If you have ever wondered if that bet on the Super Bowl with your friends was legal, you are not alone. Though billions of dollars are spent on sports betting each and every year, there are still questions concerning just how legal your March Madness office pool or friendly wager on the NBA Finals really is. Betting with friends on sports at your home or at the bar falls into the category of social gambling. Many sports enthusiasts do not realize that this activity falls into its own legal category in many states. There are some states that permit social gaming, others that strictly prohibit it, and a few that draw no distinction within their laws. If a state does have a social gambling carve out, you will typically find it within in the same chapter that pertains to gambling.

1. Bets To Do With Friend
2. Good Bet Ideas For Friends

The simplest way to bet on sports with friends- or even by yourself - is to use an online sportsbook. The laws for online sports betting are typically more cut and dry, and using offshore sites does not carry the risks that land-based sports wagering can. Still, it is worth understanding the legality behind betting on sports with friends at your home or in a social setting. As you continue reading, you will be able to get an overview of how social sports betting works in the U.S.

The definition of social gambling will differ slightly, but it is generally considered wagering amongst friends in a non-public area. Participants must compete on equal terms and no player can be a professional gambler. A $10 bet that you with your buddy while watching a football game at your home would constitute a social wager. On the other end of the spectrum, running books and creating a large-scale operation crosses into standard gambling territory, which is illegal and punishable by law.

Here is an example of social gambling as written in the Arizona Revised Statutes:

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“’Social gambling’ means gambling that is not conducted as a business and that involves players who compete on equal terms with each other in a gamble if all of the following apply:

• (a) No player receives, or becomes entitled to receive, any benefit, directly or indirectly, other than the player's winnings from the gamble.
• (b) No other person receives or becomes entitled to receive any benefit, directly or indirectly, from the gambling activity, including benefits of proprietorship, management or unequal advantage or odds in a series of gambles.”

There are certain states that permit social gambling, however the exact laws can vary drastically from state-to-state. Some states will have clearly defined laws on the terms that players must compete on, while others will limit the amount that can be won and wagered. There are other states that have rather vague laws where the types of social contests permitted to wager on are not clearly defined. The one commonality between all states that allow social gambling is that there cannot be a house cut, meaning that the host or a certain individual does not make a profit from the pool. It is best to research the individual social gaming laws in your particular state to ensure that friendly sports bets are legal in your state. That being said, here are the states that do have social gambling laws that permit betting with friends in some capacity:

Betting with friends on sports online is legal as long as you use offshore betting sites. There are certain federal laws that prevent sports betting sites from operating within the United States. The Wire Act of 1961 makes it illegal for those in the business of gambling to accept bets or provide assistance with the placement of sports wagers via wire communication facilities. Being that the law has been interpreted to include the internet, you will not find state-regulated online sports betting sites. The legal sports betting sites that US citizens use every day are those that are regulated overseas. Though headquartered in locations such as Antigua and the United Kingdom, these sites are licensed to accept players from the USA. You can join a legitimate sports betting site and not have to worry about the often times confusing social gambling laws that apply to land-based sports betting.

Betting with friends on sports is best done in a regulated, online environment. Let’s say that you make a bet with your friend and win, but they decide not to hold up to their end of the deal. In some states, you will have no way of recovering your funds. In some jurisdictions, the loser may be able to sue the winner and recover losses. With murky social gambling laws, many sports fans prefer to just use an online sportsbook. You can all place bets online and see who comes out on top.

You and your friends can join an online sportsbook to get started with placing wagers. When you visit a sports betting site, you will be asked for basic contact information such as your name, address, telephone number, and email address. After registering, you will be presented with several deposit options and be prompted to fund your sports betting account. You can choose a fast and reliable method like bitcoin that will have your account credited within minutes. Or, you may opt to use a Visa, MasterCard, or American Express for your sportsbook deposit. One of the major benefits of betting with friends on sports online is that each person can choose their own preferred deposit method.

There is no denying that you have more betting options at a legal online sportsbook that you will anywhere else. You and your friends may be interested in different sports, and online sportsbooks will have a wide selection of sports to choose from. You can bet on NCAA basketball, NFL, MLB, NHL, MLB, NCAA football, and more. Some of the available wager types include moneylines, totals, point spreads, parlays, teasers, and if-bets. Rather than having to come up with a system to track all of your friends’ bets, everyone will have their own bet slip where bets are automatically graded and payouts instantly calculated.

Betting with friends on sports is made even more convenient when you take the wagering to your smartphone. With mobile sports betting apps, you and your friends can bet while on the go. You will have the same selection of sports and wager types at your fingertips. Easily fund your account or request a payout while waiting in line or watching the game. With no download required, no one in your group has to worry about space being taken up on their mobile device. Simply visit the sports betting site from your iOS, Android, or BlackBerry device to be automatically directed to the mobile-friendly sportsbook.

Betting with friends on sports is best done in a regulated, online environment. Let’s say that you make a bet with your friend and win, but they decide not to hold up to their end of the deal. In some states, you will have no way of recovering your funds. In some jurisdictions, the loser may be able to sue the winner and recover losses. With murky social gambling laws, many sports fans prefer to just use an legal online sportsbook. You can all place bets online and see who comes out on top.

