✅Fact Checked by: Michael Savio
May 2023 will mark the fifth year since the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was overturned, giving the green light to the meteoric rise of sports betting.
Since then, more than half of the United States has legalized it to some degree, and more are always on the way.
Below, we’ll examine online sports betting and states where sports betting is legal. Consider this your go-to resource for legal sports betting in the United States.
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Click On a State to See Full Details
Sports Betting (Retail or Online)
Sports Betting & Online Casinos
Not Legal/ Movement Expected
So, is sports betting legal?
Sports betting is legal in some capacity—whether online or in person—in 38 states in addition to Washington, D.C., at the time of this writing.
Below is a table that shows the legality of both styles in each location.
| State | Land-based Sports Betting | Online Sports Betting |
| Alabama |
× |
× |
| Alaska |
× |
× |
| Arizona |
✓ |
✓ |
| Arkansas |
✓ |
✓ |
| California |
× |
× |
| Colorado |
✓ |
✓ |
| Connecticut |
✓ |
✓ |
| Delaware |
✓ |
✓ (Legal but not live) |
| Florida |
✓ |
✓ (Legal but not live) |
| Georgia |
× |
× |
| Hawaii |
× |
× |
| Idaho |
× |
× |
| Illinois |
✓ |
✓ |
| Indiana |
✓ |
✓ |
| Iowa |
✓ |
✓ |
| Kansas |
✓ |
✓ |
| Kentucky |
✓ |
✓ |
| Louisiana |
✓ |
✓ |
| Maine |
✓ |
✓ |
| Maryland |
✓ |
✓ |
| Massachusetts |
✓ |
✓ |
| Michigan |
✓ |
✓ |
| Minnesota |
× |
× |
| Mississippi |
✓ |
✓ (Legal on Casino Grounds Only) |
| Missouri |
× |
× |
| Montana |
✓ |
✓ |
| Nebraska |
✓ |
✓ (Legal but not live) |
| Nevada |
✓ |
✓ (Apps Only) |
| New Hampshire |
✓ |
✓ |
| New Jersey |
✓ |
✓ |
| New Mexico |
✓ (Tribal Casinos Only) |
× |
| New York |
✓ |
✓ |
| North Carolina |
✓ (Legal but not live) |
✓ (Legal but not live) |
| North Dakota |
✓ |
× |
| Ohio |
✓ |
✓ |
| Oklahoma |
× |
× |
| Oregon |
✓ |
✓ |
| Pennsylvania |
✓ |
✓ |
| Rhode Island |
✓ |
✓ |
| South Carolina |
× |
× |
| South Dakota |
✓ |
× |
| Tennessee |
× |
✓ |
| Texas |
× |
× |
| Utah |
× |
× |
| Vermont |
✓ (Legal but not live) |
✓ |
| Virginia |
✓ |
✓ |
| Washington |
✓ |
✓ |
| West Virginia |
✓ |
✓ |
| Wisconsin |
✓ |
× |
| Wyoming |
✓ |
✓ |
When it comes to sports betting, there are 38 states and Washington, D.C., that have made it legal in some capacity. Below, we’ll cover each sports betting state, including what forms of it are legal and how it came to be legal.
Legal Status: Mobile and retail
In April 2021, Arizona passed HB 2772, which allowed for retail and online sports betting in the state. The first online sportsbooks came to the state in September 2021. The current legislation allows for 20 online sportsbooks and retail sports betting. Today, there are 17 online sportsbooks available, with six of them launching on September 9, 2021.
To date, the state has a total handle of close to $7.8 billion and has recorded gross revenues of close to $630 million.
Legal Status: Mobile and retail
Sports betting in Arkansas has been legal since November 2018. When the legislation passed, it focused primarily on retail sports betting. There are three retail sites in Arkansas. The first bet was taken in 2019, alongside the opening of Saracen Casino Resort. In February 2022, the Arkansas Joint Budget Committee finalized rules to expand sports betting, now offering it online for those with a land-based partner. There are currently three online sites to play at, with the first launching in March 2022. A fourth retail casino has yet to be opened but will be called the Legends Resort & Casino.
Legal Status: Mobile and retail
Colorado legalized retail and online sports betting in late 2019. The first sportsbooks launched about six months later, in May 2020. Today, there are more than two dozen places to play online, and the state has brought in gross revenues of more than $713 million. For an online site to launch, it must partner with one of the 33 land-based casinos in Colorado.
