Looking to find out where online sports betting is legal in the U.S.? Our comprehensive guide tells you where betting sites are available and covers the latest legislation updates. Learn about where you can place your bets and what you need to know about the rules in each state.

In general, yes, sports betting is legal in the U.S. However, the legality depends on where you are.

In 2018, the United States Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), a federal ban against sports betting. PASPA was enacted in 1992, making betting illegal throughout most of the country. Certain states (such as Nevada) and events (such as horse racing) were granted exemptions.

When the ban was struck down in 2018, individual states were allowed to determine the legal status of sports betting. As a result, sports betting is legal on a state-by-state basis.

It is also important to note that legality depends on location rather than residency. This means, if you are within the borders of a state where sports betting is legal, you can claim sportsbook promos and place a bet even if it's illegal in your home state. 

Some states have legalized both sports betting apps and retail betting, while others have only approved one or the other.

• May 3, 2024: North Carolina Lawmakers Introduce Bills to Ban College Prop Bets
• April 17, 2024: Over 300,000 Signatures Collected In Missouri To Put Sports Betting On Nov. 5 Ballot
• April 3, 2024: Louisiana To Ban College Player Prop Bets Before Football Season
• March 14, 2024: Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office to Appeal Skill Games Ruling

Some form of sports betting is currently legal in 38 states and the District of Columbia. 

Let’s take a look at the current legislative status in all 50 states.

Alabama

Alabama sports betting is illegal in all its forms. In May 2024, the Alabama lawmakers ended this year's legislative session without legalizing sports betting in the state.

Alaska

Alaska sports betting is prohibited, and there are no signs of this changing anytime soon.

Arizona

On April 12, 2021, the state Senate approved Senate Bill HB 2772, which legalized retail Arizona sports betting and online sports betting. Online sportsbooks in Arizona took their first wagers five months later in September.

Retail licenses have been issued to professional sports teams and Native American tribes.

Arkansas

Arkansas sports betting was legalized in 2018. At first, bets could only be placed at one of three land-based sportsbooks: the Saracen Casino Resort, Southland Casino, and the Oaklawn horse racing track and casino.

After new rules met legislative approval in 2022, online sports betting became legal and officially launched in April of that year.

In May 2024, the Arkansas Racing Commission postponed any discussion on a plan to legalize iGaming statewide. No date has been set for when the commission might address that issue. 

California

Despite legislative efforts to legalize California sports betting, it remains illegal. The most recent failure came in 2022 when California voters rejected Proposition 27, an initiative to legalize sports wagering. The earliest that betting can become legal in the state is 2026.

Colorado

Mobile and land-based Colorado sports betting became legal during the spring of 2020. Retail betting is limited to the sportsbooks in casinos in Black Hall, Central City, and Cripple Creek.

Several online Colorado sportsbooks are available to choose from, including Caesars, Fanatics, and BetMGM.

Connecticut

Both in-person and online Connecticut sports betting were legalized in 2021. While there are other retail locations, Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun tribal casinos are the two most popular places in the state to bet on sports. Fanatics, DraftKings, and FanDuel are available online.

Delaware

In 2018, Delaware became the first state outside of Nevada to legalize sports betting. Until recently, the state only supported retail sports betting at one of the state’s three racinos.

However, at the beginning of 2024, BetRivers launched its state app to make online Delaware sports betting available.

Florida

Retail and online sports betting is legal in the Sunshine State; however, the situation in Florida is more complicated than in most legal states.

In-person Florida sports betting is available at certain casinos run by the Seminole Tribe. Meanwhile, Hard Rock Bet, an app relaunched in 2023 after being shut down for two years, is the only legal option for online sports betting in Florida. The Florida Seminole Tribe owns and operates the Hard Rock brand, including its sportsbook.

Other online operators are challenging in court what they believe to be a monopoly by the tribe, so things could change quickly in Florida.

Georgia

While several bills that would legalize Georgia sport betting have been put to a vote in the last few years, none have passed. In-person and online sports betting are still illegal in the state. 

