Where Is Sports Betting Legal? Updated Projections for All 50 States

States With Legal Sports Betting

It’s been seven years since the Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on sports betting, allowing states to legalize it if they wish. North Carolina is the latest to join the party after launching online betting on March 11, 2024, three years after the state launched in-person betting. Missouri is expected to be next, with an expected launch of December 1, 2025. States have taken anywhere from 6-18 months from approval to launch.

Close to 40 states have some form of legalized sports betting, though about 20 have full online betting with multiple operators. Some states only have in-person betting, and some only have a single online operator in the state. For many bettors, those options simply aren't enough.

So what states are about to join, 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.

Nearly every state has at least considered legalizing sports betting, though deep-seated political opposition and complex tribal relationships will likely prevent a handful of states from ever getting legal, online betting.

In the infancy of U.S. sports betting, FanDuel and DraftKings are the clear early leaders with more than 70% of the total market. Legacy casino brands like Caesars Sportsbook and BetMGM made big splashes early on but have plateaued a bit. And some small brands already shutting down after just a few years. Then there's Fanatics Sportsbook, which has entering many legal betting states. ESPN BET is also a big one to keep an eye out as it continues to launch in new states. You can check to see if ESPN BET is available in your state when you use the ESPN BET promo code.

If you're not in a legal sports betting state, or one with only in-person betting, you can take advantage of social sportsbook or DFS bonuses like the Fliff Promo Code, Underdog Fantasy Promo Code, Sleeper Fantasy Promo Code, and PrizePicks Promo Code to get a similar experience.

Looking for a new sportsbook in one of these legal states? Make sure to pair your sign-ups with top offers like the exclusive BetMGM bonus code and the bet365 bonus code for bonus bets to maximize your betting upside. If your state has legalized and launched online sports betting, take a look at our list of best sportsbooks before getting started!

Legal, Taking Bets (38 Total States + D.C.)

There are several different categories of "legal" betting in the United States:

• In-person betting only, which drives a fraction of a fraction of what full online betting does
• Full online betting with multiple sportsbook options, like New Jersey, which has more than 20 operators
• Online betting with a single operator, like Oregon or Rhode Island

Arizona

Full mobile betting with multiple options

Arizona passed its sports betting bill in April 2021, allowing for online wagering and some of the nation's first in-stadium sportsbooks. Its quickly becoming one of the most popular states to place a bet.

The first online sportsbooks went live Sept. 9, the first day of the 2021 NFL season. 18 operators, including BetMGM, Caesars, and FanDuel, now operate in Arizona, with room for two more.

In March 2022 Arizona vaulted into the top 10 states in monthly handle (amount bet) for the first time.

Earlier that month FanDuel started taking in-person at the Footprint Center, home of the Phoenix Suns and Mercury, while Caesars opened up its sportsbook at Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

BetMGM is working on a similar venture at State Farm Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals, while DraftKings is expected to unveil a betting hub at the Scottsdale golf course that hosts the Waste Management Open.

When it comes to NFL betting, we have plenty of resources available to you: NFL Odds, NFL Futures, NFL Picks, and NFL ATS Standings. 

If you're more into NFL Props, we also have NFL Props Picks and Touchdown Props!

You can learn more about the Best NFL Betting Apps and Best NFL Betting Promos by checking out our reviews!

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Arkansas

Full mobile betting with multiple options to come

On Feb. 22, 2022, the Arkansas Joint Budget Committee finalized rules to bring sports betting online, expanding it beyond in-person activity at three casinos, as it had been limited to since 2019.

The first online sportsbook went live March 5th--a partnership between the Southland Casino and Betly, an online betting site owned by Delaware North. BetSaracen, a product of the Saracen Casino, launched about a month after and is the only other online app in the state so far.

Arkansas' law allows for up to eight online sportsbooks, but so far national brands like DraftKings and FanDuel have been hesitant to join. To do so they must partner with one of the state's three casinos and split 51% of their revenue with them.

Colorado

Full mobile betting with multiple options

Colorado took its first legal online and retail wagers in May 2020, six-months after voters narrowly approved sports betting during the November election.

Since then Colorado's flourished into one of the most robust markets in the country, with 26 different apps, including DraftKings, FanDuel and BetMGM.