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What Causes Someone to Fall in Love?

“Falling in love” is what drives the romances we read about or watch in our favorite shows and movies. But what does it really mean to fall in love with someone? Falling in love happens when you have strong feelings of admiration and attraction to someone you care about. It is easy, when you are new to a relationship, or new to these feelings, to see the best about a person easily. You probably prioritize time you spend together, and share lots of time, gifts, and affection with them. Falling in love is often a joy, and it can be part of what points you toward the person that’s right for you. But it’s important not to rely on strong feelings of attachment alone when making decisions about dating and marriage. You want to be sure, if you feel like you’re falling in love with someone, that you share compatible beliefs about life, about priorities, and about spiritual things. You want to commit to someone only if they are respectful of you, your needs, and your boundaries. And if you feel “out of love”, it may not be a sign of the end of your relationship. Depending on your reasons for falling out of love, you may be able to rekindle warm feelings by getting support and talking through your relationship.

Friendships are one of life’s greatest joys. Finding someone we can share our heart with — someone who understands and accepts us just the way we are is priceless. When we can have a deep friendship with someone from the opposite sex, it is a tremendous gift. There is so much to learn and respect about both genders. But at times these opposite-sex friendships can also be a great challenge. One of the most exciting, but frightening, barriers a friendship faces is when one person falls in love with their best friend of the opposite sex. The feelings are can be intense, and the fear of revealing them can be paralyzing.

The Gut-wrenching Challenges to Secretly Loving your Best Friend

Laura reveals the gut-wrenching challenges she’s facing being secretly in love with her best guy friend: It’s been really hard because sometimes it seems like he likes me and sometimes it seems very obvious that we’re just friends. It’s torn my heart up on several occasions. I’m currently trying to get over him, because it’s just too hard to love him from a distance. I don’t want to lose our friendship as we’ve been through a lot together in the years we’ve known each other, but I’d rather save my heart for someone who I know is going to give me his heart fully in return.

It’s okay to have feelings of love because of the trust you share with your best friend, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you are in love. But it does mean you have the ingredients to develop awesome love which could turn into great marriage. Someone once said great friends make great lovers. The longer you’re friends, the more stable your relationship is going to be.

A lot of good friends can do things that romantic partners cannot. Friends usually say what they need to say to each other without fear, and good friends are more likely to be spontaneous with their activities.

Two Warnings if You Think You Are In Love With Your Best Friend

When you start to feel you are desiring more than just a casual friendship with your best friend and you’re not sure what to do next, let me offer you some advice that could strengthen both your relationship and your love for each other.

First, don’t rush into a romantic relationship with your best friend…many times people confuse love with that other kind of caring love you feel for all of your other friends.

Second, don’t spill your guts right away. You might feel like you have to share all your thoughts and feelings with the other person as soon as you start to feel something. That’s usually a mistake.

Bets To Do With Friend

Javier agrees:This girl and I have known each other for nearly seven years and we have been close friends for about three. Eventually, we did start liking each other and we went out for a month and a few weeks. After that relationship ended, I didn’t feel very hurt or sad. It was odd. I found myself being freer and I got to thinking: Don’t rush into [a romantic] relationship with your best friend…many times people confuse love with that other kind of caring love you feel for all of your [other] friends.

Find another good friend you can trust…someone with whom you can verbalize your deep emotions about your best friend with whom you are in love. This other friend will help you continue to show the self-control of letting a good friendship grow into an even deeper friendship. Hold your emotions, get them out in a healthy way with another friend. Why chance ruining a good thing, at least for now?

Friendship IS the start of a Real Romance

On the other hand, after you’ve been a good friend with him/her for some time, you should be able to read their moods. You should be able to get some sense as to whether or not the friendship has developed into more of a romance for him/her, as well as yourself. If you see these signs, you might want to begin to talk about them with the good friend you so deeply love. After all, good friends should be able to talk about nearly anything.

I think Jane has a great perspective: The only time I would recommend someone reveal their feelings is if they are SURE it is mutual. A really honest friendship will often develop into love without any conscious effort. And if he doesn’t love you, isn’t having a REAL, HONEST, CARING guy friend better than a boyfriend that might leave you at any moment? Friends are people who you don’t have to constantly worry about leaving you for no reason. And if he cares for you and stands up for you, he already loves you in a way already.

First and foremost, good friends should know how much each person values the other. We make the mistake of demanding that many of our relationships be all or nothing romantically. Whether the person you are in love with ends up marrying you or not, you have had the joy of experiencing real love.

Real Love

Real love is rich, pure and self-sacrificing. To experience that kind of love with anybody is a priceless gift.

This is how the Bible describes true love:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

Isn’t that awesome? This verse also describes how God loves YOU! Trust God as He shows you whether your best friend will become your life’s partner. You may want to pray to God for guidance in this relationship and even have others pray for you.

Still wondering if it’s really love or friendship? Read: How to Know if it’s Really Love.

Good Bet Ideas For Friends

Photo Credit: Clarisse Meyer