<P> Sports bettors place their wagers either legally , through a bookmaker / sportsbook , or illegally through privately run enterprises referred to as `` bookies '' . The term `` book '' is a reference to the books used by wagebrokers to track wagers , payouts , and debts . The majority of legal sportsbooks are found online , operated over the internet from jurisdictions separate from the clients they serve , usually to get around various gambling laws ( such as the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 in the United States ) in select markets , such as Las Vegas , Nevada , or on gambling cruises through self - serve kiosks . They take bets `` up - front '' , meaning the bettor must pay the sportsbook before placing the bet . Illegal bookies , due to the nature of their business , can operate literally anywhere but only require money from losing bettors and do n't require the wagered money up front , creating the possibility of debt to the bookie from the bettor . This creates a number of other criminal elements , thus furthering their illegality . </P>
<P> Sports bettors place their wagers either legally , through a bookmaker / sportsbook , or illegally through privately run enterprises referred to as `` bookies '' . The term `` book '' is a reference to the books used by wagebrokers to track wagers , payouts , and debts . The majority of legal sportsbooks are found online , operated over the internet from jurisdictions separate from the clients they serve , usually to get around various gambling laws ( such as the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 in the United States ) in select markets , such as Las Vegas , Nevada , or on gambling cruises through self - serve kiosks . They take bets `` up - front '' , meaning the bettor must pay the sportsbook before placing the bet . Illegal bookies , due to the nature of their business , can operate literally anywhere but only require money from losing bettors and do n't require the wagered money up front , creating the possibility of debt to the bookie from the bettor . This creates a number of other criminal elements , thus furthering their illegality . </P>
where can you bet on sports in the us
where can you bet on sports in the us
online , operated over the internet from jurisdictions separate from the clients they serve select markets , such as Las Vegas , Nevada on gambling cruises through self - serve kiosks
online , operated over the internet from jurisdictions separate from the clients they serve select markets , such as Las Vegas , Nevada on gambling cruises through self - serve kiosks