2024-01-19 08:00:00
- Currently, 38 states (and Washington DC) offer legal sports betting in some format. There are 26 states that allow online sports betting via either smartphone apps or websites.
- In 2018, the Supreme Court struck down PASPA, the federal ban on sports betting. This decision allows each state to determine whether it wants to legalize sports betting within its borders.
- Nearly every US state legislature has at least introduced a sports betting bill at some point since 2018. More are expected to revisit or introduce new legislation in 2024.
- This page monitors sports betting bills at every step through their legislative journey from introduction through passage or failure.
Online sportsbooks account for the vast majority of legal wagering on sports throughout the United States. While online betting is not new, any website or app outside Nevada that began offering sports betting inside the United States prior to 2018 did so illegally.
States with legal sports betting
These states (and Washington, DC) have legal, regulated sports betting industries:
North Carolina has limited sports betting via tribal casinos. In New Mexico and Wisconsinsome tribes now offer sports betting under an existing Class III gaming compact. Mississippi allows app-based sports betting but only on-site at licensed casinos.
Florida sports betting remains mired in a legal battle involving state and federal courts.
Which states could legalize sports betting next?
States seeking additional sources of tax revenue and wanting to better address responsible gambling issues continue to look into legalizing and regulating sports betting.
In recent years, these states examined sports betting bills but failed to get them across the finish line:
- California sports betting: A ballot effort in 2022 to legalize mobile wagering failed spectacularly, drawing less than 20% support with California voters. Tribal gaming interests control the future of sports wagering in the Golden State.
- Georgia sports betting: Multiple bills came close to passage in recent years but fell short because of competing political pressures. Another push remains likely.
- Minnesota sports betting: A promising 2023 legislative push fell apart late in the session. Proponents vowed to bring back a sports betting bill again in 2024.
- Missouri sports betting: Frustration is growing in Missouri, where Sen. Denny Hoskins is single-handed obstructing sports betting legislation over his desire for the inclusion of video lottery terminals (VLT.)
- Texas sports betting: A bill to legalize sports wagering passed the House in 2023, a first in Texas. The bill quickly stalled in the Senate and cannot be picked up until 2025, when the legislature next meets.
2024 sports betting bills
There are now a variety of bills on file around the country and even some new laws on the books. Below is a look at current legislation by state. These states, in particular, are close to having legal sports betting:
Climate for US sports betting legislation
The pent-up demand for legal sports betting in the United States became evident quickly after the Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on single-game wagering in 2018.
More than five years later, nearly 80% of US states have either legalized sports wagering or introduced legislation to do so.
Many states are taking full advantage of the opportunity by approving mobile sportsbook apps and statewide betting. Others are choosing the more limited route of in-person wagering at sportsbooks.
In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, more states chose to examine legalizing sports betting as a way to offset budget losses.
It is widely accepted that people are wagering on sports in every state, many illegally through unlicensed offshore sportsbooks. Capturing that revenue through a regulated market that is also better equipped to identify and treat problem gambling appeals to state legislators throughout the country.
How sports betting laws affect athletes and coaches
There are 25 jurisdictions that explicitly prohibit an athlete or related person from betting:
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Louisiana
- Massachusetts
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- Washington DC
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
Of those, four include penalties for the person betting – the others penalize the sportsbook/license holder:
- Colorado
- Michigan
- Virginia
- West Virginia
Ten jurisdictions explicitly via law and/or regulation bar the use of non-public information:
- Arizona
- Illinois
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- South Dakota
- Washington DC
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
Legislative live streams
Want to follow along as a sports betting bill is considered in a hearing or legislative session? Here’s a guide to all the video and audio streams for US legislatures:
Previous sports betting bills
Here is the recent history of bills related to sports betting in the United States:
2019 legislation
2018 legislation
2017 legislation
StateBill(s)SynopsisLatest NewsCaliforniaACA 18Constitutional amendment would legalize sports betting in the state.Latest newsConnecticutH 6948**Passed July 2017. Bill would allow regulators to prepare for legal sports betting, should state and federal law allow.Latest newsHawaiiH 927Bill would study legalization and regulation of gambling, including sports betting.Latest newsKentuckyB 155Bill would legalize sports betting.Latest newsMarylandH 989Bill would create a task force to study sports betting.Latest newsMichiganH 4060
Bills would legalize sports betting; first via referendum; second would allow parlay wagering; third would legalize online gambling.Latest newsMississippiH 967**Passed March 2017. Bill would allow state to regulate sports betting under fantasy sports law.Latest newsNew JerseyS 3375Bill would repeal sports betting prohibition.Latest newsNew YorkS 1282
Bills would broaden legalization of sports betting.Latest newsOklahomaS 857Bill would legalize sports betting as part of tribal gaming package.Latest newsPennsylvaniaH 519
*Passed Oct. 2017. Bills would legalize sports betting; first is standalone bill; second is part of omnibus gambling expansion package.Latest newsSouth CarolinaH 3102Bill would legalize sports betting and gambling.Latest newsWest VirginiaH 2751Bill would legalize sports betting.Latest newsUSH 783Bill would allow individual states to legalize sports betting.
2016 legislation
StateBill(s)SynopsisLatest NewsCaliforniaA 1441Bill would legalize sports betting.Latest newsDelawareS 183Bill would expand existing sports betting lottery.Latest newsNew JerseyBill became law in 2014; challenged in court.Bill would legalize sports betting.Latest newsNew YorkS 940Bill would legalize sports betting.Latest newsPennsylvaniaHR 619Bill would legalize sports betting.Latest news
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