Legal Status: Mobile and retail
Connecticut legalized sports betting on October 19, 2021. Just three online sites, including PlaySugarHouse, partnered with the State Lottery. Before this, Governor Ned Lamont settled on this arrangement with the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes in May 2021.
Legal Status: Retail
Sports betting is in an exciting spot in Delaware. Currently, players can go to retail outlets. Still, state legislators are under the impression that their current laws permit online sports betting. That said, there are no online sites. It was the first state post-PASPA to accept an in-person wager in June 2018.
Legal Status: Retail (online legal but pending launch)
After a lengthy legal battle, Florida will once again be offering legal sports betting. The state’s gaming compact with the Seminole Tribe has been done for years, but legal challenges in federal court have kept the industry on hold until the fall of 2023. We aren’t sure when online sports betting will go live, but retail sports betting will kick off on December 7, 2023.
Legal Status: Mobile and retail
The first sports wager was taken at Rivers Casino on March 8, 2020, after it was legalized in 2019. The first online sportsbook launched a few months later, on June 18, 2020. However, initially, players needed to register in person to wager online. That stipulation was removed on March 5, 2022. You can also bet on in-state college teams as of December 2021, but only at retail sportsbooks.
Legal Status: Mobile and retail
The 13th state to legalize sports betting, Indiana became legal in September 2019. One month later, on October 3, 2019, it took its first online wager. The law in the state allows for a staggering 40 online sportsbooks.
Legal Status: Mobile and retail
Iowa became legal on August 15, 2019, and 24 casinos have online partners. The licensing fees in Iowa are cheap compared to the rest of the country, charging $45k in the first year and $10k after that.
Legal Status: Mobile and retail
Kansas launched sports betting on September 1, 2022. That day, six online sportsbooks launched, and that’s all there’s been in the state since. The law allows for 12 online sportsbooks. Retail sports betting also began on September 1, 2022.
Legal Status: Mobile and retail
Kentucky is one of the newest states to launch sports betting, going live in September 2023. They have both retail and online sports betting available, with a wide variety of options for bettors across the Bluegrass State. The state has issued eight operating licenses and has launched seven online sportsbooks. Kentucky has a large bet catalog and has one of the lowest minium-age requirements at 18.
Legal Status: Mobile and retail
Sports betting launched in Louisiana in two phases, starting with retail betting. The first retail bets came in October 2021, months after it was legalized in June 2021. Then, at the end of January 2022, online sports betting launched. The law currently allows 41 different legal mobile sports betting apps for online sports betting sites.
Legal Status: Mobile and Retail
Maine is the latest state to launch legal sports betting. The market is very small, with just two online operators and seven retail locations.
Legal Status: Mobile and retail
Until November 23, 2022, sports betting was only legal at a retail sportsbook in Maryland. Legal sports bets in retail settings became possible in December 2021. Sports betting initially became legal after voters voted in favor of it during the 2020 election. Maryland’s law allows for 60 online and 30 retail sites.
Legal Status: Mobile and retail
After years of back-and-forth, Massachusetts legalized sports betting on August 1, 2022. Retail sports betting launched on January 31, 2023, followed by online sports betting on March 10, 2023.
Legal Status: Mobile and retail
Sports betting became legal in Michigan in December 2019. The first in-person wagers came at MGM Grand Detroit on March 11, 2020. Online sports betting came in January 2021 with DraftKings and BetMGM.
Legal Status: Mobile and retail
Mississippi launched legalized sports betting on August 1, 2018, while mobile sports betting is allowed only on the campuses of select retail sportsbooks.
Legal Status: Retail
Similar to Mississippi, Montana allows mobile sports betting at specific sites. Montana launched it in March 2020. You can bet at Intralot kiosks throughout various bars and restaurants in the state. The lottery regulates these. Wagers are limited to $250 at a kiosk and $1000 on a website.
Legal Status: Mobile and retail
While Nevada is well known for the glitz and glamor of the Las Vegas Strip, the numerous casinos, and the massive retail sportsbook, they still don’t quite have mobile sports betting down. If you want to bet online, you must visit a retail casino/sportsbook in person to create an account.
Legal Status: Mobile and retail
Sports betting went live in The Granite State in December 2019. While mobile and retail sports betting is legal in the state, the state has an agreement with DraftKings as the sole provider in the state through June 2025.
