We’re going to explore U.S. States where sports betting is legal.
Have you been noticing more gambling advertisements from DraftKings or FanDuel in your state? It’s likely because your state has legalized sports betting in some capacity.
In May 2018, the Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), which eliminated the federal ban on sports betting.
It’s now up to individual states to legalize and regulate sports betting.
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What Was the First U.S. State Outside of Nevada to Offer Legal Sports Betting?
It’s often assumed that New Jersey was the first U.S state outside of Nevada to offer legal betting, but that’s not the case. Delaware beat New Jersey to the market by a few weeks.
After PASPA was overturned in May 2018, it didn’t take long for multiple states to push forward with legalized sports betting, but Delaware accepted the first single-game wager outside of Nevada.
Delaware accepted their first single-game wager on June 5th 2018.
When Delaware launched, they only launched with retail (land-based) sports betting.
New Jersey was the first state to accept bets online, though. DraftKings launched the first app in NJ in August 2018, allowing anyone in New Jersey to place a wager online.
Legal Sports Betting Regulation Is Moving Fast
Regulation has been fast-moving across America.
At the time of our last update, 25 states and Washington D.C. have legalized sports betting.
Not all of the 25 states have started accepting wagers yet. Some states have legalized sports betting, but they haven’t legalized mobile betting apps and only offer in-person retail betting.
After the 2020 U.S. Election, three more states legalized sports betting (Louisiana, Maryland and South Dakota.
Here are the details you need to know about each of the jurisdictions with legal sports betting.
List of U.S. States with Legal Sports Betting
Arkansas – Mobile betting apps aren’t allowed and only four casinos have sportsbook licenses.
Colorado – Mobile betting apps are allowed (Currently there are 12 online sportsbooks).
Delaware – Mobile betting isn’t permitted (Only three racinos accept sports bets).
Illinois – Mobile betting is allowed, but only when an operator partners with a land-based casino.
Indiana – Mobile betting is legal (Currently there are five online sportsbooks).
Iowa – Mobile betting is now legal in Iowa (Currently there are four online sportsbooks).
Louisiana – New law passed November 2020 (Will Update)
Maryland – New law passed November 2020 (Will Update)
Michigan – Mobile betting isn’t legal yet, but could be by November 1st 2020.
Mississippi – Mobile betting isn’t allowed (Only casinos can open sportsbooks).
Montana – Mobile betting isn’t permitted (Bets can be placed at licensed kiosks).
Nevada – Mobile betting first launched in 2010, but requires opening an account in-person.
New Hampshire – Mobile betting is permitted, but only DraftKings is licensed to operate in NH.
New Jersey – Mobile betting is legal (There are currently 14 online sportsbooks).
New Mexico – Mobile betting isn’t legal (Sports betting is only permitted at tribal casinos).
New York – Mobile betting is only legal when the bettor is located at a licensed racetrack.
North Carolina – Mobile betting hasn’t been made legal other than daily fantasy sports or lotteries.
Oregon – Mobile betting is legal, but only through the state lottery’s Scoreboard app.
Pennsylvania – Mobile betting is legal in PA (Currently there are nine online sportsbooks).
Rhode Island – Mobile betting has just recently been launched in the state.
South Dakota – New law passed November 2020 (Will Update)
West Virginia – Mobile betting is legal in WV (Currently there are six online sportsbooks).
Tennessee – Mobile betting is the only form of sports betting permitted (no retail locations).
Washington D.C. – Mobile betting isn’t legal in the District of Columbia (Limited retail locations).
Washington – Mobile betting isn’t legal and only tribal casinos can operate sportsbooks currently.
Virginia – Mobile betting will be legal once the state rolls out the first sportsbooks.
