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Where Is Sports Betting Legal? State by State Legal Tracker

Robert Linnehan

By Robert Linnehan

Updated:


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Which States Have Legal Sports Betting?

Over half the states have now passed legislation legalizing sports betting. The majority of these states have already launched online or retail betting markets, while others are in the process of finalizing rules and regulations.

There are also ongoing efforts to legalize sports betting in many states that have not yet passed such legislation. The legal environment surrounding sports betting in the United States shifts frequently, but we can help you stay on top of all the latest updates.

Click the links in the tables below for detailed information about the current status of legal sports betting in each state. In terms of sports betting revenue, be sure to check out our state-by-state revenue tracker.

States Already Offering Legal Sports Betting

The states listed here have active legal sports betting markets. Consider yourself lucky if you happen to be located in one of them – you can legally place your first bet today!

It’s worth noting that there is no federal, nationwide law regulating sports betting in the United States. Check out our state-specific pages for a full rundown of the rules you need to know when wagering in states with legal sports betting.

STATE ONLINE RETAIL LAUNCH DATE NOTES
Arizona YES YES SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 Arizona became the largest state in the southwest to legalize sports betting on April 15, 2021. Legislation allows for 20 operators in the state, with a combination of online and retail betting opportunities.
Arkansas YES YES JULY 1, 2019 Arkansas voters legalized sports betting at casinos via a 2018 ballot initiative. The first bets were placed on July 1, 2019, at Oaklawn Racing Casino.
Colorado YES YES MAY 1, 2020 Sports betting was legalized by Colorado voters on Nov. 6, 2019. Both online and retail sports betting launched on May 1, 2020.
Connecticut YES YES OCTOBER 19, 2021 In May 2021, Connecticut lawmakers passed a bill to legalize sports betting. Online sports betting in the state launched on October 19, 2021.
Delaware YES YES JUNE 5, 2018 Delaware was the first state outside Nevada to offer legal sports betting. Retail sports betting launched in the state on June 5, 2018 under Title 29 of the Delaware Code.
Illinois YES YES MARCH 9, 2020 The state legislature passed the Sports Wagering Act, signed into law by Governor J.B Pritzker on June 28, 2019. The first legal online wagers were placed in Illinois in June 2020.
Florida YES YES NOV. 7, 2023 Despite multiple state and potential Supreme Court lawsuits, the Florida Seminole Tribe launched online sports betting in November 2023. Florida agreed to a 2021 gaming compact that authorizes both online and retail sports betting exclusively for the Seminole Tribe.
Indiana YES YES AUGUST 30, 2019 HB 1015 was signed into law on May 8, 2019, authorizing sports betting at riverboat casinos and other establishments throughout the state. Both retail and online sports betting are now available.
Iowa YES YES AUGUST 15, 2019 Iowa legalized sports betting on May 13, 2019, when Governor Reynolds signed an Iowa sports betting and fantasy sports bill into law. Both retail and online betting are available.
Kansas YES YES SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 The Kansas Senate voted for a sports betting bill in April 2022. Online and retail sports betting in Kansas officially commenced on September 1, 2022.
Kentucky YES YES SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 Kentucky lawmakers approved a retail/online sports betting bill on March 30, 2023. Gov. Andy Beshear signed the bill into law, officially making Kentucky the 37th state in the country to legalize sports betting. Retail sports betting launched on Sept. 7, 2023, and online sports betting launched on Sept. 28, 2023.
Louisiana  YES YES JANUARY 28, 2022 Voters in 55 of the Louisiana’s 64 parishes approved legal sports betting in the November 2020 US election, prompting Governor John Bel Edwards to sign sports betting into law in June 2021. Sports wagers will only be allowed in parishes that voted for legalization.
Maine YES YES NOVEMBER 3, 2023 Gov. Janet Mills signed a sports betting bill into law in late 2022.
Maryland YES YES NOVEMBER 23, 2022 Maryland online sports betting commenced on November 23, 2022. Maryland voters overwhelmingly approved Question 2 in the November 2020 US Election, authorizing sports betting at the state’s existing casinos.
Massachusetts YES YES MARCH 10, 2023 Massachusetts online sports betting commenced on March 10, 2023. Seven online sports betting operators kicked off the Commonwealth’s online sports betting.
Michigan YES YES MARCH 11, 2020 On Dec. 20, 2019, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the Lawful Sports Betting Act, legalizing sports betting in the state.
