States With Legal Sports Betting – US Online Gambling
US Sports Betting: Where to Legally Bet Online
Online betting on sports in the United States has only become legal in select states over the last few years. Many states are still in the process of finalising legislation while more are yet to even propose any changes to their respective laws.
To make it easier to see where your state is in the legalisation of online sports gambling as well as see which bookmakers are already operating in your state, we have compiled this state by state guide to online gambling in the U.S.
Is it Legal to Bet on Sports in the United States?
Regulation in the United States
Things move slowly when it comes to politics and the passing of new bills in the United States. While almost half of the great states have already legalised online sports gambling and have operational bookmakers, many are still in the early stages of proposing and passing these crucial bills through their respective senates.
While unregulated sportsbooks already operate within many of the United States, we would highly recommend waiting until sports betting becomes legal in your state and signing up to one of the regulated sportsbooks.
Below is a map of the U.S.A, detailing where each state is currently in the process of legalising online sports gambling.
States with Online Sportsbooks Available
Click your state to see which sportsbooks are available!
What's Available in Your State?
Recent Bill Introduced But Not Yet Passed
In April of 2019, a 44 page bill was introlduced in the State of Alabama that would permit wagering on professional sports as well as select colligiate sports. Unfortunately for Alabamans, the bill has not yet been passed and the waiting game continues.
The state currently has no options for online sports wagering and gambling in general, with just one casino in operation in the state. Passing the online gambling bill in Alabama, which is one of the more conservative states in the country, could prove to be a tough challenge moving forward.
Recent Bill Introduced But Not Yet Passed
A bill was introduced in the State of Alaska in early 2020 that would legalise online sports betting under the banner of the state lottery. Two bills, SB199 and HB246, are both options that could eventually allow the state lottery to regulate online sports gambling.
While the bill has not yet been passed, things in Alaska look promising, albeit with a considerable wait for these bills to pass.
Recent Bill Introduced But Not Yet Passed
In January of 2019, Arizona lawmakers introduced a new bill, SB1158, that would authorise federally recognised tribes with pre-existing gaming compact to operate sports betting sites within the state.
The proposed bill, however, would prohibit others from offering sports betting markets and would also prohibit betting on collegiate sports. At this stage, Arizona is still waiting to see if this bill will be passed.
Legalised Sports Betting with Operating Sportsbooks
RETAIL ONLY
On the 1st of July, 2019, the state of Arkansas officially started accepting sports bets. It’s important to note, however, that sports betting in the state of Arkansas is limited to retail locations, and online/mobile sports betting is still prohibited.
We expect that to change soon within the state, but at this stage, if you want to place a bet within Arkansas, you’ll need to head to one of the retail outlets.
The most popular places to place sports bets in Arkansas are Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort and Southland Casino Racing.
Recent Bill Introduced But Not Yet Passed
Back in 2017, assembly member Adam Gray introduced an amendment to California law that would permit sports wagering if a chance in the federal law happened in the future. California is still awaiting further progress with this bill, and currently, there are no regulated sportsbooks operating in the state.
Recent Bill Passed
On November 5th, 2019, the state of Colorado voted to allow the regulation of sports betting through licensed casinos. The bill catered to both in store betting as well as mobile and internet betting, meaning that sportsbooks will begin to operate within Colorado in the coming months/years.
Recent Bill Introduced But Not Yet Passed
Connecticut has had significant developments in it’s road to legalising sports betting in 2017, 2018 and 2019. The most recent of which was at the start of 2019, when a new bill focused on ‘authorising sports wagering’ was introduced.
Legal Sports Betting with Operating Sportsbooks
Back in June of 2018, the state of Delaware passed a bill to allow three different casinos around the state the ability to offer single game betting on a variety of sports. Since then, the state has evolved to allow expanded sports wagering at additional locations and online.
Recent Bill Introduced But Not Yet Passed
Back in November of 2019, State Senator Jeff Brandes filed three separate bills that would effectively give the Florida Lottery commission the power to oversee and regulate sports betting within the state. The bill is yet to be passed but is set to be considered during the 2020 legislative season and if passed, could be pushed through by October 2020.
