Legal Sports Betting States: Where is Sports Betting Legal?

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Looking to find out where online sports betting is legal in the U.S.? Our comprehensive guide tells you where online sportsbooks are available and covers the latest legislation updates. 

Learn where you can place your bets and info about betting rules in each state, including age requirements and college sports restrictions.

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U.S. Sports Betting at a Glance

Is U.S. Sports Betting Legal?Yes (varies by state)
No. of States with Legal Sports Betting38 (plus the District of Columbia & Puerto Rico)
When was Sports Betting Legalized?2018
Legal Gambling Age in US18 or 21 (varies by state)

Is Sports Betting Legal in the U.S.?

Yes, sports betting is legal in the U.S. in general. However, the legality depends on where you are.

In 2018, the United States Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), a federal ban against sports betting. PASPA was enacted in 1992 and made betting illegal throughout most of the country. Certain states (such as Nevada) and events (such as horse racing) were granted exemptions.

When the ban was struck down in 2018, individual states were allowed to determine the legal status of sports betting. As a result, sports betting is legal on a state-by-state basis. For more breakdowns of specific legislation, read our coverage of online gambling regulations in the US. 

It is also important to note that legality depends on location rather than residency. This means, if you are within the borders of a state where sports betting is legal, you can claim sportsbook promos and place a bet even if it's illegal in your home state. 

Some states have legalized both betting apps and retail betting, while others have only approved one or the other.

Latest News on US Sports Betting

  • Kalshi—the prediction-market startup that allows its users to bet on elections, news and culture—launches sport betting markets. Minnesota senate Republicans introduced the "Minnesota Sports Betting Act 3.0" to legalize wagering on sports.

  • State Sen. Casey Murdock (R) has filed Senate Bill 164 to legalize sports betting in Oklahoma.

  • A panel of California tribal leaders at the International Casinos Exhibition confirms that CA tribes won't pursue sports betting legalization in 2026.

  • Nebraska introduces a bill to authorize mobile betting and eliminate limits on in-state college sports betting.

  • A bill to legalize online sports betting, allowing one digital partner per casino, is filed in the Mississippi State Legislature.

  • NCAA president Charlie Baker and NFLPA rep Johnson Bademosi urge Congress to rein in sports betting at a Senate hearing, citing online harassment and addition risks.

  • The Nov. 5 public vote in Missouri to legalize sports betting is officially certified. Online and retail betting will launch no later than Dec. 1, 2025.

  • Missouri voters approve constitutional Amendment 2, legalizing online and retail sports betting.

  • The Seminole Tribe of Florida and West Flagler Associates end their ongoing legal dispute and form a new partnership. As part of the ensuing agreement, the tribe will promote jai alai on the Hard Rock Bet app.

  • A federal appeals court lifts a freeze on U.S. election betting despite an effort by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to prohibit Kalshi, a commodities exchange, from allowing such bets. The CFTC is appealing the ruling, but oral arguments will not be heard until after 2024 presidential election.

  • Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) introduce the SAFE Bet Act, the first federal sports betting bill in nearly 6 years, to establish federal standards for operators and address potential public health issues.

  • The U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear a case that would have challenged the Seminole Tribe's 30-year compact with Florida, which gives the tribe exclusive oversight of online sports betting.

Legal Sports Betting States: Where is Sports Betting Legal in the US?

Some form of sports betting is currently legal in 38 states and the District of Columbia. 

Let’s look closer at the current legislative status in all 50 states. Click on a state below to learn more:

AL | AK | AZ | AR | CA | CO | CT | DE | FL | GA | HI | ID | IL | IN | IA | KS | KY | LA | ME | MD | MA | MI | MN | MS | MO | MT | NE | NV | NH | NJ | NM | NY | NC | ND | OH | OK | OR | PA | RI | SC | SD | TN | TX | UT | VT | VA | WA | WV | WI | WY | DC | PR

Alabama: Not Legal

Alabama sports betting is illegal in all its forms. In May 2024, the Alabama lawmakers ended this year's legislative session without legalizing sports betting in the state.

Alabama state flag
Launch Date:N/A
Legal Betting Age:N/A
Regulatory Body:N/A
Online Betting Options:None
Retail Betting Options:None
College Betting Rules:N/A

Alaska: Not Legal

Alaska sports betting is prohibited, and there are no signs of this changing anytime soon.

Alaska state flag
Launch Date:N/A
Legal Betting Age:N/A
Regulatory Body:Alaska Department of Revenue's Tax Division
Online Betting Options:None
Retail Betting Options:None
College Betting Rules:N/A

Arizona: Legal

On April 12, 2021, the state Senate approved Senate Bill HB 2772, which legalized retail Arizona sports betting and online sports betting. Online operators in Arizona took their first wagers five months later in September.

Retail licenses have been issued to professional sports teams and Native American tribes.

Arizona sports betting is now in an interesting place. According to reports, FanDuel, DraftKings, Caesars, and BetMGM control more than 90% of the sports betting market, so some operators have left the state, including Unibet, WynnBET, and SaharaBets. 

This has allowed Arizona to open up more licenses, namely to bet365, Fanatics Sportsbook, and Sporttrade. In January 2025, Latin American operator Betcris partnered with Plannatech to start to offer sports betting in Arizona, using Betcris' likeness and logo.

Launch Date: Sept. 9, 2021 (online)
Legal Betting Age:21
Regulatory Body:Arizona Department of Gaming
Online Betting Options:Bally Bet, bet365, BetFred, Betcris, BetMGM, BetRivers, Caesars, Desert Diamond, DraftKings, ESPN BET, Fanatics, FanDuel, Hard Rock Bet, Sporttrade
Retail Betting Options:Desert Diamond casinos, Gallager Sports Grills, GIla River Hotels & Casinos, TPC Scottsdale, State Farm Stadium, Footprint Center
College Betting Rules:Betting on game outcomes, including in-state games, is allowed, but wagering on player props is prohibited.

