- Legal sports betting might not be launching in Illinois by the start of football season, after all. Scroll down to Illinois' section for more detail.
- Darren Rovell caught up with two legal experts -- Daniel Wallach and Jake Williams -- to see when they expect online and physical sports betting to be legal in each of the 50 states.
It’s been a year since the Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on sports betting, allowing states to legalize it if they wish.
So where do we stand a year later? What states are in business, and how are they doing? What states are imminently coming online? And what states are on the back burner? We’ve compiled a comprehensive look at all 50 states (plus Washington D.C.), with projected legalization dates for every state.
To make this as simple as possible, there’s an interactive map below, and the text for each state is ordered by the projected year we expect them to come online. Two experts — Daniel Wallach, principal at Wallach Legal, the nation’s first law firm solely devoted to sports betting, and Jake Williams, vice president of legal and regulatory affairs for Sportradar — helped me with the projections and sub-categories for every state.
My conversations with Daniel and Jake came in the midst of a flurry of new states legalizing. Since the beginning of May, six more (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Montana, New York and Tennessee). Don’t be surprised if 15+ states in total are accepting bets by the end of 2019.
That’s enough of a preamble; let’s dive into the map and the full list. If you’d prefer to navigate directly to your state’s section, please click the links below.
When Is Legal Online Sports Betting Coming to Your State?
Updated on June 19, 2019
Ala. | Alaska | Ari. | Ark. | Calif. | Colo. | Conn. | Dela. | Fla. | Ga. | Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois | Ind. | Iowa | Kan. | Kent. | La. | Maine | Mary. | Mass. | Mich. | Minn. | Miss. | Mo. | Mont. | Neb. | Nev. | N.H. | N.J. | N.M. | N.Y. | N.C | N.D. | Ohio | Okla. | Ore. | Penn. | R.I. | S.C. | S.D. | Tenn. | Texas | Utah | Ver. | Virginia | Wash. | Wash. D.C. | W.V. | Wisc. | Wyo.
LEGAL (14 TOTAL STATES + WASHINGTON D.C.)
Delaware
Only physical sportsbooks
Was the first legal state after the Supreme Court’s ruling, ahead of New Jersey, which brought the PASPA case to the forefront. But Delaware’s lack of mobile betting and its decision to have the lottery run the show have put it far behind New Jersey in terms of betting volume. Betting handle was $10.5 million in March 2019.
Illinois
Recently legal; no betting yet
It took an extended weekend session by the Illinois legislature in early June, but the state surprised some by getting its sports betting bill to the finish line this year. (We originally had Illinois projected for 2020.)
Gov. J.B. Pritzker is fully expected to sign the bill, but it’s a curious that, as of June 24 (three weeks after the legislation passed), Pritzker has yet to do so. As the Sports Handle pointed out, the delay could jeopardize the launch of Illinois sports betting in time for the football season.
Illinois’ bill is unique in this it gives its brick-and-mortar operations — casinos, racetracks and sports venues — an 18-month head start over online-only operators like FanDuel and DraftKings. Master licensees can offer mobile betting right away, but there’s a little more friction in the process, as in-person registration will be required for 18 months.
Under the bill, sports stadiums such as Wrigley Field (Cubs), the United Center (Bulls), Soldier Field (Bears) and Guaranteed Rate Field (White Sox) could apply to have betting kiosks.
Indiana
Recently legal; no betting yet
Signed into law on May 8. Stated goal is to have things up and running by Sept. 1. The law calls for full mobile betting, similar to what we’ve seen in Nevada and New Jersey.
Iowa
Recently legal; no betting yet
Signed into law on May 13. Goal is to be taking bets by July or August. Betting will be available via brick-and-mortar locations to start, with mobile betting expected to be launched some time in 2020, according a recent report. The one wrinkle with mobile betting: You’ll have to register in person before being able to bet on your phone. That provision will remain in place until Jan. 1, 2021.
Mississippi
Physical sportsbooks + mobile
Has mobile betting, but, similar to Montana, it’s very restrictive, only permitted while inside a casino. Betting handle was $32.4 million in March 2019.
Montana
Recently legal; no betting yet
Signed into law on May 3. The state lottery will oversee everything. Bettors will be able to place a wager inside licensed bars and restaurants via kiosks or on their phone, but mobile betting will not work outside of those bars and restaurants. Stated goal is to have things up and running by football season.
Nevada
Physical sportsbooks + mobile
Full mobile as long as you’re within the state’s borders. Betting handle was $596.8 million in March 2019, the highest month ever in the history of the state.
New Jersey
Physical sportsbooks + mobile
The closest version to Nevada we’ve seen since the Supreme Court’s ruling a year ago. Both residents and non-residents can place wagers via their phones, so long as they’re within the state’s borders. New Jersey has brought in $2.32 billion in bets in the nine-and-a-half months on record, 80 percent of which have come via mobile.
