US Sports Betting Legislation Tracker State by State
But of course, this did not have much to say about any online sports betting law. This is mainly the case for New Jersey, though with such a fast-changing legal sports betting online landscape, you should check back here often. Online gambling and online sports betting are so much more simple in this sense. Online sports betting legality in the U.S. depends on your state, as each market operates under its own laws and licensing rules. While North Carolina triumphantly introduced legal online sports wagering in March 2024, its southern namesake has repeatedly fallen short in its quest to bring sports betting to the state.
Arizona’s online sports betting bill passed in April 2021, and it allowed for the mobile versions of betting along with in-stadium sportsbooks. Today, many states offer legal sports betting sites, following New Jersey’s lead. With the NBA being such a popular sport for legal sports betting, the offered odds and props at most sportsbooks are the same. Professional and college sports betting is legal in Colorado with retail and online sportsbooks.
Almost ayear later, players have eight Massachusetts sports betting apps from which to choose. Connecticut sports betting apps were given the green light later in 2021, and the Netmeg State now boasts a healthy sports betting ecosystem. By the latest count, there are 17 online sportsbooks in Arizona.
Mobile or online sports betting is not allowed in all US states, and for example, some states allow in-person wagering, or betting on horse races, but placing bets online is still considered illegal. In May 2022, Governor Janet Mills signed LD 585 into law, which legalized retail and online sports betting. A deal between the state’s governor and the Oneida Nation in July 2021 allowed for the opening of retail sportsbooks at tribal casinos while not permitting mobile betting or wagers on the state’s collegiate teams.
For example, an online sportsbook may welcome new users with a “bet $5 on any sport to get $50 in bonus bets” offer. While it’s ultimately the responsibility of our readers to determine the legality of wagering in their jurisdiction, we only list legal betting sites because we believe that is the right thing to do. The following state sports betting guides offer clear, concise explanations to help readers bet on sports safely, legally, and with minimal hassle. The case began with a law passed in New Jersey seeking to legalize sports betting. The District’s 2025 fiscal year budget included provisions for launching up to seven online sports betting operators. In April, FanDuel replaced GameBetDC, the city-controlled online sports betting platform, as the official partner of the DC Lottery.
Currently, more states are exploring online casino regulation and licensing. Online casinos let players enjoy slots, table games, and poker from anywhere. From slot machines to table games like blackjack, roulette, and poker, these casinos provide a wide range of entertainment.
This is a hot topic in nearly every state in America (except for Hawaii and Utah, neither of which have any form of legal gambling). Sportsbooks managed a combined $7.5 billion in revenue, with the Super Bowl serving as the biggest betting draw of the year. Many have already jumped at the opportunity to create their own market and forge an identity in the gambling world. While this is not necessarily the first factor that most gamblers consider when choosing their favorite sportsbook, it is an important part of the process. We have a special section dedicated to helping you find the most reliable casinos in the US. Units allow bettors to compare their results consistently and to share betting strategies, since one person’s unit might be $10, while another’s might be $100.
The platform leans heavily into daily odds boosts and offers strong sportsbook and casino https://www.pokernewsdaily.com/sportsbooks/ integration in states where both are available. FanDuel is one of the most established sportsbooks in the US and is widely regarded for its mobile execution. Bet365 is one of the most established sportsbooks globally and has developed a strong reputation among experienced bettors in the US.
No states have moved to clamp down on gambling to any major degree in recent years, but many states have instead chosen to expand legal gambling options for their citizens. What’s legal in one state may be outlawed the next state over, so we like to provide that information on a state-by-state basis. This is where state gambling commissions come into play and spell out all the rules for legal forms of gambling within each state. State laws also tend to deal with the nitty gritty details of gambling regulation.
BetMGM State Availability
Nevada becomes the first state to launch online sports betting when the STN Sports app goes live in October. Mississippi allows app-based sports betting but only on site at licensed casinos. Some tribes in New Mexico, North Dakota, Washington, and Wisconsin offer sports betting under an existing Class III gaming compact.
The sportsbook may ask for proof of your identity and age such as a government-issued photo ID to make sure you are who you say you are and that you are old enough to play. The registration form you will need to complete is always found in the upper right-hand corner of the sportsbook’s home page. Then, after you are assigned an account, whether you make your initial deposit online or via the mobile app is again entirely up to you, depending on what you find most convenient.
Scratchcard games
Betting on professional and college sports is allowed. The new Alabama Gaming Commission would have been in charge of regulating the market. If you or a loved one has questions or needs to talk to a professional about gambling, call GAMBLER or visit 1800gambler.net for more information.
Previously, online bets were restricted to the two-block radii surrounding Nationals Park and Capital One Arena. Retail wagering is available at facilities throughout the state, and there are currently multiple options for betting. The Arizona Department of Gaming issued a cease-and-desist order to Kalshi and submitted comments to the CFTC calling purchase contracts on future sports illegal gambling. The median household income in Alaska is over $88,000, indicating an incentive for the state to legalize betting to collect tax revenue. Below is a summary of the current legislative status in all 50 states and key jurisdictions, including launch dates, legal betting ages, regulators, and basic college betting rules.
Starting with the 2026 tax year, you can only deduct 90% of your gambling losses against your winnings, down from 100%. This is the single biggest change for US bettors this year, and it has nothing to do with which state you live in. Article VI, Section 27 of the Utah Constitution prohibits all forms of gambling, and amending it requires a two-thirds legislative supermajority plus voter approval.