Arkansas: Legal

Arkansas sports betting was legalized in 2018. At first, bets could only be placed at one of three land-based casinos: the Saracen Casino Resort, Southland Casino, and the Oaklawn horse racing track and casino.

After new rules met legislative approval in 2022, online sports betting became legal and officially launched in April of that year.

In May 2024, the Arkansas Racing Commission postponed any discussion on a plan to legalize iGaming statewide. No date has been set for when the commission might address that issue. 

Arkansas state flag
Launch Date: July 2019 (retail); March 2022 (online)
Legal Betting Age:21
Regulatory Body:Arkansas State Racing Commission
Online Betting Options:Betly, BetSaracen, Oaklawn Sports
Retail Betting Options:Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort, Saracen Casino Resort Annex, Southland Casino Racing
College Betting Rules:No restrictions

California: Not Legal

Despite legislative efforts to legalize California sports betting, it remains illegal. The most recent failure came in 2022 when California voters rejected Proposition 27, an initiative to legalize sports wagering. The earliest that betting can become legal in the state is 2026.

While it's possible that tribes in California and other similar states may use Florida as a template in the future to amend their current betting status, that won't happen in the Golden State anytime soon. An Indian Gaming Association panel at the International Casinos Exhibition revealed that tribal leaders won't pursue sports betting legislation in 2026, which would be the next possible window of opportunity.

California state flag
Launch Date:N/A
Legal Betting Age:N/A
Regulatory Body:California Gaming Control Commission
Online Betting Options:None
Retail Betting Options:None
College Betting Rules:N/A

Colorado: Legal

Mobile and land-based Colorado sports betting became legal during the spring of 2020. Retail sports betting is limited to casinos in Black Hall, Central City, and Cripple Creek.

Several online operators are available to choose from, including Caesars, Fanatics, and BetMGM.

Colorado state flag
Launch Date: May 1, 2020 (online)
Legal Betting Age:21
Regulatory Body:

Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission

Colorado Division of Gaming

Online Betting Options:Bally Bet, bet365, BetMGM, BetMonarch, BetRivers, Caesars, Circa Sports, DraftKings, ESPN BET, Fanatics, FanDuel, SBK Sportsbook, Sporttrade
Retail Betting Options:Casinos located in Black Hawk, Cripple Creek, Central City, and Towaoc
College Betting Rules:Betting on game outcomes, including in-state games, is allowed, but wagering on player props is prohibited.

Connecticut: Legal

Both in-person and online Connecticut sports betting were legalized in 2021. While there are other retail locations, Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun tribal casinos are the two most popular places in the state to bet on sports. Fanatics, DraftKings, and FanDuel are available online.

Connecticut state flag
Launch Date: Oct. 19, 2021 (online)
Legal Betting Age:21
Regulatory Body:Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection's Gaming Division
Online Betting Options:DraftKings, Fanatics, FanDuel
Retail Betting Options:10+, including Bobby V's restaurants and Winners locations
College Betting Rules:Betting on most college sports, including player props, is legal. However, wagers on in-state schools is not allowed unless the team is in a tournament.

Delaware: Legal

In 2018, Delaware became the first state outside Nevada to legalize sports betting. Until recently, the state only supported retail sports betting at one of the state’s three racinos.

However, at the beginning of 2024, BetRivers launched its state app to offer online Delaware sports betting.

Delaware state flag
Launch Date: June 2018 (retail); Dec. 2023 (online)
Legal Betting Age:21
Regulatory Body:

Delaware Lottery

Delaware Division of Gaming Enforcement

Online Betting Options:BetRivers
Retail Betting Options:Delaware Park Casino, Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, Harrington Raceway & Casino
College Betting Rules:Betting on game outcomes is generally legal. However, you cannot place wagers on in-state games and player props. 

Florida: Legal

Retail and online sports betting is legal in the Sunshine State; however, the situation in Florida has become more complicated than in most other legal betting states.

In-person Florida sports betting is available at certain casinos run by the Seminole Tribe. The Florida Seminole Tribe owns and operates the Hard Rock brand, including its sportsbook. Other online operators challenged in court what they believed to be the tribe's monopoly. 

However, in June 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case, meaning the Seminoles will maintain control of sports betting in the state through the end of a 30-year pact that began in 2021. Therefore, Hard Rock Bet is the only online sports betting operator available in the state of Florida.

The tribe is set to discuss a deal in 2025 that would allow online casino gaming. 

Florida state flag
Launch Date: Nov. 7, 2023 (online); Dec. 7, 2023 (retail)
Legal Betting Age:21
Regulatory Body:Florida Gaming Control Commission
Online Betting Options:Hard Rock Bet
Retail Betting Options:Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, Seminole Classic Casino Hollywood, Seminole Casino Coconut Creek
College Betting Rules:Betting on any college game outcome is legal, but player props wagers are not.

Georgia: Not Legal

While several bills that would legalize Georgia sport betting have been put to the vote in the last few years, none have passed. In-person and online sports betting are still illegal in the state. 

Florida state flag
Launch Date:N/A
Legal Betting Age:N/A
Regulatory Body:Georgia Lottery
Online Betting Options:None
Retail Betting Options:None
College Betting Rules:N/A

Hawaii: Not Legal

All kinds of gambling, including sports betting, are illegal in Hawaii. While bills have been introduced in legislative sessions that would legalize Hawaii sports betting, none have passed.

