How to Bet on the NFL out-of-State: 2026 NFL VPN Guide

Want to know how to bet on the NFL in 2026 or explore your options when you’re out of state? Start by choosing a sportsbook, finding the NFL game you want to bet on, and understanding what your selected wager needs to win.

Location is another part of the process. NFL betting sites differ in availability, and accessing a sportsbook from another state can raise questions about your connection and the location a website detects. That’s where this guide’s VPN setup and out-of-state access sections come in.

Below, we explain how NFL betting works, what to compare when choosing a betting site, and how to set up a VPN. You’ll also find straightforward examples of common NFL bets and the details to check before confirming a wager.

How to bet on the NFL out of state

To access NFL preseason betting sites while abroad, you need to use a VPN to securely route your connection through a server in a region where your sportsbook is licensed and available. Because online gambling laws vary significantly by country, sportsbooks use geo-blocking technology to restrict access based on your current physical location.

1. Get a VPN with a wide server network. I recommend NordVPN, with thousands of servers across 225 locations, now available with 75% off.
2. Install the VPN app on yur device.
3. Connect to a server in the jurisdiction where your NFL sportsbook is licensed. For example, New Jersey for eligible DraftKings or FanDuel users, or Ontario for eligible users of sportsbooks licensed there.
4. Open your NFL betting site, compare NFL odds and place your wager.

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Quick overview of the 2026 NFL season

NFL details	Information
Event:	2026 NFL season
Preseason:	Aug. 13–29, 2026
Regular season kickoff	Sept. 9–10, 13–14, 2026
Regular-season format	32 teams; each team plays 17 games over 18 weeks
International games	Australia, Brazil and Mexico are among the 2026 international destinations
NFL betting sites in the US	DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, Fanatics Sportsbook
NFL betting sites in the UK	bet365, Sky Bet, Betfred, Betway, BetMGM
NFL betting sites in the AU	Sportsbet, TAB, bet365
NFL betting sites in the CA	bet365, Sports Interaction, BetVictor, DraftKings, BetMGM, FanDuel
Bet from anywhere:	Use NordVPN (now 75% off) to access your local NFL betting site while abroad.

The 2026 schedule runs through January, with the AFC and NFC Championship Games scheduled for January 31, followed by Super Bowl LXI at SoFi Stadium on February 14, 2027.

With NFL betting available across major regulated markets, the league remains one of the biggest opportunities for sports bettors. Check your legal sportsbook availability now and compare NFL markets before the season starts.

NFL betting availability: global sportsbook analysis

Most major sportsbooks offer NFL markets, but the important question is whether they are licensed and available in your jurisdiction. The list below combines active sportsbooks with brands whose status has changed, so bettors can distinguish current operators from discontinued or absorbed brands.

