Legal MLB Betting: Independence Day Edition

• A dozen MLB games will be played on July 4, starting at 11:05 AM EST when the Miami Marlins take on the Washington Nationals.
• Betting options on the games can be found in nine legal sports betting states, or with offshore sports betting sites.
• By signing up with FanDuel Sportsbook, bettors can access $100 in free play and a $10 risk-free wager on an MLB game.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – The Fourth of July is not only a celebratory time of declaring independence, but it also focuses on baseball games, fireworks, and grilling burgers and hot dogs.

However, historians are likely to add sports betting to the list of things July 4 will be known for.

Though no significant action occurred on July 4 regarding sports betting, it stems more around the freedom that the states have to legalize and regulate their own sports betting industries.

Last year on Independence Day, only three states offered an outlet for sports betting: Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey. Since then, nearly $5 billion has been wagered at hundreds of sportsbooks across eight legal sports betting states and the ninth, Arkansas, just launched this week.

Bettors do not have to live in NV, DE, NJ, MS, WV, PA, RI, NM, or AR to legally bet on sports, but do have to be present in the state to lay their money on the line. While some of the states (NV, NJ, PA) offer mobile betting, the others require you to be present at the casino or racino associated with the book. Popular offshore online sportsbooks have no such requirements, but are not state-licensed.

July 4th represents a time of freedom and expansion and 2019 has seen sports betting expand drastically. Over a half-dozen other states, including the most recent one in Illinois) await their launch date but have already approved legislative bills or regulations in their district.

It is only fitting that bettors take advantage of this freedom and consider betting on America’s past time on America’s day.

3 MLB Games To Keep On During The Festivities

Minnesota Twins @ Oakland Athletics – 4:07 PM EST
Moneyline: MIN (-135) @ OAK (+125)
Over/Under: 10 Runs

The AL Central-leading Twins will take on the streaking Athletics in Oakland, California. The Twins have been in a minor slump, losing four of the last five games, and will continue their week-long road trip. The twins are one of 10 MLB teams with a winning away record, but that won’t scare the Athletics who have won twelve of their last seventeen, including the last four.

NY Yankees @ Tampa Bay Rays – 5:10 PM EST
Moneyline: NYY (-113) @ TB (+103)
Over/Under: 9.5 Runs

The division-leading Yankees will travel to Florida to take on the team that is in second, only 5.5 games behind. The Yankees have been nothing short of spectacular lately, scoring ten or more runs in three of their last six games. The Rays have been attaining their wins more so on pitching, as they have only allowed 10 runs in their last four games. This game will begin the four-game series that could make massive changes to the AL East, should the Rays find a way to win the majority.

Philadelphia Phillies @ Atlanta Braves – 7:20 PM EST
Moneyline: PHI (+153) @ ATL (-163)
Over/Under: 10.5 Runs

As the only other game of the day with a battle of the top and second spot in their division, the first-place Braves will play host to the Phillies, who are 4.5 games behind. Ronald Acuna Jr of the Braves has been playing at an elite level throughout the end of June, earning 14 runs in 9 games, on only 43 plate appearances. The pitching staff of the Phillies will need to stay alert if they want to keep this team from hitting them out of the park.

As you venture to bets on sports throughout the long holiday weekend always remember the basics: don’t overbet (especially when intoxicated), don’t wager on something you know nothing about, and don’t have it take you away from your friends and family or event around you.

But if you are getting in on the fun and live in (or plan on visiting) New Jersey for Thursday, look into the newest promotion from FanDuel Sportsbook at the Meadowlands. New members signing up with the online platform will receive a risk-free wager as well as $100 in free play.

News tags: Atlanta Braves | FanDuel | FanDuel Sportsbook | Meadowlands | Minnesota Twins | mobile betting | New Jersey | New York Yankees | Oakland Athletics | Philadelphia Phillies | Ronald Acuna Jr. | Tampa Bay Rays