There are currently 17 states that allow sports betting in-person at casinos and/or retail venues, and 13 states that allow online sports betting. And most of the rest of the states are expected to join the party soon. This comes courtesy of the New Jersey’s Supreme Court verdict in 2018 that said any state can now legalize sports betting that wants to.
To help you keep up with the ever-changing landscape of legal online sports betting in the U.S., we offer this sports wagering legalization map and a state break-down by status below:
Place Your Bets!
1. Nevada
As we know, Nevada has been the only state to permit legal sports betting until recently. We suspect that Nevada sportsbetting, as a ground zero for the industry, could become guiding light and first-to-market in further online sportsbetting innovations.
Online sports betting permitted?: Yes
2. Delaware
Passed: June 5, 2018
Gov. John Carney authorized a full-scale sports gaming operation and the state offers single-game betting on a number of different sports at three casinos. Further sports wagering options are on the way in additional land locations and online.
Online sports betting permitted?: Almost. (It has been legalized, but not active yet)
3. New Jersey
Passed: June 11, 2018
New Jersey has become something of a runner-up Mecca to Nevada when it comes to sports betting. The William Hill sportsbook at Monmouth Park was the first to take sports bets at land-based venue, followed minutes later by the Borgota in Atlantic City, and many more soon after. Notably, Fan Duel also opened a sportsbook in the Meadowlands.
As far as online gambling, you can place online sportsbets at any of these venues as soon as you cross the border into New Jersey. Online wagering went live in New Jersey in August of 2018 when Draftkings and FandDuel opened online sportsbooks, the first to do so outside of Nevada.
There are currently 13 sports betting apps available for anyone to place bets on as long as they are within the borders of New Jersey.
Online sports betting permitted?: Yes
4. Mississippi
Passed: Aug. 1, 2018
Mississippi allows sportsbetting with the stipulation that bets take place in person. Mobile betting will likely come within a year. There are two MGM Resorts casinos for placing those in-person bets as of now.
Online sports betting permitted?: Yes
5. West Virginia
Passed: Aug. 30, 2018
Both in-person and online sports wagering are permitted in West Virginia. The state became the 5th state to legalize sports bets via the Hollywood Casino.
Online sports betting permitted?: Yes
6. New Mexico
Passed: Oct. 16, 2018
Through a unique pact between the a Native American-owned Santa Ana Star Casino & Hotel, the road was paved for the legalization of any sports betting except for wagers on anything related to the University of New Mexico or New Mexico State University.
Online sports betting permitted?: No
7. Pennsylvania
Passed: May 1, 2018
As with West Virgina, Pennsylvania kicked off it’s first legal sports bets via the The Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course (near Hershey Park). Several other sportsbooks have since opened.
Online sports betting permitted?: Yes
8. Rhode Island
Passed: Nov. 26, 2018
Only sportsbetting is allowed in the state of Rhode Island (no other forms of casino gambling are permitted). There are two locations where customers can place bets in person, including the Twin River Casino in Lincoln and the Twin River Tiverton Casino. In 2019, Rhode Island allowed online sports bets as well.
Online sports betting permitted?: Yes
9. Arkansas
Passed: July 1, 2019
The Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort took the first legal sports bets in Arkansas followed by several other smaller retail locations. Sports wagering is regulated by the Arkansas Racing Commission and online sports betting is not permitted.
Online sports betting permitted?: No
10. New York
Passed: July 16, 2019
While you can finally place sportsbets at land-based venues in the state of New York (such as the Rivers Casino in Schenectady) and other locations upstate, online wagering is still not permitted. What’s more, the state has had a long and very public battle with daily fantasy sports companies Draftkings and FanDuel. After first being blocked, there is a drawn-out appeal in place and residents can currently enter into fantasy sports contests on these online sites in the meantime. The state still does not permit mobile wagering, but residents of New York City can take a trip over a bridge or tunnel into New Jersey to place their bets (and get some some cheap gas) before coming back home. Of course, they will need to win an extra $30 or so to cover the tolls!
Online sports betting permitted?: No
11. Iowa
Passed: Aug. 15, 2020
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds a bill legalizing sports in both land-based venues and online mobile apps. Bets on college sports is permitted with the exception of various prop bets.
Online sports betting permitted?: Yes
12. Oregon
Passed: Aug. 27, 2020
Legal sports betting returned to Oregon with the first bets booked at the Chinook Winds Casino Resort in Lincoln City. In October of 2020, Oregon allowed online sports betting as well.
Online sports betting permitted?: Yes
13. Indiana
Passed: Sept. 1, 2020
Residents of Indiana can bet on sports at locations all over the state, including waters on both pro and college sports. Online sports betting is also permitted. The only exceptions are on high school and e-sports which remain illegal.
Online sports betting permitted?: Yes
14. New Hampshire
Passed: Dec. 30, 2020
When Governor Chris Sununo placed the first legal sports bet on the New England Patriots in December, sports betting was underway in the state at both land-based venues and online, although betting on in-state colleges is not allowed.
Online sports betting permitted?: Yes
15. Illinois
Passed: March 9, 2020
Illinois passed a sports wagering bill allowing for both online and land-based sports betting with the exception bets on of any state collegiate teams or minor league sports.
Online sports betting permitted?: Yes
16. Michigan
Passed: March 11, 2020
Michigan has legalized sports bets in-person at casinos and customers can bet on all sports including collegiate teams. Online sports betting has been approved and will be available in 2021.
Online sports betting permitted?: Yes
17. Montana
Passed: March 1, 2020
Legal sports betting is available in Monday as of March, although mobile wagering is not yet available.
Online sports betting permitted?: No
Almost there!
These states (and districts) have passed legislation allowing land-based sports betting and are preparing to roll it out. The state of Tennessee allows online sports betting already.
Washington, D.C.
Online sports betting permitted?: No
Tennessee
Online sports betting permitted?: Yes
North Carolina
Online sports betting permitted?: No
Colorado
Online sports betting permitted?: No
22. Washington
Online sports betting permitted?: No
States with sports betting bills introduced or expected to be
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
California
Connecticut
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Minnesota
Missouri
Nebraska
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
South Dakota
South Carolina
Texas
Vermont
Virginia
Wyoming
Nothing Doing…
Idaho and Wisconsin currently have no traction on any bills regarding the legalization of sports betting in any capacity.