Legal Online Super Bowl Betting

 

As we close in on Super Bowl LV, wagering on the big game is the dominant conversation when it comes to the betting industry in the United States. The primary question for US residents, though, is whether or not they live in a place where it’s legal to wager on the game.

Legal sportsbooks of some kind, retail and/or mobile, are currently operating in 20 states (plus Washington, D.C.), and 15 of those states offer statewide online wagering – meaning residents of bordering states without legal options can travel to them to make their bets. Thus, the majority of the US population now has some access to legal betting channels – even if some aren’t the most convenient.

  1. Feb 05, 2021, 03:04 PM EST. Americans are projected to wager more than $4 billion on this year’s Super Bowl. None of those dollars will be placed legally in the home states of its two.
  2. For many years, real money Super Bowl betting was confined to sportsbooks or it was done illegally, even as the game’s popularity continued to grow. Now, with the prevalence of Super Bowl betting online via.

For these purposes, we’ll break down the 50 states into five groups. The groups will divide by how accessible sportsbooks are currently. We’ll start off with the places where you’re just a few taps on your mobile device away from being able to bet on the Super Bowl between the Chiefs and Bucs.

Where legal Super Bowl betting is super easy

Yes, it is legal to bet on the Super Bowl, NFL playoff odds, and the Pro Bowl as long as you place your wagers at an authorized state-regulated sportsbook or at a legitimate offshore betting site.

In this class of jurisdictions, you can find both online and retail sportsbooks. Most of the brick-and-mortar books are at casinos, off-track betting sites, racinos, and sports stadiums. While there are some differences from one place to another in terms of how online betting coincides with doing the same in-person, you can do either in all of these places:

There are a few caveats that bettors should be aware of in this list. In Mississippi and Montana, online wagering is only allowable while you’re on casino grounds. In Nevada, you have to visit the retail component of an online sportsbook to register your account before you can place bets online.

Games

Tennessee and Virginia in a class by themselves

In Virginia and Tennessee, the only legal choice is to place wagers online. There are no casinos or racetracks in TN. In VA, there are currently no casinos, although multiple cities approved casino gaming last year. When those facilities open, they will have retail sportsbooks inside of them. For now, online books are the only option.

States with retail sportsbooks only

If you’re in Arkansas, Delaware, New Mexico, or New York, your only options are to visit either commercial or tribal casinos. Online sports betting remains illegal in three of those four states.

While there is some ongoing activity to change that in New York, that isn’t the case in Arkansas and New Mexico. Even in the Empire State, the status quo will remain at least through Super Bowl Sunday 2021. Thus, New Yorkers’ options are to either travel to upstate casinos or cross the borders into either New Jersey or Pennsylvania.

In Delaware, online sports betting is legal but there are no online operators currently accepting wagers. Right now, there is also no movement towards launching any mobile books.

So close, yet so far away

In six states, recent changes to the law have allowed for the legalization of sports betting in some way. All six have some unique circumstances, so it’s best to break them down individually.

  • Louisiana – Last November, voters in almost all of the state’s 64 parishes went to the ballot box and approved sports betting within the borders of those divisions. However, the state still has to draw up regulations for sportsbooks, license operators, and then roll out the product. That won’t happen before Feb. 7.
  • Maryland – Similar to Louisiana, Maryland voters approved sports wagering with their ballots last year but did so statewide. Also just like Louisiana, the state has yet to implement its controls for the activity. Maybe in time for Super Bowl LVI in 2022, MD sportsbooks will be up and running.
  • North Carolina – It’s been months since the state legislature approved a change to gaming compacts with tribal casino operators to allow them to run sportsbooks. However, none of the NC casinos have yet to actually start taking bets, and when that might begin still lacks a firm date.
  • North Dakota – Tribal casinos in the state have the green light to start taking bets anytime they’re ready to do so. When that will happen remains a mystery.
  • South Dakota – Add this to the list of states where voters said yes to sports betting last year. Right now, it looks like legal wagering will be confined to Deadwood casinos. There’s still a lot of work for the SD legislature to get done on this.
  • Washington – Like in NC and ND, tribal casino operators already have clearance to offer sports betting. Just like in those states, they haven’t yet opened their sportsbooks. This state bears watching because recent legislation might open the market up to online wagering as well.

