Legal Sports Betting States 2026: Where is Sports Betting Legal in the US?
Sports betting is currently legal in 39 states and Washington, D.C., with over 30 of those allowing betting online.
The reason it varies so much is PASPA. The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act barred most states from authorizing sports betting, with a few key exceptions such as Nevada. When the US Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional in 2018, the decision on whether and how to regulate sports betting was left to the states.
Since then, the map has been a patchwork. Some states run wide-open markets. Others allow a single operator, restrict betting to tribal casinos, or have no legal betting at all.
Our guide below breaks down all 50 states and D.C., including their current legal status, online vs. retail availability, and more. Use the table below to check your state, then jump to its section for launch dates, age limits, and college betting rules.
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Where Is Sports Betting Legal? All 50 States at a Glance
| State | Online | Retail | Min. Age | Legal Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No | No | N/A | Not legal |
| Alaska | No | No | N/A | Not legal |
| Arizona | Yes | Yes | 21 | Live since Sept. 2021 |
| Arkansas | Yes | Yes | 21 | Online since 2022; DraftKings, FanDuel added Mar. 2026 |
| California | No | No | N/A | Not legal |
| Colorado | Yes | Yes | 21 | Live since May 2020 |
| Connecticut | Yes | Yes | 21 | Live since Oct. 2021 |
| Delaware | Yes | Yes | 21 | Online since late 2023; only 1 operator |
| District of Columbia | Yes | Yes | 18 | Live since 2020; some sites require 21+ even though D.C. allows 18 |
| Florida | Yes | Yes | 21 | Relaunched Nov. 2023; only 1 operator |
| Georgia | No | No | N/A | Not legal |
| Hawaii | No | No | N/A | Not legal |
| Idaho | No | No | N/A | Not legal |
| Illinois | Yes | Yes | 21 | Live since 2020 |
| Indiana | Yes | Yes | 21 | Live since fall 2019 |
| Iowa | Yes | Yes | 21 | Live since Aug. 2019 |
| Kansas | Yes | Yes | 21 | Live since Sept. 2022 |
| Kentucky | Yes | Yes | 21 | Live since Sept. 2023; age raised from 18 in 2026 |
| Louisiana | Yes | Yes | 21 | Live in approved parishes since early 2022 |
| Maine | Yes | Yes | 21 | Online since Nov. 2023 |
| Maryland | Yes | Yes | 21 | Online since Nov. 2022 |
| Massachusetts | Yes | Yes | 21 | Online since Mar. 2023 |
| Michigan | Yes | Yes | 21 | Online since Jan. 2021 |
| Minnesota | No | No | N/A | Not legal |
| Mississippi | Yes | Yes | 21 | Retail since Aug. 2018; mobile allowed on casino premises only |
| Missouri | Yes | Yes | 21 | Live since Dec. 1, 2025 |
| Montana | Yes | Yes | 18 | Lottery-run app at licensed retailers live since Mar. 2020 |
| Nebraska | No | Yes | 21 | Racetrack casinos only |
| Nevada | Yes | Yes | 21 | Legal since 1949 |
| New Hampshire | Yes | Yes | 18 | Live since late Dec. 2019; 1 operator only |
| New Jersey | Yes | Yes | 21 | Live since June 2018 |
| New Mexico | No | Yes | 21 | Retail only at tribal casinos |
| New York | Yes | Yes | 21 | Online since Jan. 2022 |
| North Carolina | Yes | Yes | 21 | Online since Mar. 2024 |
| North Dakota | No | Yes | 21 | Retail only at tribal casinos |
| Ohio | Yes | Yes | 21 | Live since Jan. 1, 2023 |
| Oklahoma | No | No | N/A | Not legal |
| Oregon | Yes | Yes | 21 | Lottery-run online market; retail only at tribal casinos |
| Pennsylvania | Yes | Yes | 21 | Retail 2018; online 2019 |
| Rhode Island | Yes | Yes | 18 | Online since Sept. 2019 |
| South Carolina | No | No | N/A | Not legal |
| South Dakota | No | Yes | 21 | Retail only at Deadwood casinos |
| Tennessee | Yes | No | 21 | Online-only since Nov. 1, 2020 |
| Texas | No | No | N/A | Not legal |
| Utah | No | No | N/A | Not legal |
| Vermont | Yes | No | 21 | Online-only since Jan. 2024 |
| Virginia | Yes | Yes | 21 | Live since Jan. 2021 |
| Washington | Yes | Yes | Varies | Tribal-only market, both online and retail |
| West Virginia | Yes | Yes | 21 | Live since Aug. 2018 |
| Wisconsin | Pending | Yes | 21 | Law approving online signed Apr. 9, 2026; retail at tribal casinos only |
| Wyoming | Yes | No | 18 | Online-only since Sept. 2021 |
The Different Types of Legal Sports Betting Markets
"Legal" means different things from state to state. The market type determines how many sportsbooks you can choose from and whether you can bet from your phone.