Legal Status: Mobile and retail
If we have any state to thank for legal sports betting nationwide, it’s New Jersey, states where sports betting is legal. Thanks to its court case against the NCAA, the Supreme Court ruled that PASPA was unconstitutional. There are more than 20 online sportsbooks, and the state is accepting online sports betting variants, such as Prophet Exchange. Sports betting in the state launched in June 2018, and online sports betting came in August of that same year. New Jersey was one of the first FanDuel sportsbook states and one of the first BetMGM states.
Legal Status: Retail
While no legislation has passed, tribal casinos in the state took it upon themselves to allow it at their casinos. This has been going on since October 2018. It doesn’t seem to be coming soon in terms of complete legalization.
Legal Status: Mobile and retail
No state had a more highly anticipated online launch for sports betting than The Empire State. New York routinely brings in the most bets in all states where sports betting is legal. Retail sports betting started in July 2019, followed by online sports betting in early January 2022.
Legal Status: Retail
While online sports betting isn’t legal yet in North Carolina, in-person has been since 2019. However, until March 2021, it was only allowed at two tribal casinos. Online sports betting could be on the horizon, though—Rep. Jason Saine filed a sports betting bill that would allow 12 online sites.
Legal Status: Retail
Like New Mexico, North Dakota has launched in-person sports betting for tribal casinos. There’s no legislation on the books for any sports betting in the state. The first bets were taken in December 2021.
Legal Status: Mobile and retail
Sports betting was legalized in Ohio in December 2021, but the state held off on a full launch until January 1, 2023. On launch day, more than 12 online sportsbooks became available.
Legal Status: Mobile and retail
Sports betting became legal in Oregon in August 2019, and the State Lottery ran it from the start. The only online sportsbook then was Scoreboard, run by the lottery. Then, in October 2022, DraftKings took over and is now the only online sportsbook in the state.
Legal Status: Mobile and retail
Pennsylvania legalized sports betting in October 2017, which was months before PASPA was ever overturned. After it was, though, Pennsylvania launched its mobile sports betting market in May 2019, with retail sites accepting bets for the first time in November 2018.
Legal Status: Mobile and retail
Two real money casinos started offering sports betting in 2018. In 2019, mobile sports betting came to the country’s smallest state, the state lottery-owned SuperBook as the lone provider.
Legal Status: Retail
Retail sports betting came to South Dakota in September 2021. However, it can only be done in Deadwood and at tribal casinos.
Legal Status: Mobile
There are no retail casinos in Tennessee. As a result, online sportsbooks in the state can operate without any partner. Sports betting launched in November 2020. However, there’s a mandate in Tennessee for a 10% hold, so this results in worse odds in the state.
Legal Status: Mobile
Like Tennessee, Virginia is another one of those legal betting states with sports betting that doesn’t require a land-based partnership for online sites to launch. Online sports betting came to the state in January 2021. The Virginia Lottery oversees all sports betting.
Legal Status: Retail
Washington legalized sports betting in March 2020, and the first bet was placed more than a year later in 2021. While retail sports betting is legal, it can only be done at tribal casinos.
Legal Status: Mobile and retail
In Washington, D.C., you can only bet district-wide at GamBetDC, but other apps can be used at certain locations. Retail sportsbooks continue to pop up, though not in casinos. There are now six retail sportsbooks, with most found at pro sports stadiums. You can also bet from a mobile app within a two-block radius. It launched in 2020.
Legal Status: Mobile and retail
West Virginia legalized sports betting in 2018, with the first online site launching on August 26, 2019. The first retail sites launched in 2018.
Legal Status: Retail
In July 2021, Governor Tony Evers and Oneida Nation struck a deal for tribal casinos make it one of the states with sports betting. After some delays, it finally launched in February 2022.
Legal Status: Mobile
From the jump, Wyoming allowed statewide mobile sports betting. The first online sportsbooks took bets on September 1, 2021. As for retail sports betting, the Northern Arapaho Tribe appears to be a contender to bring it to the state shortly.
Legislation for sports betting in Nebraska passed way back in May 2021. The launch date is unclear, but the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission published approved sports betting rules. In February 2023, Tom Sage, the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Executive Director, said that sports betting was “technically” legal when the Secretary of State’s Office published the approved rules; however, the state isn’t set up yet for casinos to take wagers. While delays in the launch continue, the goal is to have sports betting go live sometime in the summer of 2023.
