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Legal U.S. Online Sports Betting: Bill and Law Tracker for 2024
Legal U.S. Online Sports Betting: Bill and Law Tracker for 2024
Sports betting is presently legal in many parts of the United States, but that wasn’t always the case. To learn whether sports betting is allowed in your state, use our bill and law tracker. Plus, find out more about the changes made to federal laws which made sports betting more mainstream.
Online sports betting is presently legal in many parts of the United States, but that wasn’t always the case. To learn whether online sports betting is allowed in your state, use our bill and law tracker. Plus, find out more about the changes made to federal laws which made online sports betting more mainstream.
Understanding the Legal Background
In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a federal law known as the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA). Though there were a few exceptions in a handful of states, sports betting was almost entirely illegal before this decision. But the Supreme Court ruled that PASPA conflicted with the Tenth Amendment, which limits the federal government’s power over individual states. Now, each state is able to decide which forms of sports betting they will allow.
Many states have already legalized sports betting in the few years since PASPA was overturned. Overall, there are currently 30 states (plus Washington, D.C.) that allow sports betting, and several other states are moving toward legalization.
It’s also worth noting that, in the states where sports betting is legal, the specific rules vary from state to state. For example, in some states all forms of sports betting are allowed, while other states only allow a particular type of betting such as in-person sportsbooks or online sportsbooks. There may also be restrictions on which teams you are allowed to bet on.
With all these different rules and regulations, it can be difficult to keep track of what’s allowed in any given state. In this guide, we will break down the current situation in each state to help you better understand legal sports betting in the U.S.
Where Is Sports Betting Legal
To help clear up the picture of U.S. sports betting, we’ve divided the states into three categories: states where sports betting is presently legal and available now, states moving toward legalization, and states where there is currently no significant activity toward sports betting legalization. Below, we’ll review the laws that have been passed, the types of wagering available, and the restrictions in each state.
States Where Sports Betting Is Legal and Available Now
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Arizona
In September 2021, Arizona launched both in-person and online sports betting. You can even place bets directly at State Farm Stadium, home of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals.
In Arkansas, sports bets can only be placed in person at one of the three casinos active in the state: Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort, Saracen Casino Resort, and Southland Casino. The Arkansas Racing Commission has recently voted to allow online sports betting, but these changes still need to be approved by the Arkansas Legislative Council.
Types of wagering available: In-person
Restrictions: Online
Read more about online sports betting in Arkansas.
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Colorado
Both in-person and online sports betting are legal in Colorado. This state is also notable for its low barrier to entry for sportsbook operators, which provides plenty of different options for placing bets.
Types of wagering available: In-person, online
Restrictions: College player props
Read more about online sports betting in Colorado.
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Connecticut
In-person and online sports betting have been legal in Connecticut since October 2021. You usually won’t be able to place bets on college sports teams that are based in Connecticut, though.
Types of wagering available: In-person, online
Restrictions: Bettors are not allowed to wager on Connecticut college sports teams unless they are playing in a tournament with four or more teams
Read more about online sports betting in Connecticut.
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Delaware
Although Delaware was one of the first states to start accepting sports bets after the Supreme Court overturned PASPA in 2018, they still haven’t legalized online sportsbooks.
Types of wagering available: In-person
Restrictions: Online, bets involving Delaware-based college sports teams
Read more about online sports betting in Delaware.
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Illinois
Both in-person and online sportsbooks are available in Illinois. But there is a catch to online sports betting here — until March 2022, bettors will need to register in person at a retail casino before they are allowed to place bets online.
Types of wagering available: In-person, online
Restrictions: Bets involving Illinois-based college sports teams
Read more about online sports betting in Illinois.
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Indiana
Indiana offers in-person and online sportsbooks. With its wide variety of operators available and few restrictions on betting, Indiana is one of the most open environments for legal sports betting in the country.