- Open, multi-operator online markets: Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, DC, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia
- Single-operator markets: Delaware (BetRivers), Florida (Hard Rock Bet), New Hampshire (DraftKings), Oregon (DraftKings, through the state lottery), Rhode Island (Sportsbook Rhode Island)
- Online-only markets with no retail sportsbooks: Tennessee, Vermont, Wyoming
- Retail, tribal, or lottery-only markets (must be on-site or on tribal land to bet): Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington
- Authorized, not yet live: Wisconsin
What Changed in 2026
- Wisconsin legalized online betting, but you can't bet yet: Signed on April 9, 2026, AB 601 gives the state's 11 federally recognized tribes exclusive rights to run mobile sportsbooks, so national brands like DraftKings and FanDuel can't launch on their own. Each tribe's gaming compact has to be amended first, and no launch date has been set.
- Arkansas finally got national brands: DraftKings (through Southland Casino) and FanDuel (through Oaklawn) launched March 20, 2026, after regulators approved the partnerships in February.
- Rhode Island is adding a second sportsbook: The state lottery tentatively awarded Bally's a license on May 8, ending the single-operator market. Bally Bet can't launch before Nov. 26, 2026, and the license is conditional.
- Kentucky changed its rules: Lawmakers overrode the governor's veto of HB 904 in April. The law raises the betting age to 21, limits certain prop bets on Kentucky college athletes, and restricts sportsbooks' involvement with prediction markets in the state.
- Colorado added new restrictions: SB 26-131, which took effect Aug. 12, 2026, bans credit card deposits, caps bettors at six deposits per 24 hours, and bars sportsbooks from sending push notifications or text messages that solicit bets. It also restricts advertising aimed at people under 21. Colorado is the first state to pair a daily deposit cap with a ban on promotional push notifications.
- Massachusetts now requires sportsbooks to tell bettors when they're limited: Since June 1, 2026, operators must notify a bettor within 48 hours of limiting their account and give a specific reason, including which markets are affected. It's the first rule of its kind in the country, and it covers limits that carry over from other states.
- Nebraska is on the ballot: The secretary of state certified two online sports wagering measures for the Nov. 3, 2026, election.
- Virginia banned credit card funding of betting accounts in April 2026.
- The national problem gambling helpline has a new number: 1-800-MY-RESET.
Read more on the latest legislative updates affecting sportsbooks in the US:
How Sports Betting Became Legal in the US
From 1992 to 2018, a federal law called the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) barred nearly every state from authorizing sports betting. Nevada was the main exception.
On May 14, 2018, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in Murphy v. NCAA that PASPA was unconstitutional. The decision returned the question to the states. Delaware took the first legal single-game bets outside Nevada on June 5, 2018, and New Jersey, the state that brought the case, followed days later.
The first wave of legalization was driven by revenue and speed. Since then, three shifts have reshaped the market:
- Betting moved online, and market structures diversified: Most wagering now occurs on mobile devices, and states have chosen very different models: open multi-operator markets; single-operator and lottery-run markets; online-only markets; and tribal-controlled markets. Voters have also driven recent launches, including Missouri in 2024 and Nebraska's pending vote.
- Regulators have gone from launching markets to tightening them: Illinois added a per-wager tax in 2025. Colorado capped deposits and banned credit card funding in 2026, and Massachusetts began requiring sportsbooks to tell bettors when they've been limited. A growing list of states has banned credit card deposits.
- Prediction markets created a new hurdle: Sports event contracts on federally regulated exchanges are available in many states where sports betting isn't legal. States and the NCAA are pushing back: Kentucky, for example, limited sportsbooks' involvement with prediction markets in 2026, and the NCAA has asked federal regulators to suspend college sports contracts.
Today, 39 states and DC have some form of legal sports betting, and the list keeps growing through legislatures, tribal compacts, and ballot measures.
Sports Betting by State: Where It's Legal
Below, we cover the launch dates, market landscape, and college sports rules for legal betting states.
Why College Sports Betting Rules Matter
College betting is where the legalization debate has become most contentious, and it's why this guide lists college rules for every state.
College athletes are young, highly visible, and earn far less than professionals, so regulators and the NCAA worry that betting on them creates integrity risks and exposes players to harassment.
The concern centers on prop bets, which are wagers on an individual's performance, such as a player's points total, rather than the final score. A single missed shot, foul, or substitution can decide a prop, so props are easier to manipulate than a game's outcome.
A 2025 NCAA survey of more than 20,000 athletes found that 51% of Division I men's basketball players had received social media abuse over their performance, and a separate NCAA study found that 36% had been harassed by someone with a betting interest.
In Jan. 2026, federal prosecutors unsealed an indictment alleging a point-shaving scheme involving 39 players from 17 Division I basketball teams and 29 games. The NCAA responded with a letter asking state gambling commissions to eliminate individual college prop bets and other high-risk wagers such as first-half unders, a request it first made in 2023.
Most states have implemented some type of restrictions on the types of prop bets, or wagers in general, that can be placed on college sporting events. So, even where sports betting is legal, college betting rules differ.
Some states, including Illinois, New Jersey, and Virginia, bar bets on in-state college teams. Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont allow it only when the school is playing in a tournament.
Many states ban all prop bets on college players, and some specifically restrict player props on in-state college athletes.