NFL betting site	Is it legal in the US?	Is it legal in the UK?	Is it legal in Canada?	Is it legal in Australia?
FanDuel	✅ Yes, 24 states + Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico	❌ No standard UK sportsbook	⚠️ Ontario/Alberta availability varies	❌ No
DraftKings	✅ Yes, 27 states, plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico	❌ No standard UK sportsbook	⚠️ Ontario; Alberta launched July 2026	❌ No
BetMGM	✅ Yes, 23 states + DC + Puerto Rico	✅ Yes	✅ Ontario; Alberta	❌ No
Caesars Sportsbook	✅ Yes, multiple regulated US states; verify current state list	❌ No as Caesars Sportsbook	⚠️ Market-dependent	❌ No
bet365	✅ Yes, 17 states	✅ Yes	⚠️ Legal/regulated availability varies by province	✅ Yes
Fanatics Sportsbook	✅ Yes, 23 states + DC	❌ No standard UK sportsbook	⚠️ Market-dependent	❌ No
BetRivers	✅ Yes, 15 states	❌ No standard UK sportsbook	⚠️ Ontario/market-dependent	❌ No
Bally Bet	✅ Yes, 12 states	❌ No	❌ No standard regulated sportsbook	❌ No
Hard Rock Bet	✅ Yes, 10 states	❌ No	⚠️ Ontario/market-dependent	❌ No
SuperBook Sports	✅ Yes, only in Nevada	❌ No	❌ No	❌ No
betPARX	✅ Yes, 5 states	❌ No	❌ No	❌ No
William Hill	❌ US William Hill sportsbook became Caesars	✅ Yes	⚠️ Market-dependent	⚠️ Market-dependent
Ladbrokes	❌ No standard US sportsbook	✅ Yes	⚠️ Market-dependent	✅ Yes
Coral	❌ No standard US sportsbook	✅ Yes	❌ No standard Canadian sportsbook	❌ No standard Australian brand
Paddy Power	❌ No standard US sportsbook	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
Betfair	⚠️ Market-dependent	✅ Yes	⚠️ Market-dependent	✅ Yes
Sky Bet	❌ No	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
888sport	❌ No standard US sportsbook	✅ Yes	⚠️ Market-dependent	⚠️ Market-dependent
BetVictor	❌ No standard US sportsbook	✅ Yes	⚠️ Market-dependent	⚠️ Market-dependent
Unibet	❌ No standard US sportsbook	✅ Yes	⚠️ Market-dependent	✅ Yes
Betway	⚠️ Limited/market-dependent	✅ Yes	⚠️ Market-dependent	⚠️ Market-dependent
10bet	❌ No standard US sportsbook	✅ Yes	⚠️ Market-dependent	⚠️ Market-dependent
BoyleSports	❌ No	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No standard Australian operation
PROLINE+	❌ No	❌ No	✅ Yes - Canada/provincial	❌ No
PlayNow	❌ No	❌ No	✅ Yes - B.C., Manitoba and Saskatchewan	❌ No
Mise-o-jeu+	❌ No	❌ No	✅ Yes, Quebec	❌ No
NorthStar Bets	❌ No	❌ No	✅ Yes, Ontario	❌ No
theScore Bet	✅ Yes, 21 states	❌ No	✅ Yes, Ontario	❌ No
Sportsbet	❌ No	❌ No	❌ No	✅ Yes
Neds	❌ No	❌ No	❌ No	✅ Yes
TAB	❌ No	❌ No	❌ No	✅ Yes
Palmerbet	❌ No	❌ No	❌ No	✅ Yes
Ladbrokes Australia	❌ No	❌ No	❌ No	✅ Yes
Betano	❌ No standard U.S. sportsbook	✅ Yes	⚠️ Market-dependent	❌ No standard Australian operation

NFL betting legality by US state

Not every US state allows online NFL betting. As of 2026, around 30 states plus Washington, DC offer legal online sports betting, while several large states still have no legal option. The table below shows where you stand.

State group	Online NFL betting status	Examples
Open, regulated markets	✅ Legal online	NJ, PA, NY, MI, CO, IL, AZ, OH, VA, IN, IA, TN, MD
Online only, no retail	✅ Legal online	TN, ME, VT
Retail only, no statewide online	⚠️ Limited or none online	MS, WI, ND
No legal sports betting	❌ Not legal	CA, TX, GA, AL, AK, HI, ID, OK, SC, UT, MN

Bettors in the ❌ states often turn to offshore books, but those carry their own restrictions. For example, Bovada blocks 20 states even though it accepts players in many others. Here is the full Bovada restricted list as of 2026:

Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, and West Virginia.

NFL betting legality by country

The NFL now plays regular-season games across Europe, South America, and Australia, so international fans bet on it too. Rules differ widely by country. The map below shows how the main markets compare.

Here is a country-by-country snapshot:

Country	NFL betting status	Popular NFL sportsbooks
United States	Legal in about 30 states, banned in others	DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Bovada
United Kingdom	Fully legal and popular	bet365, Sky Bet, Paddy Power, William Hill, Betfair
Ireland	Fully legal	bet365, Paddy Power, BoyleSports
Canada	Ontario open market, others use provincial books	DraftKings, FanDuel, PROLINE+, PlayNow, Mise-o-jeu
Australia	Legal and regulated	Sportsbet, Ladbrokes, Neds, TAB
Germany	Legal, licensed operators	bet365, Tipico, Betano
Spain	Legal, licensed operators	bet365, bwin, Codere
Mexico	Legal	Caliente, Codere, Betano

How to use a VPN to safely access NFL betting sites: step-by-step guide

You can bet on the NFL from anywhere by using a VPN and connecting to a supported region where your sportsbook operates. This hides your real location and gives you a local IP address. Follow these steps.

Step 1. Choose a reliable sports betting VPN

The main problem is location blocking, so your VPN needs servers in places where NFL betting is legal, such as New Jersey, Colorado, or the UK.

Based on our testing, NordVPN is the best choice for NFL betting because its network includes thousands of servers across 225 locations and offers features such as standard, obfuscated, Double VPN and dedicated-IP options. In our testing, it unblocked NFL betting sites in the US right away.

Step 2. Install the VPN app on your device

Download and install the app on the device you plan to bet with. For the NFL, a smartphone works best because most sportsbooks build their apps for mobile and push live odds fast. NordVPN also runs on Windows, macOS, tablets, and smart TVs.

