Sports betting has been very popular in many parts of the world for many years, and since the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2018 decision to overturn the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) and allow individual states to regulate sports betting, it’s started to become much more popular in the US, too.
However, it’s still a little bit of a confusing issue, and it can be hard to know exactly where sports betting is legal and where you’re allowed to place bets in each state. This guide is here to help with that. Below, we’ll take a look through all 50 states and sum up the sports betting situation in each one.
Alabama: Sports betting is illegal
For now, Alabama is one of the states where sports betting is still illegal. This is not surprising, as Alabama is also one of the only states to not have its own lottery and views in the state are generally averse to gambling. There was a bill that could have allowed for online betting in 2022, but it was never voted on.
Alaska: Sports betting is illegal
As things stand, sports betting is not legal in Alaska in any form, either online or in-person. This is unlikely to change soon, as there has been no history of any serious action to make sports gambling legal in this state.
Arizona: Sports betting is legal
A sports betting bill was passed in Arizona in spring of 2021. This made it legal for people in Arizona to place sports bets online, as well as at some of the state’s famous stadiums, like the Footprint Center and Chase Field. Major operators like FanDuel, Fubo Sportsbook and BetMGM are operating in this state and allow users to bet on sports like hockey.
Sign up for Superbook in Arizona and receive a $1000 risk-free bet.
Arkansas: Sports betting is legal
Sports betting has been possible in Arkansas since 2019, but it became much more accessible in 2022, as the state finalized rules to make online betting available. The state’s first sports betting site launched in March of 2022 and the state permits up to eight online operators in total.
California: Sports betting is illegal
For now, sports betting is not legal in the state of California. However, this could all change quite quickly. Before the end of 2022, two proposals on sports betting in the state will be put forward. Given that California has the biggest population of any state, betting companies are eager for the day when sports betting becomes legal in the Golden State.
Colorado: Sports betting is legal
Sports betting is legal and highly accessible in Colorado. The first online and in-person bets in the state were placed back in 2020 and since then, Colorado has become one of the top states for sports betting in the entire country. There are lots of different operators in Colorado and room for even more to enter the market in the future.
Sign up for Superbook in Colorado and receive a $1000 risk-free bet.
Connecticut: Sports betting is legal
In the state of Connecticut, sports betting is also completely legal and accessible, both in-person and online. Many major providers like FanDuel, DraftKings, and PlaySugarHouse are all operating in the state, but there’s still plenty of room for sports betting in Connecticut to grow further in the years ahead.
Delaware: Sports betting is legal (in-person only)
Delaware was actually one of the very first states to allow sports betting after the Supreme Court decision in 2018. It accepted its first bet in the summer of 2018, but is actually still somewhat limited in terms of gambling options. You can’t place online or mobile bets in Delaware, but you can place sports bets at retail sportsbooks.
Florida: Sports betting is illegal
Florida did have online sports betting for a brief window in late 2021, but this was quickly overruled. A federal judge ruled that the Seminole Tribe should not have sole jurisdiction over the state’s betting market, so the tribe stopped paying. It’s possible that the situation could be negotiated and resolved in the next few years.
Georgia: Sports betting is illegal
Attempts have been made to make sports betting legal in Georgia, but they’ve all failed, so far. Even though polls across the state suggest that the population is in favor of legalization, lawmakers haven’t been able to get legislation pushed through. This could change in the future, but there is still a strong anti-gambling view among Georgia’s politicians.
Hawaii: Sports betting is illegal
Hawaii is one of the only states to have no real gambling culture or business of any kind. There is currently no way to place sports bets here, but that could change in the future. Rep. John Mizuno introduced a bill in 2022 to try and imitate New York’s approach to sports betting, but it hasn’t had much attention yet.
Idaho: Sports betting is illegal
There is no way to place sports bets in the state of Idaho, and even fantasy sports aren’t allowed in this state, so it’s unlikely to see any major developments anytime soon.
Illinois: Sports betting is legal
Illinois is actually one of the most popular sports betting states in America, ranking among the top states in terms of amounts bet. It took its first in-person bets in March 2020 and made online betting available just a few months later in June 2020.
Source: FanDuel
Indiana: Sports betting is legal
Indiana is another state where sports betting is legal, both in-person and online. The state accepted its first online bets in October of 2019 and it was the 13th state to make sports betting legal for its citizens. Over a dozen sportsbooks are available in this state, with space available for many more.
Iowa: Sports betting is legal
If you want to place a bet in Iowa, you’re completely within your rights to do so. In-person and online sports betting is 100% legal in this state and has been that way since 2019. Sports betting in this state really took off in 2021 when the state’s in-person registration requirements expired, making it easier for sports fans to make accounts and place bets.
Kansas: Sports betting is legal
Kansas was one of two states to legalize sports betting in 2022, with a soft launch of sports betting sites in September of 2022. Up to 12 online sportsbooks are permitted in the state, and sports fans can also place bets at any of its four casinos.