Hawaii state flag
Launch Date:N/A
Legal Betting Age:N/A
Regulatory Body:N/A
Online Betting Options:None
Retail Betting Options:None
College Betting Rules:N/A

Idaho: Not Legal

In-person and online Idaho sports betting is prohibited. It’s not likely to become legal anytime soon since not a single bill has been proposed to introduce it.

Idaho state flag
Launch Date:N/A
Legal Betting Age:N/A
Regulatory Body:N/A
Online Betting Options:None
Retail Betting Options:None
College Betting Rules:N/A

Illinois: Legal

Illinois sports betting went live in March of 2020. Retail wagering is available at facilities throughout the state, and there are currently multiple options for Illinois  betting. bet365 was issued a sports betting license that will allow it to launch online and retail betting in Illinois soon.

The Illinois House of Representatives approved the state budget, including a major sports betting tax increase, earlier in 2024, and Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed it into law. This comes after the state saw a handle of $1.26 billion in March of this year. 

Launch Date: March 2020 (retail); June 2020 (online)
Legal Betting Age:21
Regulatory Body:Illinois Gaming Board
Online Betting Options:BetMGM, BetRivers, Caesars, Circa Sports, DraftKings, ESPN BET, Fanatics, FanDuel, Hard Rock Bet
Retail Betting Options:At least 15 locations, including Club Hawthorne locations, Hollywood Casinos, Wrigley Field
College Betting Rules:Except for player props, betting on college sports is allowed. However, you can only bet on a game involving an Illinois team in a retail setting.

Indiana: Legal

Land-based and mobile Indiana sports betting became legal in 2019. There are 13 online operators to choose from.

As required by law, all sites have retail partners, so land-based sports wagering is also readily available in the state.

Fanatics Sportsbook joined Indiana in February 2024 and immediately captured more attention than PointsBet, the site that came before it. From February through April, Fanatics had a higher handle and drew more revenue than PointsBet did in the same amount of time the year prior. 

Launch Date: Sept. 2019 (retail); Oct. 3, 2019 (online)
Legal Betting Age:21
Regulatory Body:Indiana Gaming Commission
Online Betting Options:Bally Bet, bet365, BetMGM, Betr, BetRivers, Caesars, DraftKings, ESPN BET, Fanatics, FanDuel, Hard Rock Bet, SBK Sportsbook
Retail Betting Options:15+, including Winner's Circle OTBs, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
College Betting Rules:Betting on game outcomes, including in-state games, is allowed. You can bet on player props too, but only before the game starts; in other words, you cannot make in-play bets on player props.

Iowa: Legal

Since it was legalized in 2019, in-person and mobile Iowa sportsbooks have been made widely available. In addition to 18 brick-and-mortar casinos, bettors can choose from several online options in Iowa, such as Fanatics and Caesars.

With Fanatics coming to Iowa, the state can only hope that it’ll help inject some life into the sports betting landscape. The state’s sports betting handle fell to under $210 million in April, down 23% compared to March but up 21.4% year over year.

Launch Date: Aug. 15, 2019 (online)
Legal Betting Age:21
Regulatory Body:Iowa Racing & Gaming Commission
Online Betting Options:Bally Bet, bet365, BetFred, BetMGM, BetRivers, Caesars, Circa Sports, DraftKings, ESPN BET, Fanatics, FanDuel, Q Sportsbook, Sporttrade
Retail Betting Options:At least 20 locations, including Wild Rose casinos, Diamond Jo casinos
College Betting Rules:Betting on player props isn't allowed. Everything else as it pertains to college sports is legal.

Kansas: Legal

Kansas sports betting has been legal online and in-person since legislation passed in 2022. Bettors can place wagers at four in-state retail casinos and six online operators.  

Like Iowa, Kansas saw a dip in sports betting handles from March to April. But given the state's prominence in college basketball, this is to be expected. 

In April, the Kansas Legislature amended its gambling law, which allowed the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska to offer sports betting on its reservation. 

Launch Date: Sept. 1, 2022 (online)
Legal Betting Age:21
Regulatory Body:Kansas Racing & Gaming Commission
Online Betting Options:BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, ESPN BET, Fanatics, FanDuel
Retail Betting Options:Boot Hill Casino & Resort, Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway, Kansas Crossing Casino + Hotel, Kansas Star Casino, Prairie Band Casino & Resort
College Betting Rules:No restrictions

Kentucky: Legal

Launched in September 2023, Kentucky is one of the newest states where sports betting has become legal. Numerous horse racing tracks across the state offer retail Kentucky sports betting, and eight online sites, including Caesars and Fanatics, allow bettors to place wagers remotely.

On Dec. 10, the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corp. announced it gave initial approval for Prime Sports' betting license. The license will take effect on Jan. 1, 2025, but the sportsbook likely won't launch in the Bluegrass State until March.

Launch Date: Sept. 7, 2023 (retail); Sept. 28, 2023 (online)
Legal Betting Age:18
Regulatory Body:Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation
Online Betting Options:bet365, BetMGM, Caesars, Circa Sports, DraftKings, ESPN BET, Fanatics, FanDuel 
Retail Betting Options:At least 9 locations, including Churchill Downs, Mint Gaming Hall locations
College Betting Rules:No restrictions

Louisiana: Legal

Sports betting is legal in Louisiana both online and in person. Retail sports betting began in October 2021, and online sports betting soon followed in January 2022. Currently, race tracks, as well as commercial and tribal casinos across the state, host retail betting locations.

Meanwhile, bettors can sign up for as many as eight Louisiana online sportsbooks.

Louisiana could see a falloff in gaming revenue if Texas legalizes sports betting and commercial casinos, says the Louisiana Gaming Control Board chairman, adding that some of the nine Louisiana parishes without sports betting still might legalize sports wagering. The incoming Louisiana Gaming Control Board chairman vows to keep gaming "free from criminal and corrupt elements."