Recent Bill Introduced But Not Yet Passed
In early 2019, a bill was introduced in Georgia that would ultimately allow wagering on both professional and collegiate sports. The bill would allow no more than 10 sports betting permits to various organisations and while we expect it to be passed in 2020, we are still awaiting more intel.
Recent Bill Introduced But Not Yet Passed
In January of 2019, House Bill No.1107 was introduced and stated ‘it is in the best interest of the State and its citizens to regulate this existing activity by authorising and implementing a secure, responsible and legal system for sports wagering.’ The bill is yet to be passed, but we expect the ‘Hawaii sports wagering corporation’ to be formed soon.
No Recent Bill Introduced
Unfortunately for citizens of Idaho, the likelihood of legal sports betting in the near future seems low. There is currently laws against sports betting, which would need to be repealed of amended before the appropriate bills that would legislate the regulation of sports betting can be introduced.
Legal Sports Betting with Operating Sportsbooks
Almost a year after Illinois passed a bill that allowed sports wagering both online and in-person, legal sports betting officially arrived in the state. Betting on any minor-league sports event or any game involving an Illinois based collegiate team is prohibited.
Legal Sports Betting with Operating Sportsbooks
On September 1st, 2019, the state of Indiana started accepting sports bets to be regulated by the Indiana Gaming Commission. The laws allow for both in-person and mobile wagering and a number of sportsbooks have already opened up within the state.
Legal Sports Betting with Operating Sportsbooks
Iowa Governer Kim Reynolds signed a comprehensive bill into law in mid-2019 and on August 15th of the same year, sportsbooks in the state started taking their first bets. Mobile wagering and betting on collegiate sport is allowed in the state of Iowa, while operators must pay a $45,000 licensing fee and there is a 6.75% tax on gambling revenue.
Recent Bill Introduced But Not Yet Passed
A new bill was introduced to Kansas State Governments in January of 2018 that would allow the Kansas Lottery to oversee and regulate sports betting in the state. No action was taken on this bill, and another was introduced in January of 2019. Kansas remains in limbo while they await the decision of the new bill.
Recent Bill Introduced But Not Yet Passed
Back in 2017, Senator Julian Carroll introduced a new bill that would allow the Kentucky Racing Commission to regulate sports betting within the state. The bill included a $250,000 licensing fee for new operators, however, the state didn’t go for it. Another bill was introduced in January 2019, which is yet to be decided on.
Recent Bill Introduced But Not Yet Passed
A new bill was introduced back in 2018 that would allow in-person sports betting at racetracks and casinos, however, the bill did not move forward during the state’s legislative session. Another bill is yet to be put forward in Louisiana, meaning the state could be in for a wait.
Recent Bill Introduced But Not Yet Passed
In June of 2019, on the last day of the legislative session, lawmakers in Maine passed a last minute ‘act to ensure proper oversight of sports betting in the state’. However, the bill was vetoed by the governor shortly after. The bill allowed for both in person and mobile betting and unlike many other states, allowed for betting on esports. The bill could be revived in the 2020 legislative session, time will tell.
Recent Bill Introduced But Not Yet Passed
In February of 2018, Maryland House Bill No.989 was introduced. The bill would create a task-force that would over see the implementation of sports gambling in the state. The bill has not moved forward of yet, but the signs are promising for citizens of Maryland.
Recent Bill Introduced But Not Yet Passed
Mass was one of the first states in the country to implement Daily Fantasy Sports to law so it has the potential to move quickly on the sports betting front as well. In January of 2019, a number of bills relating to sports betting were introduced, but none have been passed at current time.
Legalised Sports Betting with Operating Sportsbooks
RETAIL ONLY
On Marck 11, 2020, operators in the State of Michigan started accepting bets after the state passed the ‘Lawful Sports Betting Act’ into law. The new law accepts betting in person and via mobile, however, the mobile aspect is not expected to be available in the state of Michigan until 2021.
