US States with Legal Sports Betting Map Legislation Tracker
Maine officially launched sports betting on November 3, 2023, with a unique approach that grants control of the mobile and online sports betting market to the state’s Native American tribes. Louisiana officially launched sports betting on October 2021 for retail and then January 2022 for online sportsbooks following the passage of Senate Bill 247. The state offers both retail and online sports betting, providing a versatile platform for bettors. With 33 casinos, all of which are now allowed to offer retail betting and establish online partners, the Colorado online market is already getting crowded.
Tribal gaming exists all across the U.S. by the federal law of 1987, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), and tribal-state compacts, which govern the terms and conditions of gaming in the state. Should the state’s casinos be able to obtain the licenses? Likewise, the NHL is exploring the use of advanced www.pokernewsdaily.com/sportsbooks/ stats for licensure and betting. Even the NFL now permits team-sportsbook partnerships, and the first came in June 2020 when the Broncos teamed up with FanDuel and Betfred. A bill that places local tribes in charge of betting in Oklahoma passed the house on March 23, 2023, giving life to OK betting hopes. His experience allows him to provide tips and information to help other bettors improve their game.
Responsible Gambling
One thing led to another and, in 1949, the state eventually legalized sports betting. Although horse racing was still exempt, the stigma attached to gambling and sports betting resulted in many racetracks closing down. In 1860, authorities banned all forms of gambling and sports betting, apart from horse racing. This type of betting is also called live betting, and is at the forefront of mobile sports betting.
Live Betting
The decision had wide-ranging implications for US sports betting. For now, The Federal Wire Act remains in place and essentially restricts states to regulating sports betting within their borders. The repeal of PASPA in 2018 granted states the authority to regulate sports betting. Each state page provides comprehensive information on the available forms of in-person and online betting in the USA that are legal and accessible to bettors who are residents in the state. BettingUSA’s expert team of industry insiders, analysts, and experienced gamblers dedicates our diverse skill set to providing a roadmap to betting online safely and legally.
Agreeing to deals has been difficult in those states, as tribal control over gaming and how to manage it in a legal sports betting world has proven difficult. Perhaps the biggest player in sports betting legalization in the US is tribal casinos, or the tribes themselves. The most commonly advertised bonuses at US sports betting sites are the welcome bonuses that new users can claim when they register a new sportsbook account.
However, you can continue to freely use the recommended offshore betting sites without a problem. They do require in-person registration to use the state-sanctioned betting sites. Illinois is one of the most open states when it comes to US sports betting.
Sports betting launched in Ohio just in time to start 2023. March 2021 saw the booking of the first bets. In cooperation with USBookmaking, Santa Ana Star Casino and Hotel in Bernalillo opened the first sportsbook in the state in 2018.
There are many ways to fund all of the online sportsbooks reviewed on this page. BetOnline is one of the most reliable and trustworthy online sportsbooks that is available. When ranking the best online sportsbooks that accept US players, we factor in all of these details and more. He combines his knowledge of stats with his understanding of game theory to find the best values when sports betting.
Louisiana offers both retail and online sports betting in participating parishes. Delaware technically already had permission to bet on sports, but they didn’t waste any time once PASPA was overturned to offer sports betting at three casinos. The Interstate Wire Act of 1961, also known as the Federal Wire Act or just the Wire Act, is the one law discussed on this page that could potentially complicate things for legal online sports betting – at least in theory. As additional states legalize sports betting, any online sportsbooks licensed in those states will also be exempt from the UIGEA.
Each state has its own regulatory body that oversees and enforces the sports betting rules in its jurisdiction. It would take you a while to read through the sports betting rules in every state. The verification process on sports betting apps is the part that asks the most of you, and where the most hiccups could be encountered. These are the sports betting promo codes and bonus codes you see on this site (and others, too, but no need to bother with those). There are several factors you will need to consider when choosing a sports betting site.
