In Which States Is Sports Betting Legal?

In 2018, the US Supreme Court lifted a federal ban on sports betting in the state of New Jersey, which sparked a chain reaction. In a nutshell, the ruling paved the way for all US states to consider legalizing sports betting.

While the Trump administration sought to restrict online gaming by adopting a more stringent interpretation of the 1961 Wire Act, the new occupants of the White House seem to have no appetite for interfering in state-level sports betting policies. That’s good news for both the gaming industry and state legislators who are opposed to any federal interference in this multi-billion dollar industry.

So, in which states is sports betting legal, and are there any states that may legalize it in the near future?

States Where You Can Bet on Sports

Sports betting is currently legal in the District of Columbia + 25 states: Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia.

However, that doesn’t mean that sports betting is made instantly available. In some of these states, lawmakers and gaming commissions are still finalizing regulations and issuing licenses.

Arkansas

• Legalized: November 2018
• Online sports betting: Not available
• Brick and mortar gambling: Yes

Arkansas was traditionally against most forms of gambling until a ballot initiative was passed in November 2018. Arkansas was among the first to adopt such legislation as part of the US legalization process of sports betting. Even though gambling was legalized in 2018, the first sportsbooks opened in 2019. The Arkansas Racing Commission is officially tasked with regulating the industry.

Colorado

• Legalized: November 2019
• Online sports betting: Available
• Brick and mortar gambling: Yes

November 6, 2019 will go down in Colorado’s history as the date when the state’s voters passed Proposition DD by a margin of 51% to 49%. The vote legalized sports betting, which is taxed at a rate of 10%. In the first year alone, the state saw more than $1.1 billion in wagers. During that time, Colorado collected over $3.4 million in tax revenue, which was used to benefit the water fund. Colorado officially launched legal sports betting in May 2020.

Delaware

• Legalized: June 2018
• Online sports betting: Not available
• Brick and mortar gambling: Yes

With a population of less than one million, Delaware was the first state to fully legalize sports betting outside Nevada on June 5, 2018. That’s less than a month after the US Supreme Court ruling on New Jersey. The state now has three casino/race track complexes: Dover Downs, Delaware Park, and Harrington Raceway.

Illinois

• Legalized:  June 2019
• Online sports betting: Available
• Brick and mortar gambling: Yes

Illinois was the fifth state to legalize sports betting in 2019 after the state legislature passed a bill that was later signed into law. Rivers Casino Des Plaines and Rush Street Interactive launched the state’s first online sportsbook. Illinois sports gambling owes a lot to the state’s governor J.B. Pritzker who played an important role in legalizing betting.

Indiana

• Legalized: May 2019
• Online sports betting: Available
• Brick and mortar gambling: Yes

Sports betting in Indiana became legal in May 2019 after Governor Eric Holcomb signed House Bill 1015 into law. The state began rolling out sportsbook apps just a few months later. BetRivers and the  DraftKings Sportsbook appeared in Indiana in October. Other betting websites that currently operate in the state include BetAmerica, FanDuel, PointsBet, Caesars, the Score, and BetMGM.

Iowa

• Legalized: May 2019
• Online sports betting: Available
• Brick and mortar gambling: Yes

There are all sorts of ways you can place your sports bets in Iowa after the state’s legislature passed SF 617 legalizing online and land-based sports betting. The body responsible for regulating and overseeing any and all forms of sports betting is the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission.

Louisiana

• Legalized: December 2019
• Online sports betting:  Available
• Brick and mortar gambling: Yes

Michigan

• Legalized: December 2019
• Online sports betting:  Available
• Brick and mortar gambling: Yes

Sports betting in Michigan was legalized with ease in December 2019 after sports betting legislation passed the state senate by an overwhelming majority of 35-3. The first retail sportsbooks are already open, with more to come. There are 23 tribal and three commercial casinos, as well as a horse racing track. Native American casinos are largely overseen by tribal gaming regulators, while three commercial casinos in Detroit are paying an additional 1.25% municipal tax.

Mississippi

• Legalized: August 2018
• Online sports betting: Not available
• Brick and mortar gambling: Yes

Mississippi offers gamblers a unique gaming experience with its traditional riverboat casinos, which are a popular form of entertainment throughout the state. Of the 23 casinos, 28 offer sports wagering. The Mississippi Gaming Commission implemented regulations that make it obligatory for all betting to take place in person.

Montana

• Legalized: May 2019
• Online sports betting: Available
• Brick and mortar gambling: Yes

Sports betting was legalized in Montana after Governor Steve Bullock signed into law a 28-page bill that turned all sports gambling activities over to the state’s lottery – this could change in the future though. But if you’re wondering in which states is sports betting legal online and if Montana is on that list, you’re in luck. The state permits online wagers on sports as long as they are placed inside a licensed retailer location.

Nevada

• Legalized: 1949
• Online sports betting: Available
• Brick and mortar gambling: Yes

Nevada is the traditional home of sports betting. For decades, the state held a monopoly over sports betting under the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, which was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2018. Still, with many decades of experience, Nevada maintains its status as the capital of betting and a place where every American bookie dreams of working. Online sports betting is legal, but one must register for an account at a brick-and-mortar casino in order to enjoy the benefits of mobile betting.

New Hampshire

• Legalized: July 2019
• Online sports betting: Available
• Brick and mortar gambling: Yes

Although traditionally opposed to most forms of gambling, in December 2019, Governor Chris Sununu signed HB 480 into law. Gambling was legalized in other states that year, but Sununu stood out by marking the occasion with a ceremonial bet on New Jersey Patriots to win the Superbowl. He also handed control over the New Hampshire Lottery to the local betting industry. At the moment, New Hampshire bettors have a choice between Intralot and the DraftKings Sportsbook.

