Oregon Sports Betting Info And The Best OR Sportsbooks
Online sports betting in Oregon was launched later than anticipated, but it is now up and running. In April 2019, the Oregon Lottery Commission decided to award the state’s sports betting contract to SBTech. Oregon has taken a unique way to launch online sports betting before retail sports betting. There will be three roll-out phases in the state. Online will launch first, then self-service sports betting kiosks and eventually a lottery version of sports betting. The game will be similar to the Sports Action parlay game, which firstly appeared in 1989. As soon as the Lottery can introduce sports betting, the tribal casinos will also allow doing the same.
What Sports Betting is legal in Oregon?
As mentioned, the gambling legislation has given the state monopoly to the Oregon Lottery. The Oregon Lottery Commission also has the power to decide what games it can introduce. This is not surprising as the Lottery provides plenty of funds to the state, and it is also very cautious in protecting the public. This is why sports betting will be restricted to major sports only, with no college basketball or football wagering allowed. In the future, it could be that they will relax the rules to follow the example of other states, but for now, the restrictions are in place.
Where can I Legally wager on sport in Oregon?
As long as you are within the state’s borders, you can wager on sports betting. Oregon is launching online and mobile sports betting first, so all legal sports betting in Oregon will be online. SBTech, the licensed operator, uses modern geolocation technology to ensure that the bettor is within the state borders. Bettors in Oregon can set up online sports betting accounts without visiting a casino in person. After all, apart from some tribal casinos, there aren’t other casinos in the state at the moment. SBTech is specialized in sports betting kiosks, and the plan is to deploy these in retail locations. It is also expected that live sports betting will be available at some tribal casinos, but this won’t be until the Oregon Lottery launches. At that point, the casinos will also be able to launch their online sports betting, and this is when we will probably see big brands entering the state.
What will be the sportsbooks offering online sports betting in Oregon?
As and when the tribal casinos will enter the market, they will need to have their own sports betting platforms. SBTech is a technology platform that does not offer sports betting under its brand. In the US, they have casino partners like Churchill Downs in Pennsylvania and Mississippi and with the Resorts Casino and Golden Nugget in New Jersey. Other major brands are likely to enter the market later on, to offer wagers on all the big professional US sports, apart from college sports, which are not allowed in the state.
What are the sports where I can wager in Oregon?
Currently, SBTech platforms are offering in other states wagers on:
- American Football (NFL)
- Baseball (MLB)
- Basketball (NBA)
- Boxing
- Golf
- Hockey (NHL)
- MMA
- Soccer
- Tennis
In addition, you will find less popular sports betting options like Rugby, Cycling, Motor Racing, Cricket, etc.
How Can I start online sports betting in Oregon?
Opening an online sport betting account in Oregon is very simple. All you need to do is filling a form providing the following information:
- Basic personal information such as full name, address and date of birth
- Your email address
After that, you will be asked to choose a screen name and a password. Next, the operator will determine if you need to provide additional documents to verify the info provided. Before cashing out, you will be asked to provide proof of identity. Normally, you would have to send a scan of your passport or driver’s license. Once you have an active account, you can wager both from your computer or mobile device. If you want to wager from your mobile tough, you must download the related app available on both Android and iOS. Android will be ready for the launch, while the iOS app might take a bit longer to appear in the store.
Is it safe to deposit money at Oregon’s online sports betting site?
Since the state fully regulates sports betting, customer protection is at the highest level. So, it is very safe to deposit money at a state-regulated operator. The Oregon Lottery is a very trustworthy body, and if you have any problems at all, you are protected by the state and federal law. This is very different from placing online sports bets with offshore sportsbooks. Not only this is illegal, but your money won’t be safe, and you will have no legal protection at all. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006 has made it illegal for US financial institutions to process gambling transactions that are now deemed legal under US law. This has made it very hard for offshore illegal operators to take deposits and process withdrawals. With legal operators like the Oregon Lottery, you would have problems and will have several options to deposit and withdraw funds from your sports betting account. In New Jersey, for instance, the SBTech platform has the following payments options:
- VIP Preferred (ACH)
- Play+ Prepaid Account
- Visa
- MasterCard
- PayNearMe
- Online Banking Transfer
- Transfer from Safekeeping
- Check
- PayPal
The Oregon Lottery might not have all these available immediately at launch, but you should expect most if not all of these to appear rather quickly. Making withdrawals will also be quick and easy, and despite not all deposit options being available for withdrawals, these will be processed fast.
