In just over a decade, the number of sports gambling legal states has increased from 1 to 37. What changed, and where is sports betting legal now?
Sports Betting Welcomed With Open Arms
During the 2000s, few would have predicted the future would entail more legal gambling states than illegal ones. In 2010, Nevada became the first state to allow sports betting in the U.S.A, and since then, lawmakers’ attitudes regarding the issue have shifted considerably.
Where Sports Betting is Legal in the US in 2023
Below is a breakdown of which states have legal sports betting policies:
Arizona: Legalized on April 15, 2021. Only 20 online sportsbooks are allowed and Borgata Online is one of them.
Arkansas: Legalized in 2021, the first platform was only launched in February 2022.
Colorado: Gambling laws were passed on May 1, 2020.
Connecticut: Legalized on September 30, 2021.
Delaware: Legalized in 2018. You can bet on professional sports but not on collegiate leagues.
Florida: In 2023, sports betting became legal. Online sports betting is expected to launch in autumn this year.
Illinois: Legalized on March 9, 2020.
Indiana: In September 2019, professional and collegiate games betting were legalized.
Iowa: Since 2019, gamblers are allowed to bet on both pro and college sports.
Kansas: Legalized in July, 2022.
Kentucky: Sports betting expected to launch at the end of 2023.
Louisiana: Legalized in January 2022.
Massachusetts: Initially restricted to three offline sportsbooks. Mobile betting apps launched in March 2023.
Maine: While legislation has been passed, there’s no launch date in sight.
Minnesota: Similar to Maine, there’s no launch date set.
Mississippi: Legalized in August 2018.
Montana: Legalized in March 2020.
Nebraska: Legalized in 2021, the state only allows in-person sports betting.
Nevada: Having launched in 2010, the first state to legalize sports betting.
New Hampshire: Legalized in January 2020.
New Jersey: While betting on collegiate games is banned, gambling on pro sports has been allowed since 2018.
New Mexico: Although technically illegal, you can legally bet at one of five tribal casinos, including the Santa Ana Star Casino Hotel.
New York: Offline sports gambling became legal in 2019 and mobile sports betting, in 2022.
North Carolina: Having launched offline sports betting in March 2021, they’re expected to expand online in 2024
North Dakota: While online sports betting is illegal, gamblers are able to stake on sports at any of the state’s tribal-owned casinos.
Ohio: Legalized in December 2021.
Oregon: Before 2018, Oregon had already legalized sports betting at state level but only started registering bets in August 2019.
Pennsylvania: Legalized in 2018.
Rhode Island: Legalized in 2018.
South Dakota: Legalized in 2020, gamblers can only bet in one of four casinos in Deadwood.
Tennessee: In 2021, Tennessee legalized mobile sports betting.
Vermont: With laws passed in June 2023, sports gambling is expected to launch later this year.
Washington: Legalized in 2020, gamblers can only bet in tribal casinos.
Washington D.C.: Legalized in 2019.
West Virginia: Legalized in 2018.
Wisconsin: Online and offline betting is only allowed at one of Oneida Nation’s gaming locations in the state.
Wyoming: Legalized in 2021.
Where Sports Betting is Illegal in the US in 2023
These are the states where sports betting is illegal: Alaska, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Missouri (legislation is under way,) Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah.
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