New Jersey

• Legalized: June 2018
• Online sports betting: Available
• Brick and mortar gambling: Yes

Governor Phil Murphy signed sports betting into law on June 11, 2018. Of course, it was New Jersey’s Supreme Court victory that paved the way for legalized sports betting across the US. The state offers a number of sportsbooks in casinos and on racetracks if you like to bet in person. If you prefer online sports betting, there are more than a dozen options to choose from.

New York

• Legalized: 2013
• Online sports betting:  Not available
• Brick and mortar gambling: Yes

The state of New York passed legislation authorizing sports betting way back in 2013. But NY sports betting didn’t see any action until 2019, when the first wagers were accepted. A New York lawmaker and Racing and Wagering Chair, J. Gary Pretlow, was among the first to place a bet at the Rivers Casino in Schenectady on July 16, 2019. When it comes to sports betting, New York doesn’t offer mobile options, but many expect online betting to be legalized soon.

New Mexico

• Legalized: October 2018
• Online sports betting:  Not available
• Brick and mortar gambling: Yes

The situation in New Mexico is rather unique. The state hasn’t regulated legislation for sports betting, but four casinos offer these services from tribal grounds, which have a certain degree of legislative autonomy and are permitted to offer sports betting without breaking state laws.

Oregon

• Legalized: August 2019
• Online sports betting: Available
• Brick and mortar gambling: Yes

Oregon’s first taste of sports betting came in the form of Sports Action during the 1989 NFL Season. In August 2019, the state finally legalized sports betting. It now consists mostly of online betting via the Scoreboard website and mobile app that are controlled by the state lottery. Retail sportsbooks are also available within tribal casinos.

Pennsylvania

• Legalized: November 2018
• Online sports betting: Available
• Brick and mortar gambling: Yes

The first casino-based sportsbook bet in Pennsylvania was made only six months after the US Supreme Court ruled that individual states can legalize sports betting. The bet was made at the Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board permits live betting in licensed casinos and so-called off-track betting facilities. Sports betting online is also permitted and accessible throughout the state.

Rhode Island

• Legalized: June 2018
• Online sports betting: Available
• Brick and mortar gambling: Yes

Rhode Island legalized in-person sports betting in June 2018, and in November of that same year, the Twin River Casino became the first to take a bet. State lottery operates all legal betting. Originally, it was mandatory to register for an online account in a casino for mobile betting, but additional legislation ended the practice in 2020. Legal online sports betting is covered by SportsbetRhodeIsland.com.

Tennessee

• Legalized: May 2019
• Online sports betting: Available
• Brick and mortar gambling: No

Tennessee is unique in that it’s the only state in the country that passed online-only sports betting legislation. This is due to the state’s traditional lack of gambling infrastructure. Governor Bill Lee, who was initially opposed to expanding gambling, tasked the state lottery with overseeing Tennessee sports betting instead of creating a new regulatory body.

Virginia

• Legalized: June 2020
• Online sports betting: Available
• Brick and mortar gambling: Yes

Sports betting was finally legalized in the state in the summer of 2020 following a grueling legislative process. The state legislature passed HB 896 and SB 384, which were subsequently signed into law by Governor Ralph Northam. By January 2021, sports betting was officially launched. But since the completion of the Virginia legalization process, state lawmakers are looking to increase the number of sportsbook licenses, which were originally capped at 12.

West Virginia

• Legalized: August 2018
• Online sports betting: Available
• Brick and mortar gambling: Yes

West Virginia was the fifth state to legalize sports betting. The West Virginia Lottery Commission serves as the chief regulatory body for sports bets. Save for the state lottery, there are five casinos that offer in-person gambling. Online betting is operated through state-approved sports betting sites.

Washington

• Legalized: March 2020
• Online sports betting: Not available
• Brick and mortar gambling: Yes

The ESHB 2638 bill was originally introduced in January 2020 and signed into law in March by Governor Jay Inslee. It allows only tribal casinos to operate sportsbooks in the state.

District of Columbia

• Legalized: January 2019
• Online sports betting: Available
• Brick and mortar gambling: Yes

The Sports Wagering Lottery Amendment Act was passed by the city council in 2018 and signed into law in early 2019. It legalized both in-person and mobile sports betting under the supervision of the DC Lottery.

Bill Passed

North Carolina

Under a law signed by Governor Roy Cooper in July 2019, sports bet activities are theoretically legal at two Native American casinos. But the casinos are still getting their sportsbook deals together, while the state is yet to sign off on their licenses.

Legislation Proposed

California

California’s incredibly diverse economy with a GDP of $2.9 trillion is a major economic engine of the US. Regardless of what business you’re in, the Golden State often offers a world of lucrative possibilities. If projections are accurate, sports betting in California could be worth more than $2.5 billion per year. There’s currently a proposed constitutional amendment as well as a pending referendum that could make sports betting legal by 2022.

Connecticut

Friction between key parties involved in negotiations designed to facilitate sports betting in the state has complicated the already drawn-out process. Governor Ned Lamont announced a deal with only one of the two Indian tribes that the state was negotiating with, drawing sharp criticism from legislators. To make matters worse, the state’s exclusive wagering operator Sportech is also unhappy with the terms. When the deal finally takes effect, sports betting in Connecticut is set to be taxed at 13.5%

Massachusetts

Massachusetts should legalize gambling in the next year or two. In mid-2020, a bill was nearly passed as a law that would allow sports betting in the state, but the process was halted.

Nebraska

Nebraska state Senator Justin Wayne introduced the LB 990 bill in early 2020, which classifies sports betting as “authorized games of skill.” This particular part of the Nebraska state legislature would exempt traditional sports betting from the state’s existing ban.