Governor Phil Scott signed Bill H127 into law on June 14, 2023, which officially legalized online sports betting in the state. Like Tennessee, the bill only legalized online sports betting so that retail will remain illegal. The Vermont Department of Liquor and Lottery will be regulating the new industry and issue a request for proposals from operators in July, with BetMGM, DraftKings, Fanatics, FanDuel, and ESPN BET all submitting applications. There is no firm timeline set for the launch of online sports betting in Vermont, but the current goal is to go live in January 2024.
South Carolina has a bit to go and some hurdles to cross before sports betting arrives. In 2022, bipartisan lawmakers proposed a bill to allow up to 12 online sportsbooks, but it didn’t go anywhere. In late 2022, Rep. J. Todd Rutherford proposed a constitutional amendment to allow residents to vote on legal sports betting. The bill failed to gain traction, which wasn’t helped by opposition from Governor Henry McMaster.
HB 3749 is currently making it through the state’s legislature, but expectations for its approval remain low. The bill would legalize up to eight sports betting apps.
Although two bills to bring sports betting to Georgia died in March 2023, lawmakers changed some language in HB 237, and it’s now possible again. Under this bill, the Georgia Lottery would regulate sports betting, and tax revenue would fund education. The adjusted gross revenue would be taxed at 22%. While there is support for legalization, a bill could take another year it could take another year before a bill can be passed and signed into law. Representatives from BetMGM met with several key state legislators in October 2023 to discuss the possibility of legalizing sports betting.
Texas presented some new bills in February 2023 that could have brought online sports betting in early 2024, but strong opposition from Governor Dan Patrick means it is already likely dead. As long as Patrick remains in office, legal sports betting in Texas remains unlikely. If Texas opts to legalize the industry, it would likely not happen until 2025 at the earliest.
Rep. Ken Luttrell’s HB 1027 advanced through the House on March 21, 2023. However, it’s believed that Governor Kevin Stitt and the state’s gaming tribes are too far apart to get the industry going. Stitt remains a firm supporter of sports betting and announced in November 2023 that he had a new plan to get at least retail legalized with the support of the gaming tribes.
Missouri sports betting bills failed once again in 2023, but that could change in 2024. Proponents of the industry are in the process of gathering signatures for a couple of new proposals. Some expect these to find more success in part because State Representative Denny Hoskins is looking for a new role in the government. Hoskins has been a vocal opponent against legalizing sports betting, so his absence could provide an easier path for the upcoming 2024 bills.
The 2023 legislative session saw a few different bills proposing legal sports betting, but they were not able to pass them. While the Tribes and many legislators support legalized sports betting, they will need to wait until 2024.
A new bill in 2023 seeking to legalize sports betting, poker, and a standalone sportsbook and card room to open in Oahu failed to get enough votes to advance. This comes after HB 1973 was shot down in January 2022, leaving little hope for legalized sports betting in Hawaii.
Since Rep. Adam Wool presented a bill in February 2022, the desire for sports betting in the state has been silent. We wouldn’t expect sports betting to arrive there any time soon.
While bills were presented in 2021 and 2022, they died relatively quickly. “I’ve been told by House leadership, ‘don’t bring it up. Don’t do it. We won’t deal with it this year,’” said Sen. Greg Albritton on Alabama public TV in February 2022. The legislature convened on March 7, 2023, so the earliest possible time for anything to happen would be late 2023 or 2024. However, there’s nothing to point to that as a realistic possibility.
Utah has laws that deem sports betting illegal, even if a law was passed to legalize it nationwide. Sports betting will never land in Utah.
There are simply no developments regarding sports betting in Idaho.
Californians had a chance to pass sports betting during the November 2022 elections and voted against it. Two new proposals have been submitted for 2024, but have received a harsh rebuke from the state’s gaming tribes, making them unlikely to even get to a vote.
Until May 2018, sports betting was mainly available at Las Vegas, Nevada casinos.
Then, in 2017, the Supreme Court accepted a case and heard arguments in December 2017, Murphy v. National College Athletic Association. The “Murphy” in the lawsuit was New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, who had taken over after Governor Chris Christie’s term ended. In May 2018, the Supreme Court ruled in a 7-2 decision that sections of PASPA were unconstitutional as they commandeered power from the states. A 6-3 decision determined all of PASPA was unconstitutional.
When this occurred, states began moving immediately to bring sports betting to their state. Unsurprisingly, New Jersey was among the first, bringing it to the state in June of that year.