It was one of the first states to record more $200 million in monthly betting handle and in 2022 joined the top 6 states in dollars bet all-time.

Online sportsbooks must partner one of the Colorado's 33 casinos to operate legally in the state, which has left  the door open for even more apps to come.

Colorado has one of the most operator-friendly setups in the country, though lawmakers have started tightening some loopholes low levels of tax revenue.

Connecticut

Full mobile betting with multiple options

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont struck a deal with the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes in May 2021, authorizing the two, and the state lottery, to run online sports betting.

Those providers quickly partnered with DraftKings, FanDuel and PlaySugarHouse, who all went online October 19-- just a few weeks after Connecticut started taking in-person bets.

Each have in-person sportsbooks at at least one casino, while the state lottery and Rush Street Interactive (which owns PlaySugarHouse) run seven retail locations. They may open a total of 15, under state law.

A smaller state, and new to the party, Connecticut's market is still a ways off from maturity. It'll be interesting to see how New York's recent launch impact its numbers, though it should continue to benefit from Massachusetts' inability to legalize.

Delaware

Delaware became the first state outside Nevada to accept a legal single-game sports bet on June 5, 2018, beating New Jersey by a few weeks in the aftermath of the Supreme Court's industry-altering decision. Delaware was the 29th state to allow mobile sports betting.

Delaware's lottery-run sports betting market only has three retail sportsbooks in the state -- and unimpressive revenue numbers.

Its small size, population and the proliferation of digital sports betting options in its neighboring states leave Delaware a relative afterthought despite its quick start.

Florida

Hard Rock online relaunched Nov. 2023; will remain sole operator until 2051

Sports betting is back live in Florida, with Hard Rock relaunching for existing users in November 2023 and new users in early December following a two-year legal limbo. In 2021, Gov. Ron Desantis negotiated a compact with the Seminole Tribe (which owns Hard Rock) to give them exclusive rights to operate sports betting. Naturally, those with competing interests sued to stop it.

After ~3 years of back-and-forth, the U.S. Supreme Court officially rejected West Flagler's bid to stop the Seminole's sports betting monopoly, keeping them in sole control until 2051. Hard Rock will also be able to launch an online casino by 2026, as well.

Hard Rock relaunching was a good quick win for sports bettors in Florida, but it prevents any competition -- including DraftKings and FanDuel -- from entering the state.

Florida sports betting has been on a strange journey -- perhaps the strangest of any state -- in the last two years. Here's the timeline.

• November 2021: Hard Rock took the first and only legal online sports bets in Florida in November 2021 after the Seminole Tribe brokered a deal with Gov. Ron Desantis to give the Seminoles full control over sports betting in the state.
• December 2021: Online betting in the Sunshine State came to a halt after a federal judge struck down the agreement. A judge ruled the back-door agreement was in violation of both state and federal laws.
• June 2023: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia overturned the decision, saying the Seminole Tribe should be allowed to offer online betting in the state.
• August 2023: West Flagler Associates, which owns competing casinos in Florida, appealed that June decision. That means at best Hard Rock's re-launch was pushed back, and at worst (depending on your point of view) the re-launch won't come for years.
• September 2023: West Flagler is taking the case to the Florida Supreme Court, "asking that the court find that Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state legislature “exceeded” their power in approving a 2021 compact with the Seminole Tribe that grants the tribe a monopoly on sports betting." Some legal experts think this effort will fail, but it could at least delay the Seminoles from relaunching their Hard Rock sportsbook.
• October 26, 2023: The U.S. Supreme Court has denied a request from West Flagler to stop the Seminole Tribe from offering Florida sports betting through the compact negotiated in 2021, which could pave the way for Hard Rock Digital to start offering online sports betting again soon.
• Nov 1, 2023: Hard Rock announced it will launch retail sports betting in Florida on Dec. 7.
• Nov. 7, 2023: Hard Rock relaunches its online betting app for users who already had an account. The fight isn't over, however, as West Flagler could still ask the Florida Supreme Court to suspend Hard Rock's operation, following SCOTUS's deniable of a similar motion. Sports gaming attorney Daniel Wallach said on Twitter that both options in which Hard Rock must stop operating its product are unlikely, so sports betting will continue for now.
• Dec. 2023: Hard Rock begins accepting new users to register for its sports betting app.
• June 2024: U.S. Supreme Court denies bid to hear West Flagler's case, keeping Seminole Tribe in control of online sports betting until 2051.

