US Sports Betting Legalization Tracker - Where to Bet

Where can I bet on sport? That's a question we always get asked, and with good reason. It can be challenging to wrap your head around, given that betting is state-based and there are places you can make wagers and places you can't.

With this in mind, we've done the hard work for you and summed up which locations are prime for legalized betting and which states are simply a no-go in this handy tracker. Not only that, but we'll take you through the history of US sports betting laws and highlight which states are on the cusp of regulatory change.

US Sports Betting Regulations

This history class is about to get technical, so stick with us here. US sports betting exploded in 2018 after the Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA). This federal law had previously prevented states from invoking their Tenth Amendment rights. But what exactly does that mean? In simple terms, the Tenth Amendment gives states the power to enact specific laws that trump federal mandates.

PASPA was a federal law that banned sports betting in all US states except for Nevada. It also allowed Oregon, Delaware, and Montana to offer sports lotteries. This meant that sports betting (except horse racing, a different topic altogether) was illegal in 46 states. That was, however, until certain conditions fought back. Most notable in its contempt for PASPA was New Jersey (everything is legal in New Jersey... as a certain famous musical says).

Garden State senator Raymond Lesniak first challenged PASPA in 2009. He argued that allowing four states to offer sports betting while stopping 46 others from doing the same was discriminatory and unconstitutional. The case was dismissed because only New Jersey Governor Chris Christie could file such a case. Christie took up the challenge after the state voted in favor of local sports betting laws in 2010.

New Jersey Fights for Legal US Sports Betting

By 2012, New Jersey had legalized online sports betting. Still, it wasn't allowed to offer any services to customers because of PASPA. Christie continued the fight, and, eventually, in 2018, his successor, Philip Murphy, turned the tide. The Supreme Court heard Murphy vs. National Collegiate Athletic Association and ruled in favor of the former. This ruling struck down PASPA, which meant any state in the US could offer sports betting if local laws were passed. 

The verdict was a seminal moment for sports fans in the US and, moreover, the US gambling industry. Since 2011, when the Department of Justice issued a formal opinion on the Wire Act, online poker and casino gaming have been classed as state issues. Before that, it was assumed that "wire communications" were illegal; therefore, online casino gaming and poker were illegal. But, the DOJ declared that the Wire Act only applied to sports betting and only communications sent across state lines.

This gave rise to online poker and casino sites in various US states. Then, thanks to the Supreme Court ruling on PASPA, sports betting was legalized because it's within state lines.

So now, we're in a position where online poker, casino gaming, and sports betting are legal in the US state-by-state. The question is, which states? Here's where our handy sports betting tracker comes into play. The list below is constantly being updated, so you'll always know which US states offer legal sports betting and which are considering it.

Which US States Offer Legal Sports Betting?

Before you take you through the states offering legalized sports betting, it's important to note that everything is localized. In other words, there are no federal laws focused on betting. Therefore, everything is done on a state level. That's why some places have sportsbooks, and some don't. Because of this, each state has its own unique laws. By and large, all US states offer similar betting conditions. However, there are some subtle differences.

The simple way to put it is that you must be within a state and old enough to place a bet. The minimum age is 21, and every licensed sportsbook will use geolocation software to determine you're within state lines. If you're not, you won't be able to bet. Naturally, if you're placing a bet in-person, they'll know you're in the right place. Assuming you meet the entry conditions, you can bet on football, basketball, baseball, and more in the following states. There's a good reason that many of these operators offer mobile apps, especially if you fancy a quick trip across state lines to place a bet...

The Original US Sports Betting States

These four states were exempt from PASPA and have offered sports betting for years. However, their local laws have also been given a makeover to ensure the services permitted match those available elsewhere in the US.

Nevada Sports Betting

This is the original epicenter of sports betting in the US and remains so today.

Delaware Sports Betting

Having previously been limited to parimutuel betting, Delaware moved to full single-game betting in 2018. The notable exception here is the ban on bets involving in-state college teams.

