Where Is Sports Betting Legal In The USA? Find Out Here
FanDuel is the only online sportsbook available from anywhere in the district. You need to be at least 21 years old to bet on sports in Connecticut, and there is no betting on in-state college teams unless they’re participating in an intercollegiate tournament. If you’re physically present in the Centennial State, claim the best Colorado sportsbook promos at platforms such as bet365 and Fanatics Sportsbook.
From brick-and-mortar casinos and poker rooms to retail and online sportsbooks and beyond, every local government has different rules and regulations regarding these markets. Each state’s legislature and citizens have different opinions on sports betting and online sportsbooks, so legalization has come in waves, and not every state has decided to do so just yet. Mobile sportsbooks have lots of special rewards, boosts, and other features to help you have a great online sports betting experience. There are currently three online Connecticut sports betting options, as well as a celebrated history of legalized sports betting at in-person casinos. Some states allow nearly every form of gambling, from casinos and sportsbooks to online gaming. USALegalBetting serves as your go-to destination for up-to-date information on legal sports betting and casino gambling news across the United States.
Collegiate sports remain one of the most common restrictions for states to specify when legalizing sports betting. The NHL surprised many in the sports betting world by awarding the gambling mecca, Las Vegas, with its first professional sports franchise in 2017. This shift began in 2014 when Commissioner Adam Silver publicly advocated for the legalization and regulation of sports betting.
Sportsbooks often don’t bother to lobby here due to the state’s small, spread-out population and lack of major sports teams. In Washington, you can only bet on the reservation lands of federally recognized Native American tribes. You can’t bet on Vermont colleges unless they’re participating in a tournament, and you must be 21 years of age or older to bet inside Vermont state lines. You can bet on just about everything in Pennsylvania, with college player props standing as the main exception. Indiana is less restrictive than other states, as you can bet on in-state college teams and even college player props as long as you place your bet before the game begins. One of our favorite promos is the Fanatics Sportsbook Illinois offer, so check it out today if you’re in the Land of Lincoln.
It could also be an online sportsbook that received a license to operate by the state of Illinois. After originally banning championship games from taking place in states with legal betting, in 2019 they performed an about-face as more and more states pursued it. For example, opening rounds of the NCAAB March Madness typically rank amongst the busiest days of the year for sportsbooks. One of the league’s all-time greats, Rose was famously banned for life in 1989 after illegally betting on the team he was managing at the time. It’s likely that every state with an MGM property (looking at you, Maryland) will eventually host a BetMGM online sportsbook. Originally founded in the United Kingdom, bet365 is one of the world’s largest online gambling companies with more than 20 years of experience.
Other States Get in the Game
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.
Additionally, offshore operators tend to come up short in promoting responsible gambling. Washington authorities have never prosecuted an individual under the law, but it remains a theoretical risk. In those states, DFS providers operate under the assumption that local laws do not prohibit fantasy contests. Twelve US states have passed legislation authorizing online lottery sales, and third-party lottery ticket couriers such as Jackpocket operate in up to 18 additional jurisdictions. Some states now sell a full range of lottery products online, including access to instant win games and keno along with tickets to all drawing games.
Online sports betting account for the vast majority of legal wagering on sports throughout the United States. This could actually be a benefit if you want to bet on local teams because state-regulated sports betting sites could see weighted lines due to hometown bias. While the number of states with legal sports betting from local regulation has increased, there have also been betting options on the table.
Online sports betting was originally registered at retail sportsbook, but that state law was officially changed March 5 of 2022. In Jan of 2021, Virginia launched legal online sports betting in its border. Early in 2023, seven legal online sportsbooks in Maryland launched legal betting on sports. There are a number of sportsbook operators, including BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings and FanDuel as the four largest sports betting sites. These New York online sportsbooks pay 51% of their revenue to the state, which is the largest sports betting tax in the US.
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.
- Mobile bettors can quickly find wagers and bet online through a sportsbook app without waiting in lines.
- Cash-at-Cage transfers – These are simply real-money exchanges at retail sportsbooks.
- The 2018 repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) allowed individual states to decide whether to authorize and regulate sports wagering.
