Sports Then and Now

The Early History of Sports Betting

Sports betting is thought to be a very old practice: the first evidence of its existence is over 2 000 years old. The first nation to be believed to indulge in this pastime were the Greeks, famous for their love of sporting activities, who used to place bets on a variety of athletic events.

The Romans then went on to usurp this Grecian habit, taking it further by rendering it a more commercial activity. They even assigned it a legal status, and bet on events like the Gladiator games. Even when this event ceased to be practiced, the gambling aspect of it survived, and went on to thrive in the various kingdoms the Romans established.

The Medieval Wagering Practices

In medieval times, some leaders frowned upon the practice of betting, and attempts were made to make laws forbidding it. This, however, only resulted in sports betting going underground, where it persisted, and underwent major evolutionary steps as new athletic activities were introduced.

Sporting Betting in England and Surrounds

Eventually gambling took off in England, with people there particularly fond of betting on horse racing events. The English took this love of gambling with them when they populated the rest of the planet, particularly the United States of America, and it was incredibly common with the inhabitants of the New World. Legal issues once again plagued the practice, however, a problematic situation that continues for American sports bettors today. Read the rest of this entry →

Any sports fan on the planet has been interested at testing their knowledge against the sportsbooks. Regardless whether it’s just a temporary hobby or a more professional pastime, you should be aware of the basics before taking it up. Although there are no specific rules to prevent you from placing an otherwise legitimate bet, some guidelines could help you make the most of it.

Choose Your Sportsbook

The legal regulations may restrict you in terms of land-based betting, but when it comes to online sites, there are numerous legal US gambling sites to choose from. Of course, legislation may vary from one state to the next, which is why you should check the laws from the start.

Although it may seem as if there’s no need for so many sportsbooks, you’ll soon realize that they may differ greatly in terms of regular and special offers.

Learn the Language

The next step towards betting is learning how to do it. As silly as it may seem, you need to be able to read the lines on the sportsbooks. There are a couple of segments, such as the money line and the point spread, all of which are crucial when wagering your money. Read the rest of this entry →

There’s no denying the fact Americans love to bet on sports. For example, there’s plenty of evidence showing that some players on the Chicago White Sox accepted bribes in order to purposely lose the 1919 MLB World Series.

The sports betting industry is now worth multiple billions annually. A lot of money is wagered in Nevada where people can legally bet on sports, but even more money is wagered offshore using online sportsbooks.

We’re not lawyers and won’t discuss the legalities of betting online because they vary by state, but there’s no federal law preventing Americans from betting on the internet and we’ve never heard of individual bettors being prosecuted.

With that being said, it’s illegal to operate an online sportsbook, which is why they’re all located offshore. There are several popular licensing jurisdictions, including Kahnawake (Canada), Curacao, Malta, Antigua and Isle of Man.

The US government also makes it difficult to operate an online bookie by having banks block transactions. This is why it’s difficult to deposit for American bettors, although there are still simple methods available.

For many years now most bettors have been using Western Union or MoneyGram to send and receive money. The one downside is the fees associated with these payment methods, which really cuts into most bettors profit margin. Read the rest of this entry →

On US territory, there is a specific group of states which are allowed to license sports betting, starting off with Nevada – which has the full legal package. Additionally, Montana, Delaware and Oregon also allow sports betting to a certain degree. But when it comes to New Jersey, the matter has reached a status of one of the most controversial legal cases in the country.

Back in 1992, the major professional sports leagues went to Congress trying to lobby for the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, commonly known as PASPA. This act bars all states which haven’t legalized sports betting (at the time, Nevada was the only exception, with the other three states to a limited extent) from doing so. Once the PASPA had been passed, Nevada was left to gloat in its dominance.

However, in 2012, New Jersey could no longer endure the slow failure of Atlantic City’s casinos, demanding legalization of sports betting on its territory. Their primary claim was that the PASPA is against the constitution, but once they filed this to the government officials, federal judges proclaimed it as completely lawful. Read the rest of this entry →

Understandably, betting on sports online has become increasingly popular for a whole host of different reasons. One of the main reasons why people decide to bet online, rather than going to a physical bookmakers, is the convenience of the whole process and the option to place bets on the go, rather than making time in their day to go out and put a bet on. Using a laptop, tablet or mobile device, punters can easily access their odds, deposit money into their account, place bets both before and during games when allowed, and withdraw cash into their bank accounts without having to move! But, when it comes to online betting, it’s important to be careful since you are sharing a lot of sensitive personal data about yourself such as your name, date of birth, address, and financial details. We’ve put together some top tips for staying safe when betting online.

Shop Around

One of the best parts of betting online is the sheer amount of bookmakers available for you to choose from. Whilst in your town there may only be one or two bookie shops, when you bet online you can literally search through thousands of different sportsbooks in your quest to find the best odds. However, when shopping around, it’s also vital to be vigilant and check out each bookmaker site before you decide to sign up or part with any of your money. One great way to do this is to check out a review site such as Bookmaker Ratings, where you can find plenty of information to help you ensure that you make the right choice of online bookmakers for placing sports bets safely. Read the rest of this entry →

One of the most popular activities today is online gambling as it is giving chance winning money, sometimes huge jackpots, without leaving your home. Online gambling industry is most profitable one these days as allows winning money without actually working and relying purely on luck. In some countries online betting is illegal, therefore wagering is done through offshore sportsbooks.

Bets on sports have taken the world by storm as combine favorite games with gambling experience. Only with the help of reliable sports betting websites one can choose favorite team, make a bet and become a winner. Top most popular sports events for wagering that have millions of fans worldwide and attract players to gamble online are: cricket, horse racing, car racing, football/soccer, tennis, hockey, etc.

Online wagering services provide bettors with wide selection of sports upcoming events and possible outcomes. Gambler’s task is to place a wager and enjoy the game. Wagering market is now available for gamblers from smartphone or desktop making it so easy to play on the go. This is not only the great way of experiencing adrenaline rush but makes you feel yourself involved in gaming process. Read the rest of this entry →