to your smartphone
  • Visit the sportsbook’s retail site in person to register your account
  • Deposit funds into your new sportsbook account
  • Search the website or app for the sports and events you want to bet on
  • Choose the event you want to bet on, and how much you want to bet
  • You can now place your first bet in Nevada

What type of Sports Bets can I place in Nevada?

  • Moneyline: Yes
  • Point Spread: Yes
  • Parlay: Yes
  • Teasers: Yes
  • Futures: Yes
  • Over/Under: Yes
  • Round Robin: Yes

What Sports can I Bet on in Nevada?

You can bet on all major sports in Nevada, including:

NB: You can bet on just about anything in Nevada. Due to its long gambling history the state is pretty forward-thinking. It offers props and lines on sports and other events like the Oscars.

Legal Sports Betting near Nevada

While Nevada offers a best-in-class sports betting experience, it’s useful to know what the deal is in bordering states. If you’re on the move you may need this intel.

The only state bordering Nevada which has legal sports betting is Oregon. It offers both retail and mobile options. 

There is only one mobile product in the Oregon market though, the Scoreboard app run by the state lottery. You need to be aged 21 or older to bet legally in Oregon.

Are Offshore Sportsbooks legal in Nevada?

Offshore sportsbooks are not legal in the state of Nevada. And why would you even need them?

You have the best legal sports betting experience available right on your doorstep, so don’t take the risk of signing up with offshore firms. You have no customer protection if you do.