Since May 2018, 33 states and Washington D.C. have brought sports betting in some capacity to the respective state.
Throughout the legal betting sites and states, several states have restrictions on what you can and cannot bet on. These restrictions typically focus on college sports betting and, in a few instances, on mobile betting. Below is a comprehensive list of the restrictions in each state.
BetMGM: BetMGM offers new players a $1,000 bonus bet. If you lose on your first wager with this bet, you’ll get it back as a free bet. On wagers less than $50, you’ll get one free bet. If the wager is over $50, you’ll receive five free bets equal to 20% of the wager. As far as sports betting markets go, BetMGM offers players all of the most popular American sports but also has tools like Easy Parlay that make it simple to craft these larger wagers.
Bet365: Equipped with a simplistic user interface design, bet365 offers players several bonuses and promotions, including early payouts, parlay bonuses, and a welcome bonus where you’ll get $365 in bonus bets for wagering just $1. The claim to fame for bet365 is its live betting user interface, which provides live updates on the game. Although more than half of the United States has legal online sports betting, Bet365 Sportsbook, it’s currently available in five states.
DraftKings: Operating in over 20 states, DraftKings is perhaps the most well-known online sportsbook. DraftKings admittedly lags in the welcome bonus department, but there are numerous daily promotions and odds boosts that help make up for it. On top of that, the betting markets that are available at DraftKings dwarf what you’ll find at most sites.
FanDuel: FanDuel offers new players a $2,500 bonus bet. There are also additional promotions available as well, including bet insurance. As a new player, you’ll have access to the sports betting 101 guide that educates you on all wager types and how to play on the site. FanDuel has partnerships with notable figures in sports, such as Kay Adams, Brandon Marshall, and Pat McAfee
Borgata: The online version of the legendary retail site in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Borgata Sportsbook falls under the same umbrella as BetMGM. Here, you’ll be able to live stream certain international contests and even edit your bet before it bets.
SI Sportsbook: SI Sportsbook has numerous features, including Perfect 10. This is a free-to-play game where, if you make 10 accurate guesses against the spread, you’ll receive a payout of up to $10,000 in site credit. Additionally, there’s a Betfeed tool that shows all of the latest wages made on the site. As a new player, you’ll get eight $25 free bets for wagering just $20.
BetRivers: Developed by Rush Street Interactive, BetRivers Sportsbook offers new players a $500 bonus bet. While existing player promotions are available at numerous online sportsbooks, few offer the number of promos that BetRivers does. These promotions include squares, bets and gets insurance, and more.
SugarHouse: SugarHouse Sportsbook is the same as BetRivers, only it’s the brand that the sportsbook used to go by before the rebranding, which began in 2020. However, SugarHouse still exists in Connecticut. BetRivers and SugarHouse have similar promotions and bonuses and user interface designs.
BetMGM is one of the most prominent online gaming brands in the industry. Learn more about BetMGM legal states, where BetMGM is legal, background on the brand, and more through our extensive review.
While the expansion of the legal sports betting industry will result in some people experiencing problematic sports betting addiction, there are numerous resources that can be consulted to help curb its impact. There have been a number of conflicts with state politicians over the matter, with some states being much more in support of it while others are completely against it.
With more than 38 states and Washington D.C. having legalized sports betting, the industry has generated well north of $15.569 billion as of January 2023. In terms of handle, the states have also taken in more than $200.5 billion in wagers. On top of the revenue generated by the sportsbooks and the taxes that the state receives, this industry has created thousands of new jobs and has increased investments in sports venues.
Professional sports have completely embraced legal sports betting. Each league has its own official sports betting partner, and advertisements for these platforms are seen during commercials, broadcasts, and even throughout the arena. Professional teams have also seen an uptick in revenues in states where sports betting is legal.
The rise of legal sports betting has had a massive impact on sports media. Some examples include DraftKings purchasing the sports gambling network VSIN, SI Sportsbook licensing its brand for an online sportsbook, Barstool Sports opening an online sportsbook and then rebranding to ESPN BET, and more. This impact comes before sports betting is even legal in some of the larger states like California, Florida, and Texas.
The partnerships that have come as a result of sports betting are almost endless. Not only do numerous professional teams have sports betting partners, but some sites have partnerships that enabled them to offer sports betting in the state.
These partnerships extend beyond sports teams, though, such as partnerships with actual stadiums and arenas, like Madison Square Garden.
