2023-11-17 08:00:00
Sports betting continues to be legalized in states across the country, as Florida and Maine most recently have allowed customers to begin wagering in those states. In 2018, following the Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), each state now has the opportunity to create and enforce its own sports betting laws. More than 30 states have passed legislation to enable USA sports betting. The current top-10 in all-time betting handle are: New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Indiana, Michigan, Virginia, and Arizona. North Carolina is planning on instituting online and mobile sports bets in early-2024 as they recently passed legislation permitting wagering to eventually be made in the state.
Across the country there are a range of top sports betting apps available in many states including FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars and bet365. A new entrant, Fanatics Sportsbook, also launched in 2023 and is now available in Kentucky, Ohio, Massachusetts, Maryland and Tennessee.
Top U.S. Legal Online Sportsbooks
FANATICS SPORTSBOOK
Already a leader in fan gear, Fanatics Sportsbook opened in 2023 and is establishing itself as the “most rewarding sportsbook” as it offers up to 5% FanCash on bets, which can be spent on team gear from fanatics or more bets. The Fanatics Sportsbook app is available in Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Ohio and Tennessee.
FANDUEL
FanDuel was long known for its Daily Fantasy games, but is now a major player in sports betting with a wide variety of markets, sports and leagues so there are more ways to win.
The FanDuel Sportsbook app is available in Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming.
DRAFTKINGS
Also with roots in Daily Fantasy Sports, DraftKings has emerged to be another popular sportsbook that gives you more ways to have skin in the game and get closer to the games you love.
The DraftKings Sportsbook app is available in Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming.
BETMGM
Long known for its resorts and casinos, BetMGM also offers a mobile sportsbook app for all your favorite sports betting games, including all major and professional sports.
The BetMGM Online Sports Betting app is available in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington D.C., West Virginia and Wyoming.
CAESARS
Another well-known brick-and-mortar brand with glitzy properties from Atlantic City to Las Vegas, the Caesars Sportsbook app offers hundreds of ways to bet like a Caesar.
The Caesars Sportsbook app is available in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington D.C., West Virginia and Wyoming.
BET365
Well-known for sports betting in the UK, bet365 has made its entrance into the US with a sports betting app that offers a wide range of sports and bets in select states.
The bet365 Sports Betting app is available in Colorado, Iowa, Kentucky, New Jersey, Ohio and Virginia.
Legal U.S. Sports Betting States
StateOnlineIn-PersonNorth CarolinaComing SoonYArizonaYYArkansasYYColoradoYYConnecticutYYIllinoisYYIndianaYYIowaYYKansasYYKentuckyYYLouisianaYYMarylandYYMassachusettsYYMichiganYYNevadaYYNew HampshireYYNew JerseyYYNew YorkYYOhioYYOregonYYPennsylvaniaYYRhode IslandYYTennesseeYNVirginiaYYWashington DCYYWest VirginiaYYWyomingYN
Additionally, in-person sports betting is available in Delaware, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington and Wisconsin.
What is the Legal Status in all 50 US States?
Here’s a state-by-state breakdown of where the country stands on sports gambling, as of June 2023. And remember, if you live in a state where sports gambling is legal, check out SportsLine for expert predictions.
Alabama: Not legal.
The state has proposed multiple bills, including one in 2021, but all have been shot down. Alabama currently doesn’t have any commercial casinos.
Alaska: Not legal.
In 2020, the state put legalizing sports betting under consideration and Gov. Mike Dunleavy even showed support for the bill. However, the COVID-19 pandemic put an end to its consideration and the bill ended up expiring in May 2020.
Arizona: Legal.
Sports betting became legal on April 15, 2021. The legislation in place permits 20 operators in Arizona.
Arkansas: Legal.
First official sportsbook launched in July 2021 and first online sportsbook launched in February 2022. Betting on in-state professional and collegiate teams is permitted.
California: Not legal.
There were two major propositions on the November 2022 ballot that might have legalized sports betting in California, one to legalize in-person sports betting and the other to legalize online sports betting. Both propositions broke spending records and had active ad campaigns, but both were heavily voted down by Californians. It is not known at this time if the topic of legal California sports betting will be brought back up in 2023.
Colorado: Legal.
Colorado became the 19th state to legalize betting and as of May 1, 2020 multiple operators allowed residents to open accounts online and place wagers. There are restrictions involving in-state college games: Betting on game outcomes is allowed, but player prop bets in collegiate games are prohibited.
In the 2020 election, Colorado expanded both the number and type of casino games it is able to offer. The state also eliminated some wagering limits.
Connecticut: Legal.
Sports betting is officially allowed in Connecticut as of September 30, 2021.
Delaware: Legal.
Delaware launched legal sports betting in 2018 less than a month following the Supreme Court’s decision. Online sports betting is legal, although there are no in-state online sportsbooks. All betting on in-state collegiate teams is prohibited.