Betting handle was $372.5 million in March 2019, its second-biggest month ever, behind only January of this year.
New Mexico
Only physical sportsbooks
No bill passed, but Native American tribes have interpreted that their sportsbooks are legal under their state tribal gaming compacts.
New York
Recently legal; no betting yet
The New York Gaming Commission voted on June 10 to allow in-person betting in four upstate casinos — Resorts World, Rivers Casino, Tioga Downs and Del Lago — located hundreds of miles away from New York City. Wagering is expected to launch later this summer.
A week later, on June 17, the NY Senate passed a bill that included provisions for mobile sports wagering in the state, with a 57-5 vote. But it took less than two days for that bill to die in the Assembly over questions of whether legalizing mobile sports betting would require an amendment to New York’s constitution.
The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Joe Addabbo, said, “I am disappointed. It was within our grasp.”
So while you’ll be able to legally bet in person at the four upstate casinos by the fall, a mobile solution will not be coming in 2019.
Pennsylvania
Mobile betting is officially live in Pennsylvania, with the launch of the SugarHouse Casino’s app on May 28. It comes with a catch, though: It only works on Android devices and desktop/laptop computers, not iOS devices. Betting handle was $44.5 million in March 2019.
Rhode Island
Only physical sportsbooks
Legal betting age is 18, unlike any other state, which is 21. Rhode Island doesn’t have mobile betting yet, but according to a June 10 report from the Boston Globe, it’s expected to launch before football season. Betting handle was $23.6 million in March 2019.
Tennessee
Recently legal; no betting yet
Gov. Bill Lee let the bill become law without his signature in late May 2019. Tennessee will be the first legal state to offer only online wagering. There will be no physical sportsbooks, as the state doesn’t have any casinos. Wagering could get underway as soon as July 1, though it’s expected the actual launch date will come closer to the start of football season.
Washington D.C.
Recently legal; no betting yet
The D.C. Council approved a bill in December that would allow for sports betting. Officially became law in late March. Plan is to have physical books, perhaps one inside the Capital One Arena, by football season. Mobile betting is a bit more complicated, since lottery administrator Intralot is running the show, much to the dismay of some in the District.
West Virginia
Physical sportsbooks + mobile
Mobile temporarily suspended due to vendor issues. Betting handle was $17.5 million in March 2019.
PROJECTED 2019 (4 TOTAL STATES)
Arkansas
Existing laws need further clarification
Bill introduced this year died largely because of an onerous 1 percent integrity fee that would go back to leagues. While leagues are pushing, no current legal state allows for that.
Maine
Passed legislature; awaiting Governor’s signature
A bill zoomed through the House and Senate on June 19 as the legislative session neared its end. All it needs is Gov. Janet Mills’ signature and sports betting will officially be legal in the state.
The legislation would allow for full mobile betting throughout the state, and give operators the option to be online-only (meaning FanDuel, for example, wouldn’t have to attach itself to a land-based casino to operate a mobile product within the state). The online-only retailers would face a steeper tax rate, though: 16%, compared to 10% for brick-and-mortar operators.
New Hampshire
Passed legislature; awaiting Governor’s signature
The NH House officially sent a sports betting bill to the governor on June 13. Daniel Wallach reported on Twitter that he expects it to be signed into law by mid-July law by July 2019, with a mobile launch coming in early 2020. There are no casinos or racetracks, but proposed law would allow for up to 10 retail sportsbook locations and five mobile operators.
Oregon
Existing laws need further clarification
No bill has passed, but Oregon was one of four states to be grandfathered into legal sports betting prior to the passage of PASPA.
A spokesperson for the Oregon Lottery told The Oregonian on May 30 that the state will launch sports betting in time for football season, adding, “We’re going to go mobile first just because it’s faster and then follow up with a sports-betting kiosk.” We’re keeping it until the “projected” column until that occurs, though, since sports betting has technically been legal for years and the state has yet to act on it.
PROJECTED 2020 (10 total states)
- Still under consideration by legislature (4)
- Waiting for next legislative session (3)
- Possible referendum required (2)
- Tribal gaming conflicts (1)
Colorado
Will hit the ballot in November. If it passes, sports betting can be legal by May 2020.
Kansas
Waiting for next legislative session
Legislature got far down the road before session ended. Expect quick approvals when it returns in 2020.
Kentucky
Waiting on next legislative session
Kentucky ran out of time to get something done this year, but given how much gambling on horse racing means to the fabric of the state, expect something to get done next year.
Louisiana
Possible referendum required
The Louisiana legislature tried to get some steam behind a sports betting bill in May 2019, but the efforts failed in the House.