Step 3. Connect to a server in a supported region

Connecting to a server changes your IP address so the sportsbook sees you in a legal area. Choose a server that matches where your book operates. NordVPN currently advertises servers across 225 locations, while Surfshark lists more than 4,500 servers in 100 countries and Proton VPN lists more than 20,700 servers in 149 countries.

• DraftKings or FanDuel – connect to New Jersey or Pennsylvania
• bet365 or BetRivers – connect to Colorado or Ohio
• Sky Bet or Paddy Power – connect to the UK

The correct region matters because the site checks your IP against its licensed markets. If a site does not load, switch to a different server in the same region and try again.

Step 4. Open your chosen site and start betting on the NFL

Open your sportsbook in a browser or its app, then log in or create an account. If a page still detects your old location, use incognito mode or clear your cookies and cache first, since sportsbooks store location data locally. Once you are in, you can browse NFL odds, place moneyline, spread, and prop bets, and follow live games.

Troubleshooting tips if a site will not load:

1. Switch to another server in the same region
2. Restart the VPN app
3. Clear your browser cache and cookies
4. Try a different device

Visit NordVPN

Can you bet on the NFL in restricted states?

Betting sites follow different legal rules depending on your region, so access changes from state to state and country to country. Below is a look at where you can and cannot place NFL wagers, and how a VPN helps when you travel.

California

California has no legal online sportsbooks, so regulated apps like DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM do not operate there. Many fans turn to offshore books, but Bovada is not blocked in California, so it remains one of the few options for NFL wagers in the state. If you already hold an account with a licensed book from another state, a VPN lets you reach it when you travel back home.

Texas

Texas has not legalized online sports betting, which means DraftKings, FanDuel, and Caesars are all unavailable for NFL games. Offshore sites like Bovada and BetOnline still accept Texas bettors for NFL markets. A VPN is useful if you signed up for a regulated app while visiting a legal state and want to log back into it.

New Jersey

New Jersey is one of the most open betting markets in the US, so DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and bet365 all take NFL bets there. However, Bovada blocks New Jersey because of the state's strict rules on unlicensed operators. If you travel outside New Jersey, a VPN helps you connect back and keep using your regulated account.

Ontario, Canada

Ontario runs a regulated market, so DraftKings, FanDuel, bet365, and theScore Bet all accept NFL wagers there. Other provinces rely on government books like PROLINE+, PlayNow, and Mise-o-jeu for NFL betting. If you leave Ontario for another province or country, a VPN lets you reach your usual sportsbook and its NFL lines.

United Kingdom

NFL betting is fully legal and popular in the UK, so bet365, Sky Bet, Paddy Power, William Hill, and Betfair all offer deep NFL markets. US-only books like DraftKings and Bovada do not operate there. If you travel abroad from the UK, a VPN helps you log back into your account and bet on NFL games as usual.

Australia

Australia allows online sports betting, so Sportsbet, Ladbrokes, Neds, and TAB all carry NFL odds. US and UK books are not licensed for Australian users. When you travel outside Australia, a VPN lets you reconnect to your local bookmaker and place NFL wagers.

Best VPNs for NFL betting

1. NordVPN - best overall VPN for NFL betting privacy. NordVPN is the strongest all-around choice if your priority is fast, secure browsing around NFL betting websites. Its network currently covers 225 locations, with regular, obfuscated, Double VPN and dedicated-IP options, giving users extensive choices for ordinary privacy and connection troubleshooting.
2. Surfshark - budget-friendly VPN for NFL betting. Surfshark is a strong budget alternative with 4,500+ servers in 100 countries, RAM-only infrastructure and support for WireGuard, IKEv2 and OpenVPN. It is particularly useful for bettors who want to protect several devices while watching or researching the NFL.
3. Proton VPN - best privacy-focused NFL VPN. Proton VPN is a good choice for NFL fans who put privacy and transparency first. Its current network lists more than 20,700 servers in 149 countries, including Secure Core infrastructure and servers capable of up to 10 Gbps.

NFL betting explained: which type of bet should you choose?

NFL betting sites offer several ways to bet on a game. Understanding the difference helps you choose the right market and check exactly what needs to happen for your wager to win.

Bet type	What you’re betting on	Example
Moneyline	Which team wins the game	Your selected team must win, regardless of the winning margin
Point spread	Whether a team covers a specified points margin	A team at -3.5 must win by at least 4 points
Over/under	Whether the teams’ combined score finishes above or below a total	Over 45.5 wins if the teams score at least 46 points combined
Player prop	A specified player outcome	A quarterback throws for more than 249.5 yards
Parlay	Multiple selections combined into one wager	A standard parlay generally requires every selection to win, subject to the sportsbook’s settlement rules
Futures	A result decided later in the season	A team wins its division or the Super Bowl

How to read NFL betting odds

American odds use a plus or minus sign. Odds of +150 mean a $100 winning bet earns $150 in profit. Odds of -150 mean you need to stake $150 to earn $100 in profit.