Hawaii

All kinds of gambling, including sports betting, is illegal in Hawaii. While bills have been introduced in legislative sessions that would legalize Hawaii sports betting, none have passed.

Idaho

In-person and online Idaho sports betting is prohibited. It’s not likely to become legal anytime soon since not a single bill has been proposed to introduce it.

Illinois

Illinois sports betting went live in March of 2020. Retail wagering is available at facilities throughout the state, and there are currently eight options for Illinois online sports betting, including Caesars Sportsbook and BetMGM Sportsbook.

Indiana

Land-based and mobile Indiana sports betting became legal in 2019. In fact, there are 13 Indiana online sportsbooks to choose from.

As required by law, all of these sports betting sites have retail partners, so land-based sports wagering is readily available in the state as well.

Iowa

Since it was legalized in 2019, in-person and mobile Iowa sports betting is widely available. In addition to 18 brick-and-mortar casinos with sportsbooks, bettors can choose from several online sportsbooks in Iowa, such as Fanatics and Caesars.

The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission is the state’s licensing body.

Kansas

Kansas sports betting has been legal online and in-person since legislation passed in 2022. Bettors can place wagers at four in-state retail casinos as well as six online operators, including Caesars Sportsbook and BetMGM Sportsbook.  

Kentucky

Launched in September 2023, Kentucky is one of the newest states where sports betting has become legal. Numerous horse racing tracks across the state offer retail Kentucky sports betting, and eight online sportsbooks, including Caesars and Fanatics, allow bettors to place wagers remotely.

Louisiana

Louisiana sports betting is legal online and in person. Retail sports betting began in October 2021, and online sports betting soon followed in January 2022. Currently, race tracks, as well as commercial and tribal casinos, across the state house retail sportsbooks.

Meanwhile, bettors can sign up for as many as eight Louisiana online sports betting sites.

Maine

Maine sports betting is legal. Currently, there are only two online sportsbooks, Caesars and DraftKings, that are operating in the state. However, expect this to change in the near future because there are 10 retail betting licenses, as well as two additional online licenses available.

Maryland

Retail Maryland sports bettingg has been legal since December 2021, and the first of Maryland’s online sportsbooks launched nearly a year later in November 2022. Now there are eleven online betting sites taking wagers, including Fanatics Sportsbook and Caesars Sportsbook.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts sports betting is legal both in-person and online sports betting. The state’s retail casinos accepted the first wagers on the last day of January in 2023. Then, online sportsbooks in Massachusetts launched in March 2023, just ahead of the start of the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. It should be noted that Massachusetts does not allow betting on college player props or in-state college teams (unless they are in a tournament.)

Michigan

Legal Michigan sports betting went live on March 11, 2020. There are sportsbooks at most of the state’s tribal and commercial casinos, and online sports wagering is readily available.

Minnesota

Federally recognized tribes of Minnesota have blocked the expansion of gambling in the state; consequently, neither retail nor online Minnesota sports betting is legal. However, legalization bills have been introduced, so there is still hope.

Mississippi

Sports betting is legal in Mississippi and can be accessed at casinos throughout the state. While there are numerous retail sportsbooks across the state, online Mississippi sports betting in is only available to app users who are physically present on the premises of a licensed casino.

*Only only on the premises of designated retail sportsbooks

Missouri

Retail and online Missouri sports betting are not legal. Despite the support of a frustrated public (according to polling), legalizing betting is still an uphill battle due to political resistance. A bill that recently passed in the state’s House stalled in the Senate.

Meanwhile, a coalition seeking to put sports betting on the November 2024 ballot submitted voter signatures to the secretary of state several days before the May 5 deadline. If those signatures are validated, votes will decide on Nov. 5 whether they want legal sports betting in Missouri.

By August 2024, voters in Missouri should know whether sports betting will be on the November ballot, the secretary of state's spokesman says.

Montana

Montana has legalized in-person sports betting through its lottery system. There are well over 100 different sites with sports wagering kiosks, but there is no mobile sports gaming in the state.

