Here's How To (Legally) Bet On The Super Bowl

Last year's Super Bowl went down in history as the most watched television show in U.S. history. So it's no surprise that the Super Bowl is also one of the largest betting events of the year. Who can say exactly why America falls into football frenzy — but it's undeniably a large facet of our national identity, and betting on it is a chance to engage with the game and show pride, cunning, or a mixture of both. Even if you don't like football, the allure of risks and rewards can get you on the bandwagon! But be careful, because while there are some ways of legally betting on the Super Bowl, it's easy to fall into legal gray area.

The U.S. has a complicated relationship with betting and gambling in general, and there are only four states where you can make land-based (as opposed to online) bets. Of those four, only Nevada and Delaware allow in-person sports betting. Even online betting and gambling is banned in the U.S. after the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006.

There is a loophole, however, as the act does not ban U.S. citizens from making wagers with offshore online betting sites. This is where lots of Americans make their bets, though the majority of betting is still done illegally. In fact, 97 percent of Super Bowl betting is done illegally. So here's how to take a risk without risking a misdemeanor:

Bovada Sportsbook

Bovada is considered one of the most well-known and trusted online sportsbooks that caters to Americans. The site primarily focuses on American sports, but it also offers online casino and poker games as well as horse racing, politics, and entertainment wagering. Licensed in Canada, Bovada is open to all Americans who are of legal betting age in their state.

BetOnline Sportsbook

BetOnline is also lauded as a trustworthy and user-friendly sportsbook for American bettors. Though BetOnline covers all the major American sports and sporting events, it has something for everyone in its unique offering of skill games such as Dominoes, Yahtzee, and Spades. BetOnline is licensed in Panama City, Panama.

SportsBetting

SportsBetting was purchased by BetOnline in 2012 and continues to be a leading site for American bettors. Like BetOnline, SportsBetting is convenient because of its mobile options for your phone or tablet. Bettors like SportsBetting because it provides credit card funding and other deposit and withdrawal options few other sites offer.

MyBookie

MyBookie is a leader in online betting for Americans, and is licensed in Costa Rica. MyBookie is one of the few sites that offer live betting for NFL and NCAA football, which makes it a great option for Super Bowl betting.

TopBet

TopBet came to the online betting scene in 2011, but its founders were no amateurs. TopBet is based in the Philippines and offers many of the same perks the other sites on this list provide. TopBet is geared towards American bettors, as it offers limited betting opportunities for non-U.S. sports, and provides both mobile and live betting options.

BookMaker

BookMaker has been around since 1996 and is one of the most user-friendly sites out there. Licensed in Costa Rica, BookMaker stresses the importance of maintaining the privacy and protection of its users' information. BookMaker covers all major and minor American sports as well as horse racing and casino games.

GTBets

GTBets has a good reputation, and if after the Super Bowl you're looking for a betting site with long term season benefits, this is the place to go. The only drawback is that GTBets doesn't offer bets from users from seven U.S. states. Check here if you live in one of them.