Online sports betting in the U.S. is available in several states since the federal ban on sports betting was lifted in 2018. There are 26 states that have legalized sports betting and over a dozen of them have given the green light to online sportsbooks and apps.
Each state has different rules on how these apps operate, who can operate them, and how many companies can operate them.
Which States Have Legal Online Sports Betting?
Currently, a total of 15 states have legal online sports betting. These states span across the U.S. and Florida, Texas, New York, and California are still waiting on legislative efforts to be able to launch their own online betting websites.
● Online betting ● In-person only ● Bills passed but not live yet
As you can see in the above map, states that have legalized online sports betting today:
- Colorado
- Illinois (remote registration, subject to change)
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Nevada (In-person registration)
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- West Virginia
It’s worth noting that Washington D.C. has also legalized online sports betting within the district and their lottery run platform is now live. Michigan and Virginia are still waiting to launch online sportsbooks and Tennessee went live in November 2020
South Dakota voters legalized sports betting on their November 2020 ballot. Maryland and Louisiana voters followed suit but the specifics surrounding the sports betting regulations will need to be written during the 2021 legislative session.
There have been many other states that have considered legalizing online sports betting in the past but for some reason weren’t able to get it done the first time. These states will likely bring up the topic again.
States likely to legalize online sports betting in the future
The states that we are keeping a close eye on include:
- Kansas – A bill has been approved in February 2021 and before the adjourns in May we are hoping to see the bill signed off by the Senate
- Missouri – Several sports wagering bills have been introduced in either the MO House or MO Senate and many believe the Show-Me State to be next in line
- Georgia – Sports wagering legislation is being discussed
- Massachusetts – 14 new bills introduced in the legislative session; three casinos will get sportsbooks skins
- Ohio – No active proposal but neighboring states have betting; more to come
- Connecticut – Clear local interest and Gov. Ned Lamont seems onboard. It’s a developing territory but a clear front-runner in the sports betting race of 2021
Best U.S. Online Sportsbooks
The best U.S. online sportsbooks vary from state to state, have differing odds, and different overall user experience. But, one thing they do have in common is that they are legal and safe to use in the states that they are regulated in.
Most popular online sportsbooks in the U.S.:
- DraftKings (Legal in N.J., PA, IN, IA, N.H., CO, IL, W.V.)
- FanDuel (Legal in N.J., PA, IN, IA., CO, IL, W.V.)
- BetRivers (Legal In N.J., PA, IN, CO, IL, IA,)
- BetMGM (Legal In N.J., W.V., CO, NV, IN)
- William Hill (Legal in N.J., NV, IA, R.I.)
- PointsBet (Legal In N.J., IA, IN )
- BetAmerica (Legal in N.J., IN, PA)
- FOX Bet (Legal in PA, CO, N.J.)
- Caesars Sportsbook (Legal in N.J., PA, IN)
- Bet365 (Legal in N.J.)
The finer details of these sportsbooks can be read in their reviews. There are many other sportsbooks that have entered the U.S. online sports betting market, but the ones listed here feature all the options that sports bettors love.
What Do You Need To Sign Up To An Online Sportsbook?
The process you’ll need to sign up for an online sportsbook in the U.S. depends on the state you’re in. For states like Iowa and Nevada, you’ll need to register for an online sportsbook at the site’s partnered casino sportsbook. For all others, you can sign up from home.
One thing that remains the same with all states is that you’ll need to have proof of I.D. in order to comply with the state’s legal betting age.
You’ll also need to verify your location since you have to be located inside certain states in order to use their online sportsbook.
Once you give the sportsbook your email and basic personal information you’ll need to choose a deposit method. Once you get funds into your account you can start betting!
How To Get A Promo Bonus From A U.S. Sports Betting Site
Getting a bonus from an online sportsbook often requires more steps to take than the advertisement would lead you to believe, which is why it’s crucial you read the terms and conditions before trying to claim a bonus.
Often times you’ll be rewarded with a risk-free bet or a deposit match bonus for the first bet you make or the first deposit you make into your account.
Please note that the bonus amount of money you get is not redeemable immediately.
Instead, you’ll have to bet through the full amount at least once before you can withdraw those funds. This is a way to prevent people from making an account just to take out their free money and then terminate their account.
This leaves the possibility of you losing your bonus on other bets, but the fact that you have the opportunity to bet with any free funds at all is worth looking into.
How To Deposit And Withdraw From An Online Sportsbook In The U.S.
The deposit and withdrawal options will depend on the sportsbook you use and the state you live in. But there are common ones you’ll see across the board.
The most popular deposit options for U.S. sportsbooks are:
- Credit/Debit card
- E-check/ACH
- Players Card (Provided by specific Sportsbook)
- PayNearMe (in-person cash deposits at select 7 Eleven locations)
- Cash at the casino cage
- E-Wallet (Skrill or PayPal)
Every one of these options puts funds into your account almost immediately. The minimum and maximum amounts you can deposit also depend on the sportsbook but the lowest deposit you can make on average is $5. The maximums can change if you contact the sportsbook.