Retail locations in northwest Louisiana expect a double-digit increase in sports betting now that the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners are in the SEC. Sports betting is illegal in Texas and Oklahoma but legal in Louisiana.

Launch Date: Oct. 2021 (retail); Jan. 2022 (online)
Legal Betting Age:21
Regulatory Body:Louisiana Gaming Control Board
Online Betting Options:bet365, BetMGM, BetRivers, Caesars, DraftKings, ESPN BET, Fanatics, FanDuel 
Retail Betting Options:15+, including L’Auberge Casinos, Boomtown Casinos
College Betting Rules:Wagers on college player props are prohibited.

Maine: Legal

Maine sports betting is legal. Currently, there are only two online sportsbooks, Caesars and DraftKings, that are operating in the state. However, expect this to change in the near future because there are 10 retail betting licenses, as well as two additional online licenses available.

Maine state flag
Launch Date: Nov. 3, 2023 (online)
Legal Betting Age:21
Regulatory Body:Maine Gambling Control Unit
Online Betting Options:Caesars, DraftKings
Retail Betting Options:None
College Betting Rules:Betting on college sports is generally permitted. However, without exception, you cannot make player prop wagers and you cannot bet on games involving in-state schools.

Maryland: Legal

Online Maryland sports betting launched in November 2022, nearly a year after retail betting became legal.

Now there are eleven online sites taking wagers, including Fanatics Sportsbook and Caesars Sportsbook.

Maryland state flag
Launch Date: Dec. 2021 (retail); Nov. 23, 2022 (online)
Legal Betting Age:21
Regulatory Body:Maryland Lottery & Gaming Control Agency
Online Betting Options:Bally Bet, BetMGM, betPARX, Betr, BetRivers, Caesars, Crab Sports, DraftKings, ESPN BET, Fanatics, FanDuel 
Retail Betting Options:10+, including Northwest Stadium, Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland, MGM National Harbor
College Betting Rules:No restrictions

Massachusetts: Legal

Massachusetts sports betting is legal both in-person and online sports betting. The state’s retail casinos accepted the first wagers on the last day of January in 2023. Then, online operators launched in Massachusetts in March 2023, just ahead of the start of the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. 

It should be noted that Massachusetts does not allow betting on college player props or in-state college teams (unless they are in a tournament.)

Massachusetts state flag
Launch Date: Jan. 31, 2023 (online)
Legal Betting Age:21
Regulatory Body:Massachusetts Gaming Commission
Online Betting Options:Bally Bet, BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, ESPN BET, Fanatics, FanDuel
Retail Betting Options:Encore Boston Harbor, MGM Springfield, Plainridge Park Casino
College Betting Rules:Betting on college sports is allowed with two exceptions. You cannot make player prop wagers, and you cannot bet on in-state schools unless they are in a tournament.

Michigan: Legal

Legal Michigan sports betting went live on March 11, 2020. You can bet on sports in person at most of the state’s tribal and commercial casinos, and online sports wagering is readily available.

Launch Date: March 2020 (retail); Jan. 2021 (online)
Legal Betting Age:21
Regulatory Body:Michigan Gaming Control Board
Online Betting Options:BetMGM, BetRivers, Caesars, DraftKings, Eagle Casino & Sports, ESPN BET, Fanatics, FanDuel, FireKeepers, Four Winds, Play Gun Lake, SI Sportsbook
Retail Betting Options:20+, including Four Winds Casinos, Kewadin Casinos, Odawa Casinos
College Betting Rules:No restrictions

Minnesota: Not Legal

Federally recognized tribes of Minnesota have blocked the expansion of gambling in the state; consequently, neither retail nor online sports betting is legal. 

In January 2024, Sen. Jeremy Miller (R-Winona) and Senate Republicans introduced the "Minnesota Sports Betting Act 3.0," a bill to legalize sports betting in Minnesota. The bill would allow Minnesota’s 11 tribes to have a license for on-site and/or mobile sports betting, and license holders would be taxed at 20%. Revenue would be split between tax relief for charitable gambling, support for sporting events and horse racing, mental health and problem gambling support, and youth sports.

House Democrats and House Republicans have gone to court over what defines a quorum, so that could present an issue when trying to pass this legislation through both chambers.

Minnesota state flag
Launch Date:N/A
Legal Betting Age:N/A
Regulatory Body:Minnesota Gambling Control Board
Online Betting Options:None
Retail Betting Options:None
College Betting Rules:N/A

Mississippi: Legal

Sports betting is legal in Mississippi and can be accessed at casinos throughout the state. While there are numerous retail locations across the state, online Mississippi sportsbooks are only available when bettors are physically present on the premises of licensed casinos.

Rep. Cedric Burnett (D-Tunica) introduced a bill to legalize statewide sports betting online. Online sports betting platforms could be run by either existing gaming licensees or casinos—or by a licensed sportsbook. The bill has been referred to the state House Gaming Committee for scrutiny. If passed, it would take effect July 1, 2025.

Mississippi state flag
Launch Date: Aug. 2018 (retail)
Legal Betting Age:21
Regulatory Body:Mississippi Gaming Commission
Online Betting Options:BetMGM, Caesars, Pearl River Sports
Retail Betting Options:25+, including Hollywood Casinos
College Betting Rules:You're allowed to bet on games involving Mississippi schools, but you cannot wager on any college player props.