Your returned stake is separate from your profit. For example, a winning $10 bet at +150 returns $25 in total: your $10 stake plus $15 in profit.

The examples above explain the calculations and are not current odds for a specific NFL game.

Is it legal to bet on the NFL with a VPN?

Using a VPN is not automatically illegal, but using one to circumvent a sportsbook's location controls can breach the sportsbook's Terms of Service and potentially create gambling-law issues.

The distinction matters. FanDuel says it uses GeoComply to verify customers are playing from jurisdictions where its products are legal. DraftKings says it collects geolocation information to establish whether users are eligible to participate. BetMGM's UK terms explicitly classify accessing its services from outside the UK using a VPN as a prohibited practice.

KYC and AML checks can also require identity, location and payment verification. Trying to disguise your location can therefore cause an account to be flagged, suspended or closed and may complicate withdrawals.

Before placing an NFL wager, check the gambling laws applicable to your physical location and read the specific Terms of Service of the bookmaker you intend to use.

NFL betting this week: matchups and updates

Updated September 16, 2026

NFL Week 2 runs from September 17–21, opening with the Detroit Lions at the Buffalo Bills on Thursday Night Football. Sunday’s schedule includes Commanders vs. Cowboys and Colts vs. Chiefs, before Giants vs. Rams closes the week on Monday night.

If you’re planning to bet on the NFL this week, check the kickoff times, quarterback updates, and final injury reports before choosing your wager.

NFL Week 2 schedule

All kickoff times below are Eastern Time. The home team appears second.

Date	Matchup	Kickoff (ET)
Thursday, September 17	Detroit Lions at Buffalo Bills	8:15 p.m.
Sunday, September 20	Philadelphia Eagles at Tennessee Titans	1:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 20	Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots	1:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 20	Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears	1:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 20	Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons	1:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 20	Green Bay Packers at New York Jets	1:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 20	New Orleans Saints at Baltimore Ravens	1:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 20	Cincinnati Bengals at Houston Texans	1:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 20	Cleveland Browns at Tampa Bay Buccaneers	1:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 20	Jacksonville Jaguars at Denver Broncos	4:05 p.m.
Sunday, September 20	Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers	4:05 p.m.
Sunday, September 20	Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals	4:25 p.m.
Sunday, September 20	Miami Dolphins at San Francisco 49ers	4:25 p.m.
Sunday, September 20	Washington Commanders at Dallas Cowboys	4:25 p.m.
Sunday, September 20	Indianapolis Colts at Kansas City Chiefs	8:20 p.m.
Monday, September 21	New York Giants at Los Angeles Rams	8:15 p.m.

Check the NFL schedule for any scheduling changes.

NFL betting updates to follow this week

Seattle’s quarterback situation is the main update to watch before Seahawks vs. Cardinals. Seattle confirmed on September 14 that Sam Darnold has a soft-tissue injury affecting his glute, with no damage to the hip joint and no firm return date. Drew Lock is expected to start against Arizona. For bettors, that makes the starting-quarterback confirmation particularly relevant when assessing Seattle’s passing-yard markets and receiver props. Seahawks injury update, Reuters quarterback report

Miami will be without rookie safety Kyle Louis against San Francisco. Head coach Jeff Hafley confirmed Louis will miss Week 2 after suffering a knee injury in the opener. Louis played only three defensive snaps in that game, so the news alone offers limited grounds for a major reassessment of Miami’s defense. Check the broader injury report before evaluating 49ers passing and receiving markets. Reuters injury report

Recheck your selected market before confirming a bet. Quarterback availability, player absences, and updated odds can change the wager you originally considered. If you’re researching NFL betting from out of state, use the VPN comparison and setup guide below as part of your game-day preparation.

Conclusion

The 2026 NFL season opened on September 9th, 2026 and runs through Super Bowl LXI, giving fans months of games to bet on. The catch is location. Regulated books like DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and bet365 restrict access to licensed states, and offshore sites like Bovada block 20 US states.

A VPN helps you reach your NFL betting account when you travel or when your usual site is unavailable. Just get a VPN, install it, connect to a server in a supported region, and log in to bet. For speed, reliable access, and strong security, NordVPN is our top recommendation for NFL betting from anywhere.

FAQ