Oregon Sports Betting

It took until 2019 for lawmakers to update existing laws and permit full sports betting in Oregon. Mobile betting was quickly made available alongside retail outlets. Betting is unrestricted at Chinook Winds Casino Resort. Still, sportsbooks operated by the Lottery are subject to a ban on in-state college games.

Montana Sports Betting

It might have taken until 2020, but Governor Steve Bullock did sign a Montana sports betting bill into law. There are no Notable Betting Restrictions in this state.

US Sports Betting Laws Passed since the repeal of PASPA:

Arizona

• Type of Betting Offered: Full mobile and in-person betting
• Options: Most big-name brands already live in Arizona, with some offering in-stadium sportsbooks.
• Notable Betting Restrictions: None

Arkansas

• Type of Betting Offered: Full mobile and in-person betting.
• Options: Beyond the retail casinos, only 2 online betting sites are available for the residents of Arkansas - Betly & BET Saracen. The national brands have yet to launch here due to legislation challenges.
• Notable Betting Restrictions: No betting on in-state college teams

Colorado

• Type of Betting Offered: Full mobile and in-person betting.
• Options: Colorado is one of the most robust states when it comes to sports betting brands, and users have the benefit of choosing between more than 25 betting brands.
• Notable Betting Restrictions: None

Connecticut

• Type of Betting Offered: Full mobile and in-person betting
• Options: FanDuel, DraftKings, and Play Sugar House are the options available for CT residents so far. 
• Notable Betting Restrictions: No betting on in-state college teams

Delaware

• Type of Betting Offered: In-person betting only
• Options: Three retail sportsbooks, all run by the state lottery.
• Notable Betting Restrictions: No betting on in-state college teams

Illinois

• Type of Betting Offered: Full mobile and in-person betting
• Options: Many national betting brands are available, including FanDuel, Caesars, PointsBet, and DraftKings.
• Notable Betting Restrictions: Betting on in-state college teams is only allowed in person.

Indiana

• Type of Betting Offered: Full mobile and in-person betting
• Options: Plenty of betting apps are available thanks to favorable legislation frameworks.
• Notable Betting Restrictions: No prop bets on in-state collegiate teams

Louisiana

• Type of Betting Offered: Full mobile and in-person betting
• Options: Multiple betting options, including betting sites such as BetMGM, FanDuel, or WynnBet.
• Notable Betting Restrictions: None.

Maryland

• Type of Betting Offered: In-person betting only. Online betting legislation has been approved but is yet to be implemented.
• Options: Limited to only 5 retail sportsbooks.
• Notable Betting Restrictions: None.

Michigan

• Type of Betting Offered: Full mobile and in-person betting
• Options: Multiple betting options, including betting sites such as BetMGM or FanDuel.
• Notable Betting Restrictions: None.

Mississippi 

• Type of Betting Offered: In-person betting only. 
• Options: The state does allow mobile betting, but only on retail premises. Keeping that in mind, some trustworthy casinos are in the state, operated by big national brands such as BetMGM, DraftKings, or Penn National.
• Notable Betting Restrictions: None.

Montana

• Type of Betting Offered: In-person betting only. 
• Options: Similar to MS, it allows mobile betting only on-premises. However, the state lottery enjoys a monopoly, so they're the only option in the state.
• Notable Betting Restrictions: None.

Nevada

• Type of Betting Offered: Full mobile and in-person betting (in-person sign-up)
• Options: Although you must register for a sportsbook account in person, you can use mobile betting apps from big brands such as Caesars, BetMGM, or Wynn.
• Notable Betting Restrictions: None.

New Hampshire

• Type of Betting Offered: Mobile and in-person betting (just one mobile betting app)
• Options: DraftKings is currently the only mobile sportsbook available.
• Notable Betting Restrictions: No betting on in-state college teams.

New Jersey

• Type of Betting Offered: Mobile and in-person betting
• Options: The Gold Standard for legal sports betting and the state that has brought the sports gambling case to the Supreme Court offers more than 20 betting apps and is home to all national brands.
• Notable Betting Restrictions: No betting on college events.

