Legal Online Sports Betting In The Dakotas
While the Dakotas may not be major sports hubs of any kind, there is no lack of fans throughout the two states. You will not find much by way of prominent collegiate sports programs, and there are not any professional sports teams either. Fans who want to attend pro sports games or matches usually travel to neighboring states such as Minnesota, enjoying teams such as the Minnesota Vikings, Twins and the Timberwolves.
Not having much sports action locally does not mean that residents of the Dakotas can’t enjoy legal online sportsbook gambling that is based on their favorite teams and sports events. This guide will provide information about how to legally participate in North Dakota football betting, as well as a guide on how to engage in legal South Dakota football betting. We will be expanding this website to include all of the most popular sports venues over time.
Top Sports Betting Sites For North + South Dakota Residents In 2024
| Site Name | Promotion | US Friendly | Rating /5 | Play Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bovada Sportsbook | 50% Max $1,000 | 4.8 | Play Now | |
| Mybookie Sportsbook | 50% Max $1,000 | 4.4 | Play Now | |
| Betonline Sportsbook | 50% Max $1,000 | 4.4 | Play Now | |
| Bookmaker Sportsbook | 100% Max $500 | 4.3 | Play Now | |
| BetUS Sportsbook | 125% Max $3,125 | 4.2 | Play Now | |
| SB Sportsbook | 50% Max $1,000 | 3.9 | Play Now |
Is Online Sports Betting Legal In North And South Dakota?
There are a number of legitimately licensed and regulated US friendly sportsbooks that can offer their service to players around the world, including those in the Dakotas. They are able to do this legally because they are located outside of the USA within a region that has already legalized online sports gambling for their residents. This also renders them exempt from state and federal laws in the United States.
These federal laws all address the operation of gambling businesses within the US, and do not address gamblers themselves or those gambling destinations that are located outside of US borders. This is why residents in North and South Dakota can engage in sports betting online without breaking the law.
How Can I Be Sure That a North or South Dakota Sportsbook is Legal?
The best way to ensure you only access legal and licensed gambling options is to rely on the input of professionals. This guide, and others like it include results from extensive analysis and testing performed by industry professionals.
The very first step in our intense review process is to verify the credentials and licensing of any particular brand to confirm that they are operating legally within the industry. If this cannot be verified for any reason, then the site is eliminated from consideration for inclusion in this guide.
If we do verify their legitimacy, then they move on to the next phase of our examination, which includes their security profile. It is our prime directive to rule out questionable operations and reveal the safe and legitimate ones. We go much further in our process to evaluate every component in their operation.
This all takes a great deal of time and effort, but is worth it if it enables us to provide the most helpful information for sports bettors in these two states.
What Types of Bets Can I Make When Betting on Sports in North Dakota and South Dakota?
Every sportsbook brand recommended in our guide was chosen partially due to their extensive offerings. This means they have a strong selection of betting lines and odds that cover a wide variety of sports events, teams and wagering options.
They provide impressive betting odds and features that include futures, parlays, moneyline, totals, pleasers, teasers, proposition bets, if bets, and others. Some of their best features include live in play betting and mobile sportsbook applications for betting on your smartphone or tablet.
You will find the most popular sports covered, including football, baseball, basketball, NASCAR, Boxing, golf, hockey, tennis, Olympic sports, and others. Some brands also offer betting on reality competition shows, celebrity gossip, politics and current events.
Trends for Betting in North Dakota
When we set out to do research on states for these sports sites, we really dig in and check out all sports. With North Dakota, for instance, we looked to see if they had any pro sports teams. The answer came back a fat goose egg. Then we looked for D1 competitive collegiate teams. Unfortunately, North Dakota doesn’t have any of these either. So, rather than speaking about teams that don’t exist here, let’s instead give some of you NFL gamblers some insight on betting.
Knowing what to watch out for when betting can help you stretch your dollars and to minimize your risks while maximizing rewards.
The Key Stats to Watch in Football
1: How a Team Does Against the Spread (ATS)
The first stat to see is how a team does ATS. Do they cover if they’re favored by points? Do they close if they’re underdogs? This trend will help you pick correctly when picking the point spread in either direction. For example, you will be able to determine if you should bet on the Patriots to cover all 14 against the Bills, or if you should take the Bills to cover. ATS trends can help you figure out the right way to bet.
2: How a Team Does in Its Division
Using the Patriots-Bills example again, look to see how a team does in its division. For instance, NFL teams play six division games a year. If a team is 0-6, 1-5, 2-4 in their division, then you know they have a tough time playing and the safer bet is going with the team that actually beats its division opponents more regularly. This isn’t a guarantee, but it is a way to go with the numbers and minimize risk.