Mississippi ON-PREMISES ONLY YES AUGUST 1, 2018 Sports betting officially started in Mississippi on Aug. 1, 2018, after the state repealed its sports betting ban in 2017. Retail betting is available at many casinos, but the state is not licensing online operators at this time. Online sports betting is allowed on casino property only.
Montana ON-PREMISES ONLY YES MARCH 9, 2020 “Gov. Steve Bullock signed a bill Friday [May 3rd] for the Montana State Lottery to oversee wagering on sports through kiosks and mobile devices,” per AP News.
Nebraska NO YES MAY 25, 2021 Governor Pete Ricketts legalized sports betting when he signed LB561 into law on May 25, 2021. Sports betting will be limited to in-person locations only.
Nevada YES YES 1931 Sports betting has been legal in Nevada since 1931. Both online and retail betting are legal.
 New Hampshire YES YES DECEMBER 30, 2019 HB480 was passed in July 2019, legalizing sports betting in New Hampshire. Both retail and online betting are allowed.
New Jersey YES YES MAY 15, 2018 Governor Phil Murphy signed New Jersey’s sports betting bill on June 11th, 2018, officially allowing venues such as Monmouth Park and the Borgata to start accepting wagers, which they did just three days later. The law also allows for extensive online licensing.
New Mexico NO YES OCTOBER 16, 2018 The Santa Ana Star Casino became the first to offer sports betting in New Mexico in October 2018. The state does not license online sportsbooks at this time.
 New York YES YES JANUARY 8, 2022 A constitutional amendment legalized sports betting in New York in 2013, though the first sportsbooks only began accepting wagers in early 2019. Only retail sportsbooks can be licensed to operate in the state, but that will change in 2021 or early 2022.
North Carolina YES YES March 11, 2024 Gov. Roy Cooper signed online sports betting bill HB 347 into law on June 14, 2023. Online sports betting launched in the Tar Heel State on March 11, 2024.
Ohio YES YES JANUARY 1, 2023 Ohio sports betting launched at 12:01am EST on Jan. 1, 2023 after their sports betting bill was approved on Dec. 8, 2022.
Oregon YES YES AUGUST 27, 2019 Sports betting in Oregon started on Tuesday, Aug, 27th, at Chinook Winds Casino in Lincoln City, reports the Oregonian.
Pennsylvania YES YES NOVEMBER 15, 2018 Both retail and online sports betting are legal and licensed in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania effectively places a 41% tax on sportsbooks, plus a $10 million licensing fee. As a result, some online operators have decided not to enter the fledgling licensed online market.
Rhode Island YES YES NOVEMBER 26, 2018 Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo signed the state’s sports betting bill into law in 2018. A separate bill authorizing remote registration became law in 2020.
 South Dakota NO YES SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 South Dakota voters overwhelmingly approved Amendment B in the November 2020 US election, paving the way for legal sports betting within the city limits of Deadwood, SD, and at existing tribal casinos within the state.
Tennessee YES NO NOVEMBER 1, 2020 Tennessee passed the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act on June 4, 2019. The state’s unique online-only sports betting market launched in November 2020.
Vermont YES YES JANUARY 11, 2024 A Vermont online sports betting bill was sent to Gov. Phil Scott (R) on May 9 after being approved by the House of Representatives. Scott signed the bill into law on June 14, 2023, and sports betting launch five months later.
Virginia YES YES JANUARY 21, 2021 A fairly comprehensive Virginia sports betting bill was signed into law in April 2020. Online sports betting launched in the state in the first weeks of 2021.
West Virginia YES YES SEPTEMBER 1, 2018 Sports betting started in West Virginia on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018, at the Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, per ESPN.
Washington NO YES MARCH 25, 2020 HB 2638 was signed into law by Governor Jay Inslee on March 25th, 2020, legalizing retail sports betting on tribal lands. The law only permits mobile wagering while on the premises of existing tribal casinos.
Washington, DC YES YES MAY 28, 2020 Sports betting was legalized in the nation’s capitol in December 2018, with both retail and online operations managed by the DC Lottery live by summer.
Wisconsin NO YES JULY 1, 2021 Governor Tony Evers signed an agreement with the Oneida Tribe to amend the state’s gaming compact to allow for in-person and mobile app betting while at the Oneida Nation’s gaming facilities.
Wyoming YES YES SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 Governor Mark Gordon signed HB 133 into law on April 5th, 2021, legalizing online sports betting. At least five sportsbooks are expected. Additionally, the Northern Arapaho Tribe will have sports betting at its casinos.

