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If you are betting on this year's NFL Draft, it's important to be mindful that regulated sites in a handful of states have a cutoff time of 24 hours prior to the event. Others prohibit betting on the Draft.
With the 2024 NFL Draft starting at 8 pm ET Thursday (April 24), this means a cutoff time of 8 pm the prior evening (Wednesday) in a number of states, 7 pm Wednesday in those states located in the Central Time Zone like Louisiana, Indiana, Iowa and Illinois, as well as a host of others. 6 pm in states like Colorado on Mountain Time Zone. And 5 pm for our friends on the West Coast, none of which regulate mobile sports betting.
It should be noted that sites like BetOnline, which operate with an international license, will be taking bets on the NFL Draft right up until the final hour leading up to the event and allow those 18 and up. Unfortunately, they do not allow customers from Pennsylvania, a state that does not permit its regulated sportsbooks to offer NFL Draft betting. BetOnline is also not available in Nevada or New Jersey.
Local bookies will mostly be taking NFL Draft bets and also do not impose cutoff times, although some are probably wishing they can cut off betting altogether. Derek Stevens, owner of Circa Sports, claims the sportsbooks cannot win taking bets on the NFL Draft.
Cut Off Times to Take Bets on the 2024 NFL Draft
The states that require betting to stop on the NFL Draft 24 hours ahead of the selection process include Iowa, Nevada and West Virginia.
These US states prohibit betting on the NFL Draft entirely despite having regulated sportsbooks:
Connecticut
New York
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Virginia
Kansas has limited NFL Draft betting opportunities. They only offer betting on specific players being drafted during which rounds. There are no offerings on over/under rounds.
It should also be pointed out that the vast majority of sites require gamblers to be at least 21 years of age. This is different than the international licensed websites where 18 is the norm.
Weird Exceptions
Massachusetts requires that certain "pre-draft" offerings be wagered on prior to the first pick selection (i.e. number of players drafted from a particular school). "Round-specific" and "selection offerings" betting will also be stopped prior to the relevant pick selection period. Michigan has somewhat similar rules.
Ohio only allows NFL Draft betting on who gets picked during rounds 3 through 10 (not rounds 1 and 2). First position prop bets for particular teams are also not allowed.
- Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com