Initially intended to address organized crime, the Department of Justice has since used the act to prohibit all forms of online gambling, including sports betting. Since then, PASPA’s repeal and national support for legal sports betting has created a new boom in the industry. Online sportsbooks based outside of the USA (like the ones featured on this page) operate outside of the jurisdiction of United States betting laws. The legality of sports betting (both online and otherwise) is decided on a state-by-state basis. US residents living in states without sports betting approval can still enjoy a variety of betting options through safe offshore sportsbooks. The following resource is available for reference for organizations and others concerned about the legalization of sports betting, and how it may increase instances of gambling disorder in their communities.
Hawai’i does not have any kind of gambling entity, so sports betting looks to be a ways off. Two sports betting bills died in the Georgia legislature in 2023, so it looks like lawmakers will have to try again in 2024. That could change, though, because the Northern Arapaho Tribe is looking to add a retail sports betting location. The tribe started sports betting at its Green Bay casino in November 2022. Virginia sports betting began in Jan. 2021, but wagering on the state’s collegiate sports teams isn’t allowed.
The Mid-Atlantic states include Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia as well as the District of Columbia. Some bettors will always want a local option, while others will prefer the advantages provided by international brands. Rules can differ substantially depending on where the bettor is located and where the operator is based.
You must be 21 years of age or older to participate in Nevada online sports betting. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has raised the legal sports betting age from 18 to 21, effective July 15, 2026. A U.S. Supreme Court ruling in June 2024 essentially solidified the Seminoles’ monopoly over Florida online sports betting until at least 2051. The nation’s capital has a very interesting approach to online sports betting. Players must be 21 years of age or older to legally participate in Delaware sports betting.
Pari-mutuel betting is legal in most states, allowing players to wager on races at tracks or online racebooks. Historically, before evolving into online sportsbook behemoths, DraftKings and FanDuel operated as a duopoly that controlled the entire U.S. market. Sweepstakes casinos provide low-risk entertainment and a legal way to experience online casino games.
The American gambling industry is larger than ever, but also more complex than at any other time in history. Remember that gambling should be done as a form of entertainment and not as your primary source of income. You could also consider calling a gambling helpline or talking to someone close to you. The importance of safe and responsible gambling cannot be stressed enough.
New Hampshire legalized sports betting in 2019 when Gov. Chris Sununu signed House Bill 480-FN into law. There is a mandatory in-person registration process you need to complete at an online sportsbook’s retail partner before you can place bets online. Unfortunately, online sports betting is not allowed at this time. Mississippi legalized sports betting in 2017 and the first bets were taken by the Beau Rivage Casino and Resort and Gold Strike Casino Resort on August 1, 2018. There is no legal sports betting in Minnesota in any form.
Outside of a hand full of states, Bovada is able to supply odds to all other US residents whether their local sports betting market has launched or not. Read this page to compare legal online sportsbooks and to make sure your desired site is available in your area. Our guide on these states will also update you on their steps to make betting on sports online legal.
- While it didn’t make betting illegal for US citizens, it did make it illegal to accept any payments on behalf of an illegal online casino or sportsbook operating in America.
- But in the three years since, the state hasn’t approved online sports betting, and there are just three in-person options in Delaware Park, Bally’s Dover, and Harrington Raceway and Casino.
- Below is a list of mobile launch dates for every legal state.
- Online sportsbooks bring convenience, while land-based venues offer the traditional IRL experience.
When the Hoosier State legalized offline gambling in 2019, only casinos and offtrack betting sites could host sports betting as well. Sen. John F. Keenan introduced Bill SD 1657 in January 2025, which would increase the tax rate on sports betting sites to a whopping 51%, up from 15% on retail wagering and 20% on mobile bets. Bettors in Puerto Rico can now legally place bets at licensed retail sportsbooks, with online betting expected to expand further as more operators enter the market. The state initially launched with retail sports betting at its casinos, and it wasn’t until March 2022 that online sports betting became available, expanding the market significantly. With nine states across the U.S. considering to legalize or expand sports betting in casinos to mobile and online apps, the market will almost certainly expand in 2026.
While lawmakers in many states are actively pushing for new gambling bills centered around allowing iGaming, these law proposals either move painfully slow or are basically dead in the water from the very beginning. One of the most common ones is prohibiting betting on in-state college teams. When moving on to the wagering of college sports, the field narrows. And, of course, what are the top sportsbook apps in my state?
Do I have to be physically located in a legal state to bet online?
You only need to be in a legal betting state when you place your bet. It is illegal to bet on sports in a state that has not expressly legalized the activity. However, each state has its own regulations regarding where and how bets can be placed, whether online or in-person. Some states have only tribal gaming and no commercial casinos at present, including Minnesota, and Washington State. The compacts govern which games are allowed in casinos and mandate revenue sharing between the state and the recognized tribe. Indeed, the NCAA, as well as the four major pro sports leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL), were instrumental in getting PASPA through Congress in 1992 and in enforcing it by repeatedly blocking several state-level attempts to legalize sports wagering.
New Jersey led the battle against the federal government and joined Nevada as one of the states that allowed legal sportsbooks to accept wagers. Our team combines industry research with firsthand experience using online sportsbooks. Domestic sportsbooks do sometimes offer downloadable apps for iPhone and Android devices in states where they are licensed to operate. Our guide covers the most popular sports sim titles, explains how odds and betting markets work, and highlights the differences between sports simulations, esports, and virtual sports. It also covers how scripted-event betting differs from traditional sports wagering and what bettors should know before placing a bet.