There are a few states without any college restrictions, like Kansas, Michigan, North Carolina, and West Virginia.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Arizona?
| Status | Legal and live |
| Market | Online and retail |
| Launch Date | Sept. 9, 2021 |
| Min. Age | 21 |
| College Rules | College games allowed. College team and player props prohibited. |
Arizona legalized sports betting in April 2021 and launched on Sept. 9, 2021, the first day of that NFL season. The state allowed sportsbooks to open inside pro sports venues, and it was in the top 10 states by monthly handle within months of launch.
College games are available to bet on, but college player props are prohibited. The Arizona Department of Gaming oversees licensing and enforcement.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Arkansas?
| Status | Legal and live |
| Market | Online and retail |
| Launch Date | Retail: July 1, 2019. Online: March 2022. |
| Min. Age | 21 |
| College Rules | No restrictions, including on college player props. |
For years, Arkansas's market ran only on casino-branded apps. Under state law, the casino partners kept 51% of revenue, which made national brands reluctant to enter.
That changed when the Arkansas Racing Commission, which regulates the state's market, approved DraftKings (through Southland Casino) and FanDuel (through Oaklawn) on Feb. 26, 2026. Both launched March 20, replacing the Betly and Oaklawn Sports apps. BetSaracen is also licensed.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Colorado?
| Status | Legal and live |
| Market | Online and retail |
| Launch Date | May 1, 2020 |
| Min. Age | 21 |
| College Rules | College games allowed. College player props prohibited. |
Colorado voters approved sports betting in November 2019 through Proposition DD, and the market has been among the most active in the country, with more than $6 billion wagered annually.
Online sportsbooks must partner with one of the state's casinos, and much of the tax revenue goes to Colorado's water plan. New consumer protections took effect Aug. 12, 2026, including a ban on credit card deposits and a cap of six deposits per 24 hours.
The Colorado Division of Gaming regulates the market, and the Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission licenses operators.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Connecticut?
| Status | Legal and live |
| Market | Online and retail |
| Launch Date | Oct. 19, 2021 |
| Min. Age | 21 |
| College Rules | No bets on Connecticut schools unless they're playing in a tournament. Player props allowed except on Connecticut players. |
Connecticut launched under agreements with the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes and the state lottery.
Three online sportsbooks operate: DraftKings, FanDuel, and Fanatics Sportsbook, which replaced PlaySugarHouse as the Connecticut Lottery's partner in late 2023. With the licenses tied to the tribes and the lottery, there's little room for expansion unless new brands enter the market.
The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection's Gaming Division regulates the market, alongside tribal gaming authorities.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Delaware?
| Status | Legal and live |
| Market | Online (one operator) and retail |
| Launch Date | Retail: June 5, 2018. Online: late Dec. 2023 |
| Min. Age | 21 |
| College Rules | No bets on games involving Delaware schools. |
Delaware was the first state outside Nevada to take a legal single-game bet after PASPA fell, at three racetrack casinos run through the Delaware Lottery, the state's regulator.
Online betting took far longer. The lottery chose Rush Street Interactive in 2023, and BetRivers launched statewide at the end of that year. BetRivers remains the only legal online sportsbook under an exclusive lottery contract. Legislation to open the market to more operators has been proposed, but hasn't become law.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Washington, D.C.?
| Status | Legal and live |
| Market | Online and retail |
| Launch Date | 2020 (with lottery app); additional sportsbooks added in 2024 |
| Min. Age | 18 (but many sportsbooks require 21) |
| College Rules | No bets on DC schools or on college games played in DC. Player props allowed except on DC players. |
DC's market has gone through two distinct phases.
The Sports Wagering Lottery Amendment Act of 2018 became law in 2019, and the DC Lottery launched its own app, GambetDC, in May 2020 under a contract with Intralot. The app was widely criticized by customers, and the no-bid contract drew scrutiny.
In April 2024, FanDuel replaced GambetDC as the district's lottery-backed sportsbook.
Then, in July 2024, the DC Council opened the market to more operators through new license classes. BetMGM and Caesars launched on July 17, DraftKings followed on July 26, and Fanatics Sportsbook went live on Sept. 12, bringing the total to five online sportsbooks.
Retail sportsbooks operate at major venues such as Capital One Arena, Nationals Park, and Audi Field.
The DC Office of Lottery and Gaming oversees the market.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Florida?
| Status | Legal and live |
| Market | Online (one operator) and retail |
| Launch Date | Nov. 7, 2023 |
| Min. Age | 21 |
| College Rules | College team betting allowed. College player props not allowed. |
Florida's market runs entirely through the Seminole Tribe. Gov. Ron DeSantis and the tribe signed a gaming compact in May 2021, running through 2051, that gives the Seminoles exclusive control of sports betting and processes every online wager on servers on tribal land.
The Seminole-operated Hard Rock online sportsbook launched Nov. 1, 2021, but a federal judge ruled on Nov. 22 that the compact violated federal law, and the app shut down Dec. 4. A federal appeals court reversed that ruling in June 2023, and Hard Rock Bet relaunched in November for existing customers before opening to all Florida bettors on Dec. 5, 2023.
The US Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge in June 2024, leaving the compact in place. Hard Rock Bet remains the only legal online sportsbook.