These partnerships provide an influx in revenue for the leagues, and now it’s common to see particular networks promote the odds for games airing on their network.
Below is a sample of the partnerships you’ll find with most sportsbooks mentioned above:
| BetMGM | Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals, Houston Astros, Cincinnati Reds, Pittsburgh Pirates, Richard Childress Racing, Philadelphia 76ers, Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans |
| Bet365 | San Antonio Spurs, Colorado Rockies |
| BetRivers | Detroit Pistons, Pittsburgh Penguins, Chicago Bears |
| DraftKings Sportsbook | Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies, 23XI Racing, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Sacramento Kings, Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers, St. Louis Blues, Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers, Nashville Predators, Cleveland Guardians |
| FanDuel | Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees, DC United, Brooklyn Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Portland Trail Blazers, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, New York Jets, Washington Commanders, New Jersey Devils, Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings, New York Liberty |
| Unibet | Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Stewart-Haas Racing, New Jersey Devils |
| Play SugarHouse Sportsbook | Philadelphia Flyers |
Regulated sportsbooks in the United States have several advantages over unregulated/offshore sportsbooks. Regulated sites protect players should any sportsbooks try to take advantage of them or not pay you out. With offshore sportsbooks, you don’t have that same luxury. Most offshore sites have licenses from countries that are so small it’s almost irrelevant and inconsequential—it serves as a way to prop up a site as being “licensed” without it actually providing the benefits that you receive in the United States.
While offshore sites may offer large welcome bonuses, it’s unknown whether you’ll actually receive those benefits. If you do, questions remain around whether you’ll receive your withdrawn funds in a timely manner or, again, at all. With legal US betting sites, you know that your bonus is guaranteed, and all of your winnings will be available for withdrawal via a payment method that is available on the betting site.
The peace of mind of playing at a legal and regulated online sportsbook in the United States cannot be understated. Regardless of how attractive the odds or welcome bonuses are, the downside of playing could prove to be financially catastrophic.
Regulated Sportsbooks
Offshore Sites
Like PASPA for sports betting, there was a nationwide law that prevented states from offering online casinos, known as the Federal Wire Act.
The law was initially enacted in 1961 in an attempt to curtail mob operations. In the late 1990s, offshore casinos began appearing online, and states over the next decade wanted to welcome them, but it was prohibited due to the law also known plainly as “The Wire Act.”
Then, in 2011, a Department of Justice opinion allowed states to legalize online gambling, as they stated the law applied only to sports betting.
From here, states like New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania became the first to legalize online gambling.
Below, we’ll look at the six legal gambling states and the current legal gambling sites
Connecticut legalized online casino gambling the same day sports betting came to the state in October 2021. There are two online sites in the state DraftKings and FanDuel. You can also gamble in person at places like Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods.
Delaware has had legal gambling since 2012, but it’s quite different from the current state of how the industry operates. There are three racinos (casinos at horse race tracks) in the state that are operated by the lottery. As far as online casino gambling goes, 888 Casino is the sole operator currently in Delaware.
As part of the package signed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in December 2019, this included online casino gambling. Today, there are 14 online casinos to play at, including popular platforms like BetMGM, BetRivers, DraftKings, FanDuel, Golden Nugget, and more.
Online casinos were legalized way back in 2012 and 2013 in New Jersey and is easily the epicenter for gambling on the east coast. Atlantic City is arguably the most well-known city in the state, and it has numerous casinos to play at in person that are also partnered with various sites or launched online casinos under their own brand.
In October 2017, Pennsylvania not only passed a law to legalize sports betting, but it also included online casinos. The first online casinos, Hollywood Casino, PlaySugarHouse, betPARX, and more, launched in July 2019. The latest online casino to launch in the state was Tropicana Casino in May 2023.
Online casino play became legal in West Virginia on March 27, 2019, but the first sites didn’t launch until July 15, 2020. There are seven online casinos currently in the state, with WynnBET Casino pending launch.
After the legislation was brought but ultimately died in 2022, Rep. Ethan Manning made it a point that he’d pursue additional legislation in 2023. That attempt failed after the House Public Policy Committee wouldn’t even allow a hearing to discuss the bill.
With 12 land-based casinos in the state, Illinois should be one of the next states to launch online gambling. There are currently two bills in the Illinois General Assembly, but they are with committees that may never actually review the bills. That means Illinois will likely need to wait at least one more year for legal online casinos.