It is the first federal tax change to hit US bettors directly since the 10% excise tax era. Signed on July 4, 2025, the OBBBA capped the gambling loss deduction at 90% of losses starting in the 2026 tax year. A platform can be fully open in one state, limited to non-sports contracts in another, and blocked entirely in a third. Minnesota became the first state to formally ban prediction markets in May 2026, and a federal judge stayed that ban days before it took effect.
New Jersey, Delaware, and other states quickly drafted bills legalizing sports betting soon after. Free bets typically offer the best value for converting promotions into withdrawable cash at US sportsbooks. You can check our list of the best sports betting sites in the USA for more options. The landscape of legal sports betting states is constantly changing.
International betting sites also post odds on entertainment events, elections and other outcomes that are generally unavailable through state-regulated sportsbooks. Check out which sportsbooks offer legal MLB betting and the best lines in baseball. There are no federal laws prohibiting US-based gamblers from betting on pro and college games using online sportsbooks that are legitimately operational outside the country. The UIGEA targeted online gambling and sports betting by prohibiting financial transactions related to unlawful internet gambling. For example, New Jersey, New York and Ohio have active regulated sports betting both online and at retail locations, while Tennessee and Wyoming only have online sports betting. Let’s now explore the exciting world of the legality of online sports betting in the US.
It required banks and payment processors to block certain gambling payments. Only Nevada, Oregon, Delaware, and Montana were exempt due to existing laws. It banned the use of wire communications for gambling across state lines. The US States consider them illegal but that’s also because they don’t pay local taxes. With such a mix, it might be hard to know exactly what is or is not legal and what you can gamble on and where in the USA. As a result, Gambling in the USA is a diverse and evolving industry with multiple stakeholders and sometimes confusing overlaps of laws and customs.
Vermont launched its online sports betting in January 2024, following the legalization process that began earlier in 2023. With the signing of House Bill 347 by Governor Roy Cooper in June 2023, North Carolina officially entered the sports betting arena, paving the way for both retail and online sports betting. Nebraska officially launched its sports betting operations on June 22, 2023, but only for in-person wagering, as online sports betting remains prohibited. Michigan managed to push through legislation for online sports betting, casino and DFS in December 2019. Massachusetts entered the sports betting arena with the launch of retail sportsbooks on January 31, 2023, following legislative approval.
Nonetheless, whether betting offline or online, Nevada is a good state to be a bettor. So, for anyone in the Cornhusker State, online betting remains by far the most convenient option. If you are online or at a site that does not serve alcohol, the legal gambling age in the Great Lakes State is 18. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation that legalized sports gambling in Michigan in 2019. Thanks to the game-changing HB 551, passed in March 2023, the Bluegrass State is opening its doors to sportsbooks.
As a market leader in the state, BetMGM operates retail sportsbooks at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi and the Gold Strike Casino Resort in Tunica. Mississippi has 28 land-based casinos that also house a retail sportsbook. The Magnolia State was one of the first markets to allow retail betting on sports after May of 2018.
There are numerous risks involved with using offshore sportsbooks and online casinos, but legal trouble is unlikely. States that have yet to legalize online sports betting have failed to advance legislation for various reasons. Delaware, Nevada, and New Jersey became the first legal online gambling states in 2013, when each launched online casinos, poker sites, or both. Something that isn’t often explicitly explained when discussing the legalization of sports betting and other forms of gambling is how state and federal laws interact with one another.
Additionally, about 13 million U.S. adults (approximately 5% of the adult population) wagered over $500 monthly on sports betting in 2024. The American Gambling Association reported the total 2024 U.S. sports betting handle reached nearly $150 billion. In 2018, the United States Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), a federal ban against sports betting. If their case is heard and the ruling is in favor of New Jersey, the American sports betting landscape could change forever. New Jersey is arguing that sports betting should be a state right and not left up to the government. PASPA, the Federal Wire Act and the UIGEA aren’t designed to target individual bettors, but rather the institutions facilitating sports betting.