Florida: It’s complicated.
Sports betting in Florida was legalized for only three weeks in 2021 before a judge ruled that an agreement between the Seminole Tribe and the state of Florida was illegal. In June 2023, a D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the decision that had blocked regulated sports betting in the state. After a series of hearings, the tribe was allowed to continue and announced a limited “test” of Hard Rock Bet in early-November to Florida customers. Since then, an urgent request has been filed to shut down mobile sports betting in the state. How long customers will be allowed to bet legally in the state is uncertain.
Georgia: Not legal
A group of Georgia lawmakers filed bills in January 2023 that would have legalized Georgia sports betting in the Peach State and wouldn’t have needed to be voted on by Georgia residents. But on March 6, 2023, the Georgia Senate voted down multiple bills that would legalize sports betting in Georgia and the House failed to get legislation of their own voted on before the deadline for new bills passed.
Hawaii: Not legal.
A bill was proposed in January of 2019 that would’ve allowed for the regulation of sports gambling through a newly-established corporation, but the bill was denied.
Idaho: Not legal.
No legislation proposed.
Illinois: Legal.
Legislation was passed in June to allow sports gambling, though in-state collegiate games will be off-limits under the new law. It will make gambling lawful in a variety of locations both in-person (including at Wrigley Field) and online. Bets were allowed in the state as of March 9, 2020. Bets on collegiate games can only be placed in person, not online. Betting on in-state collegiate game outcomes is allowed, but player prop bets are prohibited.
Indiana: Legal.
Wagering on pro and college sports became legal in September of 2019 with both mobile and in-person betting permitted at multiple locations. Betting on collegiate game outcomes is allowed, but player prop bets in collegiate games are prohibited.
Iowa: Legal.
Iowa legalized sports gambling in 2019, with multiple sites beginning to take bets at the end of that summer. State law allows for betting on both pro and college sports. Betting on in-state collegiate game outcomes is allowed, but player prop bets in collegiate games are prohibited.
Kansas: Legal.
Legal online sports betting launched in Kansas on July 1, 2022.
Kentucky: Legal
Kentucky voted to legalize in March and the first online sports betting sites launched on Sep. 28, 2023
Louisiana: Legal.
Retail sports betting launched in October 2021 in many parishes. Mobile sports betting launched in January 2022.
Maine: Legal.
Sports betting went live in the state on November 3, 2023, with DraftKings and Caesars Sportsbook being the only two online sportsbooks licensed in Maine. Four online licenses have been granted, one to each of the Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, Micmac, and Maliseet tribes, meaning two more legal sportsbooks will come to the state soon. In its first five days of legal sports betting, more than $4 million in handle was wagered in Maine.
Maryland: Legal
Maryland approved sports betting following the 2020 election, with in-person sportsbooks launching in the Baltimore area in December 2021. Maryland online sportsbooks officially launched in November 2022.
Massachusetts: Legal
Massachusetts sports betting launched on January 31, 2023 at three in-person locations. Online sports betting through six mobile betting apps launched March 10, 2023.
Michigan: Legal.
Massachusetts sports betting launched on January 31, 2023 at three in-person locations. Massachusetts online sports betting is expected to launch in March 2023.
Minnesota: Not legal.
Legislation to legalize Minnesota sports betting passed in August 2022, but a launch date has not been set yet.
Mississippi: Legal.
The first sports bets in Mississippi were placed on August 1, 2018. The state enacted a law in 2017 that allowed for sports betting.
Missouri: Not legal, but legislation proposed.
Missouri had several sports betting bills introduced in recent years but the state hasn’t taken action on them yet. They have been stalled at the state legislature level.
Montana: Legal.
Legal sports betting arrived in the state as of March 2020. Sportsbooks are regulated through the state lottery. The lottery director can decide which sports can be bet on and what kinds of wagers can be placed.
Nebraska: Legal.
Governor Pete Ricketts legalized sports betting and put it into law on May 25, 2021, although there is only in-person betting. All betting on in-state collegiate games and events, including player prop bets, is prohibited.
Nevada: Legal.
Obviously.
New Hampshire: Legal.
New Hampshire joined the list of states with legalized sports betting on the second day of 2020. The state agreed to a six-year contract with DraftKings, so mobile sportsbooks can be utilized throughout the state. All betting on in-state collegiate games and events, including player prop bets, is prohibited.
New Jersey: Legal.
New Jersey long advocated for legalized sports gambling and was responsible for the case that led to the federal reversal from the Supreme Court. As such, they wasted no time in legalizing sports gambling following the decision, opening the state’s first sportsbooks on June 14, 2018. Atlantic City and the MetLife Stadium, among other locations, now offer legalized sports wagering. All betting on in-state collegiate games and events, including player prop bets, is prohibited.
New Mexico: Legal… kind of.