In addition to sports betting, what other gambling is legal in Oregon?
Portland Meadows have an entire season of quarter horse and thoroughbred racing. Grants Pass Downs is also another racetrack available, and there are racing meets each summer in several cities.
Oregon Sports Betting Legislation
As we have seen, legal state-regulated sports betting is spreading across the US. Since the US Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) of 1992 in May 2018, many states have decided to legalize sports betting. That law prevented states from introducing sports betting legislation but made four exceptions: Nevada, Delaware, Montana and Oregon. So all these states already had existing sports betting legislation, with the Sports Action game offered by the Lottery Oregon even before that sentence of the US Supreme Court. As a result, Oregon Lottery didn’t need to wait for new legislation before proceeding with its sports betting plans. Despite that, it has moved rather slowly. However, online poker and casino games will need new legislation before they can be offered on the web. There is no appetite for this, but if a successful sports business is launched, that might change in the future.
Why you shouldn’t be betting at an offshore sports betting site
Offshore sports betting sites like Bovada are not legal in the US. As soon as Oregon launches legal sports betting, opening an account and wager with a legal offering makes complete sense. As mentioned above, your money will be safer in the legal market, and you will benefit from a better sports betting product as well. Offshore sites don’t have access to legitimate league data like legal sports betting operators do. This means that they cannot offer the same level of sports betting experience for their customers, who will get a much richer in-game betting at legal sports betting sites.
Last but not least, the Oregon Lottery does employ in Oregon, and sports betting profits will be used to fund projects useful for the local community. It makes no sense to send profits offshore to some disreputable company infringing US laws. We have seen from our research that US sports betting sites are offering odds at least as competitive as those offered by black market sites. Additionally, they have generous marketing offers to new and existing customers, so there are no reasons to bet offshore.
Oregon Sports Betting Faq
Is sports betting legal in Oregon?
Yes, sports betting is legal in Oregon. A form of parlay sports betting called Sports Action was run by the Oregon Lottery already in 1989. Sports Action permitted bettors to wager from four to 14 NGL games every week based on point spreads. Sports Action was a form of sports betting that was already in place as the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), which was passed in 1992, allowed Oregon an exception when it comes to sports betting, in a similar way as it was permitted in Nevada. So the Oregon Lottery didn’t require further legislative action to legalize sports betting in the state when the US Supreme Court overturned the PASPA.
Can I bet online on my phone in Oregon?
Yes, you can. Mobile sports betting is available via the Oregon Lottery app.
When will sports betting be legal in Oregon?
Sports betting is already legal and in operation in Oregon.
Is any gambling legal in Oregon?
Yes. In Oregon, horse racing is legal, including off-track and online betting on these events. Oregon also has nine Indian casinos, social gaming, charitable gaming, a state lottery and video lottery. You will also find a full season of quarter horse and thoroughbred racing at Portland Meadows, with off-tracking betting that is available at 11 sites overall in the state.
What is the legal gambling age in Oregon?
Currently, the legal age to gamble in Oregon is 18, although you must be at least 21 to enter casinos that serve alcohol and video lottery.
Is Bovada legal in Oregon?
Bovada is an illegal offshore sportsbook that shouldn’t be used in Oregon or the continental US.
Can I wager with my friends legally in Oregon?
Yes. Oregon has licensed horse racing and off-track and online wagering on these events. Additionally, there are nine Indian casinos, plus social gaming, charitable gaming and more in the state. All these are legal.
