Nevada was the first state in the US to offer legalized sports betting, and it remained the only option for more decades. Nevada sports betting provided bettors with a complete experience, and it helped boost tourism in the state.
Now that the federal ban on sports betting has been lifted, Nevada is facing some stiff competition. This state used to be the biggest sports betting market in the United States, but that is no longer the case.
The Nevada sports betting industry is still putting up some monster numbers, and there has been plenty of growth in recent years. Both retail and online sports betting is available in NV. Because of this, NV has been able to attract some of the biggest operators in the industry.
In October 2020, the total sports betting handle in Nevada was more than $660 million, which is the state record. Nevada sports betting has accounted for billions in revenue since it first launched in 1949.
Even though Nevada is no longer the biggest sports betting market in the United States, it is still a huge market with room to grow. Sports betting will always be a huge part of the fabric of Nevada and it’s economy.
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Nevada Sportsbooks
You won’t find any states in the US that have more sportsbook options than the state of Nevada. That includes both retail and online sports betting options, and both platforms are extremely popular.
Nevada online sports betting is still relatively new, and new betting apps are launching each year. The retail sportsbooks are much more established, and these are located in the many Nevada casinos throughout the desert.
The NV sports betting law allows each casino property the ability to apply for a sports betting license. Some of the most popular retail sports betting options are Westgate, Wynn, Caesars, MGM, and William Hill.
The NV online sports betting features many of the same operators as on the retail side of things. However you won’t find sites such as DraftKings or FanDuel in this state. That doesn’t mean there aren’t great options, but it is the retail sportsbooks that can offer online betting.
One drawback to online sports betting in Nevada is that there is an in-person registration requirement in place. This means that bettors must first visit a retail sportsbook before they can complete their account registration and place any bets online.
Creating a sports betting account in Nevada is not a difficult process, but traveling to a retail location does add an extra step. This is part of the reason that Nevada is no longer the biggest sports betting market in the US.
There is no limit to how many accounts a person can have in Nevada, and no law that says you must be a NV resident to register. Locations services must be enabled on your phone or mobile device if you plan on making a bet at an NV online sportsbook.
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Nevada Sports Betting Rules
Since NV sports betting has been around since 1949, the state has been able to add available betting markets over the years. Nevada sportsbooks offer betting on a wide range of sports, with both US and international sports available.
NV online sports betting is the same way that operators have the same available betting markets with both retail and online. This list will continue to grow as time goes on, but it’s hard to find a sport or league that isn’t offered in Nevada.
Here is a list of some of the available sports to bet on in Nevada:
- Australian Rules Football
- Auto Racing
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Boxing
- Cycling
- Football
- Golf
- Hockey
- Horse Racing
- Rugby
- Soccer
- Tennis
Along with the list above, betting on collegiate sports is legal in Nevada, although that wasn’t always the case. Legislation passed in 2001 took that one step further and legalized betting on in-state collegiate teams.
Betting on the Olympics was legalized in 2015, but betting on other amateur events is still illegal in the state. The Nevada Gaming Commission continues to review betting markets to update the list as to what is allowed.
Esports is another available betting market in Nevada, and that was also just added recently. Leagues such as CS:GO and League of Legends continue to bring in bets. Virtual horse racing has become extremely popular too.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board expanded the available betting markets list just recently to include betting on certain events. Sportsbooks can offer odds on events such as the NBA and NFL Draft, and the Heisman Trophy winner.
Nevada Sports Betting Regulations
The United States has seen tremendous growth in the sports betting industry since 2018, but Nevada was offering legal sports betting long before that. In fact, Nevada became the first state in the US to legalize sports betting, doing so back in 1949.
When the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was passed in 1992, other states were no longer able to legalize sports betting. That rule did not apply to Nevada, and it allowed the state to create a monopoly on the industry.
All of the sports betting in Nevada was done in-person at a casino until 2010 when the first online sportsbook app was launched. The legislation did require bettors to register for an account in person, that that regulation remains in place today.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board and the Nevada Gaming Commission both work together to oversee and regulate the NV sports betting industry. These groups are tasked with reviewing and approving license applications as well as creating rules to regulate the industry.
The legal gambling age to bet on sports in Nevada is 21 years of age. Sports betting accounts are not limited to residents of Nevada, and guests of the state help drive sports betting each year.
Latest Nevada News
Summary
Nevada has long been known as the sports betting capital of the United States, but that’s not necessarily the case anymore. Nevada, and more specifically Las Vegas, is still an attractive tourist destination for sports bettors, but this state has been passed up in the industry.
There are parts of the sports betting industry in Nevada that remain old-school, and that has hurt the market in terms of growth. Other states have been able to take much more progressive approaches to launch sports betting, but Nevada has not yet made many changes.
Both retail and online sports betting is available in NV, and there are many options with both platforms. Retail sports betting in Nevada is an experience, but NV online sports betting offers a much easier way to bet.
The in-person registration requirement has also hurt the online sports betting growth, and that is a rule that could be changed in the coming years. New sportsbooks are still coming to the state of Nevada, but it is hard for some of them to attract new customers.
Nevada is still one of the biggest sports betting markets in the United States, but it is no longer the King.