Recent Bill Introduced But Not Yet Passed
A bill that would allow sports betting both in person and via mobile was introduced in the state of Minnesota in April of 2018, however, the May legislature session ended without any action. Almost two years has passed since then with no further action as Minnesotans continue to wait.
Legalised Sports Betting with Operating Sportsbooks
RETAIL ONLY
Sports betting in Mississippi is up and running but at the moment, it remains ‘in person only’. Sports betting in person was brought into law back in 2018 for citizens that are 21 or older with the bill stating that ‘mobile wagering would be considered later’.
Recent Bill Introduced But Not Yet Passed
Bills relating to sports betting have been introduced in both the 2018 and 2019 legislative sessions but none have been passed as of yet. Rep. Bart Korman seems to be the most adamant about pushign a bill through, after introducing his own bill in 2018 that would allow riverboat casinos and daily fantasy companies to expand to sports betting.
Recent Bill Passed
Legal sports betting arrived in the state of Montana in March of 2020. Governor Steve Bullock signed the 28-page bill into law which gave regulation control to the Big Sky Lottery.
Mobile sports betting has been approved but sportsbooks have not begun to operate as of yet.
Recent Bill Introduced But Not Yet Passed
In the early parts of 2020, Nebraska lawmakers introduced a new bill – LB990, that would classify sports betting along with daily fantasy and poker as ‘authorized games of skill’. Under this classification, it would exempt these three activities from the state’s existing ban. The bill is yet to be passed and doesn’t state which organization would regulate sports betting.
Legalised Sports Betting with Operating Sportsbooks
The hub of gambling in the United States, Nevada is a mature market when it comes to sports gambling. Obviously, if you reside within the state of Nevada, you’ll have no issues finding a legal place to put a sports bet on.
Legalised Sports Betting with Operating Sportsbooks
On the 30th of December, 2019, New Hampshire Governeor Chris Sununo placed the first legal sports wager in the state, a bet on the New England Patriots to win the Super Bowl. Sports betting in the state is regulated by the New Hampshire Lottery and is available both in person and on mobile.
Bettors must be 18 years old and betting on collegiate sport involving a New Hampshire based team is prohibited.
Legalised Sports Betting with Operating Sportsbooks
Outside of Nevada, New Jersey is without doubt one of the hubs of sports betting and gambling in general in the United States. They legalised sports betting all the way back in 2018 and have now been fulley operational for almost 2 years. If you have heard of a sportsbook, the chances are they operate in New Jersey.
Legalised Sports Betting with Operating Sportsbooks
RETAIL ONLY
Legal sports betting in New Mexico began in August 2018. It was the sixth state in the United States to allow it. Legal sports bets can be placed at some casinos in the state but there is no legal online betting in New Mexico.
Legalised Sports Betting with Operating Sportsbooks
RETAIL ONLY
The State of New York is in the midst of a heated battle over the daily fantasy laws that currently preside, however, sports betting is legal via retail outlets only.
A broader bill which would address the online side of sports betting was introduced in early 2019 but at the present time, citizens of New York are only allowed to legally bet on sport in person.
Legalised Sports Betting with Operating Sportsbooks
TRIBAL GROUNDS ONLY
In July of 2019, Governor Roy Cooper signed a new bill into law that would allow sports and horse racing betting on tribal lands only. There are only two retail locations in North Carolina where citizens can place sports bets, both are located in the Appalachian Mountains.
North Carolina lawmakers are also considering a bill that would permit statewide sports betting on mobile.
Recent Bill Introduced But Not Yet Passed
Introduced in January of 2019, House Bill 1254 is set to authorise sports betting in the state both in person and online. The regulation of sports betting within the state will be the responsibility of the North Carolina Attorney General.
Recent Bill Introduced But Not Yet Passed
In 2018, five Ohio state senators intoduced a place-holder bill that would raise topics and express the intent of the General Assembly to legalise sports wagering. The bill serves as a pre-eminent discussion for Ohio to consider full-scale sports betting at a later date.