Nebraska

In-person sports betting was legalized in Nebraska by the state legislature in 2021. However, online wagers are still illegal, and this is not expected to change soon.

Nevada

The home of legalized gambling in the United States offers in-person sports betting at any of its many casinos as well as other retail establishments. It also made online sports betting legal in 2010.

New Hampshire

In-person and online sports betting are both legal in New Hampshire. However, for mobile betting, DraftKings Sportsbook is the only option in the state due to a contractual license agreement. This arrangement restricts all other operators from accepting bets online in New Hampshire.

New Jersey

New Jersey was the state that challenged PASPA, which led to the Supreme Court overturning the law in 2018. So it’s not surprising that the state immediately took advantage and legalized New Jersey sports betting that very year. Now, the state allows betting at Atlantic City casinos, NJ horse tracks, and New Jersey online sportsbooks. 

Despite being one of the states most known for gambling along with Nevada, New Jersey prohibits bets of any kind on in-state college teams as well as games taking place in the state.  

New Mexico

New Mexico has Native American casinos that operate under compacts with the state in accordance with the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Under the terms of the compacts, they have been allowed to open sportsbooks at their gaming facilities.

Online sports betting is not permitted, and sports bettors cannot wager on college football or similar games that involve schools located in New Mexico.

New York

Legal New York sports betting in 2019 when retail betting sites went live in casinos upstate. New York sports betting online began in January 2022 and has since grown to nine operators. 

North Carolina

On March 11, 2024, North Carolina became the latest state to allow online sports betting. North Carolina sports betting is available with eight online sportsbooks in the state. 

Retail sportsbooks were legalized in the Tar Heel State in 2019, and retail sportsbooks have operated at three tribal casinos since 2021.

During the 2024 legislative session, two lawmakers submitted bills to ban college player proposition bets. It was unclear in early May whether those bills will have enough support to win approval before the session ends this summer.  

North Dakota

Tribal casinos in North Dakota have opened retail sportsbooks under existing gambling compacts. North Dakota’s state legislature has not legalized online betting sites, but there is some support among lawmakers.

Ohio

Ohio sports betting is legal both in-person and online. The number of online sportsbooks operating in the state is approaching 20, and there are many retail locations throughout Ohio, as well. In fact, sports wagers can even be placed at select Kroger grocery stores in Cincinnati and Dayton.

Oklahoma

Sports betting is not legal in Oklahoma. As with several other states where sports betting is illegal, gaining the approval of tribes in the state is the primary obstacle. 

However, Governor Kevin Stitt supports legalization, which suggests there may be a path forward. By mid-May, bills that would legalize sports betting appeared unlikely to win approval at the 2024 legislative session.

Oregon

The first legal Oregon sports bet was placed at the Chinook Winds Casino Resort in August of 2019. Online sports betting is legal and live as well. However, DraftKings is currently the only legal online sportsbook operating in Oregon.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania sports betting is legal both online and in person. In November 2018, the sportsbook at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course opened its doors. Legal online sports betting apps in Pennsylvania followed in 2019. 

Rhode Island

There are two casinos with sportsbooks in Rhode Island, which legalized sports betting in 2018. The Lottery Commission oversees Rhode Island online sports betting. Currently, the lottery-run Sportsbook RI is the only online sports betting app available in the state.

South Carolina

Sports betting is currently illegal in South Carolina. A sports betting bill has stalled in the state’s House after passing the Senate in 2023. However, current governor Henry McMaster opposes gambling, so it’s unlikely sports betting will be legalized anytime soon.

South Dakota

South Dakota legalized retail sportsbooks in 2021. The casinos in Deadwood offer retail sports betting as do some tribal properties.

There is no provision for online sports gaming, but there are lawmakers who are in favor of mobile sports betting, so it is still a possibility.

Tennessee

Online Tennessee sports betting is legal. In-person betting is not offered because there are no retail locations in the state. With no limit on licenses, there is a lot of competition among nearly a dozen Tennessee online sportsbooks.