Illinois

Full mobile betting with multiple options

Illinois launched in-person betting on March 9, 2020, (just ahead of an NCAA Tournament that didn't wind up happening) and launched online betting in June 2020.

One of the nation's most populated (and sports-crazy) states, Illinois is among the top 5 states in both handle (dollars bet) and tax revenue generated.

In 2022, BetMGM and Caesars joined the Illinois online sportsbooks already operational in the state. In terms of other operators, be on the lookout for a bet365 Illinois Bonus Code.

Betting on in-state colleges was made legal in Dec. 2021, though bettors can only place their bets in person.

Indiana

Full mobile betting with multiple options

Indiana went live with online sports betting Oct. 3, 2019, just a month after its first in-person bets.

The 13th state to approve sports betting--Indiana's done well ever since Gov. Eric Holcomb signed a bill legalizing it in May, 2019. It's taken over $7 billion in bets, which is the fifth most of any state.

Indiana's law allows for over 40 online sportsbooks, though only 13 currently operate in the state. Four more are expected, but so far the biggest players, including FanDuel and DraftKings, have dominated the market.

Iowa

Full mobile betting with multiple options

Iowa started accepting bets on Aug. 15, 2019 and has methodically grown since.

Home to more than a dozen online sportsbooks, Iowa has some of the cheapest licensing fees in the land—$45,000 for the first year and $10,000 every year after that. bet365 in Iowa is the latest entrant into the state, as the global giant looks to continue to make its mark in the U.S.

Though Iowa is smaller in population and has no professional sports teams, it's one of the more competitive per capita markets in the country and benefits from sharing borders with multiple states yet to legalize.

Kansas

Full mobile betting with multiple options

Kansas legalized sports betting in 2022, after a legislative race which saw it beat out neighboring Missouri.

Online and in-person betting began Sept. 1, one of the fastest launches of any state and just in time for the 2022 NFL season. Six online operators and two casinos began taking bets to start, with more expected to join soon.

Kansas law allows up to 12 online sportsbooks, though the state's licensed just nine so far.

Additionally, casinos may sign contracts with retail locations, like professional sports arenas, to install and oversee betting kiosks.

More online sportsbooks could also enter the state. The law allows Kansas' native tribes to update their gaming compacts and partner with commercial operators to offer online betting.

Kentucky

Full mobile betting with multiple options

Kentucky came extremely close to legalizing sports betting in 2022, though an effort to give racetracks control over retail and online markets fell short at the last minute. In 2023, they got it done. HB 551 passed both the House and Senate in April.

Kentucky in-person sports betting launched on Sept. 7 and mobile sports betting launched on Sept. 28, 2023 -- the quickest turnaround time of any state from legalization to launch.

The bill allows Kentucky's nine racetracks to offer sports betting at their tracks, and they could partner with three online operators each, potentially paving the way for up to 27 online betting options in the state.

Louisiana

Full mobile betting with multiple options

In November 2020, voters in 55 of the state's 64 parishes approved legal sports betting, including all those in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Lafayette.

In-person betting launched in October 2021. Six online sportsbooks, including FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM, launched on Jan. 28, 2022. WynnBet launched shortly after, bringing the state to seven online sportsbooks.

More are expected to join, as Louisiana's law allows for up to 41 mobile apps. Louisiana is one of the only southeastern states that have legalized online betting, which should be a significant advantage as its market develops.

Maine

Full mobile betting with two options (DraftKings & Caesars) 

Maine was the first state to legalize sports betting in 2022, and it took until November 2023 to get live. DraftKings and Caesars are the only books live in the state.

A bill signed by Gov. Janet Mills in April permits Maine's four native tribes to partner with commercial operators and offer online sports betting.

The Hollywood Casino Hotel & Raceway, owned by Penn National, and the Oxford Casino Hotel, owned by Churchill Downs, can apply for betting licenses, though only for in-person wagers.

Maryland

Full mobile betting with multiple options

Maryland bettors legalized sports betting during the 2020 election. After the longest go-live period in U.S. betting history, Maryland operators launched fully on Nov. 23, 2022.

There was also a strange soft launch period on the first Monday, with books going live for eight hours before going offline all day Tuesday. They relaunched Wednesday at 9 a.m. ET.

