Esports bettors are more likely to use online services than traditional sports bettors exclusively, so they might not be familiar with the betting industry’s legal side. Despite the popularity of betting on professional gaming, only four states have explicitly legalized online esports betting in the US; Tennessee, West Virginia, New Jersey, and Nevada.
Las Vegas has a long history with competitive gaming. Esports peripheral manufacturer HyperX has its own esports arena built into the Luxor hotel. The Evolution fighting games championships have been hosted across the Las Vegas strip since 2005.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board has officially vetted online esports betting, but it isn’t completely legalized in the state. A few restrictions were specifically outlined:
- The only fully-approved bets are head-to-heads and outrights
- All wagers must be made before the match in question begins
These caveats bring some unfortunate implications to esports bettors in Nevada. In-game or live betting is off the table, as are many of the conditional bets that traditional sports bettors are used to, like the spread and match time. Even with those stipulations, Nevadans in Las Vegas and beyond can still enjoy the excitement of esports betting.
Esports betting is legal in Nevada in specific circumstances.
Pre-match bets only are allowed and on head-to-head markets or outrights.
There are plenty of available sportsbooks, including DraftKings and FanDuel.
Legal Esports Betting Sites in Nevada
The push to legalize esports bettings in 2020 is not coincidental; the pandemic forced many traditional gambling businesses to shut down or curtail their normal operations. Also, many sports leagues like the NFL and NBA were forced to postpone or cancel games. Esports can take place anywhere at any time, meaning that online betting opportunities never stop rolling in.
Hundreds of betting sites in Nevada and beyond have integrated pro gaming into their sportsbooks, letting you wager on esports and regular sports from the same site. Draftkings is an excellent example of a betting site successfully adding esports options.
In addition to sites that cover both kinds of competition, several betting sites are wholly dedicated to esports betting. Stake social sportsbook to bring innovation to the table. While the use of these sites is explicitly allowed under Nevada law, you don’t have to place an online bet from Las Vegas to use them.
There’s plenty of nuance to both the legality of betting and the sportsbooks that support it. If you’re looking for an online betting site to call home, check out our comprehensive bookmakers’ reviews.
How Nevada Legalized Esports Betting
Since the judicial overturning of the Bradley Act, Nevada lawmakers have been quick to add esports to their state’s betting market. Nevada State Senate Bill No. 240 amended the state’s definition of legal sports that can be bet on to add video games. While the state congress first gave the go-ahead for online esports betting in November of 2017, Las Vegas now treats esports very similarly to their traditional counterpart, thanks to Bill No. 240.
Legal Timeline
Let’s break down exactly how esports betting in Nevada became possible. Here are the key dates:
- 2017: Esports betting was first approved
- 2020: The COVID pandemic saw a huge increase in demand from bettors
- 2021 – Present: Ongoing regulatory changes are taking place
What the Future Holds
It’s no secret that the growth of esports betting is primarily due to the global pandemic, but COVID only sped up a trend that was building. Esports have pushed their advantages over big sports leagues, with online tournaments running non-stop throughout the year, and this growth in popularity has continued.
When Las Vegas revenue took a significant hit in 2020, with the Nevada Gaming Control Board estimating that larger properties on the strip missed out on up to $700,000 a day, so esports created an alternate avenue for bookkeepers to stay afloat. Dedicated Daily Fantasy Sports & betting sites like the DraftKings have been operating long before the pandemic.
The real question is whether traditional sports bettors will continue paying attention to esports now that there is a clear demand from bettors. The most challenging part of online esports is learning how the games work, which most Nevada bettors have probably gotten past already. Esports production values already rival those of sporting events, so it is logical to assume that this is a trend that will continue well into the future.
Indeed, in October 2023, the Nevada Gaming Commission approved updated regulations which means that sportsbook sites no longer need to seek approval on a case-by-case basis for esports events. This means that bettors can wager on approved events, as long as they meet other legal standards in the state.
Comparison of Other States
Legally, Nevada is in a comparable position to multiple other states when it comes to esports betting. Certain states, such as New Jersey for example, allow a greater range of options for bettors, while others, including Texas and Washington, are yet to legalize esports betting.
If you are based in Nevada then we suggest that you check out one of the recommended sportsbooks that we have mentioned on this page – just be aware that, in order to be on the right side of the law, only certain bets can be made.
Since: November 27, 2023
