Not long ago, Nevada was the only state where betting on sports was legal.
This changed in 2018 when the US Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. This ruling removed the federal ban on sports betting and enabled individual states to license sportsbooks within their jurisdictions.
Since then, most states have embraced sports betting in some capacity. The gradual expansion of legal sports betting across the nation has been remarkable to observe.
States where sports betting is allowed in-person, online, or both
Following the repeal of PASPA on May 14, 2018, some states quickly acted to legalize sports betting. For example, New Jersey, a long-time advocate for legalization, enacted legislation within a month, shortly after Delaware. States like Mississippi, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania quickly followed.
Other states took a slower approach or imposed strict conditions. For example, in Illinois, registering for an online sportsbook initially required a visit to a physical casino.
Currently, many states permit both in-person betting at casinos and online wagering. Others offer retail sportsbooks only, while a few allow online betting exclusively.
Some states even have unique internal regulations. In Louisiana, for instance, online betting is legal in 55 of 64 parishes, while the remaining parishes prohibit it.
Always verify the laws in your state before placing a bet to ensure compliance with applicable regulations.
States offering both online and in-person sports betting include:
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
Val C. Martinez
Founder of BettingLadies.com
For a vivid illustration of the unique character of each of the 50 states, look no further than their responses to the repeal of PASPA. Each state crafted its own sports betting rules and regulations, reflecting the distinct political landscapes and priorities shaped by the federal law change that opened the market.
The states where only online sports betting is allowed are:
You can only place a sports bet in person in the following:
- Mississippi
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Mexico
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
States where sports betting is NOT legal
There are 12 states where no form of sports betting is legal at all.
They are:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- California
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- Texas
- Utah
The reasons for its persisting illegality vary from state to state. It is hard, for instance, to envisage Utah ever legalizing sports betting. The anti-gambling Mormon church still holds sway, and the state’s criminal code specifies that online gambling must stay illegal – even in the unlikely event that it is federally legalized.
Elsewhere, there is more hope for sports teams, major gambling operators, and other proponents of sports betting. Although it is interesting to note that the two most populous states in the Union still do not host legal sports betting.
In California, this is explained by the grip exerted by federally recognized tribes on the gambling scene. Texas, meanwhile, is home to powerful political forces opposed to gambling expansion.
States where legalization might be on the horizon
There are some states among the dozen where sports betting remains illegal that could switch their position in the near future.
Determined efforts were made in Missouri during the 2024 legislative session and, following a public vote, legal sports betting may launch in 2025.
There have also been attempts in Georgia, Minnesota and Oklahoma that suggest there is some support for legalization, without it appearing that change is imminent.
Texas passed a House bill in 2023, but it made no progress in the Senate and there is little optimism that any progress will be made in 2025.
California, meanwhile, put online sports betting to a public vote in 2022 and it attracted paltry support from the electorate. If legalization is on the horizon in California, it is an extremely distant one.
In states where sports betting is illegal, you may be able to access offshore sportsbooks. However, we strongly advise against gambling with unlicensed operators.
Val C. Martinez
Founder of BettingLadies.com