There’s another group of states working to get on the same level as those in this group. It isn’t a foregone conclusion in any of them, however. In fact, in some of them, the efforts seem doomed from the start.

Legislative pushes currently ongoing

One state where legalization seems likely this year is Connecticut. It looks like all the stakeholders and legislative partners are on board with the general idea and it’s just a matter of working out the details. Other places where there are legislative initiatives toward the same end, with varying degrees of probable success this year, are:

Our final group is the rest of the country, where residents shouldn’t expect to see legal sportsbooks anytime in the near future. Not only are they illegal, but there is currently no real momentum to change that situation.

Where sports betting is a pipe dream right now

In all of these states, you have a better shot at winning a lottery jackpot than you do of placing a bet at a legal sportsbook anytime in the next couple of years.

This is a comprehensive look at where Super Bowl betting is legal before the big game in 2021. Hopefully, by the time two NFL teams meet up to decide Super Bowl LVI, some of the states will move up these lists.

State-by-state list

Here is a state-by-state list of where things currently stand when it comes to whether or not you can legally bet on sports.

StateOnlineRetail
AlabamaNoNo
AlaskaNoNo
ArizonaNoNo
ArkansasNoYes
CaliforniaNoNo
ColoradoYesYes
ConnecticutNoNo
DelawareNoYes
FloridaNoNo
GeorgiaNoNo
HawaiiNoNo
IdahoNoNo
IllinoisYesYes
IndianaYesYes
IowaYesYes
KansasNoNo
KentuckyNoNo
LouisianaNoNo
MaineNoNo
MarylandNoNo
MassachusettsNoNo
MichiganYesYes
MinnesotaNoNo
MississippiYesYes
MissouriNoNo
MontanaYesYes
NebraskaNoNo
NevadaYesYes
New HampshireYesYes
New JerseyYesYes
New MexicoNoYes
New YorkNoYes
North CarolinaNoNo
North DakotaNoNo
OhioNoNo
OklahomaNoNo
OregonYesYes
PennsylvaniaYesYes
Rhode IslandYesYes
South CarolinaNoNo
South DakotaNoNo
TennesseeYesNo
TexasNoNo
UtahNoNo
VermontNoNo
VirginiaYesNo
WashingtonNoNo
West VirginiaYesYes
WisconsinNoNo
WyomingNoNo

Super Bowl 55 is set to kick off on Sunday, February 7th at 6:30 p.m EST. The matchup features the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the Kansas City Chiefs, and there is a fair amount of scoring expected in the game. Squares bettors should already know which numbers to be happy with given these expectations: 0, 7, 3 and 4. Anyone receiving a square with one of those numbers has a real shot, and if your square has both of those numbers on it, more power to you.

For those who are unable to play in an office pool of Super Bowl squares, several websites are offering big squares challenges. One of the most intriguing Super Bowl 55 squares games is being hosted on MyBookie, with prizes up to $15,000, and an entry fee of only $3. If you want to play in one of the biggest online squares games at a reputable sportsbook, MyBookie’s Super Bowl 55 Squares contest could be ideal for you. Super Bowl Squares is a great way to have some stress free fun on Super Bowl Sunday, since the game is all about luck, and you don’t have to worry about optimizing any of your play. Should you engage in this entertaining betting contest, best of luck!

Is It Legal To Play Squares On The NFL?

Super Bowl squares are legal in most states, as they fall into the category of social gambling. While some states have certain limitations on the total prize amount a bettor can win, the majority of states only require that the buy-in prize is under a set amount (generally $50). There are some states that completely outlaw social gambling and NFL squares would be included in this. However, as this form of social gambling does not have “the house” taking a cut, the law is rarely, if ever, enforced.

Those looking to crack down on illegal gambling are looking for operators that are making money without paying their taxes. Breaking up a game of squares associated with a restaurant, office, or group of friends is extremely rare. In nearly every situation, the amount of money collected from the buy-ins is rewarded to the bettors who win at 100%. As nobody takes a cut (though some organizations do squares as a fundraiser), it is seen more like a lottery and raffle system as opposed to gambling.

How Does Super Bowl Squares Work?

There are a few different ways to play NFL squares but the idea is the exact same to start. Bettors are made aware of a per-square buy-in price ($1 for example). A bettor can purchase as many squares as they wish and they add their name in one of the 100 boxes on the 10 x 10 square. After the entire sheet is filled, a method to label each column and row with a number is formed. The methods range from pulling numbers out of a hat, using a number randomizer, or a handful of other methods. Once the rows and columns have their numbers in place, bettors have the first look at what their squares look like.