Missouri: Legal, But Not Live

Voters have officially approved Missouri sports betting. On Nov. 5, 2024, Missouri voters passed Constitutional Amendment 2, which will legalize online and retail sports betting. Election results were officially certified in early December, and the deadline to challenge them via a recount has expired

Therefore, per Amendment 2's stipulations, sports betting will launch in Missouri no later than Dec. 1, 2025, though insiders believe it could be as early as the summer of 2025. The law allows for 13 casinos and pro sports teams, plus two untethered licenses, to launch sports betting.

Missouri state flag
Launch Date:Dec. 1, 2025
Legal Betting Age:TBD
Regulatory Body:Missouri Gaming Commission
Online Betting Options:TBD
Retail Betting Options:TBD
College Betting Rules:TBD

Montana: Legal

Montana has legalized in-person sports betting through its lottery system. There are well over 100 different sites with sports wagering kiosks, but no mobile sports gaming exists statewide. You must be physically located on an approved retail premises to place bets with SportsBet Montana.

Montana state flag
Launch Date: March 2020 (online)
Legal Betting Age:18
Regulatory Body:Montana Lottery
Online Betting Options:SportsBet Montana
Retail Betting Options:150+, including Happy Endings Casinos, Jack Rabbit Red's Casinos, Lucky Lil’s locations, Montana Lil's locations, Magic Diamond Casinos 
College Betting Rules:You need to be at a retail location the place a bet on college sports. Betting on Montana teams and player props is allowed.

Nebraska: Legal

The state legislature of Nebraska legalized in-person sports betting in 2021. Online wagers are still illegal, though that could be changing soon. 

Sen. Stanley Clouse (R-Kearney) introduced a bill establishing online and mobile sports betting operations statewide. This bill would also eliminate restrictions on college sports betting.

Similar legislation to allow voters to decide on the future of online betting was proposed last year, but it died in committee.

Nebraska state flag
Launch Date: Nov. 2023 (retail)
Legal Betting Age:21
Regulatory Body:Nebraska Racing & Gaming Commission
Online Betting Options:None
Retail Betting Options:Grand Island Casino Resort, Warhorse Casino Lincoln, Warhorse Casino Omaha
College Betting Rules:All wagers placed on in-state schools are not allowed.

Nevada: Legal

Nevada is the home of legalized gambling in the United States. It offers in-person sports betting at any of its many casinos and other retail establishments. Nevada is home to perhaps the most famous gambling destination in the world: Las Vegas, which hosts over 40 casinos along the main strip.

Nevada made online sports betting legal in 2010.

Nevada state flag
Launch Date: 1992 (retail); 2010 (online)
Legal Betting Age:21
Regulatory Body:

Nevada Gaming Commission

Nevada Gaming Control Board

Online Betting Options:Atlantis Sports, Baldini's Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Sports, Caesars, Circa Sports, Peppermill Sports, Rampart Sports, ResortsWorld, SouthPoint Sports, STN Sports, William Hill Nevada, Westgate SuperBook, Wynn Sports
Retail Betting Options:50+, including Harrah's Casinos, MGM locations
College Betting Rules:No restrictions

New Hampshire: Legal

In-person and online sports betting are both legal in New Hampshire. However, for mobile betting, DraftKings Sportsbook is the only option in the state due to a contractual license agreement. This arrangement restricts all other operators from accepting bets online in New Hampshire.

New Hampshire state flag
Launch Date:Dec. 30, 2019 (online)
Legal Betting Age:18
Regulatory Body:New Hampshire Lottery
Online Betting Options:DraftKings
Retail Betting Options:DraftKings Sportsbooks at the Brook, Manchester, and Filotimo Casino; Gate City Casino
College Betting Rules:Betting on player props & college games is allowed unless game involves NH team or is played in NH

New Jersey: Legal

New Jersey was the state that challenged PASPA, which led to the Supreme Court overturning the law in 2018. So it’s not surprising that the state immediately took advantage and legalized New Jersey sportsbooks that very year. Now, the state allows betting in person at Atlantic City casinos and NJ horse tracks, as well as online. 

New Jersey again cleared the $1 billion mark in handle in April 2024. Additionally, on May 15, Unibet officially closed down in New Jersey, and players could no longer access their accounts. 

Despite being one of the states most known for gambling, along with Nevada, New Jersey prohibits bets of any kind on in-state college teams and games.

Launch Date: Aug. 2018 (online)
Legal Betting Age:21
Regulatory Body:New Jersey Casino Control Commission - Division of Gaming Enforcement
Online Betting Options:bet365, BetMGM, betPARX, BetRivers, Borgata, Caesars, DraftKings, ESPN BET, Fanatics, FanDuel, Hard Rock Bet, Prime Sports, Sporttrade
Retail Betting Options:10+ casinos in Atlantic City, Freehold, East Rutherford, and Oceanport
College Betting Rules:Betting on player props and college games is allowed unless the game involves a New Jersey school.

New Mexico: Legal

New Mexico has Native American casinos that operate under compacts with the state per the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Under the terms of the compacts, they have been allowed to open retail sports betting locations at their gaming facilities.

Online sports betting is not permitted, and sports bettors cannot wager on college games involving schools in New Mexico.

New Mexico state flag
Launch Date: Oct. 16, 2018 (retail)
Legal Betting Age:21
Regulatory Body:New Mexico Gaming Control Board
Online Betting Options:None
Retail Betting Options:Hilton Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino, Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino, Isleta Resort & Casino, Santa Ana Star Casino & Hotel
College Betting Rules:You can only place bets at tribal casinos and each one has different rules regarding college sports.

New York: Legal

Legal sports betting in New York went live in 2019 when retail betting sites launched at upstate casinos. Online betting began in January 2022 and has since grown to nine operators. 

New York sportsbooks' handle approached $2 billion in April, seeing $1.96 billion, a 5.9% increase from March. 