Recent Bill Introduced But Not Yet Passed
A recent bill was introduced in the state of Oklahoma that would allow sports wagering on tribal grounds, similar to North Carolina. However, the recent legislative session in Oklahoma ended without action being taken on the bill.
Legalised Sports Betting with Operating Sportsbooks
Oregon was one of the few states in the USA that already had a law in place that allowed sports betting in some fashion, so a the resumption of sports betting was not a painstaking task. There is currently sports betting available in store or online and the Oregon State lottery is the regulating board.
Legalised Sports Betting with Operating Sportsbooks
Another extremely progressive state when it comes to sports betting is Pennsylvania. Governor Tom Wolf signed a new bill in 2017 that would allow sports betting, daily fantasy and online poker and since then, a number of sportsbooks have started to operate in the state of Pennsylvania.
Legalised Sports Betting with Operating Sportsbooks
RETAIL ONLY
In November of 2018, the Twin River Casino in Lincoln took the first sports bets in the state of Rhode Island. The state only offered in store betting to begin with but in early 2019, the law was amended to allow mobile betting, however, online sportsbooks are yet to open. Although we expect that to happen soon.
Recent Bill Introduced But Not Yet Passed
Signs are promising in South Carolina. A new bill was introduced in 2019 that would legalise sports betting. The bill was not passed during the 2019 legislative sessions, however, it remains open for discussion in 2020.
Recent Bill Introduced But Not Yet Passed
On the 25th of January, 2019, lawmakers in South Dakota filed a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the South Dakota Constitution to allow sports wagering. In enacted, the sports betting issue could be on the 2020 voters ballot.
Recent Bill Passed
As of the 1st of July, 2019, the ‘Tennessee Sports Gaming Act’ became law. While it is still illegal to actually place a bet within the state of Tennessee, it’s only a matter of time until the state lawmakers finalise the bill.
Mobile sportsbooks will not need to be tethered to a brick and mortar operation, but will need to pay a $750,000 licensing fee to establish themselves in Tennessee.
Recent Bill Introduced But Not Yet Passed
Online sportsbooks are clamouring at the opportunity to enter the massive market that is Texas, but currently, they are having to play the waiting game.
On February 1, 2019, a 15 page bill was introduced that addressed the regulation of sports betting. The Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation would oversee sports betting and the licenses that are granted to sportsbooks for a $250,000 fee.
No Bill Introduced
At this point in time, Utah seems the furthest away from legalising sports gambling of any state.
Their anti-gambling stance is well documented and any changes to the law prohibiting gambling of any sort would be a massive departure from decades of law.
Recent Bill Introduced But Not Yet Passed
An 18 page bill was introduced in February of 2019 that proposed to legalise sports betting in the state. The bill relates to both betting in store and via the internet, but any licensed operator must implement technological measures to ensure bettors are in state.
Promising signs for Vermont residents.
Recent Bill Introduced But Not Yet Passed
A comprehensive sports betting bill was introduced in November of 2018 which would give the overseeing control of sports betting to the Virginia Lottery.
The bill would allow sports betting on a range of sports, excluding events involving Virginia based colleges or youth level teams.
Sportsbooks might be deterred from entering the Virginia market until other states have been exhausted due to the bill demanding a hefty 15% of revenue.
Recent Bill Passed
TRIBAL GROUNDS ONLY
Governer Jay Inslee signed a new bill into law on the 25th of March, 2020 that permits sports wagering at Class III tribal casinos.
While mobile betting is still prohibited while in state, the new bill is a small step towards what should one day be fully legalised sports betting.
Legalised Sports Betting with Operating Sportsbooks
West Virginia became the fifth state to legalise sports betting in August of 2018 shortly after they signed a new bill into law.
Regulation of sports betting in West Virginia is the responsibility of the state lottery and caters for both in-store and mobile betting.
No Recent Bill Introduced
Unfortunately for citizens of Wisconsin, the likelihood of legal sports betting in the near future seems low. There is currently laws against sports betting, which would need to be repealed of amended before the appropriate bills that would legislate the regulation of sports betting can be introduced.