The Florida Gaming Control Commission oversees gaming in the state, while the Seminole Tribe operates the sports betting market under the compact.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Illinois?
| Status | Legal and live |
| Market | Online (one operator) and retail |
| Launch Date | Retail: March 9, 2020. Online: June 2020 |
| Min. Age | 21 |
| College Rules | No bets on Illinois schools. Props on Illinois players prohibited. |
Illinois launched retail betting in March 2020 and online betting in June, and it has consistently been one of the largest markets in the country by handle.
Online account registration originally required an in-person visit, but lawmakers removed that requirement in 2021, giving the online market a major boost and prompting more national operators to enter in 2022.
In 2024, Illinois replaced its flat 15% tax with a sliding scale of 20% to 40%, and on July 1, 2025, it became the first state to add a per-wager tax: sportsbooks pay 25 cents on each of the first 20 million online bets a year and 50 cents on every bet after that.
Since Sept. 1, 2025, many sportsbooks have passed it on to bettors. A bill to repeal the per-wager tax was filed in 2026 but hasn't passed, and Chicago added its own 10.25% tax on sportsbook revenue in January 2026.
The Illinois Gaming Board regulates the market.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Indiana?
| Status | Legal and live |
| Market | Online (one operator) and retail |
| Launch Date | Retail: Sept. 1, 2019. Online: Oct. 2019 |
| Min. Age | 21 |
| College Rules | College games allowed, including Indiana teams. Player props allowed pre-game only; in-play player props prohibited. |
Indiana launched retail betting in September 2019 and online betting the following month, and it has become one of the Midwest's steadier markets, with a mix of national brands and local operators.
State law technically allows dozens of online sportsbook licenses, but only about a dozen are active at any given time. The Indiana Gaming Commission regulates the market.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Iowa?
| Status | Legal and live |
| Market | Online (one operator) and retail |
| Launch Date | Aug. 15, 2019 |
| Min. Age | 21 |
| College Rules | College games allowed. Props on the performance of athletes from Iowa schools prohibited. |
Iowa launched retail and online betting together on Aug. 15, 2019, and it has stayed one of the more competitive markets per capita. Low licensing fees have attracted a long list of sportsbooks, and Iowa draws wagers from neighboring states with slower or more limited markets.
The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission regulates the market.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Kansas?
| Status | Legal and live |
| Market | Online and retail |
| Launch Date | Sept. 1, 2022 |
| Min. Age | 21 |
| College Rules | No restrictions. |
Kansas launched in time for the NFL season on Sept. 1, 2022. It's a lottery-owned market in which casinos operate sportsbooks on the Kansas Lottery's behalf, and state law allows up to 12 online sportsbooks.
The Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission enforces the rules.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Kentucky?
| Status | Legal and live |
| Market | Online and retail |
| Launch Date | Retail: Sept. 7, 2023. Online: Sept. 28, 2023 |
| Min. Age | 21 (raised from 18 in 2026) |
| College Rules | College games allowed. HB 904 (2026) prohibits certain "under" prop bets on Kentucky college athletes. |
Kentucky went from legalization to launch faster than any other state. Lawmakers passed the law in spring 2023, retail betting opened in September, and online betting followed three weeks later.
Each of the state's racetracks can host a retail sportsbook and up to three online partners. The Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation regulates the market.
In April 2026, lawmakers overrode Gov. Andy Beshear's veto of HB 904, which raised the minimum age from 18 to 21 and limited sportsbooks' involvement with prediction markets in the state.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Louisiana?
| Status | Legal and live |
| Market | Online and retail (approved parishes) |
| Launch Date | Retail: Oct. 2021. Online: Jan. 28, 2022 |
| Min. Age | 21 |
| College Rules | College games allowed. College player props prohibited. |
Voters in 55 of the state's 64 parishes approved sports betting in November 2020, so availability depends on where you are. Retail betting launched in October 2021, and online betting followed on Jan. 28, 2022.
State law allows up to 41 online licenses, and Louisiana is one of the few fully online markets in the Southeast. The Louisiana Gaming Control Board regulates the market.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Maine?
| Status | Legal and live |
| Market | Online and retail |
| Launch Date | Nov. 3, 2023 |
| Min. Age | 21 |
| College Rules | No bets on Maine schools, including when they play in tournaments. |
Maine legalized sports betting in 2022 and launched on Nov. 3, 2023. The law gives the state's four federally recognized tribes control over online access, so mobile betting runs through tribal partnerships.
DraftKings and Caesars Sportsbook are the only two online sportsbooks, and the Hollywood Casino Hotel & Raceway and Oxford Casino are authorized for in-person betting.
The Maine Gambling Control Unit regulates the market.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Maryland?
| Status | Legal and live |
| Market | Online and retail |
| Launch Date | Retail: Dec. 2021. Online: Nov. 23, 2022 |
| Min. Age | 21 |
| College Rules | College games allowed. College player props prohibited. |
Maryland voters approved sports betting in November 2020, but a lengthy rulemaking process delayed the online launch until Nov. 23, 2022, nearly a year after retail betting began.
State law allows up to 60 online licenses and 30 retail locations, though about a dozen online sportsbooks are active, with some turnover as brands come and go.
The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency regulates the market.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Massachusetts?
| Status | Legal and live |
| Market | Online and retail |
| Launch Date | Retail: Jan. 31, 2023. Online: March 10, 2023 |
| Min. Age | 21 |
| College Rules | No bets on Massachusetts schools unless they're playing in a multi-team tournament such as March Madness. College player props prohibited. |
Massachusetts passed its law in August 2022, and the Massachusetts Gaming Commission regulates the market. Casinos can host two online partners each, and racetracks one, and the state taxes online betting at 20% and retail betting at 15%.
Since June 1, 2026, sportsbooks must also notify bettors within 48 hours when they limit an account and explain why, the first rule of its kind in the country.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Michigan?
| Status | Legal and live |
| Market | Online and retail |
| Launch Date | Retail: March 2020. Online: Jan. 22, 2021 |
| Min. Age | 21 |
| College Rules | No restrictions. |
Michigan launched retail betting in March 2020 and online betting on Jan. 22, 2021, and it's one of the largest and most competitive online markets in the Midwest. The state also has regulated online casinos, which adds to its overall gaming revenue.
The Michigan Gaming Control Board regulates the market.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Mississippi?
| Status | Legal (retail and on-premises mobile) |
| Market | Retail and mobile on casino premises |
| Launch Date | Aug. 1, 2018 |
| Min. Age | 21 |
| College Rules | Betting on in-state schools allowed. College player props prohibited. |
Mississippi was among the first states to take a legal bet after the 2018 ruling, thanks to a 2017 law that let casinos offer sports betting.
Mobile betting works only while you're physically on a licensed casino's property, so there's no statewide mobile betting from home, and retail sportsbooks at coastal and river casinos still handle most of the action.
The House passed two online betting bills in 2026, including one by a 100-11 vote, but both died in the Senate, where the Gaming Committee chairman has blocked them. The Mississippi Gaming Commission regulates the market.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Missouri?
| Status | Legal (retail and on-premises mobile) |
| Market | Retail and mobile on casino premises |
| Launch Date | Dec. 1, 2025 |
| Min. Age | 21 |
| College Rules | Betting on Missouri teams allowed. Props on players from Missouri schools prohibited. |
Missouri voters narrowly approved Amendment 2 in November 2024, and online and retail betting opened together on Dec. 1, 2025. Most sportsbooks are tethered to a casino or pro sports venue, and DraftKings and Circa Sports hold the state's two untethered online licenses.
The Missouri Gaming Commission regulates the market.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Montana?
| Status | Legal (lottery-run) |
| Market | Retail (mobile only at licensed lottery locations) |
| Launch Date | March 2020 |
| Min. Age | 18 |
| College Rules | In-state schools allowed, including props, at retail locations. |
Montana legalized lottery-run sports betting in 2019 and launched Sports Bet Montana in March 2020. It's the only legal sportsbook, and bets are placed at licensed lottery locations via kiosks or the lottery's app, which only works on-site, so it isn't a true statewide mobile market.
Montana regulates sports betting through the Montana Lottery. The lottery director decides which sports and wager types are available.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Nebraska?
| Status | Legal (retail only) |
| Market | Retail (at racetrack casinos) |
| Launch Date | June 2023 |
| Min. Age | 21 |
| College Rules | No bets on games involving Nebraska teams, and no props on Nebraska teams. Props on athletes under 18 prohibited. |
Nebraska legalized in-person sports betting in 2021, and the first sportsbook opened at WarHorse Lincoln in June 2023, followed by other racetrack casinos. Online betting is not legal, and past legislative attempts to change that failed, so supporters took the question to voters.
On Nov. 3, 2026, voters will decide on two measures that the secretary of state certified: a constitutional amendment and a companion law. If both pass, each racetrack casino could partner with up to two online sportsbooks, and state regulators would write the rules by June 1, 2027.
The Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission regulates sports betting at the state's racetrack casinos.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Nevada?
| Status | Legal and live |
| Market | Online and retail |
| Launch Date | Legal since 1949. Online since 2010 |
| Min. Age | 21 |
| College Rules | No restrictions. |
Nevada has had legal sports betting since 1949 and online betting since 2010, eight years before any other state.
Las Vegas remains the retail sportsbook capital of the country, but newer mobile-first markets have taken root, and New York and New Jersey now routinely outpace Nevada in monthly handle. Mobile accounts require in-person registration at a casino, which sets Nevada apart from other states.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board regulates the market.
Is Sports Betting Legal in New Hampshire?
| Status | Legal and live |
| Market | Online (one operator) and retail |
| Launch Date | Dec. 30, 2019 |
| Min. Age | 18 |
| College Rules | No bets on New Hampshire schools or on college games played in New Hampshire (except multi-site tournaments). Other college props allowed. |
New Hampshire launched with DraftKings as its exclusive online operator on Dec. 30, 2019, under a contract with the New Hampshire Lottery Commission, the state's regulator, that gives the state 51% of mobile revenue. The lottery extended that exclusive deal in February 2026 for two more years, through June 2028.
Voters in five cities (Berlin, Claremont, Laconia, Manchester, and Somersworth) approved retail sportsbooks.
