Comparing Sports Betting Taxes by State

Article By Steve Ruddock

Last Updated: Mar 14^th, 2024

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Legal sports betting has taken the U.S. by storm. For more than 25 years, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) prohibited states from legalizing sports betting. With their destiny now in their hands, many jumped at the opportunity and the potential tax revenue the activity would generate.

As the national tally indicates, it’s “mission accomplished” regarding tax revenue, with legal sports betting generating over $2 billion in tax revenue since the Supreme Court struck down the PASPA in May 2018.

Below is a comprehensive look at sports betting taxes by state, including the retail sports betting tax rate and mobile sports betting tax rate.

State	Tax Rate (retail)	Tax Rate (online)	Promo Deductions
Alabama	---	---	---
Alaska	---	---	---
Arizona	8%	10%	Yes
Arkansas*	13% / 20%	13% / 20%	No
California	---	---	---
Colorado	10%	10%	Yes
Connecticut	13.75%	13.75%	Yes
Delaware	50%	50%	No
Florida	---	---	---
Georgia	---	---	---
Hawaii	---	---	---
Idaho	---	---	---
Illinois	15%	15%	No
Indiana	9.5%	9.5%	No
Iowa	6.75%	6.75%	No
Kansas	5.5%	8%	No
Kentucky	---	---	---
Louisiana	10%	15%	Yes*
Maine	10%	10%	No
Maryland	15%	15%	Yes
Massachusetts	15%	20%	No
Michigan	8.4%	8.4%	Yes
Minnesota	---	---	---
Mississippi	12%	---	No
Missouri	---	---	---
Montana	Varies	Varies	No
Nebraska	20%	---	No
Nevada	6.75%	6.75%	No
New Hampshire	51%	51%	No
New Jersey	8.5%	13%	No
New Mexico	Varies	Varies	No
New York	10%	51%	No
North Carolina	Varies	---	No
North Dakota	Varies	---	No
Ohio	10%	10%	Yes
Oklahoma	---	---	---
Oregon	Varies	Varies	No
Pennsylvania	36%	36%	Yes
Rhode Island	51%	51%	No
South Carolina	---	---	---
South Dakota	9%	---	No
Tennessee	---	20%	No
Texas	---	---	---
Utah	---	---	---
Vermont	---	---	---
Virginia	15%	15%	Yes
Washington	Varies	N/A	---
Washington DC	10%	10%	Yes
West Virginia	10%	10%	No
Wisconsin	Varies	---	No
Wyoming	---	10%	Yes

Some states were more interested in tax revenue than others, evidenced by the significant differences in sports betting tax rates. As such, sports betting taxes by state varies.

Examining the states with mobile sports betting shows a wide gap in the marginal sports betting tax rate.

Marginal vs. Effective Tax Rates

There is a significant difference between the marginal tax rate and the effective tax rate in the 10 states plus the District of Columbia that allow considerable deductions for promotional spending (five other states allow modest deductions).

Those locales are:

Arizona
Colorado
Connecticut
D.C.
Louisiana (capped at $5 million annually per operator)
Maryland
Michigan
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Virginia
Wyoming

Unsurprisingly, some of these states are having a case of buyer’s remorse, as sports betting isn’t delivering as promised. That can be a serious problem for states, which, unlike the federal government, cannot run budget deficits.

Colorado Caps Promotional Deductions

Colorado expected its sports betting tax proceeds to be 10% of revenue, but promotional deductions have whittled that number to under 5%. The Colorado legislature passed a law in May that will gradually reduce promotional deductions beginning in 2023 with a cap on promotional deductions of 2.5% of handle. In 2024 the cap will be reduced a further .25% each year until it reaches 1.75% in 2026.

Virginia Sees the Writing on the Wall

Virginia didn’t wait very long for its sports betting tax revenue to suffer the same fate as Colorado. After launching in January 2021, the Virginia legislature added a provision to its budget in May 2022 that limits promotional deductions to the first 12 months after an operator launch.

Sunset Clauses in Arizona and Ohio

Arizona and Ohio dealt with promotional deductions in their initial laws.

Arizona allows operators to deduct promotional credits and free bets up to 20% of sports betting handle during the first two years of Arizona sports betting. In Year 3, the cap is 15% and drops to 10% in Years 4 and 5. In Year 6, operators can no longer deduct promotional credits and free bets from their sports betting tax obligation.

The Ohio sports betting tax law took a similar approach to Colorado, slowly reducing the amount of promotional spending operators can deduct over a five-year period.

Where Does the Tax Revenue Go?

The usual landing spot is a state’s general fund, but different locales have earmarked sports betting revenue for everything from education to homelessness to water projects.

Here is a glimpse at what sports betting tax revenue funds in five states.

In Tennessee, sports betting tax revenue is divvied up as follows:

80% to the Lottery for Education fund
15% to local governments for infrastructure projects
5% to the Department of Mental Health for problem gambling and addiction programs

All Maryland sports betting tax proceeds go to education, specifically, the Maryland Department of Education’s Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund.

West Virginia sports betting tax revenue goes to the State Lottery Fund, which is used for education, senior citizen programs, and tourism.

Pennsylvania’s sports betting tax revenue is earmarked for the General Fund.

Colorado has an interesting distribution of state sports betting tax revenue. After covering administrative costs and a small stipend for counseling services and a gambling crisis hotline, 6% is placed in a “hold harmless” fund that would be used to reimburse entities negatively impacted by legal sports betting. The remainder heads to the Water Plan Implementation Cash Fund that funds water projects in the state.