Sports betting has been legal in Iowa since 2019. While online bettors were previously required to register in person at retail casinos, this is no longer the case.
In Louisiana, in-person sportsbooks were launched in October 2021, followed by online sportsbooks in January 2022. Although sports betting is available in most of the state, keep in mind that nine of Louisiana’s 64 parishes don’t allow it.
Types of wagering available: In-person, online
Restrictions: Nine Louisiana parishes don’t allow sports betting
Read more about online sports betting in Louisiana.
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Maryland
Maryland started allowing in-person sports betting in December 2021. But there hasn’t been any recent legislative action regarding online sports betting, so it may not be available anytime soon.
Types of wagering available: In-person
Restrictions: Online
Read more about online sports betting in Maryland.
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Michigan
Michigan launched in-person sports betting in March 2020 and online sports betting in January 2021. The only restriction is that you are not allowed to bet on college player props.
Types of wagering available: Online, in-person
Restrictions: College player props
Read more about online sports betting in Michigan.
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Mississippi
Mississippi is one of the few states in the Deep South region that allows in-person sports betting. You still can’t place bets online, though.
Types of wagering available: In-person
Restrictions: Online
Read more about online sports betting in Mississippi.
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Montana
There is a legal sportsbook managed by the Montana Lottery, with dozens of locations available that allow in-person sports betting. Online sports betting is not currently available.
Nevada had the most relaxed sports betting rules in the country before PASPA was overturned, but they’re a little behind the times now — while both in-person and online sportsbooks are available, online bettors need to register in person.
New Hampshire has allowed in-person and online sports betting since December 2019. But the available options for online sportsbooks are pretty slim, as you can currently only use DraftKings in this state.
Types of wagering available: In-person, online
Restrictions: Bets involving New Hampshire-based college sports teams
Read more about online sports betting in New Hampshire.
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New Jersey
It was a New Jersey-based case, Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, that resulted in PASPA being overturned. Considering this effort, it should be no surprise that New Jersey has a particularly well-developed sports betting market — the state has offered both in-person and online sportsbooks since 2018.
Types of wagering available: In-person, online
Restrictions: College player props, bets involving New Jersey-based college sports teams
Read more about online sports betting in New Jersey.
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New Mexico
Although there have been no sports betting laws passed in New Mexico since PASPA was overturned, because of tribal gaming compacts you can place bets in person at the Santa Ana Star Casino Hotel, which is located on a Pueblo reservation.
Types of wagering available: In-person
Restrictions: Online
Read more about online sports betting in New Mexico.
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New York
While in-person sports betting was legalized back in 2019, New York didn’t launch online betting until January 2022. You can now bet on everything except New York-based college sports teams in the state.
Types of wagering available: In-person, online
Restrictions: Bets involving New York-based college sports teams
Read more about online sports betting in New York.
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North Carolina
There are some tribal casinos in North Carolina, such as Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, where you are allowed to place bets. Online sports betting is not available.
Types of wagering available: In-person
Restrictions: Online
Read more about online sports betting in North Carolina.
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North Dakota
North Dakota is another state where sports betting is restricted to tribal casinos. A bill that would have expanded sports betting passed the North Dakota House in 2021, but it fell just a couple votes short of making it through the Senate.
Types of wagering available: In-person
Restrictions: Online
Read more about online sports betting in North Dakota.
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Oregon
As with New Hampshire, DraftKings is the only operator currently allowed to take online bets in Oregon. There are also in-person sportsbooks available at several retail casinos.
Types of wagering available: In-person, online
Restrictions: Bets involving Oregon-based college teams
Pennsylvania quickly moved to legalize sports betting after PASPA was overturned — they have allowed in-person sportsbooks since 2018. Online sportsbooks became available in 2019.
Types of wagering available: In-person, online
Restrictions: College player props
Read more about online sports betting in Pennsylvania.
