Published | Updated 5 September, 2023

The state of US sports betting: Where is it legal?

Across the continental United States, the legality of sports betting varies wildly from wholly legal, partially legal, potentially becoming legal and staunchly illegal.

the state of us sports betting 1

In 2018, the Federal Law that prohibited gambling on sporting events – called the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) – across the United States was overturned by the Supreme Court, thus allowing each state to decide whether or not to legalise sports betting individually.

The impact of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn PASPA has quickly changed the betting landscape across the country, with many states deciding to open up and accept the revenue to be made in taxes from sports betting.

Here, Gambling Insider looks at the legal states and what is and isn’t allowed on a state-by-state basis.

The state of play 

Currently Legal Total: 36
Retail & Online: 24
Retail Only: 10
Online Only: 2

 

Regulation status in US sports betting states 

STATE RETAIL ONLINE TRIBAL ONLY ALL-TIME HANDLE ALL-TIME REVENUE Date Launched (Retail) Date Launched (Online)
Arizona YES YES NO $11bn $907.4m September 2021 September 2021
Arkansas YES YES NO $486.2m $49.1m July 2021 February 2022
Colorado YES YES NO $12.8bn $857.6m May 2020 May 2020
Connecticut YES YES NO $2.74bn $276.6m October 2021 October 2021
Delaware YES NO NO $567.8m $112.3m June 2018 NA
Illinois YES YES NO $24.1bn $2bn March 2020 March 2020
Indiana YES YES NO $12.75bn $1.06bn September 2019 September 2019
Iowa YES YES NO $6.39bn $448.7m August 2019 August 2019
Kansas YES YES NO $1.76bn $158.8m September 2022 September 2022
Kentucky YES YES NO N/A N/A September 2023 Septemer 2023
Louisiana YES YES NO $3.8bn $402.6m January 2022 January 2022
Maryland YES YES NO $3.31bn $433.6m December 2021 November 2022
Massachusetts YES YES NO $2.27bn $235.3m January 2023 March 2023
Michigan YES YES NO $11.27bn $972.7m January 2021 January 2021
Mississippi YES NO NO $2.25bn $255m August 2018 NA
Montana YES NO NO $149.8m $20.6m March 2020 NA
Nebraska YES NO NO NA NA June 2023 NA
Nevada YES YES NO $33.93bn $1.91bn 1949 1949
New Hampshire YES YES NO $2.37bn $180.1m January 2020 January 2020
New Jersey YES YES NO $39.46bn $2.87bn June 2018 July 2018
New Mexico YES NO YES NA NA October 2018 NA
New York YES YES NO $25.55bn $2.23bn January 2022 January 2022
North Carolina YES NO YES NA NA March 2021 NA
North Dakota YES NO YES NA NA December 2021 NA
Ohio YES YES NO $3.82bn $541.6m January 2023 January 2023
Oregon YES YES NO $1.45bn $142.8m August 2019 August 2019
Pennsylvania YES YES NO $22.77bn $1.86bn November 2018 May 2019
Rhode Island YES YES NO $1.73bn $154.3m June 2018 March 2019
South Dakota YES NO NO $14.2m $1.7m September 2021 NA
Tennessee NO YES NO $9.07bn $886.3m NA November 2021
Virginia YES YES NO $10.75bn $1.04bn January 2021 January 2021
Washington YES NO NO NA NA September 2021 NA
Washington DC YES YES NO $519.7m $64.7m May 2020 May 2020
West Virginia YES YES NO $2.05bn $172.2m August 2018 December 2018
Wisconsin YES NO YES NA NA November 2021 NA
Wyoming NO YES NO $260.5m $26.7m NA September 2021

 

 

FAQ's

What was the most recent state to legalise?

Kentucky has become the most recent state to legalise and launch sports betting, with retail launching on September 7 and online launching on September 28. 

Will ‘Tribal Only’ states ever go online?

The answer that the question is up to each tribe. Some may choose to use its power over sports betting in individual states to implement an online vertical; however, this has not yet happened in the US due to tribes liking to bring customers into the casinos physically.

So, while it could happen in the future, it isn’t likely at the moment.

What are the biggest sportsbooks in the market? 

In terms of sheer figures, FanDuel and DraftKings are significantly ahead of their opponents when it comes to market share and revenue. Behind those, the battlefield is made up of sportsbooks such as BetMGM and Caesars Sportsbook. 

What about Fanatics?

Fanatics has bought PointsBet's operations for $225m and launched in multiple states. However, whether or not it will be able to take on the likes of FanDuel and DraftKings will depend on how much Fanatics are willing to spend in the long and short-term. 

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