Texas

Although there have been bills introduced to legalize it (including one in 2023), sports betting remains prohibited in Texas. Legislative sessions only occur every other year in Texas, so 2025 is the earliest a sports betting bill can be considered again.

Utah

Utah is one of two states, along with Hawaii, that doesn’t allow gambling of any kind. The state has a large population of Mormons, who are strongly opposed to gambling, so it’s possible that sports betting will never be legalized.  

Vermont

Vermont sports betting was legalized in 2023. Three Online sportsbooks, including Fanatics, FanDuel, and DraftKings, launched in January 2024. Currently, there are no retail locations in the state. Like Massachusetts, the Green Mountain State prohibits wagers of any kind placed on in-state collegiate teams unless the team is in a tournament or the playoffs.

Virginia

At the beginning of 2021, online Virginia sports betting went live. Over a dozen legal sportsbooks now operate in the state. In-person betting is also an option at several Virginia casinos. Wagering on collegiate sports is illegal.  

Washington D.C.

The laws around online sports betting in D.C. are a bit tricky. FanDuel Sportsbook will soon be available citywide for bettors 18+, replacing the district-run GamebetDC app. The availability of Caesars Sportsbook and BetMGM, however, is dependent on physical location. 

For example, they can currently only be used inside and within a few blocks of Nationals Park, home of the Washington Nationals, or Capital One Arena.

Hotels, bars, and restaurants can apply for retail sports betting licenses. The Office of Lottery and Gaming regulates sports betting in the District of Columbia. 

Washington

Tribal casinos in Washington, some of which have partnered with online operators, started taking bets in September of 2021. You can bet on mobile while on the premises of one of these casinos, but statewide online wagering is not yet legal. 

Washington sports betting on in-state collegiate games is not allowed.

West Virginia

Both in-person and online West Virginia sports betting are legal. There are brick-and-mortar sportsbooks in the West Virginia horse tracks and The Greenbrier, which is a private resort. 

Fanatics and Caesars Sportsbook are among the online sports betting sites operating in the state.

Wisconsin 

Sports betting is legal in Wisconsin only at tribal casinos in the state. Legal online sports betting would require an adjustment to the state constitution. It is worth noting that in-state betting on college competition is prohibited.

Wyoming

Online Wyoming sports betting sites are legal. There are no retail options, but the tribal casinos may launch sportsbooks soon under the terms of their compacts, using the New Mexico model.

• Pre-1800s: Colonists bet primarily on horse races without many restrictions.
• Early 1800s: Concerned about corruption, some states begin to crack down on gambling, including sports betting. However, betting at the track continues to be allowed. Horse racing soon becomes the preeminent sport in the US.
• 1890s: Lotteries are outlawed in every state except Delaware and Louisiana.
• 1911: Nearly all forms of gambling have been banned.
• 1919: Baseball’s “Black Sox Scandal,” in which a group of players plot to lose World Series games, damages the image of sports betting.
• 1931: In response to the financial devastation of the Great Depression, Nevada legalizes casino gambling and sets the stage for the state to allow sports betting.
• 1949: Nevada becomes the first state to legalize sports betting beyond horse racing.
• 1976: New Jersey becomes the second state to legalize gambling after Nevada.
• 1992: The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) is passed by the United States Congress, effectively banning sports betting in most states.
• 2012: The state of New Jersey challenges PASPA in court, contending that it violates state sovereignty.
• 2018: The Supreme Court overturns PASPA, allowing states to determine the legal status of sports betting.
• 2018 to Present: Dozens of states legalize and regulate sports betting in various forms (eg., retail and online). To date, 38 states and the District of Columbia have legalized sports betting.

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Peter is an editor and fact-checker for Gambling.com. He has more than 15 years of experience as a copywriter and a sports reporter. He resides in Massachusetts with his wife and son.

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Peter Mooney

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Shannon Lane is an editor and fact-checker for Gambling.com She's spent the last decade working in sports media, including NFL Media and Sports Illustrated. She's bringing her sports expertise to US sports bettors.

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Shannon Lane

Last Updated:   May 13^th, 2024

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