New Mexico

• Type of Betting Offered: In-person betting only.
• Options: No gambling legislation has passed since PASPA was repealed, but they've benefited from a loophole allowing Native American tribes to run in-person betting at their casinos since 2018. 6 retail locations take bets.
• Notable Betting Restrictions: Unclear

New York

• Type of Betting Offered: Mobile and in-person betting 
• Options: Several big-name brands such as Caesars, BetRivers, or PointsBet offer mobile betting in the state.
• Notable Betting Restrictions: No betting on in-state college teams.

North Carolina

• Type of Betting Offered: In-person betting only
• Options: Bets must be made on tribal land and in the two existing retail locations.
• Notable Betting Restrictions: None.

North Dakota

• Type of Betting Offered: In-person betting only.
• Options: State tribes followed a similar legal path as New Mexico, meaning retail betting is allowed at this point.
• Notable Betting Restrictions: Unclear

Oregon

• Type of Betting Offered: Mobile and in-person betting (but limited)
• Options: DraftKings provides its mobile sportsbook to the state lottery and is the only mobile sportsbook available in the state. In-person betting is available at Chinook Winds Casino Resort.
• Notable Betting Restrictions: No betting on in-state college teams.

Pennsylvania

• Type of Betting Offered: Mobile and in-person betting 
• Options: There are almost 15 betting sites, including Parx, Unibet, or Play SugarHouse.
• Notable Betting Restrictions: None.

Rhode Island

• Type of Betting Offered: Mobile and in-person betting (one mobile betting app)
• Options: Caesars operates the state's only mobile sportsbook and one of its two retail casinos.
• Notable Betting Restrictions: No betting on in-state college teams.

South Dakota

• Type of Betting Offered: In-person betting only
• Options: There are 4 casinos currently taking retail bets in the city of Deadwood.
• Notable Betting Restrictions: None.

Tennessee

• Type of Betting Offered: Mobile betting only
• Options: With no retail casinos, Tennessee is one of the few states that solely allows mobile sports betting. Many big-name brands live in Tennessee, such as WynnBet, FanDuel, or BetMGM.
• Notable Betting Restrictions: None.

Virginia

• Type of Betting Offered: Mobile and in-person betting 
• Options: Initial roster includes sites such as Caesars, BetRivers, or PointsBet.
• Notable Betting Restrictions: No betting on in-state college teams or youth teams.

Washington

• Type of Betting Offered: In-person betting only.
• Options: Limited to some tribal casinos, mobile bets can also be placed as long as they are on the premises.
• Notable Betting Restrictions: None.

Washington DC.

• Type of Betting Offered: Mobile and in-person betting
• Options: Caesars and BetMGM allow mobile betting on the premises of the Capital One Arena and the Washington Nationals' stadium. GamBetDC is the only app that's available across the District. 
• Notable Betting Restrictions: None.

West Virginia

• Type of Betting Offered: Mobile and in-person betting
• Options: Multiple national brands such as DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, or Caesars.
• Notable Betting Restrictions: None.

Wisconsin 

• Type of Betting Offered: In-person betting only
• Options: Retail sportsbooks available at The Oneida Nation's casinos.
• Notable Betting Restrictions: No betting on in-state college teams.

Wyoming

• Type of Betting Offered: Mobile betting only
• Options: BetMGM or FanDuel are the best options for Wyoming bettors. The Northern Arapaho Tribe has been looking to add retail sports betting, using a similar strategy as the New Mexico tribes.
• Notable Betting Restrictions: None.

States that Are Yet to Legalize Online Sports Betting

Sadly, the wave of legalized sports betting in America doesn't always move as fast as some would like. Although more than 50% of the US now offers sports betting in one form or another, there are still plenty of lawmakers weighing up the merits of regulation.

The good news, however, is that almost all states yet to offer legal sportsbooks are either close to enacting new laws or actively discussing them. This is why keeping an eye on our legalization tracker is essential. We update it each time a new state passes a law that allows locals to bet on sports. For now, the places below are yet to offer sports betting:

Pending - likely in 2022:

• Kansas
• Maine
• Ohio
• Nebraska

Possible - 2022, 2023 or later:

• California
• Massachusetts
• South Carolina

Later or never (2023 and beyond):

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Kentucky
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Oklahoma
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont