Five States That Can Still Legalize Sports Betting In 2023
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A previous version of this article incorrectly cited Missouri Sen. Denny Hoskins as reading from a Ronald Reagan biography. It has been updated to reflect the actual reader, Sen. Bill Eigel.
The expansion of sports betting slowed to a crawl in 2022. Maine, Kansas, and Massachusetts were the only states to legalize the activity last year. 2023 was expected to fare better, but thus far, only Kentucky has legalized sports betting. There are a few more contenders, but surpassing 2022’s tally isn’t a foregone conclusion.
Based on where everything stands, 3-4 new states in 2023 would be a big win. That said, it wouldn’t take much for 2023 to end with five or possibly six new states legalizing sports betting.
Below you will find five states with the potential to join Kentucky. These are not the only states with active legislation. They are merely the best contenders.
Missouri
Missouri sports betting continues to be thwarted by a non-sports betting issue – video lottery terminals, or VLTs.
The Missouri House has passed a sports betting bill, but the Senate is once again proving to be an impossible nut to crack. A bloc of senators is refusing to let sports betting advance without VLTs.
One of those Senators, Karla May, told her colleagues, “I’m OK with sports betting. I think we should have it,” before segueing into VLTs, and rhetorically asking why some were OK with sports betting kiosks but not VLTs.
Another pro-VLT Senator, Bill Eigel, filibustered the most recent hearing (reading from a Ronald Reagan biography), and Sen. Denny Hoskins threatened to continue to filibuster until VLTs are included alongside or on a parallel track to sports betting.
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North Carolina
North Carolina sports betting is already legal, but its goal in this legislative session is to expand its offerings into the online arena. After a near miss in 2022, the state appears to be on track to get it done in 2023.
Last year, the House proved to be the sticking point after the Senate passed legislation. In 2023, mobile sports betting reversed directions. The mobile betting bill cleared the House and is now awaiting action in the Senate, where it isn’t expected to meet significant opposition.
Vermont
The biggest surprise of 2023 is Vermont. The Green Mountain State is poised to legalize mobile betting (Vermont is devoid of land-based casinos or gaming locations) by mid-May.
Following a favorable study, the Vermont House passed a sports betting bill in late March. The Senate has until mid-May to follow suit. According to recent reporting by Matthew Kredell, the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Matt Birong, expects the legislation to get the OK this year.
There’s no doubt that Vermont sports betting reaches the finish line this year according to the bill sponsor. The hardest part already is out of the way with House passage. https://t.co/1ymSR2BZw3
— Matthew Kredell (@MatthewKredell) April 12, 2023
Minnesota
Minnesota sports betting efforts were rolling right along this year, but there hasn’t been any progress since the legislation moved through three committees in late February to early March.
The behind-the-scenes issue likely being hashed out is whether the state should include its two commercial racetracks as retail betting locations or if sports betting should be tribal-only.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma sports betting is still alive, but as much as the governor, the legislator, and some smaller tribes want it to happen, the state’s larger tribes do not appear too impressed with the idea, at least as currently constituted.
If Oklahoma can bring the major tribal players on board, Oklahoma could shift from most likely not ready for legal sports betting to a serious contender to pass legislation this year. But that is a big if.
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