Is gambling illegal in my state, or is sports betting legal in my state? Where is US online sports betting legal or in retail locations? If you’ve come here wondering that, we’ve got you covered. Check below the map, too, for links to relevant information in your state.
When will online sports betting be legal in my state?
Hover over any state to find out what, if anything, is happening in terms of sports betting legalization there.
KEY:
- Green = Legal
- Orange = Legalized but not yet live
- Yellow = Legislation on the table
- Blue = No meaningful legislation action
More info by state
| STATE | STATUS | BILL/LEGISLATION | MOBILE / RETAIL SPORTSBOOK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Pending | A sports betting bill that included mobile predictably failed in 2019. The Governor has appointed a team to study gambling in the state. They have until the end of 2020 to produce a recommendation. New bills aren't likely until they've finished. | TBD |
| Alaska | No action | ||
| Arizona | Pending | The 2019 bill was filed again in 2020. Under it federally recognized tribes would be able to operate sportsbooks and betting kiosks in their Arizona casinos. There are significant obstacles to off-reservation betting. | Probably retail only |
| Arkansas | Legal | Retail sports betting went live in July 2019. | Retail only to start |
| California | Pending | In early 2020 California published a ballot initiative put forth by the state's 18 Native American tribes that would legalize sports betting, in addition to roulette and dice games, at tribal casinos. In order for it to make an appearance on November's ballot, the tribes will need to acquire the necessary number of signatures by June 25th. | Would be retail only |
| Colorado | Legal, not yet live | Voters narrowly approved sports betting through a Nov. 2019 ballot referendum. May 2020 is the target for launch. | Both |
| Connecticut | Pending | Several bills are on on table but a tug-of-war between stakeholders and tribal-state compacts have stalled progress. | Would be both in any final bill |
| Delaware | Legal | Grandfathered under PASPA; no new legislation deemed necessary | Retail only |
| District of Columbia | Legal, not yet live | The Sports Wagering Lottery Amendment Act of 2018 legalized sports betting in D.C. The Council voted in February to bypass an RFP process and award a sole-source contract to Intralot to roll out the city's only mobile sportsbook. Capital One Arena will be the nation's first retail sportsbook inside of a professional sports venue. | Both |
| Florida | Pending | There's been some chatter and one bill on the matter but ultimately, the Seminole Tribe will likely play a big role in how and whether legal sports betting proceeds | TBD |
| Georgia | Pending | Georgia began entertaining the addition of sports betting in fall of 2019. Public hearings have been held in 2020 and support seems to be gathering steam. Recent polling indicates that a growing majority of Georgia voters want to see sports betting and casino gaming. There's hope. | TBD |
| Hawaii | No recent action | A bill to study legal sports betting went nowhere. | |
| Idaho | No action | ||
| Illinois | Legal | Well, they did it. SB 690 was the vehicle. The first legal bets were accepted at Rivers Casino Des Plaines on March 9th, 2020. | Both |
| Indiana | Legal | Went live in September 2019. | Both. Remote online sportsbook registration allowed. |
| Iowa | Legal | Retail and online sportsbooks launched together in August 2019. | Both, but in-person registration is required until Jan. 2021 |
| Kansas | Pending | In February '20 the Kansas Senate passed a bill that would permit sports betting online, and in person at the four state-owned casinos. There is some pushback from those who think the bill is too casino-friendly, but its progress thus far is promising. | Would be both |
| Kentucky | Pending | With backing from the Governor, a sports betting bill was introduced in the Senate in 2020. However, a number of recently proposed amendments may jeopardize its chance of passing. More bi-partisan support might be needed to move forward. | TBD |
| Louisiana | Pending | Bill has passed state senate to legalize on casino premises. Vote would ultimately have to go to parish-by-parish vote. | Retail |
| Maine | Pending | Maine came close, but will have to regroup after its House voted in February '20 to kill the most recent bill. | TBD |
| Maryland | Pending | Maryland's sports betting bill, SB 4, has now passed in both chambers and is waiting for a signature from the Governor. It appears that voters will have their say in November. | Both |
| Massachusetts | Pending | Whole lot of bills on table and a governor in support. There's a decent chance for it to happen in 2020. | Would be both |