The idea behind Super Bowl squares is to have your numbers picked at the end of a quarter, half, or game. Some pools also score based on every point scored in the game, but the quarterly winnings are the most common method. Bettors win money by having their square in the position of both of the teams’ last digit of their point total. For example, the New Orleans Saints are playing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Saints are leading 10-7 at the end of the first quarter. The NFL square operator would find the side of the grid associated with the Saints, use the column with the 0 and cross-match it with the other side of the grid associated with the Bucs. Only one winner can be associated with each cross-section, making the payouts quite rewarding.

In our $1 buy-in example, the total pot would be worth $100. Some Super Bowl square games break down each quarter evenly, giving up to four bettors $25 each. However, other games seem to give the winner of the final score the majority of the money, leaving the other $50 or so for the other bettors to share. The payout methods can be varied, but the idea is always the same – pick a spot, hope for “good football numbers”, and see if the score reflects the numbers associated with your square.

Playing Squares At MyBookie

For those that will not be playing the squares at a Super Bowl 55 party or event this year, MyBookie has you covered as they have been hosting squares tournaments all throughout the regular season and the playoffs. They offer payouts for these tournaments at the end of every quarter, half and also the final score of the game. The prize payout for the winners of quarters 1-3 are 20% of the total prize. The payout for the first half is 40% of the prize while the payout of the second half is higher at 60%. As for the payout for the final score of the game, it is also at 40% of the total prize money. If there is an overtime period, the points of that quarter will be added to the fourth quarter.

The Best And Worst Numbers To Have In Super Bowl Squares

Though this style of wagering has no ability to be controlled, bettors can see the production of their numbers over the last few Super Bowls. Every player always has a superstition about certain numbers but the truth of the matter is, any number could be successful with the variety of scoring options in the NFL. That said, there are some clear positive outliers in terms of what numbers hit most often. Bettors should feel confident should they land on a 0, 3, or 7. These numbers are common scoring increase totals (or a lack of scoring) and are some of the bettors’ favorite numbers to see. This is pretty intuitive – NFL teams tend to score in increments of seven and three, and seven plus three is ten, which ends in zero.

When the square’s number is revealed, bettors who are on the 2, 5, 8, or 9 are given some of the worst opportunities to win. Though 2 (safety), 5 (two touchdowns with a PAT and 2-pt attempt), 8 (touchdown with 2-pt attempt), or 9 (three field goals) is possible, the likelihood of other scoring events interrupting this pattern is more likely. In reality though, once the Super Bowl score breaks past 20 points, any scoring method can cause obscure number endings. Super Bowl Squares tends to reward players at the end of each quarter so that there are multiple chances to win. Given this, there is a pretty decent amount of data regarding what the best numbers to have are. Based on the past 54 Super Bowls with four quarters each, the numbers most likely to hit are as follows.

How To Bet On The Super Bowl Legally

Super Bowl Square Number Probability

Super Bowl Betting Lines

  • The number 0 appeared 118 times – 27.31%
  • The number 7 appeared 81 times – 18.75%
  • The number 3 appeared 69 times – 15.97%
  • The number 4 appeared 46 times – 10.65%
  • The number 6 appeared 34 times – 7.87%
  • The number 1 appeared 26 times – 6.02%
  • The number 9 appeared 20 times – 4.63%
  • The number 8 appeared 16 times – 3.70%
  • The number 2 appeared 12 times – 2.78%
  • The number 5 appeared 10 times – 2.31%

Super Bowl LV Squares

Super Bowl 55

Sunday, February 7th, 6:30 EST

Kansas City Chiefs

vs.

Online Super Bowl Betting Sites

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Is It Illegal To Bet On The Super Bowl

Super Bowl LV pits the Kansas City Chiefs against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Chiefs are favored in the matchup, but Squares bettors don’t have to worry about any of that, as squares is a game of chance. There are a ton of different Super Bowl Squares competitions to take part in as a Squares enthusiast.

For example, MyBookie has been running a squares competition all season, and Super Bowl LV should be the culmination of that. The 2021 Super Bowl will bring a ton of eyes to the sports betting websites, and that means that there are a lot of potential competitors in a squares competition, so good luck!