Now that North Carolina sports betting apps have gone live, here are some of the biggest sportsbooks operating in the state right now:

PENDING – States with Legal Sports Betting Coming Soon

These states have already passed laws to legalize sports betting, but regulators are still in the process of approving operators or setting up final rules for the legal market. New sports bettors can use this ESPN Bet promo to get one of the latest new user bonuses.

Stay tuned if you want to place a wager in one of these states – legal sports betting is coming soon!

ON HOLD – States Where Legal Sports Betting Is On Hold

After the Murphy vs. NCAA Supreme Court decision opened the door to legal sports betting across the United States, Congress missed its golden opportunity to pass a single set of laws to regulate the new industry nationwide.

As a result, bettors in some states have been left on the sidelines while their neighbors have been quick to get in the game.

Nearly every state in the union is likely to legalize sports betting at some point in the coming years. Sports betting legislation tends to be enacted by state legislatures, though ballot initiatives posing the question directly to voters are becoming an increasingly common road to legalization.

The timeline for your state likely depends on the local political climate and any peculiarities in the lawmaking process. Check out our state-specific info pages to see SportsBettingDime.com’s projections for when sports betting will be legalized. where you live.

STATE LEGISLATION CONSIDERED? NOTES
Alabama YES A comprehensive gaming package, including sports betting, was introduced in the 2024 legislative session and defeated. Efforts expected again in 2025.
California YES California has entertained multiple bills to legalize online sports betting over the years, but as-to-date none have been successful. This is largely due to the fact that all gambling legislation in the state requires a 2/3 super-majority for adoption.
Minnesota YES Rep. Zack Stephenson’s (DFL-Coon Rapids)bill, HF 2000, was not approved in the 2024 legislative session. Efforts are expected again in 2025.
Missouri YES Several sports betting bills have been proposed in Missouri, particularly to allow betting on the state’s existing riverboat casinos, one of the country’s largest gambling destinations. To date, these efforts have stalled in the state legislature. A voter referendum is likely to make its way to the polls in November 2025.
Georgia YES Georgia again failed to bring sports betting across the finish line in 2024. More bills are expected in 2025.
 Oklahoma YES Two tribes with existing gaming compacts in OK have reached an agreement with the state’s governor to include sports betting. The compacts were approved by the feds in June 2020, and retail sports betting may launch once new rules are published in the federal register.
South Carolina YES “Pro-gambling legislation … officially died when the regular session ended [in early May 2018],” per the Charleston Post and Courier.
Texas YES Texas efforts to approve sports betting stalled in the Senate in 2023. Texas does not meet in 2024, but will meet again in 2025 and discuss sports betting again.
Alaska NO Awaiting sports-betting legislation.
 Hawaii NO Awaiting sports-betting legislation.
 Idaho NO Awaiting sports-betting legislation.
Utah NO Awaiting sports-betting legislation. (Don’t hold your breath.)

