States with Retail-Only Sports Betting

US Sports Betting States: Legal Markets & Bill Tracker

Sports betting became legal in Rhode Island just a month after PASPA was annulled. Sports betting is legal and launched on January 1, 2023. The only restriction applies to college sports bets. The bill signed into law by Gov. Pete Ricketts in June 2021 only allows for in-person betting. In fact, you need to be physically present within a licensed establishment to place an online sports bet. According to the bill, players can bet on all sports either online or at one of the hundreds of licensed sales agents around the state.

• Sportsbooks managed a combined $7.5 billion in revenue, with the Super Bowl serving as the biggest betting draw of the year.
• The odds and thus payout will vary based on the projected likelihood of each outcome, but the mechanics are as simple as can be—correctly project a winner, win your bet.
• It was a sign that lawmakers recognized the potential in regulated sports betting.
• Multiple states have since jumped on the opportunity to legalize, regulate, and tax online casino games and poker.

It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, but the NCAA is strongly opposed to sports betting. Since PASPA was overturned in 2018, the NHL, like the NBA and MLB, has also engaged in exclusive agreements with sports betting operators. The league now has numerous sports betting partners, including FanDuel, MGM, and FOX Bet.

Of these, 31 states + DC offer online/mobile sports betting, while 8 states only allow retail (in-person) betting at casinos or tribal locations. The most popular form of wagering in the U.S. is mobile betting, and the majority of legal sports betting states now offer full online access. DFS sites serve as a legally accessible alternative to online sports betting sites in markets that have yet to formally legalize sports betting.

States with Retail-Only Sports Betting

Utah’s constitution explicitly prohibits all forms of gambling. HJR 134 and SJR 65 followed, proposing a constitutional amendment to put legalization to a public vote. College game outcomes are bettable, but college player props are prohibited. The market is regulated by the state’s Sports Wagering Council. A 2022 bill, SJR 502, would have added a mobile option and passed the Senate before failing in the House.

Scores & Odds Hub

The state’s first legal retail sports bet was in October of 2021, and Louisiana’s sports bettors placed their wagers online in late January of 2022. HB 380 on sports betting did not pass in the state House and Senate in 2023, but there is an interest in legalizing sports betting in the future. However, House Joint Resolution 3395 would have been the constitutional amendment bill that open the door for legal casino gambling and sport betting. Legal retail sports betting in Arkansas can be traced back to November of 2018. BetMGM partnered with Nationals Park and Caesars Sportsbook partnered with Capital One Arena to offer sports betting in and around each facility in the DC area.

Massachusetts was also the first state regulator to go on offense against prediction markets, winning a preliminary injunction against Kalshi’s sports contracts in January 2026. Check out all the latest sportsbook promos in Massachusetts. If you live in one of the nine parishes that voted no, you cannot legally bet inside your parish, though you can drive to one that allows it. Find the best sportsbook bonuses in Iowa with the most value. Check out the best Illinois sportsbook promotions before signing up anywhere.

It was one of two states (Missouri) to legalize online sports gambling in 2024. Despite no bills being passed, in-person sportsbooks exist because of a previous agreement between Native American tribes and the state — and the Native American tribes’ recent interpretation of that agreement. DraftKings has been the lone mobile operator in the state and bettors can also go to a few retail betting locations.

Both mobile and in-person sports betting exist in West Virginia, and the state has been accepting bets since August 2019. All betting in Tennessee occurs online, as there are no casinos in the state and, therefore, no retail betting locations. Pennsylvania accepts one of the largest sports betting handles each month, including both mobile and in-person sports wagering.

Take a swing at cricket betting with legal online sportsbooks that offer odds on popular leagues from around the world. While the law was previously used to prevent US-based online sports betting, the law now simply restricts interstate wagering. The allowable forms of legal online sports betting may vary drastically from one state or country to another, and wagering on the Internet has become a popular, multi-billion-dollar industry. In the meantime, US sports bettors in all 50 states can access safe and legal sports betting at offshore sportsbooks like BetUS, BetNow and MyBookie.