Take a swing at cricket betting with legal online sportsbooks that offer odds on popular leagues from around the world. While the law was previously used to prevent US-based online sports betting, the law now simply restricts interstate wagering. The allowable forms of legal online sports betting may vary drastically from one state or country to another, and wagering on the Internet has become a popular, multi-billion-dollar industry. In the meantime, US sports bettors in all 50 states can access safe and legal sports betting at offshore sportsbooks like BetUS, BetNow and MyBookie.
New Jersey, Illinois, and Massachusetts round out the top tier of mature markets. You must be physically located in a legal state https://www.pokernewsdaily.com/sportsbooks/ to place a wager, regardless of residency. All gambling income must be reported on Form 1040. It does not criminalize bettors but restricts unlicensed operators from accessing US banking. PASPA was struck down by the Supreme Court on May 14, 2018 in Murphy v. NCAA, opening the door for state-by-state legalization.
Some of the most important features to consider are the offered bonuses, deposit options, fastest payouts, state availability, and security of the site. Use Xbet at 21+ in most US states and a few countries as well. SportsBetting.ag offers 100 free spins and a deposit match when signing up. Brett is a passionate sports writer who majored in Sport Management at Florida State University. Though, democratic opposition to wagering or complicated tribal ties plays a massive part in its progress. In total, 25 states have banned athletes or coaching from wagering, either in person or through a third party.
Total commercial gaming revenue hit a record $78.72 billion. In 2011, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie filed a lawsuit arguing PASPA violated states’ rights to govern themselves. Wyoming’s market launched in September 2021, timed for that NFL season. Robinhood pre-emptively sued Washington in April 2026 in anticipation of state action against its prediction markets platform. It cleared a Senate committee in late April, passed the full Senate in early May, and Governor Phil Scott signed it into law on June 14. Changing that requires a two-thirds legislative supermajority plus voter approval, which is why Utah is the one state with essentially no path to legalization.
North Carolina sports betting apps are expected to go live on March 11, 2024. It is unclear when sports betting will officially launch in Maine, but it likely won’t be until 2024. The Buckeye State is fairly new to the sports betting game since sports betting officially went live there on Jan. 1, 2023.
After a protracted legal battle, the Supreme Court finally ruled in favor of New Jersey and struck down PASPA. These others are the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988, and the Illegal Gambling Business Act of 1970. Two of those laws remain in effect today, but the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was ruled unconstitutional by a Supreme Court ruling in 2018. Those laws are the Federal Wire Act of 1961, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006. Content reserved for readers of 18+ years of age or legal majority in their jurisdiction.
Depending on the state in which you wish to bet, you might have 13 or more different mobile sports betting apps at your disposal. Props.com offers comprehensive resources on the U.S sports betting industry. Virginia’s population and open market have made it a sports betting success story.
West Virginia was among the first states to regulate sports betting following the overturning of PASPA. To bet online, you have to use the GambetDC app—the only online sportsbook in the state. Sports betting is legal in Washington D.C., both online and in person. Governor Jay Inslee signed House Bill 2638 on March 25, 2020, to authorize tribal casinos to run sports wagering on their premises. The Virginia Lottery regulates betting and wagering on Virginia college sports is prohibited.
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.
Wyoming has four online sportsbook operators, including BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings and FanDuel. There are in-state gaming tribes that operate land-based casinos in the state. Retail and online sportsbook in the state would require amending the state Constitution. Montana legal sports bettors are able to wager on professional and college sports.
Federal Judge Rules Utah Can Apply Gambling Laws to Kalshi Sports Markets
Even before the Europeans colonists set foot ashore, the local tribes had often multiple gambling-type games and activities. In May 2018 the court reached its verdict, declaring the law unconstitutional by a 6-3 vote. Often criticized for its slow pace, it’s now possible to create excitement through in-game wagering. New Jersey was first on its list, launching online operations on September 7, 2018. Fanatics Sportsbook is part of Fanatics Betting & Gaming and is available online in 22 states and D.C.