Under the current state laws, sports betting isn’t explicitly prohibited, nor is it a prohibited Class III game in the gaming compacts shared between tribes and the state. This has allowed the Pueblo of Santa Ana tribe to open their own not-outright-legal-but-also-not-technically-illegal sportsbook at its in-state casino. Sports gambling is legal at the Santa Ana Star Casino Hotel and four other tribal casinos
New York: Legal.
New York passed a bill in 2013 that made sports gambling legal at the state level, but the state didn’t open its first official sportsbook until July 2019. Mobile sports betting launched on January 8, 2022, and there are now nine live online sportsbooks in the Empire State. However, all betting on in-state collegiate games and events, including player prop bets, is prohibited.
North Carolina: Legal.
Gambling in North Carolina used to be run exclusively through the Cherokee tribe, and the state passed a bill in July 2019 that permitted sports gambling (including horse racing) to be part of that monopoly. In-person sports betting launched on March 18, 2021, in three designated locations. North Carolina sports betting expanded when an online sports betting bill was signed into law on June 14, 2023, which also opened the market to new sportsbooks. A launch date for online sports betting is expected to take place in 2024.
North Dakota: Not legal, but legislation proposed.
Tribal casino betting only. The last effort to legalize North Dakota sports betting was in 2019 and was unsuccessful.
Ohio: Legal.
Sports betting was legalized in Ohio in December 2021 and officially launched on January 1, 2023. In-person and Ohio mobile sports betting are allowed.
Oklahoma: Legal, not yet launched.
Effort to get sports betting in Oklahoma legalized in 2022 failed. There is no word yet as to whether a new motion will be proposed in 2023.
Oregon: Legal.
Oregon didn’t need to pass new legislation because they already had limited sports betting legality established at the state level, but they didn’t officially start taking bets until August of 2019. All betting on collegiate games and events, including player prop bets, is prohibited.
Pennsylvania: Legal.
Six months following the Supreme Court reversal, Pennsylvania took its first legal sports bet at a casino sportsbook in 2018. Additional licenses have since been handed out and mobile/online wagering is also accepted in-state.
Rhode Island: Legal.
Rhode Island also opened its first sportsbook six months following the U.S Supreme Court’s decision and currently offers sports gambling exclusively at two in-state casinos before online betting launched on September 4, 2019. All betting on in-state collegiate games and events, including player prop bets, is prohibited.
South Carolina: Not legal, but legislation proposed.
Gambling in South Carolina is restricted solely to casino riverboats but state legislature has proposed bills in consecutive years that would open the door to sports gambling. No action has been taken yet.
South Dakota: In the 2020 election, South Dakota approved sports betting.
Four casinos in Deadwood began accepting sports bets on Sept. 9, 2021. In 2021, legislators passed legislation that legalized sports betting in Deadwood. However, bettors must bet on the property of those four casinos. There’s no word when mobile sports betting will be available in the state. All betting on in-state collegiate games and events, including player prop bets, is prohibited.
Tennessee: Legal.
The Tennessee state legislature approved a sports betting bill in the spring of 2019 that will only allow betting online and on mobile apps. The state began allowing mobile sports betting on Nov. 1, 2021. Betting on collegiate game outcomes is allowed, but player prop bets in collegiate games are prohibited.
Texas: Not legal.
One senator pre-filed a sports betting bill ahead of the 2023 legislative session that would amend the Texas constitution to legalize Texas sports betting. The bill calls for legal sports betting in Texas at a limited number of facilities. Texas sports betting will be legalized if the amendment receives a two-thirds vote from the legislature and approval from state voters in November 2023.
Utah: Not legal.
And very unlikely to happen.
Vermont: Legal, waiting to launched
A proposed bill to legalize mobile sports wagering in-state passed through both the Vermont House and Senate and was signed by the governor in June 2023. Vermont online sports betting is projected to launch in late 2023 or early 2024.
Virginia: Legal.
Sports betting launched in 2021, both in person and online. Betting on in-state collegiate games and events, and player prop bets on all collegiate games, is prohibited.
Washington: Legal.
The state passed legislation in early 2020 to permit sports gambling at tribal casinos in-state. The state does not allow for mobile/online wagering. All betting on in-state collegiate games and events, including player prop bets, is prohibited.
Washington D.C.: Legal.
The Sports Wagering Lottery Amendment Act of 2018 became effective as of May of 2019, and the city has launched its sports wagering app and website that is run by the DC Lottery. All betting on collegiate games and events, including player prop bets, is prohibited.
West Virginia: Legal.
In August of 2018, West Virginia became the fifth state to legalize sports gambling. The state offers both in-person and online sports wagering.
Wisconsin: Retail authorized.
Governor Tony Evers signed an agreement allowing for in-person and mobile app betting while at Oneida Nation’s gaming locations. All betting on in-state collegiate and amateur games and events, including player prop bets, is prohibited.
Wyoming: Legal.
On September 1, 2021, legal sports betting went live in the state.
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