Many states have laws against using unregulated sportsbooks, making it a criminal offense. We will also dive into how you can find which legal online sportsbook is the best fit for you. Cash-at-Cage transfers – These are simply real-money exchanges at retail sportsbooks. Sports betting continues to expand across the United States with new states launching sports betting apps. A bet is “settled” after the game has concluded, the results are official, and the sportsbook has graded all bets as won, lost, or pushed.

MaineOnline sports betting is legal but not yet operational in Maine. KentuckyOnline sports betting is not yet legal in Kentucky.LouisianaOnline sports betting is live and legal in Louisiana. IowaOnline sports betting is live and legal in Iowa.KansasOnline sports betting is live and legal in Kansas. ConnecticutOnline sports betting is live and legal in Connecticut. CaliforniaOnline sports betting is not yet legal in California.ColoradoOnline sports betting is live and legal in Colorado.

Montana was one of the four states where sports betting was technically legal pre-PASPA. The MGM Grand and the Greektown Casino became the first brick-and-mortar sportsbooks to open, accepting the state’s first bets on March 11, 2020. This local connection adds a unique flavor to the state’s sports betting scene, highlighting Massachusetts’ commitment to integrating homegrown businesses into its gaming industry. Residents can also place in-person bets at the state’s two casinos and several off-track betting facilities. Kansas officially launched sports betting on September 1, 2022, after Governor Laura Kelly signed the legislation into law in May 2022. As of January 1, 2021, remote registration for all legal and live online sportsbooks is available.

Many states that have legalized sports betting allow the placing of such bets, but some restrictions are often in place. However, some states still require the users to register their accounts physically located in retail sportsbooks or casinos. In other words, you don’t have to be a permanent resident of the state that has legalized sports betting, but you still have to be physically in that state to place wagers online.

But if you walk outside to head down to Stockman’s, you can’t bet on your phone or when you get there because it is not a licensed establishment. The law took effect on June 28, 2023, paving the way for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission to establish rules and license operators. This means you can www.pokernewsdaily.com/sportsbooks/ sign up anywhere there is an internet connection via your computer or mobile device. Iowa elected to require in-person registration during the market’s first year but that is now a thing of the past.

The Tar Heel State legalized sports betting last summer, but the launch was delayed until March as they carefully prepared to ensure a smooth debut. Understanding differences in regulated sports betting laws is one of the first steps on the road to becoming a successful sports bettor. For example, several states require first-time customers to visit a brick-and-mortar establishment before registering with any legal betting sites. However, sports betting laws can vary drastically from state to state, which is why it is important to know what your state’s sports betting laws look like. Nearly three-quarters of states have legalized sports betting at the time of writing, and that number is quickly rising.

They may address jurisdiction, licensing, regulatory standards, enforcement, and other matters related to gaming operations. Tribal-state compacts establish how tribes and states will regulate Class III gaming. Tribes also regulate Class II gaming, with oversight from the National Indian Gaming Commission. Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act in 1988 to divide responsibility for Native American gaming among tribal, federal, and state governments. The same day the state voted against the Indian casino project, Maine voters approved a plan to add slot machines to the state’s harness racing tracks. For example, in November 2003, the state of Maine voted against a $650 million casino project proposed by the Penobscots and Passamaquoddies.

Sandia Resort and Casino launched its native sportsbook in November 2024, with the space featuring a bar and restaurant, more than 50 televisions and an outdoor patio. House Bill 162 was introduced in January 2025; the proposal would allow existing operators to offer online slots and table games within state lines. Online betting is allowed butconfined to tribal lands and properties. Several casinos have partnered with major operatorslike DraftKings and Caesars, facilitating on-site app usage.

Sports betting in the District of Columbia officially launched on May 28, 2020, with the introduction of GambetDC, an online and mobile sports betting platform operated by the DC Lottery. The process was relatively swift, as Delaware had already been offering limited sports betting through parlay cards since 2009. Delaware made headlines on June 5, 2018, by becoming the first state outside Nevada to fully legalize sports betting, following a landmark Supreme Court decision.

