For those who like to bet on a variety of sports, there are few options available outside of the state of Nevada. That is the only state that allows bookmaking on all sports.

Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean people don’t bet illegally in the other 49 states. There are bookmakers everywhere, and despite them being illegal, sports betting is talked about openly. Newspaper sports pages, web sites, sports magazines, and sports cable networks regularly report the odds on games, particularly football. For example, moments after the teams were set for Super Bowl XXXIX, sportscasters were announcing the point spread on the game.

However, there are options available for those who do enjoy voting on sporting contests and would like to do so legally, but can’t get to Las Vegas.

Betting at the Track

The one type of sports betting that is legal outside of Nevada is betting at horse and dog races. Granted, it doesn’t allow bookmaking across all sports, but it does allow people who enjoy betting an opportunity to wage a few dollars.

Oregon Lottery

Outside of Nevada, there is one legal way to bet on sports, and that is through the Oregon Lottery. The Oregon Lottery is for football betting and is technically called sports action. The line is set up by a single person every Wednesday during football season. Unlike lines set up by bookmakers, the line for the Oregon Lottery does not change. This actually can work to the benefit of players because it doesn’t factor in late week practice injuries and other roster changes.

The minimum wage is $2. Players must bet a minimum of 3 games. The bet pay off is dependent on the number of games played. For example, a pay off for a three-game winner is $5 per dollar played; for a four-game winner it is $10 per dollar played, and so on.

Offshore Books

This is a little more ambiguous. Offshore betting is done through international bookmakers, usually online. The bets and the odds are similar to those used in Las Vegas, but the bookies themselves may not be on the up-and-up. Some are quite honest, but others are fly-by-night operations and spam artists. Bettors should always beware when it comes to making offshore bets, doing their homework and using only bookmakers who have a solid reputation.