Is Sports Betting Legal in New Jersey?
| Status | Legal and live |
| Market | Online and retail |
| Launch Date | Retail: June 14, 2018. Online: Aug. 2018 |
| Min. Age | 21 |
| College Rules | No bets on New Jersey schools or on college games played in New Jersey (with an exception for some multi-site tournaments). Props allowed except on New Jersey players. |
New Jersey brought the case that ended the federal ban, and its first sportsbooks opened on June 14, 2018, with online betting following that summer.
Operators are tied to Atlantic City casinos and racetracks, and the state remains one of the biggest markets by handle even after New York's launch. The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement regulates the market.
Is Sports Betting Legal in New Mexico?
| Status | Legal (tribal casinos only) |
| Market | Retail (tribal casinos) |
| Launch Date | Oct. 2018 |
| Min. Age | 21 |
| College Rules | No bets on the University of New Mexico or New Mexico State. |
New Mexico has no sports betting law.
Tribal casinos began taking bets in October 2018 by reading sports wagering into their existing gaming compacts, and federal regulators haven't intervened. Betting is available only in person at tribal casinos, with no statewide online option, and there has been little legislative movement toward one.
Tribal gaming agencies, not a state regulator, oversee betting at the casinos.
Is Sports Betting Legal in New York?
| Status | Legal and live |
| Market | Online and retail |
| Launch Date | Retail: July 2019. Online: Jan. 8, 2022 |
| Min. Age | 21 |
| College Rules | No bets on New York schools. College player props prohibited. |
New York approved retail betting in 2013, but the first sportsbook didn't open until July 2019.
Online betting launched on Jan. 8, 2022, and the state quickly became the country's largest market by handle and tax revenue, aided by a 51% tax on online revenue. Nine operators are licensed, and retail betting, limited to upstate commercial and tribal casinos, accounts for a small share of volume.
The New York State Gaming Commission regulates the market.
Is Sports Betting Legal in North Carolina?
| Status | Legal and live |
| Market | Online and retail |
| Launch Date | Retail: March 2021. Online: March 11, 2024 |
| Min. Age | 21 |
| College Rules | No restrictions on in-state teams or college player props. |
North Carolina allowed retail betting at tribal casinos in 2021, and Gov. Roy Cooper signed the online betting law in June 2023. Online betting launched on March 11, 2024, with eight operators, and the lottery commission can license up to 12.
The North Carolina State Lottery Commission regulates the market.
Is Sports Betting Legal in North Dakota?
| Status | Legal (tribal casinos only) |
| Market | Retail (tribal casinos) |
| Launch Date | 2021 |
| Min. Age | 21 |
| College Rules | No statewide rule. Each tribal sportsbook sets its own. |
North Dakota has no statewide sports betting law. Tribes offer in-person betting at their casinos under their gaming compacts, which also allow mobile betting while you're on tribal land.
Efforts to open a statewide online market haven't passed, and the Legislature rejected expansion again in 2025.
Tribal gaming agencies, not a state regulator, oversee betting at the casinos.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Ohio?
| Status | Legal and live |
| Market | Online and retail |
| Launch Date | Jan. 1, 2023 |
| Min. Age | 21 |
| College Rules | College games allowed, including Ohio teams. College player props prohibited. |
Gov. Mike DeWine signed Ohio's law in December 2021, and retail and online betting launched together on Jan. 1, 2023, one of the cleanest big-bang launches of any state. Many operators have come and gone since, but the major national brands anchor a market that quickly reached the top tier by monthly handle.
The Ohio Casino Control Commission regulates the market and has moved to tighten rules on promotions.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Oregon?
| Status | Legal and live |
| Market | Online (one operator) and tribal retail |
| Launch Date | 2019 |
| Min. Age | 21 |
| College Rules | College betting prohibited on the lottery platform. Tribal sportsbooks may have different rules. |
Oregon used a pre-PASPA parlay provision to restart sports betting through its lottery, the state's regulatory body, without passing a new law. The lottery launched its Scoreboard app in 2019, then switched to DraftKings as its exclusive online operator in January 2022.
A handful of tribal casinos offer their own retail sportsbooks, but DraftKings through the Oregon Lottery is the only statewide mobile option.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Pennsylvania?
| Status | Legal and live |
| Market | Online and retail |
| Launch Date | Retail: Nov. 2018. Online: 2019 |
| Min. Age | 21 |
| College Rules | College games allowed, including Pennsylvania teams. College player props prohibited. |
Pennsylvania passed its law in October 2017, before the Supreme Court ruling, which put it in a position to take its first legal bets at a casino sportsbook in November 2018.
Online betting followed in 2019, and the state is now one of the top five markets by handle and tax revenue. The 36% tax on online revenue and high license fees limit the number of entrants and keep margins tight.
Pennsylvania also has regulated online casinos, which generate even more revenue than sports betting. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board regulates the market.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Rhode Island?
| Status | Legal and live |
| Market | Online (one operator) and retail |
| Launch Date | Retail: Nov. 2018. Online: Sept. 4, 2019 |
| Min. Age | 18 |
| College Rules | No bets on Rhode Island schools or on college games played in Rhode Island. Player props follow the same rules. |
Rhode Island runs sports betting through the Rhode Island Lottery, which also regulates the market. Online betting launched Sept. 4, 2019, through Sportsbook Rhode Island, which IGT operates, and the state keeps 51% of online revenue, with the rest split between the online vendor and Bally's retail operation.