Damon is a seasoned Sports Betting Editor and Betting Data Analyst specializing in sportsbook reviews, in-depth betting guides, and detailed analysis of U.S. sports betting revenue trends. According to revenue reports from states with legalized sports betting, Americans wagered over $164bn on sports betting in 2025 alone, generating over $3.7bn in tax revenue for the US. As we have established, the sports betting and gambling legislations vary quite vastly between each US state, so obviously, the age limits for different types of gambling are also alternate nationwide. The parentheses in each year’s cell show how the total number of US states with legal commercial sports betting has changed during the year in question. The following table shows the tax on bettor’s sports betting and gambling-related winnings state-by-state.

Lawmakers introduced a bill in January 2025 that would raise the minimum legal age for sports wagering from 18 to 21; it’s presently one of only seven states (along with D.C.) to allow 18-year-olds to legally place a bet. Presently,the state offers around 200 retail betting locations and 14 betting apps. Retail sportsbooks debuted in 2020, followed by onlinesportsbooks in early 2021.

Through a general election in November of 2020, South Dakota voters approved the amendment to legalize retail sports betting in Deadwood tribal casinos. The North Dakota House passed HB 1254, but the state Senate did not approve the bill calling for legal retail and online sports betting. Sports betting is legal in Montana, but commercial online sportsbooks are still against the law. At this time, there are also no state legislative bills legalizing retail and/or online sports betting in the House or Senate. In August of 2019, both retail and online sports betting became legal in Iowa. In May of 2019, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb signed the bill that legalized both retail and online sports betting.

The Mid-Atlantic states include Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia as well as the District of Columbia. Some bettors will always want a local option, while others will prefer the advantages provided by international brands. Rules can differ substantially depending on where the bettor is located and where the operator is based.

US Sports Betting Laws

If you want to claim a bonus, browse the best Ohio sports betting bonuses. Find the best Missouri sportsbook promos for more details on which sportsbooks have the best welcome offers in the state. Retail betting has been legal in Michigan since March 2020, with mobile launching January 22, 2021. Massachusetts lawmakers legalized in 2022, retail launched January 31, 2023, and online followed on March 10, in time for that year’s NCAA Tournament. Maine is also on track to become the eighth state with legal online casino gaming, which the AGA expects to launch in late 2026.

For many less popular sites, its just easier to stay out of the US market altogether. You can play real money poker online using any of the sites listed here. US legal online poker is extremely popular, though it’s largely unavailable from domestic operators. If you want to wager on impeachment odds, debate odds, political props, and Presidential elections, you can “stuff the ballot box” at any reputable offshore betting site.

Both online and retail sports betting are live through licensed operators connected to the state’s tribal gaming framework and the Connecticut Lottery. Below is a summary of key legal sports betting states and how each market currently operates. However, we believe the Wire Act will not actually be a major roadblock to state efforts to legalize online sports betting. Three other federal gaming laws deal with gambling in more general terms but are occasionally referenced in matters related to sports betting and horse racing. We also review online gambling websites to help you find the best sportsbooks and casino sites to play at. States now regulate sports betting, online casinos, poker, lotteries, and sweepstakes in unique ways.

Contact your state representatives and tell them to support sports betting legislation. Even sports betting in Puerto Rico, while technically not a state, has been authorized. New Jersey was victorious in their historic Supreme Court case where they are argued that PASPA violates their rights as they tried to authorize sports betting in 2014. PASPA prohibited states from authorizing or licensing sports betting enterprises themselves. You won’t break any laws if you reside in the USA and choose to bet with a sports gambling site that operates overseas. Several regions have passed legislation to authorize sports gambling within their borders but have yet to launch any sportsbooks while additional local legislatures have legislation pending.

So far, however, the number of states allowing legal sportsbook sites dwarfs the number that allow other forms of online gambling. Federal law dictates that states can also legalize other forms of online gambling, such as online casinos and poker. Thirty-nine (39) states currently allow some type of legal sports betting. Passed by Congress and signed into law in 1992, PASPA prohibited states from legalizing sports betting.

Florida’s sports betting landscape has been a rollercoaster of legal battles and developments. Colorado voters narrowly approved the state’s sports betting referendum in late 2019, with the market officially launching on May 1, 2020. The state has embraced both retail and online platforms, offering residents and visitors a comprehensive betting experience. The result was that online sportsbooks with any legal or financial connection to the US withdrew from the country.