Launch Date: 2019 (retail); Jan. 8, 2022 (online)
Legal Betting Age:21
Regulatory Body:New York State Gaming Commission
Online Betting Options:Bally Bet, BetMGM, BetRivers, Caesars, DraftKings, ESPN BET, Fanatics, FanDuel, Resorts World Bet
Retail Betting Options:10+, including Seneca casinos
College Betting Rules:You can bet on college sports with two key exceptions. You can't bet on games involving New York schools. Also, player props are prohibited.

North Carolina: Legal

Online North Carolina sportsbooks were legalized on June 14, 2023, and officially launched in March 2024. Seven sites launched, all on March 11. 

Governor Roy Cooper called for legislators to allow bettors to deduct sports betting losses from their taxes, and the sports betting handle climbed to nearly $650 million in April 2024. 

During the 2024 legislative session, two lawmakers submitted bills to ban college player proposition bets. In May, two North Carolina lawmakers told Gambling.com their bills to ban college player prop bets probably would not win legislative approval this year, adding they might seek other ways to ban those bets. Indeed, that legislation never made it out of committee in 2024. 

Retail locations were legalized in the Tar Heel State in 2019, and retail Caesars Sportsbooks have operated at tribal casinos since 2021. Harrah's Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel in Murphy is adding a poker room and 12-story hotel tower in two phases.

Launch Date: 2022 (retail); March 11, 2024 (online)
Legal Betting Age:21
Regulatory Body:North Carolina State Lottery Commission
Online Betting Options:bet365, BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, ESPN BET, Fanatics, FanDuel, Underdog Sports
Retail Betting Options:Catawba Two Kings Casino, Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort, Harrah's Cherokee Valley River
College Betting Rules:No restrictions

North Dakota: Legal

Tribal casinos in North Dakota have opened retail sports betting locations under existing gambling compacts. North Dakota’s state legislature has not legalized online betting, but there is some support among lawmakers.

North Dakota state flag
Launch Date: Dec. 2021 (retail)
Legal Betting Age:21
Regulatory Body:North Dakota State Gaming Commission
Online Betting Options:None
Retail Betting Options:Dakota Magic Casino, Spirit Lake Casino & Resort, 4 Bears Casino & Lodge
College Betting Rules:You can only place bets at tribal casinos and each one has different rules regarding college sports.

Ohio: Legal

Ohio sportsbooks are legal both in-person and online. There are nearly 20 online betting operators, and there are many retail locations throughout Ohio, as well. Sports wagers can even be placed at select Kroger grocery stores in Cincinnati and Dayton.

As of Aug. 29, Betr, the Jake Paul-founded microbetting site, has soft-launched in Ohio, where it's held a sports betting license for some time. Several sportsbooks, including Betway and SuperBook, left the state over the summer as they exited the U.S. market.

Ohio state flag
Launch Date: Jan. 1, 2023 (online)
Legal Betting Age:21
Regulatory Body:Ohio Casino Control Commission
Online Betting Options:Bally Bet, bet365, betJACK, BetMGM, betPARX, Betr, BetRivers, Caesars, DraftKings, ESPN BET, Fanatics, FanDuel, Hard Rock Bet, MVGBet, Prime Sports
Retail Betting Options:Hollywood Casinos, Great American Ball Park, JACK casinos, Nationwide Arena, Progressive Field, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
College Betting Rules:Betting on college sports, including those involving in-state college teams, is allowed. You cannot place any wagers on player props.

Oklahoma: Not Legal

Sports betting is not legal in Oklahoma. As with several other states where sports betting is illegal, gaining the approval of tribes in the state is the primary obstacle. 

Governor Kevin Stitt supports legalization, though his clashes with tribal governments over the years have soured any chance of a working relationship. Republican state Sen. Casey Murdock has filed Senate Bill 164 to legalize sports betting, but it's unlikely to go very far.

Oklahoma state flag
Launch Date:N/A
Legal Betting Age:N/A
Regulatory Body:N/A
Online Betting Options:None
Retail Betting Options:None
College Betting Rules:N/A

Oregon: Legal

The first legal Oregon sports bet was placed at the Chinook Winds Casino Resort in August 2019. Online sports betting is legal and live as well. 

However, DraftKings is currently the only legal online operator in Oregon.

Oregon state flag
Launch Date: Aug. 2019 (online)
Legal Betting Age:21
Regulatory Body:Oregon State Lottery
Online Betting Options:DraftKings
Retail Betting Options:Chinook Winds Casino Resort, The Mill Casino Hotel & RV Park, Spirit Mountain Casino
College Betting Rules:No college sports betting allowed

Pennsylvania: Legal

Pennsylvania sportsbooks are legal both online and in person. 

The sportsbook at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course opened in November 2018. Legal mobile betting in Pennsylvania followed in 2019. 

Launch Date: Nov. 2018 (retail); May 2019 (online)
Legal Betting Age:21
Regulatory Body:Pennsylvania Gaming and Control Board
Online Betting Options:bet365, Betfred (as Wind Creek Bethlehem) BetMGM, betPARX, BetRivers, Caesars, DraftKings, ESPN BET, Fanatics, FanDuel, SugarHouse
Retail Betting Options:15+, including Live! Casinos, Parx Casinos, Rivers Casinos
College Betting Rules:Betting on college sports, including those involving Pennsylvania schools, is allowed. You cannot place a wager on player props.

Rhode Island: Legal

Rhode Island, which legalized sports betting in 2018, has two casinos that allow sports betting. The Lottery Commission oversees online Rhode Island sports betting. 

The lottery-run Sportsbook RI is the only online sports betting app available in the state.