On May 8, 2026, the lottery tentatively awarded Bally's a second online license, ending the single-operator market. Bally Bet can't launch before Nov. 26, 2026, and the license is conditional on meeting pre-launch requirements.
Is Sports Betting Legal in South Dakota?
| Status | Legal (retail only) |
| Market | Retail (Deadwood casinos) |
| Launch Date | Sept. 9, 2021 |
| Min. Age | 21 |
| College Rules | No bets on South Dakota teams and no college player props. |
South Dakota voters approved sports betting in a 2020 constitutional amendment, and bets began at Deadwood casinos in September 2021. Some tribal casinos have also launched retail sportsbooks.
Bettors must be on casino property to wager, and statewide online betting has gone nowhere because the amendment limits betting to Deadwood and tribal lands; expanding it would require another vote.
The South Dakota Commission on Gaming regulates the market.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Tennessee?
| Status | Legal and live |
| Market | Online only |
| Launch Date | Nov. 1, 2020 |
| Min. Age | 21 |
| College Rules | College games allowed, including in-state schools. College player props and in-play team props prohibited. |
Tennessee was the first state to launch with online betting only, going live Nov. 1, 2020, with no casinos or retail sportsbooks. The rules have changed significantly since.
Oversight moved from the Tennessee Education Lottery to the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council in 2022, which now licenses and regulates operators, and in 2023, the state replaced a controversial mandatory 10% hold requirement with a 1.85% tax on handle, the only handle-based sports betting tax in the country.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Vermont?
| Status | Legal and live |
| Market | Online only |
| Launch Date | Jan. 11, 2024 |
| Min. Age | 21 |
| College Rules | No bets on Vermont schools unless they're playing in a tournament. College player props not allowed. |
Vermont launched online-only betting on Jan. 11, 2024, with three licensed operators: DraftKings, FanDuel, and Fanatics Sportsbook.
There are no retail sportsbooks, and with a small population and state-controlled licensing through the Vermont Department of Liquor and Lottery, the state is a modest addition to the online-only group alongside Tennessee and Wyoming.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Virginia?
| Status | Legal and live |
| Market | Online and retail |
| Launch Date | Jan. 2021 |
| Min. Age | 21 |
| College Rules | No bets on Virginia schools. College player props prohibited. |
Virginia launched online betting in January 2021 under the Virginia Lottery's oversight, with retail sportsbooks opening later at the state's new casinos, including Rivers Casino Portsmouth in January 2023 and Caesars Virginia in Danville in 2024.
Attempts to loosen the ban on betting on Virginia college teams have repeatedly failed, but, in April 2026, Virginia enacted a ban on using credit cards to fund betting accounts.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Washington State?
| Status | Legal (tribal casinos only) |
| Market | Retail (tribal casinos); mobile on tribal land only |
| Launch Date | Sept. 2021 |
| Min. Age | 21 |
| College Rules | No bets or player props on Washington schools or events sponsored by Washington schools. |
Washington legalized sports betting in March 2020, but only at tribal casinos, and the first tribal sportsbooks opened in 2021. Some tribes also offer geofenced apps to their properties, but there's no statewide online betting open to the general public, and that tribal-only model is likely to stay unless lawmakers and tribes agree on a broader system.
More than 15 casinos offer in-person betting. The Washington State Gambling Commission and tribal gaming agencies oversee it.
Is Sports Betting Legal in West Virginia?
| Status | Legal and live |
| Market | Online and retail |
| Launch Date | Aug. 2018 |
| Min. Age | 21 |
| College Rules | No restrictions. |
West Virginia legalized sports betting in March 2018, ahead of the Supreme Court ruling, and took its first bets in August 2018. Online betting followed in 2019.
Major national brands operate alongside retail sportsbooks at the state's casinos. West Virginia also has online casinos, so it punches above its weight in gaming revenue for its population.
The West Virginia Lottery regulates the market.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Wisconsin?
| Status | Retail legal; online authorized, but not live |
| Market | Retail (tribal casinos); online not yet live |
| Launch Date | Retail: Nov. 2021. Online: authorized April 9, 2026, but no launch date. |
| Min. Age | 21 |
| College Rules | Tribal sportsbooks don't allow bets on in-state teams. Online rules to be set. |
Retail sportsbooks have operated at tribal casinos since the first compacts took effect in 2021, when the Oneida Nation opened the first in November.
On April 9, 2026, Gov. Tony Evers signed a law authorizing statewide mobile betting run exclusively by the state's 11 tribes. National sportsbooks, including members of the Sports Betting Alliance, opposed the tribal-only structure and cannot operate independently in that market.
You can't bet on an app yet: each tribe has to amend its gaming compact with the state, and those talks are ongoing, with no launch date set. Expect a staggered rollout rather than one launch day.
State oversight sits with the Wisconsin Department of Administration's Division of Gaming, alongside tribal gaming commissions.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Wyoming?
| Status | Legal and live |
| Market | Online only |
| Launch Date | Sept. 1, 2021 |
| Min. Age | 18 (some sportsbooks require 21) |
| College Rules | No restrictions. |
Wyoming's market is online-only, authorized by HB 133 in April 2021 and launched Sept. 1, 2021. There are no brick-and-mortar sportsbooks, and five online sportsbooks are licensed.