3: Who’s In The Starting Lineup
Let’s say you have a game like the Packers and the Cowboys. This is going to be a high-scoring game, but viewing the starters can help you determine who to pick. Imagine that the Packers don’t have Nelson and the Cowboys don’t have Bryant, so you have a stalemate with #1 receivers. However, Romo is out with a back injury. That’s the pebble that shattered the dam there. You’re looking at a key injury that will help the Packers not only win but likely cover any spread. Extrapolate this logic to any team(s).
4: Where They’re Playing
Another trend to look at is how a team does on the road, for straight wins and ATS. If you see that a team does very poorly on the road, then you might want to ride that trend and bet against them. Likewise with teams that do very well. When we say to look at the stats, these are the types of stats about which we’re speaking. Road teams, or teams that play in cold weather, in the rain, etc, are rarely a push; they’re almost always above or below average. Use these numbers to your betting advantage.
5: How They Historically Match a System or Team or Trend
If the Redskins haven’t beaten the Broncos in the past 15 times, what makes #16 different? Especially when you use the rest of the stats for your bet, such as who’s playing and where they’re playing, you should be able to see that Denver will win. Now the only question is the point spread, the over-under, or a straight win. Decide which betting option is the least risky for your bet.
With a little research on these teams, you can greatly reduce your risk by playing the side of the numbers. It’s never a 100% lock, but playing with the numbers will simply equate to more wins than losses over time.
South Dakota Betting Info for Trends
Sorry, South Dakotans, but we can’t find any legit sports in your state. You don’t have any pro teams, and your collegiate teams aren’t very competitive. So instead of writing about high-school sports or casinos, let’s instead cover some point spread information that some of you South Dakotan gamblers might be able to use the next time you bet.
Important Point Spread Info to Take Heed Of
1: The Math Done
There are all sorts of math equations that oddsmakers use to calculate spreads, but the most famous is one that’s simply a median of all the team’s activities to date. For example, if the Cowboys have played 5 games and have scored 150 points, then the average is 30 points per game. So oddsmakers predict that in their 6th game, they will score 30. Now, let’s say the Redskins have played 5 and have only scored 100. That’s only 20 points per game. So when they make the lines for the Giants vs. Redskins, they have a good gauge to use to say that the Giants are favored by 10 points over the ‘Skins. That’s not the only factor, but that is one that’s commonly used.
2: + and – = favorites and dogs
We will assume that most of you reading this are already fully aware how to read favorites and underdogs on a betting line. However, if you don’t, here’s a quick way to remember. The – (minus) sign always means that a team is favored, while the + (plus) sign always means a team is an underdog. So if you read the Eagles -14, this means that the Eagles are favored to win with two touchdowns to spare, and their opponent, +14, is given a two touchdown cushion to cover. If the opponent comes within two TDs, they have covered the spread.
3: The Push
Let’s say that you’re betting the Packers vs. the Lions, and the Packers are seven-point favorites, which would read: Packers -7. So, the Pack end up winning 35-28, but you didn’t get paid. This is because the bet was a push. You see, when they’re favored -7, that actually means they must win by 8 for you to cover, and winning by 6 means the Lions covered. So don’t be misled by the actual number. You will always need to get one higher than the number given.
4: The Home +3 Advantage
If you ever see a game where the point spread is only -3/+3, then you’re looking at an instance where oddsmakers have determined that the game is too close to call, so they give the edge to the home team. Believe it or not, this is the best spread on which to bet. Now, which team you choose depends on the research you do, but it’s much safer to bet. Why? Because any team that wins is likely to win by more than 3, and any upset you predict only needs to get within 3, not necessarily win. So it can work out on two fronts for you here.
5: The Trap of Action-Inducing Lines
Quite often is the case that oddsmakers create false narratives with spreads so that they’ll get action on both sides. For instance, let’s say that the New England Patriots start out the year 12-0 and average 40 points per game. In week 14, which will be the Pats’ 13th game after factoring in their bye week, they play the Eagles in Foxboro. You see that the Pats are favored by 21. Now, this doesn’t mean that oddsmakers believe the Pats will win by 21+.
What they’re trying to do is lure people into betting both sides. They want split action to cover their bases, so they want people betting on the Eagles to cover. Don’t fall into the trap here. If you can, bet elsewhere, where lines are more realistic. Such a game and such a spread is just too much of a risk. Unless you’re leveraging and betting small, bet elsewhere. Or bet straight-up or on the over-under.
If you know how to read point spreads and understand what goes into making them, you will understand that they’re not always in your best interest. You may want to find other forms of betting, or you may see a spread and recognize that it’s a bit too tricky to bet on.