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Rhode Island
In-person sports bets can be placed at two locations in Rhode Island: the Twin River Casino and the Tiverton Casino Hotel. Online betting is also available through the Caesars sportsbook platform.
Types of wagering available: In-person, online
Restrictions: None
Read more about online sports betting in Rhode Island.
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South Dakota
There are in-person sportsbooks available in the Deadwood area. As of this writing, there is also a bill that would legalize online sports betting currently making its way through the South Dakota legislature.
Types of wagering available: In-person
Restrictions: Online
Read more about online sports betting in South Dakota.
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Tennessee
Tennessee is one of two states in the country that offer online sports betting but not in-person sports betting. But because of strict regulations in the state, Tennessee bettors may find themselves paying a larger cut of their winnings to operators than they would elsewhere.
Types of wagering available: Online
Restrictions: In-person, college player props
Read more about online sports betting in Tennessee.
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Virginia
Online sports betting became legal in Virginia in January 2021. It’s also worth mentioning the rules regarding college sports betting in the state are particularly strict.
Types of wagering available: In-person, online
Restrictions: Bets involving Virginia-based college teams, college player props
Read more about online sports betting in Virginia.
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Washington
In-person sportsbooks are available at select tribal casinos in Washington state. Online sports betting is not available.
Types of wagering available: In-person
Restrictions: Online
Read more about online sports betting in Washington.
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Washington, D.C.
Sports betting in Washington, D.C. is available through a single operator, GambetDC, which is managed by the DC Lottery. While this platform does allow online sports betting, it should be noted you won’t be able to place wages on federal property.
Types of wagering available: In-person, online
Restrictions: Bets involving Washington, D.C.-based college teams
In-person sports betting is available at most of West Virginia’s casinos, and you can also use popular online operators such as DraftKings, FanDuel, and Caesars.
Types of wagering available: In-person, online
Restrictions: College player props
Read more about online sports betting in West Virginia.
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Wisconsin
Bettors in Wisconsin can currently only wager on sports at the Oneida Nation Casino in Green Bay.
Types of wagering available: In-person
Restrictions: Online
Read more about online sports betting in Wisconsin.
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Wyoming
Wyoming
Like Tennessee, Wyoming only offers online sports betting. The two operators available in the state are DraftKings and BetMGM.
In 2022, California voters may be presented with up to four sports betting ballot initiatives. Tribal casinos and online operators are expected to spend hundreds of millions of dollars supporting these measures, which may lead to sports betting finally being legalized in the most populous state in the country.
Read more about online sports betting in California.
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Florida
The Sunshine State has an up-and-down history with legal sports betting. After Gov. Ron DeSantis approved a tribal gaming compact, the Seminole Tribe and Hard Rock Sportsbook launched a betting platform in November 2021. But just a few weeks later, a federal appeals court ruled that this operation was illegal. FanDuel and DraftKings then threw their support behind a 2022 ballot initiative for legalizing sportsbooks, but it didn’t collect enough signatures to reach the ballot. It remains to be seen when this situation will be cleared up, but there are clearly powerful interests in the state pushing for legalization.
Read more about online sports betting in Nebraska.
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Ohio
With the passage of House Bill 29 in December 2021, it’s only a matter of time until sports betting is available in Ohio — online sportsbooks are expected to launch in January 2023.
While there have been some moves toward legal sports betting in Kansas, such as a partnership between DraftKings and a local casino, the most recent attempt to legalize sportsbooks in the state failed.
There is some support for sports betting in the Kentucky legislature, but attempts to legalize sportsbooks have been opposed by socially conversative groups such as The Family Foundation.
Read more about online sports betting in Kentucky.
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Maine
A sports betting bill passed through the Maine legislature back in 2019, but it was vetoed by Gov. Janet Mills. If Mills is reelected in 2022, there won’t be much hope of sports betting being legalized anytime soon.
The Vermont state government authorized a study to analyze the impact of potential sports betting legislation, but this study hasn’t led to any action yet.