It's one of the few states with an 18+ minimum age, though some sportsbooks require 21. The Wyoming Gaming Commission regulates the market.
Where Sports Betting Is Not Legal in 2026
Eleven states have no legal sports betting of any kind: Alabama, Alaska, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Minnesota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah.
Here's where each stands and when the next realistic chance comes:
- Alabama: SB 257, a 2026 constitutional amendment that would have created a lottery, casinos, and sports betting, did not advance. Any change would need voter approval.
- Alaska: HB 145, introduced in March 2025, has not advanced. There's no timeline for legalization.
- California: Voters rejected both sports betting measures in November 2022. Tribal leaders are preparing an initiative for the 2028 ballot, but none has been filed.
- Georgia: Efforts to legalize through a constitutional amendment or through the state lottery failed again in 2026. New bills are expected in 2027.
- Hawaii: One of two states, with Utah, that has no legal gambling of any kind. A 2025 bill got further than past attempts but did not become law.
- Idaho: No sports betting bill has been introduced since the 2018 ruling.
- Minnesota: Legislators have tried for years, but a tribal-led bill didn't get a floor vote in 2026. The fight is between tribes seeking exclusive mobile rights and racetrack and charitable gaming interests. Expect another attempt in 2027.
- Oklahoma: Bills that would have given tribes exclusive control over sports betting stalled in the Senate in 2025 and again in 2026.
- South Carolina: A Senate committee held the state's first hearing on S.444 in February 2026 but did not vote it out. The next chance is the 2027 session.
- Texas: The Legislature meets only in odd-numbered years, so 2027 is the next opportunity. A constitutional amendment would need a two-thirds vote in both chambers and then voter approval.
- Utah: The state constitution prohibits all forms of gambling, so legalization would require a constitutional amendment. It's the clearest long-term holdout.
→ Looking for something where sportsbooks aren't legal? Daily fantasy sports, social sportsbooks, and prediction market apps are available in some of these states, but the rules differ by state and are changing quickly, with several states challenging or restricting these products. Before you sign up for anything, check our guides to see what's allowed where you live.
Responsible Gambling
Sports betting should be entertainment, and licensed sportsbooks in every legal state must offer tools such as deposit limits, time-outs, and self-exclusion.
If you're ever concerned about your betting or someone else's, free and confidential help is available around the clock.
- National Problem Gambling Helpline: call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738). The National Council on Problem Gambling adopted this number in January 2026 after losing access to 1-800-GAMBLER, though the older national line, 1-800-522-4700, remains active.
- Online chat and resources: ncpgambling.org
- Your state's helpline: Many states run their own, and we reference them on each state's sportsbook page.
You must be 21 or older to bet in most states (18 in a handful), and betting is available only in states where it's legal.
If you're ready to bet, your next step is finding sportsbooks licensed in your state.
Find Licensed Sportsbooks in Your State
Now that you know where you can bet, the next step is choosing a sportsbook that's licensed where you live. Pick your state from the sections above to see its legal sportsbooks, or compare the best sportsbooks and betting sites in one place.
If you're in a state that's still waiting on its first sportsbooks, bookmark this page: we update it whenever a state launches sports betting, legalizes sports betting, or changes its rules.
Sports Betting States FAQs
Where is sports betting legal in the US?
Sports betting is legal in some form in 39 states plus Washington, DC. In 31 of those states and DC, licensed online sportsbooks are live statewide. The rest are limited to retail, tribal, or on-premises betting, or, in Wisconsin's case, authorized for online betting but not yet launched.
How many states have legal online sports betting?
As of October 2026, 31 states and DC have statewide online sports betting. Wisconsin authorized online betting in April 2026, but hasn't launched yet, and a few other states allow mobile betting only on tribal land, casino grounds, or at lottery retailers.
Which states don't allow sports betting?
Alabama, Alaska, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Minnesota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah have no legal sports betting.
What is the minimum age to bet on sports?
It's 21 in most states. The minimum is 18 in the District of Columbia, Montana, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Wyoming, though some sportsbooks in those places require customers to be 21 anyway. Kentucky raised its age from 18 to 21 in 2026. Check the age requirement for both your state and the specific sportsbook before you register.
Can I bet on sports if I'm visiting a state where it's legal?
Yes. If you're physically within a state with legal online sports betting, you can use a sportsbook licensed there, no matter where you live. Sportsbooks use geolocation to confirm your location, so you can't place bets while you're in a state where it isn't legal.
When will online sports betting launch in Wisconsin?
There's no date yet. Wisconsin legalized online betting on April 9, 2026, but each of the 11 tribes that will operate it has to renegotiate its gaming compact with the state. We'll update this page when a launch is announced.
Which state could legalize sports betting next?
Nebraska is next to watch. Voters will decide on online sports betting on Nov. 3, 2026. Wisconsin is closest to launching. After that, Georgia, Minnesota, South Carolina, Texas, and Oklahoma are the most active 2027 candidates, and California tribes are aiming for the 2028 ballot.
When did sports betting become legal in the US?
The Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on May 14, 2018. New Jersey launched the first legal online sportsbook outside Nevada that summer, and dozens of states have followed.
References