Maryland's law allows for up to 60 online sportsbooks and 30 retail sites. Eleven are currently operating in the state, but that number fluctuates as new ones launch and others depart the market.

Massachusetts

Full mobile betting with multiple options

Massachusetts passed a sports betting bill in the wee hours of the morning on Aug. 1, 2022. In-person sports betting launched on Jan. 31, with online expected to follow on March 10, ahead of the NCAA Tournament.

Six books went live on Friday, March 10 -- DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, WynnBet, Barstool and Caesars.

The final sports betting bill includes the following:

• 15% retail tax, 20% online
• No betting on Mass. colleges, except for tournaments with 4+ teams
• Casinos allowed to partner with two online operators each
• Racetracks allowed one online partner

Michigan

Full mobile betting with multiple options

Michigan launched in-person wagering at the MGM Grand Detroit on March 11, 2020. Online sportsbooks, including BetMGM and DraftKings launched in early 2021. It now has a total of 15, the maximum allowed under state law.

Home to 7 million over the age of 21 and teams in every major league sport, Michigan has quickly become one of the top betting states, regularly finishing among the top 10 in monthly handles.

It ranks 7th among states in dollars bet all-time, right behind Colorado. It's also one of the few states where iGaming is legal.

Despite the proliferation of betting across the midwest in recent years, Michigan's operator-friendly rules should keep it atop the leaders in sports betting for years to come.

Mississippi

In-person sportsbooks only

Mississippi was one of the earlier states to launch, opening up for business on Aug. 1, 2018.

The state technically has mobile wagering, but you can only place bets while inside a casino. This has hurt its market share, despite being one of the few legal Southern betting states.

It passed retail sports betting in 2017, as a corollary to a fantasy sports bill, at a time when the Supreme Court lifting the federal ban seemed unlikely. Since then several bill online bills have been introduced, but none have made it to a vote.

Expanding sports betting in conservative Mississippi will be a tall task. Like most Southern states, its politicians have deep-seated opposition to gambling.

Montana

In-person sportsbooks only

Montana, like Mississippi, technically has mobile wagering, but you can only place bets on the property of a participating restaurant or tavern.

Intralot, a Greek company that runs the state lottery, started taking bets in March 2020. It's the only game in town and has severely uncompetitive pricing.

Not surprisingly, Montana's limited betting options and sparse population make it a small part of the overall U.S. market.

Nebraska

In-person sportsbooks only

Voters approved three constitutional amendments in November 2021 that would legalize "games of chance" at Nebraska's licensed horse tracks.

A regulatory bill that permits retail sportsbooks was signed into law, and in-person sports betting began in 2022 at WarHorse Sportsbook in Lincoln.

Nevada

Full mobile betting with multiple options (in-person sign-up required)

Nevada, the gold standard for in-person betting, still hasn't quite mastered online wagering. The state requires bettors to come into a casino to register in person before placing via the Internet.

That really hurt the state during the early days of COVID-19, when casino traffic plummeted. Nevada will always hold a special spot for American gaming, but it has already dropped to the second-most trending sports betting state and may continue to fall down the ranks as more and more populated states (with statewide mobile wagering) launch in the coming years.

New Hampshire

One mobile betting option

New Hampshire went live with online wagering on Dec. 30, 2019.

DraftKings is the sole mobile operator in the state, though there are a handful of retail betting locations that have opened or intend to do so.

Betting on in-state colleges is not permitted.

New Hampshire has done decently well despite its limited market, but its handle has been affected by legalization in neighboring states.

New Jersey

Full mobile betting with multiple options

New Jersey, the state that brought the sports gambling case to the Supreme Court, is now enjoying the fruits of its labor. "The Gold Standard" for legal sports betting was the third state to take a legal bet and has continued to set state records, thanks to a competitive, operator-friendly system.

It's home to 21 online sportsbooks, with room for many more. It's also accepting new operator models like betting exchange Prophet.

New Jersey brought in $10.9 million in bets in 2021, beating out Nevada in handle every month that year. It now leads all states in handle, despite a betting ban on in-state colleges, which cost it during Saint Peters' Cinderella run to the Elite Eight.

Though New York's mobile sports betting launch—and the massive revenue it has amassed since January — pose a threat to New Jersey's dominance, revenue has been up over last year so far.