Kentucky: Sports betting is illegal
Kentucky almost joined Kansas in making sports betting legal in 2022, but even though its bill passed the House, it couldn’t gather enough support in the Senate. This means that the efforts have been delayed and Kentucky sports betting enthusiasts will have to wait a while longer, at least until 2024, when the next attempt can be made.
Louisiana: Sports betting is legal
There’s no issue with sports betting in Louisiana. In late 2020, 55 of the state’s parishes (of 64 in total) voted to approve sports betting. In-person betting launched a year later at the end of 2021, and online sportsbooks started appearing in the state at the beginning of 2020, including the likes of WynnBet, FanDuel, and BetMGM.
Maine: Sports betting is legal
Maine, like Kansas, was one of the states to make sports betting legal in 2022. Thanks to the state’s new sports betting bill, it’s possible for Maine’s native tribes to work with commercial operators for online sports betting. In-person betting will also be available at the state’s two casinos.
Maryland: Sports betting is legal (in-person only)
The situation in Maryland regarding sports betting is a little more complicated than some other states. In-person betting has been available since December of 2021. Mobile betting was also voted for in November of 2020, but isn’t yet available. A study has to be completed before the official rules for online betting can be established, and this study has been delayed for many months.
Massachusetts: Sports betting is legal
Massachusetts passed its own sports betting bill in August of 2022, but you can’t technically bet there just yet. Even though the bill has passed, there’s still some work to be done in terms of finalizing the agreements and setting up the first online operators in the state.
Michigan: Sports betting is legal
Michigan is home to many sports betting enthusiasts, as it ranks in the top 10 states in terms of dollars bet. In-person betting has been possible in this state since March of 2020, and online sportsbooks like DraftKings appeared in the state in early 2021. There are 15 online sportsbooks in Michigan in total, according to the latest count.
Minnesota: Sports betting is illegal
For now, sports betting in Minnesota is illegal. Like many others, the state came close to legalizing betting in 2022, but didn’t quite get its bill through the Senate. The tribes in this state have a strict stance on the matter and want a full monopoly over sports betting, but senators tried to amend the bill to include control for sports teams and racetracks. Negotiations should continue in 2023.
Mississippi: Sports betting is legal (in-person only)
Mississippi was one of the fastest states to respond positively to the Supreme Court decision in 2018. It opened up in-person sports betting in August of 2018. However, while in-person gambling is allowed, online gambling isn’t really available at the moment in this state. You can technically place online bets, but you have to be physically in a casino when you do so, which makes it a little difficult for many people.
Source: DraftKings
Missouri: Sports betting is illegal
Like many other states, Missouri nearly passed a sports betting legalization bill in 2022, but fell at the final hurdle in the Senate. Sen. Denny Hoskins wanted to include video lottery terminals at gas stations around the state, but casinos are against this idea. For now, negotiations are on hold and could continue in 2023.
Montana: Sports betting is legal (in-person only)
In the state of Montana, just like other states such as Mississippi and Maryland, the only way you can bet on sports is in-person. There’s also only one betting company currently operating in this state, making the sports betting market in Montana relatively small, for now.
Nebraska: Sports betting is legal (in-person only)
Sports betting has been legalized in Nebraska, but in a very limited way. It’s possible to place in-person bets at the state’s licensed horse tracks, but nowhere else, and online betting is not allowed here, either.
Nevada: Sports betting is legal
As the home of gambling in the US, you might expect Nevada to be the king of sports betting states. However, it’s not quite as simple as that. In-person betting is huge in this state, and mobile betting is legal, but if you want to place bets online, you have to physically enter a casino to register. This has harmed the state’s sports betting market and continues to make it difficult for people to bet online.
New Hampshire: Sports betting is legal
Online betting became available in New Hampshire in 2019, but options are pretty limited. DraftKings is, for now, the only mobile operator in the state, but you can choose to place bets at a few different retail locations.
New Jersey: Sports betting is legal
New Jersey was actually the state that triggered the Supreme Court decision back in 2018 and quickly became one of the first states to legalize sports betting. It now has over 20 online sportsbooks and is the No. 1 state in terms of amounts wagered on sports like hockey, famously overtaking Nevada in 2021.
New Mexico: Sports betting is legal (in-person only)
In New Mexico, the situation is a little more interesting and unique when compared to other states. Here, no official legislation has been passed to legalize sports betting, but you can still technically place bets at Native American casinos, and this has been possible since 2018, thanks to a legal loophole that allows the tribes to offer sports bets without the need for state legislation. Mobile and online betting is not allowed.
New York: Sports betting is legal
In the state of New York, mobile and in-person betting are fully accessible and very popular. In fact, since online betting launched in NY in January of 2022, the state’s betting market has grown exponentially, dwarfing most other states.
North Carolina: Sports betting is legal (in-person only)
Sports betting was legalized on an in-person basis in North Carolina back in 2019, but the first bets weren’t actually placed until March of 2021. In 2022, it was expected that online sports betting could be legalized here, too, but the bill was one vote away from getting passed. It’s likely that another attempt will be made in 2023.