You might assume Utah, with its large Mormon population, would be conservative on betting. And in the meantime, bettors can still access offshore sites. These casinos even feature golf courses and live entertainment. The state hosts two casinos, including the Harrah’s Cherokee Casino, which is also the state’s largest hotel.
In those days, horse racing was viewed differently from other sports betting types and was generally enjoyed by the elite society. In all other states with legal, online betting, 21 is the minimum age for betting. However, we’ve still gathered the most interesting information available about sports betting in each. Just click on your state for our expert review about the best betting sites and apps available near you!
WarHorse was the first casino to open a retail sportsbook, with additional retail options coming soon. Online sports betting went live in Massachusetts on March 10, 2023 — just in time for the NCAA Tournament. It is expected that there will be more online sportsbooks approved in 2023 and 2024. Be sure to review your state’s regulations to determine if sports betting is permitted.
Bettors originally had to register in person, which suppressed signups until online registration arrived in 2021. Hawaii took a small procedural step forward in February 2026, but opposition remains strong and legalization is not realistically close. New customers can now sign up directly through the app rather than at a casino.
- Hawaii took a small procedural step forward in February 2026, but opposition remains strong and legalization is not realistically close.
- All the best online casino games at the top offshore sites are created and maintained by developers like Realtime Gaming, Rival, and Betsoft.
- For the bets you can place, you must be at least 21 years old to engage in online wagering.
- While this is a matter of opinion, the staff here at Sportsbooks Online have searched far and wide to determine which sports betting site will provide you with the best experience.
As is the case in many states, you must be 21 years old to bet on sports in Florida. Another interesting wrinkle is that you can bet at the age of 18, but always be sure to check operator-specific policies, which may be more stringent than local law. Check out the latest Arizona sportsbook promos so you can get started on top platforms like FanDuel, ESPN BET, DraftKings, and more. College sports bettors can place wagers on futures and game results, but not props on individual player performances. Land-based casinos also remain strong, with many states reporting record highs. Pay attention to your behaviors when you are placing bets—if you notice that you are becoming reckless or compulsive, you may want to take a break.
These exemptions allowed for limited forms of parlay-style sports wagers on specific leagues offered by the state lottery. There are countless stories of sports bettors experiencing delayed cashouts, deposit options with excessive fees, and poor customer service. DraftKings has consistently been the fastest US betting site for payouts in all our tests. You can bet on football, basketball, baseball, hockey, MMA, boxing, golf, and much more using a US betting site. It’s best to check in with an individual US betting site to find out if it is available in your state.
Through a general election in November of 2020, South Dakota voters approved the amendment to legalize retail sports betting in Deadwood tribal casinos. The North Dakota House passed HB 1254, but the state Senate did not approve the bill calling for legal retail and online sports betting. Sports betting is legal in Montana, but commercial online sportsbooks are still against the law. At this time, there are also no state legislative bills legalizing retail and/or online sports betting in the House or Senate. In August of 2019, both retail and online sports betting became legal in Iowa. In May of 2019, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb signed the bill that legalized both retail and online sports betting.
Wisconsin has already taken the legal step toward online betting, so the next question there is not legalization, but launch timing. Any person at least 21 years old in the Equality State can log into and use the offshore betting sites. What’s more, no efforts to allow them to host sports betting have been made in the state.
But if you walk outside to head down to Stockman’s, you can’t bet on your phone or when you get there because it is not a licensed establishment. The law took effect on June 28, 2023, paving the way for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission to establish rules and license operators. This means you can sign up anywhere there is an internet connection via your computer or mobile device. Iowa elected to require in-person registration during the market’s first year but that is now a thing of the past.
Five apps are available, and the legal betting age is 18 rather than 21. Bets can only be placed at one of the state’s tribal casinos on tribal land, including online wagers, which only work inside those casinos using tribal apps. Tennessee has no casinos, so it went online-only from the start, launching in November 2020. In February 2026, a Senate committee held a hearing on S.444, which would establish a Sports Wagering Commission to regulate online betting in the state.