USA Legal Sports Betting

Nevada's sportsbooks have been in operation since the state legalised sports betting in 1949, making it the first state to establish a legal sports betting market. While it is the oldest market, it's no longer the most popular, as New Jersey has surpassed it in recent years.

The requirement for in-person registration at a retail sportsbook before placing bets online is one aspect of the Nevada sports betting business that is currently holding it back.

Governor Phil Murphy signed the bill legalising single-event sports betting at casinos and racetracks, on June 11th, 2018, making New Jersey the third state with a regulated sports betting market. Three days later  William Hill sportsbook took the state's first sports wager, which was placed by Governor Murphy himself. Since then, New Jersey has risen to the top of the sports betting world.

For the first time since it was banned in 1992, online sports betting is once again permissible in Colorado. The state has allowed regulated sports betting as of May 1, 2020, and there are presently approximately 20 locations, websites and apps where consumers bettors can place legal sports bets.

On April 15, 2021, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey signed a revised compact with the state's tribal leaders. On September 9, 2021, sports betting went live in the state. Learn more about this form of gambling in The Grand Canyon State.

Iowa was one of the first US states to legalize sports betting. After the Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) 1992 in May 2018, The Hawkeye State ruled in favor of sports betting in August 2019.

Daily fantasy sports (DFS) became legal in Mississippi in 2017. A year later, sports betting in Mississippi also became legal after the Supreme Court determined that the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) was unconstitutional. On August 1, 2018, the first legal bets were placed in The Magnolia State.

New Mexico is unique when it comes to sports betting because despite there being no laws that allow gaming, multiple sportsbooks and casinos operate within the state.

The state’s tribal gaming compacts allow all forms of Class III Gaming. This includes casino games like slots, craps, roulette, and blackjack.

The Sports Wagering Lottery Amendment Act of 2018 made sports betting legal in Washington DC on May 3, 2019. Although this was one of the first to give the green light to this form of gambling, sports wagering regulations are complex in DC.

Wyoming launched its sports betting market in 2019 after Governor Mark Gordon signed House Bill 0133 into law. But despite there being various state-approved online sportsbooks, there are no retail sportsbooks in The Cowboy State.

Find out more about sports betting laws and available operators in Wyoming.

Online sports betting apps went live on January 28, 2022. With BetMGM, Caesars, and DraftKings being amongst the six apps that are now live.

Virginia legalized sports betting in April 2020 after passing Senate Bill (SB 384)and House bill (HB 896). Since legalizing gambling in the state, sportsbooks have accepted billions of dollars, making serious sums of tax revenue.

Virginia went live with sports betting officially in January 2021. There are currently no brick-and-mortar locations to place sports bets, but there are plenty of online mobile sports betting apps to choose from in Old Dominion.

Bettors have access to hundreds of retail sportsbooks in The Treasure State. However, there is still only one state-approved sports betting site in MT, Sports Bet Montana.

Also, although you can access this mobile betting app anywhere, you can only place wagers when on the premises of licensed Sports Bet Montana locations.

Learn more about betting laws in Montana, retailers, and international sportsbooks that operate within state lines.

You can legally bet on sports in the state of Tennessee. However, you can only wager on sporting events online and not at brick-and-mortar establishments. The Volunteer State's online-only approach to sports betting is unique in the US.

Online sportsbooks went live in Connecticut on October 19, 2021. The Constitution State launched regulated online sports betting with DraftKings and FanDuel in partnership with the Mohegan Tribe and Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation.

Get the lowdown on sports betting in Connecticut.

Some recent changes in the law within the state of Wisconsin now allow limited sports betting services. As of July 2021, the state's tribal gaming compact was amended for the third time to allow wagering on the Oneida lands.

In 2021, North Carolina legalized sports betting within the state. However, only in-person betting within The Tar Heel State provided by two tribal casinos currently adheres to state regulations.

Washington now offers retail and online sports betting options at tribal casinos within the state. Learn more about wagering in The Evergreen State.

There are currently ten retail sportsbooks in the Deadwood area, but with 26 casinos operating within state lines, we are likely to see more open soon. In 2022, a new ballot proposed to expand sports betting statewide and allow mobile betting. This attempt died once it reached the House but shows promise that the whole state might one day be able to bet on sports.

Delaware has always been a front runner with sports bets, with specific parlay bets being legal within the state since 2009 with the 'sports lottery'. However, attempts by Governor Markell to expand on these wagering options have failed to come to fruition.

As of December 2019, Governor Whitmer signed a series of acts that allows not only sports betting to be legalized, but fantasy sports and casino bets. This was all possible due to the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) being deemed unconstitutional in 2018 by the Supreme court. 

Bettors in New Hampshire can enjoy placing Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) and regular sports bets. Learn about wagering restrictions, taxes, and legal providers in New Hampshire.

In 2018, Rhode Island gave the green light to a state-regulated sports betting market. Bettors can place in-person bets at two casinos. You can also place bets online using a state-approved sports betting app or international online sportsbooks.

Oregon saw a return of state-approved sports betting in August 2019, a year after the Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA).

One month after the law change, the state-operated Scoreboard sportsbook became the leading operator in The Beaver State. Yet, in January 2022, DraftKings replaced Scoreboard as the sole state-approved online provider available anywhere within state lines.

On September 1st, 2019, Indiana's sports betting market opened for business. Betting on professional and collegiate sports is legal, but not on high school sports or esports. The Indiana Gaming Commission regulates the sector.

Illinois made sports betting legal in 2019 and on March 9, 2020, the first bets were placed. Get the lowdown on legal sports betting in Illinois, including mobile betting apps, retail and online sportsbooks, and future plans.

On Monday, April 12, 2021, the Senate and House voted to pass the bill and set the rules for sports betting. The bill, one of the largest ever to pass in the USA, allows 60 online sportsbooks and 40 retailers to operate within Maryland..

Soon after the Supreme Court ruled that the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 was unconstitutional, Arkansas residents voted to legalize sports betting in November 2018.

The result allowed retail sportsbooks in the state's four casinos to open for business, with the first bets placed on July 1, 2019. However, bettors had to wait until March 2022 to access state-approved online sportsbooks.

As it stands, South Carolina is strongly opposed to any sports betting. This is mainly due to the conservative values and large population of Christians that reside within the southern state.

Although many don't realize it, state residents can bet on sports online legally because Palmetto State's laws don't contain any online betting regulations.