Rhode Island state flag
Launch Date: Nov. 26, 2018 (retail); March 2019 (online)
Legal Betting Age:18
Regulatory Body:Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation's Gaming & Athletics Division
Online Betting Options:Sportsbook Rhode Island
Retail Betting Options:Twin River Lincoln Casino, Twin River Tiverton Casino
College Betting Rules:Betting on player props and college games is allowed unless the game involves a Rhode Island team or is played in the state.

South Carolina: Not Legal

Sports betting is currently illegal in South Carolina. A sports betting bill has stalled in the state’s House after passing the Senate in 2023. However, current governor Henry McMaster opposes gambling, so sports betting will unlikely be legalized anytime soon.

South Carolina state flag
Launch Date:N/A
Legal Betting Age:N/A
Regulatory Body:N/A
Online Betting Options:None
Retail Betting Options:None
College Betting Rules:N/A

South Dakota: Legal

South Dakota legalized retail sports betting in 2021. Casinos in Deadwood and some tribal properties offer it.

There is no provision for online sports gaming, but lawmakers are in favor of mobile sports betting, so it is still a possibility.

South Dakota state flag
Launch Date: Sept. 2021 (retail)
Legal Betting Age:21
Regulatory Body:South Dakota Commission on Gaming
Online Betting Options:None
Retail Betting Options:At least 8 casinos located in Deadwood 
College Betting Rules:Betting on game outcomes is generally allowed, but you cannot bet on in-state teams or player props.

Tennessee: Legal

Online sports betting became legal in Tennessee in 2020, but the state is still adding to its roster. With no limit on licenses, there is a lot of competition among nearly a dozen online Tennessee sportsbooks.

In-person betting is not offered because there are no retail locations in the state. 

Tennessee state flag
Launch Date: Nov. 2020 (online)
Legal Betting Age:21
Regulatory Body:Tennessee Sports Wagering Council
Online Betting Options:Action 247, Bally Bet, Betly, BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, ESPN BET, Fanatics, FanDuel, Hard Rock Bet, ZenSports Bet
Retail Betting Options:None
College Betting Rules:Bets on game outcomes, including those involving in-state schools is allowed, but placing wagers on player props is prohibited.

Texas: Not Legal

Although bills have been introduced to legalize sports betting (including one in 2023), it remains prohibited in Texas. Legislative sessions only occur every other year in Texas, so 2025 is the earliest a sports betting bill can be considered again.

In advance of the 2025 legislative session in Texas, Las Vegas Sands Corp. is circulating an online petition to expand gaming in the Lone Star State

Texas state flag
Launch Date:N/A
Legal Betting Age:N/A
Regulatory Body:N/A
Online Betting Options:None
Retail Betting Options:None
College Betting Rules:N/A

Utah: Not Legal

Utah is one of two states, along with Hawaii, that doesn’t allow gambling. The state has a large population of Mormons who are strongly opposed to gambling on religious grounds, so it’s possible that sports betting will never be legalized.

Utah state flag
Launch Date:N/A
Legal Betting Age:N/A
Regulatory Body:N/A
Online Betting Options:None
Retail Betting Options:None
College Betting Rules:N/A

Vermont: Legal

Online sports betting went live in Vermont on January 11, 2024, prompting the launch of three online VT sportsbooks: DraftKings, Fanatics, and FanDuel. 

Currently, there are no retail locations in the state. Unlike other states, Vermont doesn’t require sites to have a land-based partner; instead, the Vermont Department of Liquor and Lottery is responsible for choosing which sites can launch. 

Like Massachusetts, the Green Mountain State prohibits wagers placed on in-state collegiate teams unless the team is in a tournament or the playoffs.

Launch Date: Jan. 11, 2024 (online)
Legal Betting Age:21
Regulatory Body:Vermont Department of Liquor & Lottery
Online Betting Options:DraftKings, Fanatics, FanDuel
Retail Betting Options:None
College Betting Rules:Betting on college sports is allowed with two exceptions. You cannot make player prop wagers or bet on in-state schools unless they are in a tournament.

Virginia: Legal

Online sports betting went live in Virginia at the beginning of 2021. Over a dozen legal sites now operate in the state. 

On Oct. 24, Sporttrade went live in Virginia, making it the fifth state where the sportsbook has a presence. The Sporttrade iOS app was made available on the launch date with plans to an Android app later in the year. Sporttrade joins several other long-established Virginia sportsbooks.

In-person betting is also an option at several Virginia casinos. Wagering in collegiate sports is illegal.

Virginia state flag
Launch Date: Jan. 21, 2021 (online)
Legal Betting Age:21
Regulatory Body:Virginia Lottery
Online Betting Options:Bally Bet, bet365, BetFred, BetMGM, Betr, BetRivers, Caesars, DraftKings, ESPN BET, Fanatics, FanDuel, Hard Rock Bet, SI Sportsbook, Sporttrade 
Retail Betting Options:Rivers Casino Portsmouth
College Betting Rules:While you can bet on college games, they cannot involve in-state schools or player props.

Washington: Legal

Tribal casinos in Washington, some of which have partnered with online operators, started taking bets in September of 2021. You can bet on mobile while on the premises of one of these casinos, but statewide online wagering is not yet legal. 

Washington sports betting on in-state collegiate games is not allowed.

Washington state flag
Launch Date: Sept. 2021 (retail)
Legal Betting Age:21
Regulatory Body:Washington State Gambling Commission
Online Betting Options:None
Retail Betting Options:10+
College Betting Rules:Betting on in-state schools or player props is prohibited.

West Virginia: Legal

Both in-person and online West Virginia sports betting are legal. There are brick-and-mortar sports betting locations in the West Virginia horse tracks and The Greenbrier, a private resort. 

Fanatics and Caesars Sportsbook are among the online sports betting sites operating in the state.