Sports Betting Legalization Timeline

  • June 12, 2024: The Washington, D.C. City Council approves a budget to open the district up to multiple online sports betting operators.
  • May 20, 2024: Minnesota sports betting hopes do not cross the finish line despite early momentum in the 2024 session.
  • May 1, 2024: Despite the Alabama House of Representatives approval of a sports betting bill, hopes die in the Senate on the final day of session as the bill does not pass.
  • April 15, 2024: FanDuel officially launches in Washington, D.C., taking over for GambetDC as the district’s lone operator.
  • March 29, 2024: Despite being approved by the Georgia Senate, a state sports betting bill died on the final day of Georgia’s legislative session.
  • March 11, 2024: Online sports betting officially launches in North Carolina.
  • Jan. 24, 2024: North Carolina Lottery Commission members announce a March 11, 2024, start date for online sports betting.
  • Jan. 11, 2024: Vermont launches online sports betting with three operators.
  • Dec. 7, 2023: The Seminole Tribe launches retail sports betting in Florida.
  • Nov. 7, 2023: The Seminole Tribe officially launches online sports betting in Florida.
  • Nov. 3, 2023: Maine officially launches both retail and online sports betting.
  • Sept. 28, 2023: Kentucky launches online sports betting.
  • Sept. 7, 2023: Kentucky launches retail sports betting.
  • June 14, 2023: Gov. Phil Scott officially signs a Vermont online sports betting bill into law. Up to six online sports betting operators are likely to launch in January 2024.
  • June 14, 2023: Gov. Roy Cooper officially signs the North Carolina online sports betting bill into law. The state has 12 months to launch online sports betting.
  • June 7, 2023: The North Carolina House of Representatives approved all Senate amendments in HB 347. Online sports betting expected to launch in early 2024.
  • June 1, 2023: The North Carolina Senate approves an online sports betting bill and the amended legislation is sent to the House for concurrence.
  • March 31, 2023: Gov. Andy Beshear signed Kentucky’s sports betting bill into law.
  • March 30, 2023: Kentucky lawmakers approved a sports betting bill to legalize retail and online sports betting. The bill was sent to Gov. Andy Beshear for his signature.
  • January 1, 2023: Legal online sportsbook launch at 12:01am EST in Ohio.
  • November 23, 2022: Legal online sportsbooks launch in Maryland.
  • September 1, 2022: Legal online sportsbooks launch in Kansas.
  • January 28, 2022: Legal online sportsbooks officially launch in Louisiana. It is available in 55 of the state’s 64 parishes that voted for legalizing sports betting.
  • January 8, 2022: Legal online sportsbooks officially launch in New York.
  • October 19, 2021: Legal sportsbooks launch in Connecticut.
  • September 9, 2021: Legal sportsbooks launch in Arizona and South Dakota.
  • September 1, 2021: Legal sports betting goes live in Wyoming.
  • May 27, 2021: Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signs a bill to legalize online and retail sports betting in the state. Adjustments to tribal gaming compacts must be approved by the federal Department of the Interior before legal sports betting can launch.
  • May 25, 2021: Nebraska legalizes retail sports betting.
  • May 24, 2021: The US Department of the Interior accepted Arizona’s new tribal gaming compact, which allows for retail and online sports betting in the Grand Canyon State.
  • May 18, 2021: Maryland legalizes sports betting in a bill that will be enacted into law on June 1, 2021.
  • April 5, 2021: Wyoming legalizes sports betting.
  • March 18, 2021: South Dakota legalizes retail sports betting.
  • January 21, 2021: Online sports betting goes live in Virginia.
  • November 4, 2020: Voters in three states – Louisiana, Maryland, and South Dakota – approve ballot measures authorizing some form of legal sports betting.
  • November 1, 2020: Tennessee launches the first online-only sports betting market in the United States.
  • June 18, 2020: Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signs an executive order temporarily suspending the in-person registration requirement for online sports betting. BetRivers launch their online betting platform the same day.
  • May 28, 2020: The first legal sports bets are placed in Washington, DC.
  • May 1, 2020: Sports betting launches online in Colorado.
  • April 29, 2020: Virginia enacts a fairly comprehensive sports-betting law.
  • April 15, 2021: Arizona legalizes sports betting. Final approval is required from the US Department of the Interior.
  • March 25, 2020: Limited sports betting becomes legal in Washington state.
  • March 11, 2020: Sports betting commences at Michigan casinos.
  • March 9, 2020: Sports betting commences in Montana and at Illinois casinos.
  • December 30, 2019: Sports betting launches in New Hampshire.
  • November 6, 2019: Sports betting becomes legal in Colorado via referendum.
  • August 30, 2019: Sports betting launches in Indiana.
  • August 27, 2019: The first legal sports wagers are placed in Oregon.
  • August 15, 2019: The first legal sports wagers are placed in Iowa.
  • July 12, 2019: Sports-betting legislation is passed in New Hampshire.
  • July 1, 2019: Retail sports betting launches in Arkansas.
  • June 16, 2019: Retail sports betting commences in New York.
  • May 13, 2019: Iowa legalizes sports betting.
  • May 3, 2019: Montana legalizes sports betting.
  • November 26, 2018: Legal sports betting commences in Rhode Island.
  • November 15, 2018: Legal sports betting launches in Pennsylvania.
  • October 16, 2018: Retail sports betting commences at tribal casinos in New Mexico.
  • August 30, 2018: Sports betting officially opened in West Virginia. The Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races accepted West Virginia’s first legal sports wager.
  • August 1, 2018: Sports betting officially opened in Mississippi with the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi and Gold Strike Casino in Tunica offering the first wagers to the public.
  • June 22, 2018: Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo signed the state’s sports-betting bill into law, though only two RI casinos are able to accept single-game bets, and they won’t be set up to do so until autumn 2019.
  • June 20, 2018: New York’s legislative session ended without passage of the sports-betting bill that was before the NY State Legislature, confirming a previous statement from Governor Cuomo that no such bill would be passed in 2018.
  • June 18, 2018: lawmakers in Kentucky are writing a new bill that would legalize sports betting in the state.