Recent Bill Introduced But Not Yet Passed
Wyoming still has a ways to go in the fight to legalise sports betting. There was a chance when House Bill 225 was introduced in 2019, however, it was voted down in 2020 and if the state will now have to enter new bills with updated tactics to legalise sports betting.
Regulated Sportsbooks vs Unregulated Sportsbooks
It’s important that all sports bettors understand the difference between the online sportsbooks that are regulated and legal within the United States, and the ones that aren’t.
Sportsbooks such as Bovada, MyBookie and BetOnline are UNREGULATED and operate illegally within the U.S. If you bet with these sportsbooks, it is unlikely that you will face any consequences, however, offshore sportsbooks may not pay players for a variety of reasons. If this happens to you, you have no legal recourse. That does not happen at licensed sites.
At Total Sports Picks, we will only promote fully REGULATED and legal betting sites within the United States of America and we will also advise you which States these regulated bookmakers are legal in.
Which Online Sportsboks are Legal?
Which Online Sportsbooks are Not Legal?
- Bovada
- MyBookie
- BetOnline
- SportsBetting
- GT Bets
- XBet
Best Legal Online Sportsbooks
Founded in Australia in 2017, PointsBet puts its product first – and its shows. From points betting to in-game same-game parlays, PointsBet offers some of the most fun ways to enjoy a sporting event. Learn more in our full review, plus use our exclusive PointsBet promo code to score an amazing signup bonus when you create your account.
You might know DraftKings as the biggest daily fantasy site in the world, but they also offer a fully functioning sportsbook, which has a fantastic range of markets and great odds.
The invasion of the European Sportsbooks on the American market continues as German betting company Tipico has recently announced their intentions to start trading in the state of New Jersey. Tipico will look to set up both retail locations as well as an online product before the start of the 2020-21 NFL season, and are currently hunting a head office in New Jersey.
TVG.com is the premier online horse racing bookmaker in the United States. Owned by the Television Games Network, they offer markets on horse racing in the United States and internationally.
BetRivers is the spawn of Rivers Casino, one of the most popular Casino and hospitality companies based out of the Pennsylvania area. Along with SugarHouse, they are owned and operated by Rush Street Gaming.
Caesaers is one of the most popular names in Las Vegas and they are implementing decades of knowledge and experience in the gambling industry into their brand new sportsbook.
888Sport was founded in the United Kingdom and is one of the biggest online sportsbooks in the world. They over 10 years of knowledge to the United States gambling scene and they are a must have in any bettors arsenal.
One of the major players in the daily fantasy scene, FanDuel’s transition into the online gambling world has been seamless. They offer one of the best products in the country and some fantastic incentives to bet with them.
FoxBet are owned and operated by international gambling conglomerate ‘The Stars Group’ and is the re-branded version of ‘BetStars’. Backed by Fox Sports, they are set to be a major player in the online gambling industry.
BetStars was one of the first online sportsbooks to enter the United States markets. Their site has recently been absorbed into the brand new ‘Fox Bet’ brand.
BetAmerica is your source for all online sports, horse, and greyhound wagering in the United States! They offer one of the best ranges of markets in the country and have a seamless user interface.
William Hill is one of the most well-known names in the gambling industry worldwide. Founded in the UK in 1934, William Hill’s expansion into the United States was only a matter of time.
Unibet is one of the worldwide leaders in the online gambling industry and has recently announced that it will be expanding its operations into the United States!
Barstool Sports has become one of the biggest sports media outlets in the world on the back of a free newspaper founded by Dave Portnoy back in 2003. A portion of the company was acquired by Penn National Gaming in early 2020, which began the process of Barstool branching out into the world of online sportsbooks.
The plethora of Australian sportsbooks looking to expand into the United States market continues with the PlayUp Sports Group’s announcement of their ambitious plan to go international. PlayUp has already secured licenses in multiple states and is expected to launch sometime in late 2020 or early 2021.