West Virginia state flag
Launch Date: Aug. 2018 (retail); Sept. 2019 (online)
Legal Betting Age:21
Regulatory Body:West Virginia Lottery Commission
Online Betting Options:Betly, BetMGM, BetRivers, Caesars, DraftKings, ESPN BET, Fanatics, FanDuel
Retail Betting Options:Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races; Mardi Gras Casino & Resort; Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort; Wheeling Island Hotel Casino Racetrack; Casino Club at Greenbrier
College Betting Rules:No betting on player props. All other wagers involving collegiate sports are allowed.

Wisconsin: Legal

Sports betting is legal in Wisconsin only at tribal casinos. Legal online sports betting would require an adjustment to the state constitution. 

It is worth noting that in-state betting on college competition is prohibited.

Wisconsin state flag
Launch Date: Nov. 30, 2021 (retail)
Legal Betting Age:21
Regulatory Body:Office of Indian Gaming & Regulatory Compliance
Online Betting Options:None
Retail Betting Options:Oneida Casino, Potawatomi Casino Hotel
College Betting Rules:Betting on college sports is allowed unless they involve in-state schools.

Wyoming: Legal

Online Wyoming sports betting sites and retail sportsbooks are legal. Five major betting companies have launched in Wyoming: BetMGM, FanDuel, DraftKings, Caesars, and Fanatics. You can bet in person at the Wind River Hotel & Casino live sportsbook.

Earlier this year, Wyoming considered passing restrictions on college sports prop betting, but they were tabled for a later date. Inside, Wyoming introduced harsher punishments for those who harass athletes: They will be placed on the state's involuntary exclusion list, prohibiting them from betting on anything within state lines.

Wyoming state flag
Launch Date: Sept. 1, 2021 (online)
Legal Betting Age:18
Regulatory Body:Wyoming Gaming Commission
Online Betting Options:BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, Fanatics, FanDuel
Retail Betting Options:Wind River Hotel & Casino
College Betting Rules:No restrictions at this point

Legal Sports Betting in Other Jurisdictions

Now that we've covered all 50 U.S. states, we should mention some of the other U.S. territories and jurisdictions with significant sports betting updates.

Washington D.C.: Legal

DC sports betting underwent a major change this summer. In April 2024, FanDuel replaced GameBetDC, the city-controlled online sports betting platform, as the official partner of the DC Lottery. In the first 30 days, FanDuel brought $1.9M to the city.

However, in June 2024, the city council approved the 2025 fiscal year budget, which included provisions for up to seven online sports betting operators to launch. Before the council officially approved the new budget, FanDuel president Christian Genetski said FanDuel would terminate its relationship with the DC Lottery and continue as an independent operator. 

Mayor Muriel Bowser returned the budget unsigned to the city council, allowing it to go into effect without her signature. 

BetMGM and Caesars Sportsbook expanded their online presence in Washington, D.C., in July, allowing bettors to place wagers anywhere in the district. Previously, online bets were restricted to the two-block radii surrounding Nationals Park and Capital One Arena.

Hotels, bars, and restaurants can apply for retail sports betting licenses. The Office of Lottery and Gaming regulates sports betting in the District of Columbia. 

Recently, ESPN BET became an official partner of the Washington Capitals, Washington Wizards, and Washington Mystics, all based in D.C. Could this signal that ESPN BET may launch in the District soon?

Washington D.C. flag
Launch Date: May 28, 2020 (online)
Legal Betting Age:18
Regulatory Body:Office of Lottery & Gaming (OLG)
Online Betting Options:BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, Fanatics, FanDuel
Retail Betting Options:10+, including Nationals Park, Capital One Arena, Audi Field
College Betting Rules:You cannot place bets on games taking place in D.C. or games that include a D.C. school such as Georgetown. Any other wagers on college sports are allowed.

Puerto Rico: Legal

A 2019 bill legalized sports betting in Puerto Rico. BetMGM and Caesars are the two apps available to make wagers on the island. However, to use the apps, you must first register in person at the operator's land-based locations: Casino del Mar (BetMGM) and Casino Metro (Caesars).

Puerto Rico
Launch Date: 2019
Legal Betting Age:18
Regulatory Body:Gaming Division of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company 
Online Betting Options:BetMGM*, Caesars*
Retail Betting Options:Casino Metro, Casino del Mar
College Betting Rules:No restrictions

*Only within designated boundaries in the city

History of Legal Sports Betting in the United States

  • Pre-1800s: Colonists bet primarily on horse races without many restrictions.
  • Early 1800s: Concerned about corruption, some states begin to crack down on gambling, including sports betting. However, betting at the track continues to be allowed. Horse racing soon becomes the preeminent sport in the US.
  • 1890s: Lotteries are outlawed in every state except Delaware and Louisiana.
  • 1911: Nearly all forms of gambling have been banned.
  • 1919: Baseball’s “Black Sox Scandal,” in which a group of players plot to lose World Series games, damages the image of sports betting.
  • 1931: In response to the financial devastation of the Great Depression, Nevada legalizes casino gambling and sets the stage for the state to allow sports betting.
  • 1949: Nevada becomes the first state to legalize sports betting beyond horse racing.
  • 1976: New Jersey becomes the second state to legalize gambling after Nevada.
  • 1992: The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) is passed by the United States Congress, effectively banning sports betting in most states.
  • 2012: The state of New Jersey challenges PASPA in court, contending that it violates state sovereignty.
  • 2018: The Supreme Court overturns PASPA, allowing states to determine the legal status of sports betting.
  • 2018 to Present: Dozens of states legalize and regulate sports betting in various forms (eg., retail and online). To date, 38 states and the District of Columbia have legalized sports betting.
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