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New Mexico

In-person sportsbooks only

New Mexico hasn't passed any legislation, though Native American tribes have run in-person sports betting at their casinos since October 2018.

They've done so by interpreting their gaming compact with the state to mean that they can offer any form of Class III gaming. The Department of Interior, which overseas tribal agreements with states, hasn't intervened.

It's one of the first "grey states" to take bets without approval from lawmakers or voters, though only six retail locations are open.

There has been little to no movement towards legalizing online sports betting.

New York

Full mobile betting with multiple options

New York launched online sports betting on Jan. 8, 2022, and has since outperformed almost every other state.

New York had retail sports betting at a handful of upstate commercial and tribal casinos, but these have generated little revenue despite the state's massive population and gaming interest. That's because online betting was not legalized.

But the time has come. Sports bettors can rejoice and bet from the comfort of their own homes instead of crossing bridges or going through tunnels to place their wagers.

North Carolina

Full mobile betting with multiple options

North Carolina legalized in-person sports betting in 2019 for two tribal casinos miles away from any of its major cities. It first took bets in March 2021.

Now, online betting is also available. On June 2, 2023, the NC House and Senate aligned on a few changes to the state's sports betting bill and concurred early the next week, paving the way for legalization. Gov. Roy Cooper, an advocate for sports betting, signed the bill on Wednesday, June 14, 2023.

Online betting opened on March 11, 2024, with eight North Carolina sports betting apps:

• DraftKings North Carolina
• FanDuel North Carolina
• bet365 North Carolina
• Caesars Sportsbook NC
• Underdog Sports
• BetMGM North Carolina
• Fanatics Sportsbook NC

North Dakota

In-person sportsbooks only

There's been no political movement to legalize sports gambling in North Dakota, but state tribes have already opened retail sportsbooks under authority granted to them by the federal government, a similar legal path for the sports betting launch in New Mexico.

This, too, means retail only, but North Dakota is among a rare group of states that has taken bets without an act of the legislature.

Ohio

Full mobile betting with multiple options 

Ohio is another sports-crazy state that's behind in legalizing sports gambling, especially given the action in many of its Midwestern neighbors.

But late in 2021, Ohio legislators passed an online sports betting bill, and Gov. Mike DeWine approved it.

Some had hoped betting would start in time for the 2022 NFL season, but in May, regulators announced that all forms of betting would go live on Jan. 1, 2023.

More than a dozen sportsbooks launched on New Year's Day, and more than a dozen more could join the fold in the future. Ohio sets up to be one of the biggest and most competitive sports betting markets in the country, which is great news for bettors.

Oregon

One mobile betting option

Thanks to a limited exemption in the federal sports betting ban that allowed it to offer parlay cards, Oregon officials determined the state lottery could begin taking bets without a separate act of the legislature. The state lottery app took its first bet in 2019, but with only one legal mobile wagering option, it has not been able to match competitive markets.

In January of 2022, Oregon switched from its own lottery app to DraftKings as its sole operator. A handful of Native American casinos operate retail sportsbooks.

Notably, all college betting, not just in-state teams, is prohibited.

Pennsylvania

Full mobile betting with multiple options

Pennsylvania was among a handful of states to accept a legal retail sports bet in 2018 and, beginning with its 2019 digital launch, has been among the biggest markets in the country.

Pennsylvania consistently pulls in among the top five largest sports betting handles, despite higher taxes and fees than some other states.

The fees, and a limit of only 14 total operator licenses, could continue to hinder Pennsylvania's potential, but it's large population and high-profile sports teams will help it maintain some of the nation's highest-grossing handle totals.

Pennsylvania is also one of five states with online casinos, generating massive revenue for operators.

Rhode Island

One mobile betting option

Rhode Island has been offering legal sports betting since 2018 when retail sportsbooks opened at its two commercial casinos. William Hill (now owned by Caesars) is the only legal retail and online sportsbook in the state.

Lawmakers repealed an in-person mobile registration requirement, but the small population and lone legal option keep revenues small, despite Rhode Island's proximity to Massachusetts.

South Dakota

In-person sportsbooks only

The first retail sportsbooks opened in September 2021.