After adding online sports betting in late 2022, lawmakers in the state will look to move online gambling along by adding a referendum to the 2024 ballot.
While online sports betting is legal in the state with DraftKings Sportsbook as the sole provider, there hasn't been much traction for online gambling. That changed this year as the Senate passed the online gambling bill SB 104, but by only one vote. While it will be a challenge to get the bill through the House vote, the Senate vote was a major step forward for the industry.
Online sports betting has been a massive success in The Empire State, and online gambling certainly will be too. A few pieces of legislation have been on the subject, but they all fail to make any headway. However, Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr. has another bill proposed, but a lack of support means it likely won’t be voted on until 2024.
As seen by the lists above, online gambling at real money casinos is not quite as widespread as online sports betting.
Below is a table showing all the states online where casino gambling is legal, as well as states where casino gambling is illegal.
| State | Land-Based Casinos | Online Casinos |
| Alabama |
✓ |
× |
| Alaska |
✓ |
× |
| Arizona |
✓ |
× |
| Arkansas |
✓ |
× |
| California |
✓ |
× |
| Colorado |
✓ |
× |
| Connecticut |
✓ |
✓ |
| Delaware |
✓ |
✓ |
| Florida |
✓ |
× |
| Georgia |
× |
× |
| Hawaii |
× |
× |
| Idaho |
✓ |
× |
| Illinois |
✓ |
× |
| Indiana |
✓ |
× |
| Iowa |
✓ |
× |
| Kansas |
✓ |
× |
| Kentucky |
× |
× |
| Louisiana |
✓ |
× |
| Maine |
✓ |
× |
| Maryland |
✓ |
× |
| Massachusetts |
✓ |
× |
| Michigan |
✓ |
✓ |
| Minnesota |
✓ |
× |
| Mississippi |
✓ |
× |
| Missouri |
✓ |
× |
| Montana |
✓ |
× |
| Nebraska |
✓ |
× |
| Nevada |
✓ |
× |
| New Hampshire |
✓ |
× |
| New Jersey |
✓ |
✓ |
| New Mexico |
✓ |
× |
| New York |
✓ |
× |
| North Carolina |
✓ |
× |
| North Dakota |
✓ |
× |
| Ohio |
✓ |
× |
| Oklahoma |
✓ |
× |
| Oregon |
✓ |
× |
| Pennsylvania |
✓ |
✓ |
| Rhode Island |
✓ |
✓ |
| South Carolina |
× |
× |
| South Dakota |
✓ |
× |
| Tennessee |
× |
× |
| Texas |
✓ |
× |
| Utah |
× |
× |
| Vermont |
× |
× |
| Virginia |
× |
× |
| Washington |
✓ |
× |
| West Virginia |
✓ |
✓ |
| Wisconsin |
✓ |
× |
| Wyoming |
✓ |
× |
| Washington D.C. |
× |
× |
Yes. Sports betting has been legal in the United States since PASPA was overturned in May 2018. Now, each state can pass laws to allow for legal betting. As of March 2023, more than 30 states where sports betting is legal.
By registering for an account online, you’ll input your information and may also need to provide documents to prove your identity. However, if the state you’re in calls for in-person registration only to play online, this could verify your account faster, but you’ll need to travel to the land-based casino in person. You can use our resources above and, on our site, if you need to find a “sportsbook near me.”
After creating an account, you’ll want to head back to the homepage of the site. In the upper right-hand corner, you’ll likely find a link to the cashier page where you can browse the various methods and choose which works best for you.
There are more than 30 states where sports betting is legal, including Washington, D.C.
No. You don’t need to be a resident of a legal sports betting state, but you need to be located within the borders of the state to make real-money transactions.
Legal online sports betting is available in the following states:
Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington D.C., West Virginia, Wyoming.
There are close to 20 states where sports betting isn’t yet available. Each state has its own circumstances, so it’s best to monitor all of the latest updates, including where to find a “sportbook near me.”
While wagering at offshore sportsbooks won’t really result in breaking any bettings in the US, you do run the risk of losing out on the money you deposited and want to withdraw.
That said, Washington State does have a law where you could face felony charges.
Gambling isn’t necessarily illegal as there are multiple retail locations throughout the country where you can gamble, such as states with casinos. However, if your state doesn’t have any passed legislation and no retail casinos, that means it's not yet available.
Online gambling is legal in Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, West Virginia, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.