Just one short decade ago, it was virtually impossible to engage in legal sports betting if you live in the usa or in Canada. Both countries prohibit betting on the majority of organized sports, within any form at all. The exceptions will always be parimutuel betting, which is only applied to two or three different sports (among them dog and horse racing).

Outside of those sports, the only legal bets one could place on sports in North America had to be made in the state of Nevada. For whatever reason, sports betting seemed like a reasonable thing to do deep within the desert, but nowhere else.

The coming of age of the internet has changed the face of sports betting forever. To begin with, it has opened up whole new opportunities for all those excited about making legal wagers on their own favourite teams or events. No longer does someone have to wait to make a trip to Las Vegas to be able to place a bet on the Final Four during March Madness. Instead, those bets may be placed with a Vegas bookmaker online, from the comfort of one's own home.

And Vegas isn't the only town in on the on-line sports betting action. All over the world, major bookmakers have opened online websites for all those wishing to place a wager. This means you can place a bet on virtually any sport on this planet, from American best football online to lacrosse, in almost any league you want whether it be amateur or professional.

Of course, the governments of some nations (America in particular) are concerned with the prevalence of online sports gambling, so you can find some sites that will not take bets from American customers. However, you will discover plenty that may, at least until the legality of the practice is determined by the governing bodies of the country.

In the meantime, however, sports betting online implies that there might be more money floating around than in the past, all because of ease of access.

Other than the many options offered by the number of bookies online alone, those wishing to engage in football betting, basketball betting, or placing bets on any other type of sport may also make use of alternate betting opportunities. Traditionally, sports bets have had to be made by way of a bookmaker. This business sets the odds and takes a cut of the action also. The rise of the online betting exchange, alternatively, has meant that bettors could make or take their own odds, often increasing the value of their bets. Additionally there are opportunities to bet against a team or individual in a sports betting exchange, rather than just on a team to win.

Finally, online access means that people betting on sports have more information at their fingertips that can help them decide which bets to make. Sports information lines have up to the moment records of teams, statistics, rosters, and odds that can all factor into the responsible gambler's bet day decisions.

The expansion of the internet has revolutionized many different industries, and sports betting is certainly among them. More information as well as a lot more options are two of the main strengths of online sports betting.