North Dakota: Sports betting is legal (in-person only)
North Dakota is another state that, for now, only accepts sports bets at retail locations. Interestingly, sports betting hasn’t actually been legalized here, but the state’s tribes have made the most of federal rules to start accepting sports bets. This is similar to the situation in New Mexico.
Ohio: Sports betting is legal
In late 2021, an online sports betting bill passed in Ohio and was approved by Gov. Mike DeWine. However, even though sports betting is allowed here, it’s not yet possible to place any bets, and sports fans will have to wait until January of 2023 for the first operators to go live.
Oklahoma: Sports betting is illegal
There’s a lot of contention among Oklahoma’s Native American entities and the state’s government in regard to sports betting, and this has prevented betting from becoming available in the state. Deals were actually made back in 2020, but they were later canceled due to disagreements, and until the tribes and the government get on the same page, Oklahoma is unlikely to see any major developments.
Oregon: Sports betting is legal
In the state of Oregon, there are various Native American casinos where you can place sports bets in-person. The state also has one sole mobile operator for online sports betting: DraftKings.
Pennsylvania: Sports betting is legal
Pennsylvania is one of the biggest sports betting markets in the US. It legalized retail sports betting in 2018 and allowed online betting from 2019 onward. It consistently ranks among the top five states in terms of the amounts wagered each year.
Rhode Island: Sports betting is legal
Rhode Island was another state that quickly adopted sports betting after the 2018 Supreme Court decision. Sports betting has been legal in this state since 2018 and retail sportsbooks opened that very same year at the state’s two casinos. There’s also mobile betting, but due to the small size of Rhode Island, it only has one mobile operator for now.
South Carolina: Sports betting is illegal
A bill for online sports betting in South Carolina was introduced in 2022 but failed to get much headway. Gov. Henry McMaster is not a fan of sports betting, so it seems like this state will struggle to see any developments in this area.
South Dakota: Sports betting is legal (in-person only)
In South Dakota, the first retail sports betting locations opened their doors in September of 2021, almost a year after the state legalized sports betting. For now, wagering is only allowed in Deadwood casinos and on tribal lands, but mobile betting could be a possibility in the years ahead.
Tennessee: Sports betting is legal (online only)
Tennessee is quite a unique state in terms of sports betting, as it doesn’t actually have any casinos. This means that you can’t place in-person bets in Tennessee, but you are legally allowed to place bets online. One of the downsides here is that operators are required to take a 10% hold (the percentage of each bet that the operator keeps), which is higher than the national average of around 5 to 7%.
Sign up for Superbook in Tennessee and receive a $1000 risk-free bet.
Texas: Sports betting is illegal
Texas does not yet have legal online sports betting. There was some interest in a possible bill in 2021, so there’s a chance that the situation could evolve in 2023 and beyond.
Utah: Sports betting is illegal
In the state of Utah, too, there is no sports betting, and it’s very unlikely to appear here, as this is the only contiguous US state without any gambling entity of any kind.
Vermont: Sports betting is illegal
In the state of Vermont, sports betting is illegal for now and efforts to legalize it have not amounted to much; a 2022 bill failed to get a vote in either the Senate or the House.
Virginia: Sports betting is legal
Virginia has been quite a fast-growing state in terms of sports betting. It accepted its first online bets in January of 2021 and has since grown to welcome more than a dozen different sportsbook operators, allowing both online and in-person wagering.
Washington: Sports betting is legal (in-person only)
If you want to place a sports bet in the state of Washington, you’ll need to do so in person. Sports betting was actually made legal in this state way back in March 2020, but the first bets weren’t placed until a year and a half later, in September of 2021. For now, only certain casinos are authorized to accept bets. Like some other states, you can technically place mobile bets here, but only if you’re physically inside a casino.
Washington D.C.: Sports betting is legal
D.C. is not technically a state, but it still has its own rules regarding sports betting, so it’s worth including in this list. At this time, online and in-person betting is allowed in D.C., but options are limited. There’s only one mobile app operating in the area called GamBetDC, but there are several retail locations.
Source: William Hill
West Virginia: Sports betting is legal
Sports betting is completely legal in West Virginia and online betting has been available in this state since August of 2019. Many of the big-name operators, like William Hill, FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM all operate in West Virginia at this time, giving gamblers plenty of options.
Wisconsin: Sports betting is legal (in-person only)
In the state of Wisconsin, sports betting is legal and accessible, but only in-person. The Oneida Nation and the state’s governor, Tony Evers, negotiated a deal in 2021 to allow the tribe to open their own retail betting locations at casinos. The first bets were placed in November of 2021.
Wyoming: Sports betting is legal (online only)
Online sports betting was approved in Wyoming and the first online sports betting sites launched in September of 2021. However, just like Tennessee, Wyoming does not currently have any retail locations for sports betting, so the only way to place bets in this state is online. The Northern Arapaho Tribe could introduce retail in-person betting in the future, according to reports.