  • June 11, 2018: New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed the sports-betting bill passed by the state legislature. Betting will commence at locations such as Monmouth Park racetrack and Borgata Hotel Casino on Thursday, June 14th.
  • June 7, 2018: New Jersey’s sports-betting bill was passed unanimously by the state legislature and is now in the hands of Governor Phil Murphy. As soon as it is signed, venues such as Monmouth Park will start offering sports wagering. But Murphy has said he has no timetable for signing the bill.
  • June 5, 2018: Delaware officially started accepting sports-betting wagers.
  • June 1, 2018: NY Governor Andrew Cuomo stated that New York will not pass a sports-betting bill in 2018 as there is not enough time remaining in the legislative session (which ends on June 20th).
  • May 31, 2018: Delaware will officially become the first new state to offer sports betting, starting Tuesday, June 5th, 2018.
  • May 31, 2018: Illinois’ current legislative has adjourned without passage of a sports-betting bill. It is now unlikely that the state will have legal sports betting in place in 2018.

  • May 22, 2018: Regulators in New York are treating a 2013 constitutional amendment as legalizing sports betting. They are currently crafting guidelines to govern sports betting in the state even if additional legislation is not passed.
  • May 21, 2018: experts in Pennsylvania estimate it will still be six months to a year before the state offers sports betting, despite existing legislation rendering it legal for all intents and purposes.
  • May 19, 2018: New Jersey Senate President Stephen Sweeney asked Monmouth Park racetrack (which intended to offer its first sports bets on May 28, a.k.a. Memorial Day, to hold off until new regulations are in place. The new timeline suggests New Jersey will start offering sports betting sometime in June 2018.
  • May 19, 2018: Rhode Island officials are hoping to have sports betting up and running in the state by October 2018, per WPRI.com.
  • May 18, 2018: Mississippi’s Gaming Commission has proposed a set of rules to regulate sports betting in the state. If approved, casinos in Mississippi could start accepting sports bets as early as July 21st.
  • May 18, 2018: Governor John Carney believes Delaware’s existing legal framework already allows the state to offer single-game sports betting.  Delaware is preparing “to launch full-scale sports gaming … next month,” i.e. June 2018.
  • May 17, 2018: Following in the footsteps of the NFL, which had long opposed sports betting, the NCAA issued a statement that it supports federal regulation and oversight of sports betting: “the NCAA supports a federal model addressing legalized gambling and has suspended its championship host policy related to sports wagering.”
    • The new policy allows NCAA championship competitions to be held in states that allow sports betting (including Nevada).

  • May 17, 2018: Rhode Island Lottery Director Gerald Aubin appears to believe that existing legislation in the state authorizes sports betting, but it is unclear whether lawmakers agree.
  • May 15, 2018: Monmouth Racetrack in Oceanport, NJ, states that it will be ready to accept sports bets on Memorial Day (May 28, 2018).

  • May 15, 2018: Casinos in Mississippi — including Island View in Gulfport — are aiming to have sports betting in place as of summer 2018.
  • May 14, 2018: shortly after PASPA is struck down, Utah Senator Orrin Hatch states that he will introduce a federal sports betting bill.
  • May 14, 2018: PASPA is ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of the United States’ (SCOTUS) ruling in Murphy vs. National Collegiate Athletic Association (Murphy).
    • Post-Murphy ruling, the NFL appears to ease its historical opposition to sports betting.

  • Jan. 2018: the NBA and MLB start lobbying in certain states for legislation legalizing sports betting, trying to ensure that the inevitable bills include provisions that are favorable to the leagues.
  • 2017-18: several states (including Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia) pass laws legalizing and regulating sports betting if and when it is no longer prohibited by federal law.
  • Jun. 2017: SCOTUS agrees to hear New Jersey’s appeal of Murphy. 
  • Oct. 2016: New Jersey appeals Murphy to SCOTUS.
  • 2013-2016: New Jersey loses Murphy at every level of court before the case reaches SCOTUS.
  • Aug. 2012: The NCAA and all major pro sports leagues sue New Jersey over the legislation that purports to legalize sports betting, arguing that it violates PASPA, a federal law that requires all states to enact sports-betting prohibitions.
    • The case is styled: Murphy vs. National Collegiate Athletic Association (Murphy).
  • Mid-2012: the New Jersey legislature passes a bill legalizing sports betting at racetracks and casinos.
  • 2011: New Jersey voters approve an amendment to the state’s constitution allowing the state legislature to legalize sports betting.
Robert Linnehan
Robert Linnehan

Regulatory Writer and Editor

Rob covers all regulatory developments in online gambling. He specializes in US sports betting news along with casino regulation news as one of the most trusted sources in the country.

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