Legal Online Rugby Betting Guide For 2024

Rugby ballRugby is an international sport that is loved by sports fans and bettors alike. The game's popularity has skyrocketed in recent years and now is commonly mentioned alongside other world-famous pastimes like soccer and cricket. Interest in legal rugby betting has also grown, which is why we've crafted this online tutorial.

In the following guide, the legalities of sports betting in the United States are covered, including both domestic and offshore options. We share the top online sportsbooks based on our reviews and go through the various types of Rugby bets that are offered there.

Is It Legal To Bet On Rugby In 2024?

Yes, it is! There are two ways to wager on rugby in the United States: domestic sportsbooks or international sportsbooks. Depending on where you live, state-regulated domestic sportsbooks may be available. 

For those who don’t live within proximity of a state-regulated sportsbook, or who just want a broader range of betting options, an online sportsbook operating legally outside of the United States is a great alternative. There are no US federal gambling laws preventing US-based gamblers from becoming a member of a legitimate online sportsbook that is based overseas.   

Best Online Sportsbook To Legally Bet On Rugby

Bovada Sportsbook
#1 Rated Legal Online Sportsbook For 2024

Bovada Sportsbook might be a US-only betting site, but it has more rugby odds than most international books. From game lines to futures, props, and and live odds, Bovada lays out the red carpet for the most die-hard ruggers in the online betting world.

 

Site Rating

Bovada screenshot
USA Friendly Shield Small

Compability

Bovada Sportsbook And Casino
Pros
  • US Friendly - Most US States Accepted

  • Most reputable name in online sports betting

  • Licensed by Curacao - Operates within Costa Rica

  • Generous 50% bonus up to $1,000 for new members

  • Easy deposits using credit cards or Bitcoin/crypto

  • Fast and reliable payouts guaranteed

Cons
  • Only US, Mexico and Brazil players accepted

  • Excluded States: CO, CT, DC, DE, KS, LA, MD, MI, NJ, NV, NY, OH, PA, WV

  • Limited deposit options compared to other sites

Best Legal USA Rugby Betting Sites For 2024

SiteReviewSports BonusUSAVisit
Bovada Sportsbook And CasinoRead Review50% Max $1,000Play now
BetUS BrandRead Review100% Max $2,500Play now
Betonline LogoRead Review50% Max $250Play now
Sportsbetting LogoRead Review50% Max $500Play now
Bookmaker LogoRead Review25% Max $500Play now
mybookie logoRead Review100% Max $1,000Play now
Xbet Sportsbook logoRead Review50% Max $200Play now

Will I Get In Trouble For Betting On Rugby?

You won’t get in trouble for placing bets on rugby, if you wager through a sportsbook that is operating legally within the industry. Individual states have different restrictions on gambling, and make sure to check out your state’s specific gambling laws.

There are also federal US laws that affect online gambling in the US. Most notably, the Federal Wire Act, The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). Luckily, these laws target operators with no history of penalizing individuals for placing bets online.

The safest option, and our recommended option, is to use one of out top-rated international sportsbooks. We conducted a separate review of reputable sportsbooks to make your betting legitimate and safe.

No one wants to stress, and with our guide you can wager sans worry!

Best Rugby Betting Apps For 2024

More than ever there is a demand for betting wherever and whenever you want. Luckily, all our recommended international sportsbooks provide online mobile betting, all you need is internet connection.

There is no download required and you can wager using any reliable browser such as Chrome and Safari. The mobile betting sites are US-friendly and compatible for any smartphone and operating system such as Android, IOS and Windows.

With all the same features available on desktop, these mobile betting options are incredibly user-friendly and efficient ways to place bets from your pocket.

Screenshot of Bovada Mobile Betting App

How To Legally Bet On Rugby

Once you’ve selected an international online sportsbook, it’s time to get started.

The first crucial step on how to legally bet on rugby is to create an account with a sportsbook.

Follow these steps to sign-up at an online sportsbook.

  • Follow any of the links on this page to your legal sports betting site of choice, and once you’re there click on the “Sign Up” or “Join” button.
  • Next you will be asked to enter your information including phone number and email address. The sportsbook won’t process your payouts if you provide false credentials. All our recommended sportsbooks protect your data.
  • Enter a username and password.
  • You may deposit a bankroll at this point, but you can skip this step as well.

One important note is making sure you know what promotions the sportsbook offers, including how to claim them.

Rugby Bet Types

Sportsbooks offer a variety of online sports bet types which we explain below.

While this information doesn’t include every single type of wagering option available for betting on rugby, it does cover the most common rugby bet types.

Rugby Player with ballMoneyline/Straight Bets

  • Straight bets involve simply choosing a winner. If the team has a negative payline (i.e. -160) then they are the favorite, and if a team has a positive payline (i.e. + 160) then they are the underdog.

Spread Bets

  • The oddsmaker designates the spread (i.e. +6 / -6) that must be covered by either team. A positive spread indicates the team that is an underdog, and a negative spread is granted to the team expected to win.

Over/Under Bets

  • In a Rugby over/under bet the sportsbook sets the combined score of both teams. The bettor picks whether that number will be higher or lower than the sportsbook’s prediction.
  • These are also called totals bets.

Rugby Prop Bets

  • Rugby props can be team or player specific and allows the bettor to wager on individual or team-based events that are unrelated to the final score but related to performance.

Rugby Futures

  • Futures are for betting on the team that will win a given championship. Futures are generally available year-round despite of the sporting season.

Parlay Bets

  • Rugby parlays include a series of lines that the bettor must win individually in order to win the entire bet. The structure of parlay bets varies and usually includes wagering on two or three matches. Recently sportsbooks include another parlay option which includes varying bet types.

Popular Rugby Tournaments To Bet On

The following are the most popular rugby tournaments that draw the most attention from oddsmakers and bettors.

Rugby World Cup logo

The Rugby World Cup is the most popular event in the sport. The championship takes place every four years in the summer months. The tournament consists of teams from the RFU.

Six Nations Rugby Logo

This popular RFU rugby tournament is a competition held between the teams of England, France, Italy, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales every year. The Six Nations Championship usually runs from February through March.

Most Popular Rugby Leagues To Bet On

The sport of Rugby has two primary leagues that both provide opportunities for bettors to wager year-round on their favorite teams.

Rugby Football Union logo

The RFU is the premier Rugby organization in the world and has widespread international fame, including teams all the way from New Zealand to South Africa.

National Rugby Football League logo

The RFL split off from the RFU in the late 1800’s. Many RFL teams originate out of northern England, although it is also an international organization. RFL games differ from RFU in number of players per team and tackling rules.

Rugby Rules

Rugby is a sport much like a combination of American football and soccer. There are either 15 players (RFU) or 13 players (RFL) per team.

Players use an oval shaped ball that can be passed to teammates laterally or backwards. The ball can also be kicked forward, as long as it leaves the player’s hand and touches the ground first – this is known as a drop kick.

The basic object is to move the ball forward across the opposing team’s goal line and score a goal – known as a try.

The game is a contact sport and defenders must tackle the ball carrier on the opposing team in order to gain possession of the ball.

Other than grounding the ball in the opposing team’s goal zone, players can score by drop-kicking the ball between an opposing team’s field goalposts or kicking a penalty kick if the other team causes an infringement.

FAQs

It is safe as long as you place your Rugby bets through either a state-regulated sports betting destination or through a legitimate online sportsbook such as the ones featured on this page.