South Dakota legalized sports betting in November 2020 as part of a ballot initiative and lawmakers passed retail-only authorization for Deadwood casinos and certain tribal gaming facilities.

The state constitution only permits wagering within Deadwood and tribal lands, but some policymakers believe statewide mobile wagering can be approved as long as the servers are placed in Deadwood. Legislation to do so gained little traction in 2021 or in 2022, but could open an interesting new digital market in the years to come.

Tennessee

Full mobile betting with multiple options

Since it has no casinos, Tennessee is one of only two states with online-only sports betting. The conservative state's unlikely launch of an uncapped, digital sports betting market excited industry stakeholders, but other restrictions could hurt its potential.

Tennessee was the only state that made the operators return a mandatory 10% hold -- basically, the books needed to keep 10 cents of every dollar wagered, or pay a fine. But in April 2023, TN passed a bill that removed this rule and replaced it with a 1.85% tax rate on betting handle -- the total betting volume. It's the first rule of its kind in the U.S.

That means if a sportsbook generates $10M in betting action in a month, it must pay $185,000 in taxes, even if it lost money to bettors.

Tennessee's sports betting scene just introduced a new player on May 12, 2025: VIP Play. If you're in the Volunteer State and looking for a sportsbook that combines generous promotions with a sleek mobile experience, VIP Play might be your next go-to. Learn more about the VIP Play Promo Code here.

Vermont

Full mobile betting with limited options

Rep. Matthew Birong introduced a new sports betting bill in February of 2023 that would allow 2-6 online sportsbooks in Vermont. In late April, a Senate committee approved it, and the full senate approved it in early May, sending it to Gov. Phil Scott's desk. He signed it on June 14.

Vermont will undergo a competitive bidding process, much like New York, where operators will submit their plan and what tax rate they'd be willing to pay to get licensed. Two other states that did this, New York and New Hampshire, ended up with tax rates north of 50%. They also did something similar in Massachusetts and Connecticut, though those tax rates ended up much lower.

That resulted in just three sportsbooks entering the market on Jan. 11 when it launched -- DraftKings, FanDuel and Fanatics Sportsbook.

Virginia

Full mobile betting with multiple options

Virginia took its first online sports bet in January 2021 and is now home to over a dozen operators.

The state's lagged behind some of its neighbors in handle and tax revenue, despite its close proximity to Maryland and Washington D.C., where betting is currently much more limited.

In an effort to change lawmakers worked a clause into the 2023 budget that phases out promo tax deductions for operators after 12-months in the market.

Washington

In-person sportsbooks only

Washington state legalized sports betting on March 25, 2020, and the first bet was accepted on Sept. 9, 2021. Only tribal casinos can take bets.

Mobile sports betting, like Mississippi, is only allowed if it is placed within a casino facility, a huge deterrent to the state's revenue potential. Statewide mobile betting doesn't seem like a reality anytime soon.

Washington D.C.

Limited mobile betting options

The bad news? D.C. sports betting only has a few mobile betting options. The good news is that those options are FanDuel and Caesars, two of the best mobile sportsbooks in the industry.

The lone legal District-wide mobile app, GamBetDC, was run by the lottery and, partially because it has no legal competition, has offered lines worse than market averages. And somehow, it lost $4 million in 2021. Thankfully, the city council came to its senses and replaced GamBetDC with FanDuel in April of 2024. The app is geofenced out of any federal properties, a major problem in the nation's capital.

A few miles south of Caesars Sportsbook's retail location at Capital One Arena, home of the Washington Capitals and Washington Wizards, BetMGM struck a similar partnership with the Washington Nationals. Its retail sportsbook opened Feb. 1, 2022 at Nationals Park. Its mobile app too, is available within a two-block radius of its retail location near Nats Park.

West Virginia

Full mobile betting with multiple options

Mobile betting had some initial hiccups in West Virginia, but it's been fully live since August 2019.

The state has a handful mobile operators, including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM and William Hill. It will never rival some of the larger markets, but bettors at least have several legal options to place a bet from anywhere within the state. West Virginia is also one of the few states that allows iGaming, and all the biggest sportsbooks also operate mobile casinos in the state.

Wisconsin

In-person sportsbooks only

The Oneida Nation and Gov. Tony Evers announced a deal In July 2021 that permits the tribe to open retail sportsbooks at its casinos. The deal does not permit statewide mobile betting or wagering on in-state college sports, and there's no timetable for online betting.