| Michigan | Legal | Retail sports betting began in Michigan on March 11, 2020. However, the Michigan Gaming Control Board has announced that online wagering likely won't go live until 2021. | Both |
| Minnesota | Pending | 2019 efforts didn't pan out, though there is still optimism. Legislators will try again in 2020. | Retail only |
| Mississippi | Legal | Retail sportsbooks went live in August 2018 and have been a success. They'll take another shot at mobile wagering in 2020. | Retail only |
| Missouri | Pending | Discussions, hearings, but no consensus. It's unlikely 2020 will be the year for Missouri. | Probably both |
| Montana | Legal, not yet live | Bill passed in May 2019 to legalize through the Montana Lottery in bars and taverns. | Retail only |
| Nebraska | Pending | Spurred into action by Iowa's sports betting success, Nebraska introduced LB 990, the Adopt the Games of Skill Act, in early 2020 which defines sports betting, DFS, and poker as such. The bill would pave the way for the legalization of each. The proposed legal gaming age is set at 19, and it would include in-state college bets. We'll see how it progresses. | TBD |
| Nevada | Legal | Mecca of sports betting since 1949 or so. | Both |
| New Hampshire | Legal | Went live in December 2019. | Both |
| New Jersey | Legal | Went live in June 2018. | Both |
| New Mexico | Legal-ish | There's sportsbooks operating at five tribal casinos currently. The state AG has interpreted the tribal-state compacts as allowing sports wagering. | Retail only |
| New York | Legal | Regulations approve in-person sports betting. There's language in the Upstate New York Gaming Development Act of 2013 that permits this, but not online/mobile. | Retail only |
| North Carolina | Pending | Retail sports betting is now legal, but sportsbooks have not yet opened. Betting will only be available at a pair of tribal casinos: Harrah's Cherokee and Valley River. Mobile wagers will have to wait. | Retail only |
| North Dakota | Pending | Two bills to legalize were on the table but didn't pass before the 2019 session closed. | Unclear |
| Ohio | Pending | An updated version of HB 194 is moving forward in Ohio. The bill allows for casinos, tracks, VFWs, and other fraternal organizations to seek sports betting licenses. The Ohio Lottery will serve as the regulatory body. This progress is very promising, expect additional updates soon. | Both |
| Oklahoma | Pending | In a holding pattern. Need buy-in from state tribes. | |
| Oregon | Legal | The first retail sportsbook opened in August 2019. Online wagering began shortly after in October, run by the Oregon Lottery. | Both |
| Pennsylvania | Legal | Went live in June 2019. | Both |
| Rhode Island | Legal | Legalized in 2018 at the state's two casinos, Twin River in Lincoln and the Tiverton, which launched in late 2018. | Both |
| South Carolina | No action | ||
| South Dakota | Pending | A bill passed the Senate, and is moving on to the House for approval. South Dakota hopes to present sports betting to voters in November, with the potential to begin wagering in mid-2021. South Dakota wants to keep action in-state with many neighbors having either gone live already, or in the process of actively pursuing sports betting. The news is promising. | Would be retail only |
| Tennessee | Legal, not yet live | Not traditionally known as a gambling-friendly state, Tennessee surprised many by passing the nation's first online/mobile-only bill in 2019. Bettors are hopeful for a 2020 launch. | Online only |
| Texas | No action | ||
| Utah | Never | ||
| Vermont | Pending | Legislature has seen a few bills but none yet with traction. | Unclear |
| Virginia | Pending | Virginia is REALLY close. Instead of signing, Governor Northam sent the bill back down to the legislature with a few changes. They were minor, like including NASCAR tracks as eligible sports betting licensees. The new changes will be evaluated later in April. | Both |
| Washington | Legal, not yet live | Washington officially legalized sports betting on March 25, 2020. The law permits sports betting in-person, at tribal casinos within the state. Wagers on professional and collegiate athletics are permitted, though in-state college teams are off limits. | Retail only |
| West Virginia | Legal | Went live in August 2018. | Both |
| Wisconsin | No action | There's a little talk, but no action yet. Bettors have been crossing state lines into Iowa to place bets, and there is a desire to keep that revenue local. Changing the state's constitution is still a ways off though, and legalization could lead to complications with tribal casinos looking to renegotiate terms. | TBD |
| Wyoming | Pending | A bill was filed in February '20 that would permit online-only betting on pro sports - college wagering would be prohibited. It includes provisions for a 16% tax on gross gaming revenue and sets the minimum wagering age at just 18. | Would be online only |
