Considering how incredibly ingrained sports betting has become in the US culture, you almost forget that it was only a few years ago when it was illegal across the entire country, except Nevada.
The turning point came in May 2018, when a Supreme Court ruling granted the power to each state to make its own decision on the matter. Today, as many as 33 States (more than half of the country) as well as Washington D.C. allow some form of legal sports betting. What an incredible transformation, right?
US Legal Sports Betting
North Carolina is Next
The next state to make moves towards legalization is North Carolina, thanks to a bill that would make it happen was voted through in the state Senate.
When and if it should be passed into law, a maximum of 12 interactive sports betting licenses would be granted. The license would cover professional, college, esports and amateur sports plus any other sporting event approved by the North Carolina Commission.
Different Rules for Different States
Just like with other types of laws, sports betting has different rules depending on what state you’re in. While some states allow online betting, others are limited to only in-person betting.
Then there are other regulations on what leagues and sports you are allowed to bet on. While you can bet on any sports in some places, some states do not permit bets on college and/or minor league teams.
US Sports Betting Activity
What’s Allowed in Each of the 50 States
The fact that 33 states have opened the doors to this part of entertainment is fantastic and I think all of us can agree. However, since all of them are putting their own unique twist on the type of sports betting they will legally allow, it’s definitely a challenge to keep track of it all.
Lucky for you, I’m here to break it all down for you. That’s right, I will look at each of the 50 states and their respective sports betting regulations.
1) Alabama
Sports betting is not legal in Alabama at this time. Efforts to legalize sports betting have been met with resistance and have not progressed in recent years so it might take a while.
2) Alaska
The state has not introduced any legislation towards legalizing sports betting. There actually was a bill proposed in 2020, which did in fact receive support from Governor Mike Dunleavy. However, it expired due to the COVID-19 pandemic and there’s nothing new to report.
3) Arizona
Sports betting is legal in Arizona as of September 2021. The state has approved 20 sports betting licenses for professional sports teams and tribal casinos. You can bet both online as well as In-person.
4) Arkansas
Sports betting is legal in Arkansas. The first official sports book launched in July 2021, followed by the launch of the first online sports book in February 2022. Betting on in-state professional and collegiate teams is permitted.
5) California
Not legal. There were two major propositions on the November 2022 ballot, one for in-person betting and the other for online betting, but both propositions were heavily voted down. California has a lot of work left to do.
6) Colorado
Legal in Colorado since May 1, 2020. Residents can open online accounts and place wagers with multiple operators. There are restrictions on betting on in-state college games.
7) Connecticut
Sports betting is legal in Connecticut as of October 2021. The state reached agreements with its two federally recognized tribes to offer sports betting at their respective casinos. Online betting is also available.
8) Delaware
Sports betting is legal in Delaware. The state was one of the first to legalize sports betting after the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018. Online sports betting is allowed, but there are no in-state online sports books. Betting on in-state collegiate teams is prohibited.
9) Florida
The status of sports betting in Florida is complicated. It was temporarily approved and legal, but a judge ruled the agreement between the state and the Seminole Tribe as illegal. The issue is currently tied up in Federal court.
10) Georgia
Sports betting is not legal in Georgia. Bills to legalize sports betting were filed in January 2023 but were ultimately voted down by the Georgia Senate.
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11) Hawaii
Sports betting is not legal in Hawaii. A bill proposed in 2019 to regulate sports gambling was denied. Hawaii has some of the strictest gambling laws in the country and does not have any legal form of sports betting.
12) Idaho
Sports betting is not legal in Idaho. The state has not introduced any legislation to legalize sports betting.
13) Illinois
Sports betting is legal in Illinois. The state passed a law in 2019 to allow sports betting at casinos, racetracks, and sports venues. Online betting is also permitted, and the market has seen significant growth since its launch.
14) Indiana
Sports betting is legal in Indiana. The state legalized sports betting in September 2019, allowing both in-person and online betting. Indiana has a thriving sports betting market with numerous sports books operating within the state. Betting on collegiate game outcomes is allowed, but player prop bets in collegiate games are prohibited.
15) Iowa
Sports betting is legal in Iowa. The state legalized sports betting in August 2019 and allows both in-person and online betting. Sports betting in Iowa is growing with several sports books operating in the state.
16) Kansas
Legal online sports betting launched in Kansas on July 1, 2022.
17) Kentucky
Sports betting is not legal in Kentucky. Efforts to pass legislation in 2022 failed, and there is currently no legal sports betting in the state.
18) Louisiana
Sports betting is legal in Louisiana as of May 2021. Voters in 55 out of 64 parishes approved sports betting in a 2020 referendum. Regulations are currently being developed, and it is expected that both in-person and online betting will be available.
19) Maine
Sports betting is legal in Maine. The state passed a law in 2019 to allow sports betting, and regulations were finalized in 2020. However, as of now, no sports books have launched in the state and the latest reports say that it may not happen until 2024.
20) Maryland
Sports betting is legal in Maryland as of June 2021. Voters approved a ballot measure in November 2020, and regulations are currently being developed. The state will allow both in-person and online betting.
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21) Massachusetts
Sports betting is not legal in Massachusetts. Although there have been discussions and proposed legislation regarding the legalization of sports betting, no laws have been passed to date.
22) Michigan
Sports betting is legal in Michigan. The state legalized sports betting in December 2019, and both in-person and online betting are available. Michigan has a robust sports betting market with numerous operators.