Users of bet365 have found some of the most player-friendly odds in online sports betting, and a selection of betting markets that is as deep as any of its competitors. It began as a daily fantasy sports site, but when online sports betting became legal, it took the next step, making for a seamless transition for its customers. Tennessee, Maine and Vermont are the only states that are online only, meaning they do not have legal retail sports betting. Missouri’s legal betting age is 21, and it can have up to 14 online sports betting operators, but opened with eight. The landscape for US betting sites changed in 2018 when PASPA (Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act) was overturned, giving individual states the power to legalize sports wagering. Online sportsbooks in the US give you legal, regulated access to sports betting in 33 states and Washington, D.C.
The Pelican State has a number of online sportsbook operators, led by Caesars Entertainment, which also has a retail sportsbook in Harrah’s New Orleans. Bally Bet and Fanatics Sportsbook are expected to launch their betting sites in Tennessee sometime this year. Harrah’s Cherokee Resort and Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino are the two places with established retail sportsbooks. In late fall of 2018, District of Columbia Council did pass legislation to allow sports betting in Washington DC.
The main restrictions on betting in the Garden State are in the area of college sports as there’s no betting on NJ-based college teams. Currently, DraftKings is the only available online sportsbook in New Hampshire. You cannot bet on minor league sports, college athlete prop bets, or individual games involving in-state colleges. The legal betting age in the state is 21 years, and while college prop betting previously allowed, the state banned the practice in August 2024. You must be 21 years old to play, and while there are restrictions on college prop bets, the Hawkeye State has generally strong offerings.
Pennsylvania’s sports betting market is among the nation’s largest, with numerous online and retail sportsbooks contributing to substantial tax revenues. Ohio’s sports betting law includes provisions for both online and retail sportsbooks, with operations commencing on January 1, 2023. New Jersey’s sports betting market has become one of the largest in the U.S., with both online and retail sportsbooks generating significant revenue.
Because regulations differ by state and by gambling type, it’s important to check your local laws before betting online. With so many states legalizing sports betting, it is good to start looking at some of the details! The 21st state to legalize sports betting was Washington state. Virginia became the 22nd state to legalize sports betting in 2020. You can still use the legal offshore betting sites without a problem in the Beehive State. When the governor signed the legislation for sports betting in 2019, he also reiterated his opposition to traditional casino expansion.
“Skins” is an industry parlance for individually branded betting sites or apps operating off a single casino’s license. Customers are on their own when it comes to chasing down payments and dealing with rogue operators and illegal betting sites. When the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was passed in 2006 to block payments to online gambling sites, it specifically granted fantasy sports an exception from the law. A majority of states have legalized sports betting, and more attempt to do so each year. Below is a map of where sports betting is legal in the USA, and state-specific information after that.
Multiple bills introduced in 2025 sought to establish and regulate online sportsbooks, and all of them died before the legislative deadline. HB 910, introduced in 2026, would legalize mobile betting under the Georgia Lottery and sidestep the constitutional amendment question entirely. Three online sportsbooks is on the low side, which limits your ability to line-shop and keeps promo competition softer than in neighbouring New York or New Jersey. In May 2026, the Colorado State Senate passed a consumer protection bill that would place significant new restrictions on online sportsbooks operating in the state.
HB 551 passed the House and Senate in 2023, and sportsbooks opened in September of that year, with retail on September 7 and online on September 28. The first retail sportsbook opened in September 2019, with mobile following in October, months after Gov. Eric Holcomb signed the bill into law. Indiana bettors have access to legal in-person and mobile betting across multiple tribal and commercial casino venues. Separately, Hawaii introduced HB 2198 in January 2026, which would explicitly define prediction market platforms offering sports contracts as illegal gambling.
Typically, two-factor authentication involves receiving a fix or six-digit number by text and inputting that number every time you log in to your online betting account. As mentioned, the minimum age to be permitted to gamble at any legal sportsbook in the US is 21. Signing up for an online sportsbook account begins with completing a registration form. Meanwhile, a great sportsbook will offer regular promotions on a weekly basis, whether or not a major sporting event is imminent. A good sportsbook will offer promos based around major events like the Super Bowl and NBA Finals. Most states have opted for open market regulatory frameworks that allow multiple sportsbook brands to apply for licenses and compete for customers.