If you would like to know whether online sports betting is legal in your state, we have all the information you could need in this article! Below you’ll find all you need to know about the latest developments in betting laws and regulations on sports in every US state.
If you’re well acquainted with sports betting, you’ll know that legal online sports betting in the USA is quickly developing, mainly due to the US Supreme Court’s landmark decision to remove the federal ban on sports betting, giving every state the authority to regulate its own sports gambling laws and regulations.
Delaware, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico and West Virginia began letting people make safe sports wagers soon after the decision was overturned, and other states soon followed in their example.
Online sports betting has never been more exciting in the US, with a lot of new betting opportunities springing up every day.
Below, we’ll take a look at where online sports betting is legal, what states are likely to make it legal, and what states are unlikely to change the legality of online sports betting.
We’ll also tell you all you need to know about the legality of fantasy sports, and what sports you can actually bet on. Let’s get into it!
Where Is Sports Betting Legalized In The US?
The below states have passed laws allowing betting operating and accept totally legal sports bets:
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Delaware
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Montana
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- Nevada
- North Carolina
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Tennessee
- West Virginia
Oregon and New Mexico also provide sports betting on a limited basis through their state lotteries.
Wagering on fantasy sports is in a category of its own, distinct from real-life sports betting and is legal in all states, with the exceptions being Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Washington.
Currently, Virginia, Louisiana, and Indiana have few daily fantasy sports operators.
It’s also worth noting that North Carolina and New Mexico currently have sports betting laws that are limited to just tribal gaming establishments.
Every state that decides to allow sports betting operators have a gaming commission to make sure betting regulations that were created in legislative sessions are complied with in accordance to federal and state laws.
Where Is Mobile Sports Betting Legal In The US?
While sports betting is now legal in a considerable number of states, a lot fewer have set up practical provisions or issued licences to allow mobile sportsbooks and sports betting online.
Below you’ll find states that provide viable mobile and online betting (Also check out How To Bet On NFL Games Online) platforms where you can make mobile bets.
- Colorado
- Delaware
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- Nevada
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- West Virginia
What Sports Can You Bet On In The US?
While it is dependent on which state you live in/are currently staying in, usually if a state has legalized legal sports betting, you can bet on pretty much all professional sports and many college sports too.
Exclusions are only typically placed on sports where the competitors – or most of the competitors – are minors. The most common sports to bet on are:
- CFB
- CFL
- College basketball
- College football
- EL (Euro League Fantasy Basketball)
- Golf
- Horse racing
- LOL (League of Legends eSports)
- MLB
- MMA
- NAS
- NBA
- NFL
- NHL
- Soccer
- Tennis
A few states also have provisions for betting on esports, however it is uncommon for sportsbooks to offer these bets.
Is It Legal To Bet On Daily Fantasy Sports In The USA?
Betting real money on fantasy sports is legal in most US states. The legality of betting on fantasy sports and the illegality of traditional sports betting is due to a distinction that was made in the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act of 2006.
This 2006 act makes an exception for fantasy games where the outcome is determined on the player’s knowledge of statistics and other information, rather than being based on chance.
It can be confusing to say the least to differentiate skill in fantasy sports and fantasy sports betting. But an attempt was made in the 2007 New Jersey District Court case Humphrey vs Viacom Inc.
The court found in favor of fantasy sports being a game of skill and thus are excluded from anti-gambling laws.
You can now make real money bets on fantasy sports in pretty much every state except for Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Washington.
Which States Might Make Online Sports Betting Legal?
Virginia is possibly the most likely state to legalize online sports betting, as they have recently passed a bill meant to do just that in the lower chamber of the state legislature. This is promising, and it seems like the legalization of online sports betting is only a matter of time!
Maryland is also in the process of sifting through multiple bills with the intention of making online sports betting legal.
The heat is being turned up in New York to legalize and regulate mobile and online betting with New Yorkers heading to New Jersey in their droves to place legal bets, which is a bit of a financial drain on New York, and a financial boom in New Jersey.
This pressure is growing to the extent that a lot of energy is going towards pushing one bill that would legalize the issuing of mobile betting licenses in New York.
This isn’t just exclusive to New York, however. Other states are warming up to online sports betting, although there isn’t as much pressure being applied in these states as there is in New York. These states are Connecticut, Nebraska, and Wyoming.
There are also many states that have shown interest in authorizing sports betting either via proposed legislations, or politicians getting behind a local sports betting bill.
These states are California, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, and South Carolina.
Which States Will Probably Not Make Online Sports Betting Legal?
The only state that will probably never authorize sports betting is Utah. This is due to the mainly Mormon population that has consistently taken a hard view on gambling and we don’t think this is likely to change.
Other states that haven’t expressed a desire to legalize sports betting are Alaska and Hawaii. As these states are not in the continental US they are far less swayed by neighboring states, so they are not facing the same issue as New York, for example.
Other states facing barriers to online sports betting legalization are Alabama, Arizona, Florida, George, Idaho, Nebraska, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
However, it is believed these states will authorize online sports betting eventually, even if it’s not in the near future.
Final Thoughts
We hope this article has given you some clarity on the legality of online sports betting in your state, or neighboring states.
If you live in a state that hasn’t yet legalized online sports betting, don’t give up hope. Unless you live in Utah, anything is possible with bills designed to legalize sports betting. Even in the 11th hour, these bills can be approved or rejected.
Therefore, it’s worth regularly checking in with the status of online betting and gambling regulations in your state, in case anything changes.
A favorite of mine is golf gambling. Such a relaxing game can win you big when you bet on the right people. Plus, betting makes watching it much more fun, too!
If you’re looking for a new hobby, gambling can sound like a risky venture. But it doesn’t have to be. Stick with my knowledge of the business and I’ll help you navigate the tricky waters that are gambling online sites.
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