Following federal approval in August 2021, the tribe to launched sports betting at its Green Bay casino in November 2021.

Wyoming

Full mobile betting with multiple options

Lawmakers surprisingly approved statewide mobile wagering, becoming just the second state to allow online betting without any retail sportsbooks. The first two online sportsbooks took bets beginning Sept. 1, 2021.

Meanwhile, the Northern Arapaho Tribe appears it may add retail sports betting under the authority of existing law, much in the way tribes in New Mexico are operating sports betting without any legislation.

2025-26 Launch Possible (4 total states)

• Considering bills in 2024 with possible launches in 2025

Alabama

2024 bill dead

Alabama's HB 151 and HB 152 both passed the state House in mid-February 2024, moving it to the Senate. But the Senate never brought the bills to the floor to vote, coming up one vote short. Had they gotten it, a ballot measure would have been added for voters to decide sports betting's fate in November.

The biggest hurdle to legal sports betting in Alabama is still the Poarch Band of Creek Indians (PCI), the key gaming stakeholder in the state. They'll likely have to sign off on any compromise.

Alabama is one of the few remaining states without a lottery, but there's some appetite from at least a few lawmakers on all gambling fronts -- sports betting, casinos and lottery. The lottery is particularly important since neighboring Georgia has used its lottery money to change higher education in the state for the better.

Georgia

2024 bill dead

Georgia had some hope for legal sports betting, but a bill died in the final day of the legislative session without being discussed. It's a frustrating ending, and an identical one to how legal sports betting hopes died in Georgia in both 2022 and 2023.

Earlier in 2024, the Georgia state Senate approved SB 386, sending it to the House for approval.

Sports betting bills have gotten past the Georgia Senate several times in the last few years, but no bill has ever passed through the House. The bill needs approval from at least two-thirds of the House to move forward, since it now includes a constitutional amendment after the Senate changed that on Feb. 1 before passing it.

The bill as originally proposed would make sports betting a lottery game, meaning it wouldn’t need a constitutional amendment to become law.

Sports betting is probably still an underdog to get done in 2025, as the same hurdles remain.

Hawaii

HB 1308 close to passing

Hawaii is one of two states without any gambling (lottos, casinos or horse betting), so it's a surprise to see sports betting close to passing.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee passed HB1308, a major step forward considering its power in the state legislature, sending it to the House for approval. We'll get an answer in the coming weeks about whether it will pass and the timeline, but most states take 6-12 months to launch sports betting, so late 2025 or early 2026 feels like a realistic target if it does pass.

Minnesota

2024 bill dead

Minnesota came extremely close to legalizing sports betting in 2022 and lawmakers took it up again in 2023, but fell short once again.

In 2024, all the necessary stakeholders agreed to a deal at the final hour -- the tribes, racetracks, and state legislators -- but lawmakers couldn't get it done. The bill needed bipartisan support, and didn't get it from Republicans.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle came back in 2024 with a pair of bills. T he state's tribes, which hold a significant lobbying presence in the statehouse, have for years opposed any legislation that wouldn't give them a monopoly on sports betting. It's a hurdle, but lawmakers believe they can get something done.

Bill HF 2000 would have given 11 online and retail licenses to the state's tribes.

There are some messy legal hurdles right now, especially the inclusion of Historical Horse Racing in the bill. Hortman said HHR would not be part of this bill, signaling that there's been some progress made in negotiations between the state's racetracks and its tribes. Senate Republicans have previously said they would not pass this bill through the Senate without sign-off from the state's horse racing industry.

Missouri

Bill passes; launch date set for Dec. 1

Missouri voters passed Amendment 2 during the 2024 election, by just 0.25%, allowing for sports betting in the state. Online and in-person sports betting is scheduled to launch in the state on Dec. 1, 2025.

Expect all the major sportsbooks to be there, with six retail and online licenses available for the state's sports teams, six available for casinos, and two for entities not tied to either of those two groups.

2026+ or Never (8 total states)

There's a variety of statuses here -- some states, like Idaho and Utah, will likely never have legal sports betting. Others like California and Oklahoma have complex situations with tribes, which control much of the gaming in those states.