23) Minnesota
Sports betting is not legal in Minnesota. Bills have been introduced in the legislature, but none have been successful so far.
24) Mississippi
Sports betting is legal in Mississippi. The state legalized sports betting in August 2018, following the repeal of PASPA. In-person betting is allowed at casinos, but online betting is limited to on-site mobile apps within casino properties.
25) Missouri
Sports betting is not legal in Missouri. Bills to legalize sports betting have been introduced, but none have been enacted into law.
26) Montana
Sports betting is legal in Montana. The state legalized sports betting in May 2019, allowing both in-person and online betting. Montana has a limited number of sports books operating within the state.
27) Nebraska
Nebraska sports betting has been legal since the state Legislature passed a bill in May 2021. However, the state has yet to formally launch as the proposed sports betting rules must now go through an additional vetting and approval process.
28) Nevada
Sports betting is legal in Nevada. The state has a long history of legalized sports betting, and it is the only state where single-game wagering is widely available. In-person and online betting options are available.
29) New Hampshire
Sports betting is legal in New Hampshire. The state authorized sports betting in July 2019, and online betting is the primary method of placing wagers. Several online sports books operate in the state and Mobile sports betting is available through the state lottery.
30) New Jersey
Sports betting is legal in New Jersey. The state led the effort to overturn PASPA, resulting in the legalization of sports betting in 2018. New Jersey has a thriving sports betting market, both in-person and online.
US Sports Betting Mobile
31) New Mexico
Sports betting is legal in New Mexico, but with some limitations. Several tribal casinos in the state offer sports betting, but there are no laws specifically addressing online betting or betting at non-tribal locations.
32) New York
Sports betting is legal in New York, but with some limitations. In-person sports betting is allowed at select commercial and tribal casinos. Online sports betting is also available but is limited to a few operators and requires registration at a physical sports book.
33) North Carolina
Sports betting is legal in North Carolina, but with some limitations. The state authorized sports betting at two tribal casinos, which launched in 2021. Online sports betting is not currently permitted.
34) North Dakota
Sports betting is legal in North Dakota. Voters approved a ballot measure in November 2020, and regulations are currently being developed. The state allows both in-person and online sports betting.
35) Ohio
Sports Betting is now legal in Ohio, provided it’s done through legal and licensed sports books. Gov. Mike DeWine signed off on it, which legalized the industry in Dec. 2021, and sports books went live on Jan. 1, 2023.
36) Oklahoma
Sports betting is not legal in Oklahoma. There was a sports betting legislation proposed in 2023 that actually gained momentum, but it ultimately was shut down. Oklahoma will once again attempt to legalize sports betting as soon as 2024.
37) Oregon
Sports betting is legal in Oregon. The state offers sports betting through the Oregon Lottery, both in-person and online. The betting options are more limited compared to other states.
38) Pennsylvania
Sports betting has been legal in Pennsylvania since 2017. You can bet live online, as well as at racetracks, casinos and in-person locations in the state.
39) Rhode Island
Sports betting is legal in Rhode Island. The state authorized sports betting in 2018, allowing both in-person and online betting. Sports betting is limited to the two state-operated casinos.
40) South Carolina
Sports betting is not legal in South Carolina. Although there have been discussions and proposed legislation regarding the legalization of sports betting, no laws have been passed to date.
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41) South Dakota
Sports betting is legal in South Dakota. Voters approved a ballot measure in November 2020, Sports books are available at several locations in the city of Deadwood, or you can place a wager at any of the state’s tribal casinos that offer on-site sports betting.
42) Tennessee
Sports betting is legal in Tennessee. The state legalized online sports betting in 2020, becoming the first state to offer only online betting without in-person sports books.
43) Texas
Sports betting is not legal in Texas. Although there have been discussions and proposed legislation regarding the legalization of sports betting but so far nothing has worked. Just like California, it feels like Texas is a must based on its sports crazy people.
44) Utah
There is no sports betting, or gambling of any kind, in Utah. The state’s deeply rooted ties to the Mormon faith means any form of gambling is unlikely to come to Utah anytime soon. Utah is also one of five states in the US without a state lottery.
45) Vermont
Vermont sports betting will be legalized in 2023, with a go-live date for online wagering set for sometime in January 2024.
46) Virginia
Sports betting is legal in Virginia. The state legalized online sports betting in 2020, and several operators are active in the market. In-person sports books are also permitted in select locations.
47) Washington
Sports betting is illegal in Washington State except at Tribal casinos.
48) West Virginia
Sports betting is legal in West Virginia. The state legalized sports betting in 2018, and both in-person and online betting are available. West Virginia has multiple sports books operating within the state.
49) Wisconsin
Sports betting is not legal in Wisconsin but it’s retail only for the time being.
50) Wyoming
Sports betting is legal in Wyoming. The state passed a law in 2021 to allow sports betting, and regulations are currently being developed. The state will offer both in-person and online betting options.
US Sports Betting Retail
Politics Move Fast
We all know just how slow politics can be but even as I am finishing writing this article, things may have already changed, who knows.
If you are looking for a new place to bet on sports, some of my personal favorites crypto sports betting destinations are:
You can find all of the crypto sports books by clicking here. There is also more information to be found in one of my old articles covering the sports betting industry.
I hope this helped clear some things up for you but most importantly, I hope that whatever state you live in does allow it and if not, it should only be a matter of time.
Good luck!
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