Not long after, though, the Senate passed a new bill on fantasy sports regulation, which also includes some language around sports betting, according to AP reporter Melinda Deslatte. That bill went no where. If/when a sports betting bill ever gets passed by lawmakers, each municipality in Louisiana will have to approve of it for wagering to become legal.
Massachusetts
Still under consideration by legislature
While residents have pressured the state to get going, driven by smaller surrounding states having legal sports gambling, Massachusetts isn’t exactly imminent. One bill would allow the state to give out online/mobile licenses without it having to be tied to a land-based casino. That would be a welcome development for DraftKings, which is headquartered in Boston and the No. 1 mobile sportsbook in New Jersey.
Michigan
Still under consideration by legislature
A bill is expected to be proposed by the end of the month, which still makes 2019 possible since the session goes until mid December.
Missouri
Still under consideration by legislature
There are a couple bills in Missouri, some which include what is perceived by many to include fees that would be disadvantageous to operators.
North Dakota
Tribal gaming conflicts
Two bills were introduced. One failed in the house and one failed in the senate.
Ohio
Still under consideration by legislature
There are two warring bills with a fight over who would run a sports betting enterprise in the state. Positive? The legislative session goes to the end of the calendar year.
Virginia
Waiting for next legislative session
West Virginia legalized it and Washington D.C. is now ready to go, but Virginia took a step back on gambling this legislative session, deciding instead to study it.
PROJECTED 2021 (8 TOTAL STATES)
- Tribal gaming conflicts (3)
- Still under consideration by legislature (2)
- Possible referendum required (2)
- Waiting for next legislative session (1)
Alabama
Still under consideration by legislature
This is all you need to know about Alabama: Its House of Representatives just passed a bill legalizing fantasy leagues in an attempt to reverse what is not allowed by the state constitution.
Arizona
Tribal gaming conflicts
Will the tribes run sports betting in the state? The tribes themselves can’t even decide if or how they want to be involved, so this is going to take a while to sort itself out.
California
Possible referendum required
California, which has 17 major pro sports teams and one fifth of the country’s population, has a double whammy: Legalization would likely require a change to the state constitution, and all gaming is controlled by tribes.
Connecticut
Tribal gaming conflicts
The toughest opponents to sports gambling continue to be the tribes and Connecticut is no exception. While one remedy is to give the tribes sports gambling, making a new deal comes with complications. In early June 2019, House speaker Joe Aresimowicz said the bill is “proving to be as difficult as I thought it was, going into it,” according to the WWLP News in Connecticut
Florida
Tribal gaming conflicts
Voters turned down a referendum that would have provided for sports betting in the state, leading some to believe that Florida will be one of the last states in the game. But word is that the powerful Seminole tribe is willing to listen if it can be at the table to control sports gambling, much in the way it controls gaming within the state.
Maryland
Possible referendum required
The state failed to get anything done this year, which means that it’s next year at best to pass something. Expectations are, if that happens, that actual sports betting doesn’t come until 2021.
North Carolina
Still under consideration by legislature
North Carolina was the last state in the south to approve the lottery (2005) and is not considered progressive on the gambling front.
Texas
Waiting for next legislative session
Texas is also one of the few states where fantasy still isn’t even legal. There’s a strong push by some to get sports gambling legalized, though lobbyists might be stronger.
NOT IN SIGHT (14 TOTAL STATES)
Alaska
Alaska is pretty much nowhere on sports gambling. The 49th state might actually be the 49th to legalize it.
Georgia
Georgia is quite conservative and an amendment to the state constitution stands in the way of legalizing sports betting.
Hawaii
Little to no action
One of the most inactive states. A bill was created to study the issue.
Idaho
Little to no action
State laws as written are currently against gambling, save for horse racing. State doesn’t allow fantasy.
Minnesota
Tribal gaming conflicts
The state’s 11 federally recognized tribes do not want expansion of gaming. That’s an issue.
Nebraska
There’s not too much optimism in Nebraska after the state turned down the right to expand casino gambling at its racetracks years ago.
Oklahoma
Tribal gaming conflicts
If anything is to happen, it has to go through the tribes.
South Carolina
Possible referendum required
South Dakota
Tribal gaming conflicts
Will go through tribes if a constitutional amendment passes.
Utah
Little to no action
Sports betting is likely never coming to Utah.
Vermont
Little to no action
When PASPA was overturned, the executive director of Vermont’s lottery said he didn’t know of a single person who wanted sports betting in the state. Does that sum things up for you?
Washington
Little to no action
Gambling would first go through the tribes to the legislature, and if it passed, it would allow the tribes to negotiate with the governor. A lot of red tape.
Wisconsin
Tribal gaming conflicts
State’s constitution prohibits gambling. Tribes are said to want to keep the status quo.
Wyoming
Little to no action
Three licensed casinos in the entire state. No legislation has even been introduced.