Alaska

No movement

Alaska is pretty much nowhere on sports gambling. The 49th state might actually be the 49th to legalize it, if ever.

California

2025-26 possible, but still very unlikely

The 2022 election featured two different ballot proposals to legalize sports betting in California, and both fell way short -- historically short, in fact. One was backed by DraftKings and FanDuel to legalize online betting, and the state's tribes lobbied hard against it. Quite successfully, it turns out.

In January of 2024, proponents of California sports betting initiatives called off their efforts. Legal sports betting will have to wait until 2026 at the earliest, in all likelihood, and potentially several years beyond that.

At this point, there are two likely paths forward:

1) Another ballot initiative, which sportsbooks may not want to try. DraftKings CEO Jason Robins even said in March of 2023 this doesn't seem like a path forward, because the tribes will just outspend the operators no matter what. That relationship requires mending, and it may not be tenable for a few more years.

"But that’s not in the next year or two," Robins said. "There’s gotta be a deal worked out, or else we’re just going to be in a stalemate there for at least another cycle or two."

2) The other path forward is a constitutional amendment, which did gain some steam in 2019 and 2020 but it could not be worked out due to complex gaming laws and disagreements between the tribes and card rooms, among other things.

The tribes getting their way doesn't mean it will be in-person sports betting only in California -- last year, a group of tribes proposed online and retail sports betting, but it didn't qualify for the ballot.

The consensus opinion seems to be that the tribes, who have immense influence in the state, can just wait out operators like DraftKings and FanDuel. They don't need sports betting and will wait to do it on their terms.

Idaho

No movement

State laws as written are currently against gambling, save for horse racing. The state doesn’t allow most fantasy sports, either and there's been little political appetite for legal sports betting.

Oklahoma

Bill was proposed in 2023, but sports betting remains a longshot in 2025 and beyond

Earlier in 2023, State Rep. Ken Luttrell filed a new sports betting Bill in Oklahoma and Sen. Bill Coleman joined as its senate sponsor. The bill would have allowed tribes to add sports betting to their casino operations.

Still, legal betting remains somewhat of a longshot in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma gaming is dominated by Native American entities and most seem disinclined to agree to sports betting until other key issues with the state government are resolved. Two tribes struck sports betting deals in 2020, but those were later invalidated, part of a larger conflict between competition gaming interests and the government. 

A court ruling that renewed a previous compact between the two entities gives tribes the upper hand in negotiations with the government. Sports betting, which makes up a small fraction of most casino's revenues, is a comparatively minor issue as billions of gaming dollars are up for further negotiations.

South Carolina

Bills proposed, but gained little traction

South Carolina's flirted with legal sports betting but has been unable to pass a bill.

A pair of bipartisan lawmakers introduced a bill in 2022 that would have allowed up to 12 online sportsbooks, but it didn't gain much traction. A similar effort failed in 2019. In late 2022, Democratic Rep. J. Todd Rutherford proposed a constitutional amendment that would let residents vote on the legalization of sports betting.

Gov. Henry McMaster opposes sports betting, so even if the legislature managed to pass a bill it'd face another difficult hurdle.

Texas

2023 bill dead; 2025 is next hope

Texas would appear to be an unlikely sports betting adopter, but shifting demographics and investment from outside gaming interests make it a possible target for legalization in the coming years. The Texas legislature meets every other year, so there's no hope of legalization until 2025, and even if passed, we wouldn't get live, online betting until 2026.

Gov. Rick Perry supports sports betting. The state Senate, where 2023's bill died, and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick may not.

In May 2023, HJR102 pretty much lost all hope. Lieutenant Gov. Dan Patrick announced that the sports betting bill will not be referred and discussed on the Senate floor, since it was carried by Democrats.

The week prior, legalization took an important step forward. A sports betting bill passed the House with the 100 votes needed. But it faced an uphill climb in the Senate and was still a longshot to pass. Last year's Democrat-backed bill got almost no traction in the GOP-heavy Senate.

Earlier this year, the Texas Tribune speculated that the involvement of Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, in this new sports betting bill was important because she is an ally of Patrick, who opposes sports betting. He's the biggest hurdle to getting legalization in the state.

Utah

No movement

Sports betting is never coming to Utah, the only state in the continental U.S. without any major legal gaming. However, DFS is available in the state, so all is not lost for Utah sports fans.