When it comes to withdrawals the options are a bit more limited and the payout times will take longer to hit your bank account.
The most common withdrawal options for U.S. betting sites are:
- Check
- ACH
- Players Card
- Cash at the casino cage
- E-Wallet (Skrill or Paypal)
The fastest of these options is often the ACH as it goes straight to your bank account. The slowest would be getting a check as this option can often take up to 72 hours or longer to hit your mailbox.
How do you bet on sports? What lines and odds do you focus on?
Our free sports betting guide teaches you how odds work and what types of bets you can make online. We also give betting tips each week so make sure to subscribe and get our latest betting advice.
What are the most popular sports to bet on?
According to recent research, Basketball is the most popular among first-time bettors, followed by football, hockey, and baseball:
Betting on games in the NFL
One of the great features of the NFL is the sheer number of betting opportunities that it creates. Popular bets include the moneyline bets where you predict the outcome of the game, NFL totals where you bet the final score will go over or under a predetermined amount.
Other popular NFL bets include prop bets, such as how many passing yards or touchdowns a quarterback will make; these are extremely popular during the Super Bowl where online bookmakers almost always have several special offers.
Parlay bets are also common in NFL betting, as are futures, the latter revolving around something that will happen in the future, like the winner of a particular conference, a team reaching the playoffs, and the team who wins the Super Bowl.
Sports betting in the National Hockey League
Betting on NHL gives you ample opportunities to place wagers thanks to the massive number of matches taking place during the season. You can make NHL prop bets based on teams, individual games, and season outcomes.
Other NHL bets that are popular are the futures market, parlay betting, and live betting where you can place bets while the action unfolds in front of you.
NHL betting on individual matches differs from other American sports in there are two types. There is the moneyline where you simply predict the outcome of the game and the Puck Line, also known as the Canadian line, where the favored team is normally given a spread of 1.5 goals.
Sports wagering in the NBA
NBA lends itself to betting and there are dozens of different bets to make during a typical game or season.
The most popular NBA bets are the points spread bets where the favored team starts with a points deficit that they have to win by in order for your bet to payout. These points spread bets even up the teams and generally sees both teams start at the same price.
Moneyline betting is a straight bet on the outcome of the game where the favored team will have a shorter price than the less fancied teams.
Also, look for NBA Total bets where you bet on the over/under of a predetermined overall points tally in the game, prop bets, parlay bets and futures bets such as who the NBA MVP will be, the winner of each conference and the overall NBA Finals champions.
Placing bets on MLB games
If you thought the NBA played a lot of games during a season, wait until you check out MLB betting because those guys manage to fit in 162 regular-season games between the first Sunday in April and the first Sunday in October! Imagine how much MLB betting you can do!
Ten teams progress to the postseason playoffs once the regular season is completed and four rounds are played culminating in the World Series a best-of-seven series between the pennant winners in each league.
MLB Run Line betting is popular with sports bettors because it gives the favored team a run deficit it must make up in order for the bet to pay out, evening the game significantly. You can also bet on the MLB moneyline which is a straight bet on who will win the game, parlay betting where you choose several teams to win, prop betting, and futures betting.
Overview of legal sports betting by state
Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned PASPA, close to half the country has some form of regulated sports betting and the list keeps growing – experts believe that more states will follow suit in 2021.
Gambling legislations differ from state to state, however. Here is a snapshot of betting options by state
- 12 states offer both in-person and online betting
- 5 states only have sportsbooks inside casinos
- 3 states you can only bet online or on your mobile phone.
States with both mobile and in-person betting
Colorado
Colorado- When did sports betting in Colorado become legal? November 2019
- Is online sports betting available? Yes
- Is land-based sports betting available? Yes
Sports wagering in Colorado became legal on November 6, 2019. Lawmakers passed a Colorado sports betting bill with ease thanks to the fact that the 10% tax on sportsbook revenue would be used to fund the Colorado water plan.
The state estimates that it will generate $29 million a year by allowing casinos in the towns of Black Hawk, Cripple Creek, and Central City to offer the activity. Any of those casinos can open a land-based sportsbook in Colorado or offer a statewide mobile sports wagering app.
Now that mobile sports betting apps in Colorado have launched, bettors above the age of 21 can register as long as they are physically located within state lines.
DraftKings and FanDuel were some of the first to become online operators in Colorado through their deal with Twin River Worldwide Holdings. There are now over a dozen different options to choose from.
More on Colorado sports betting.
Indiana
Indiana- When did sports betting in Indiana become legal? May of 2019
- Is online sports betting available? Yes
- Is land-based sports betting available? Yes
Home of the Pacers, Indiana sports betting has been legal since May 2019. The first retail sportsbooks opened in September 2019 and the first online sports sites launched the next month.
There are 15 casino sportsbooks in the state as of now, but only eight mobile sports betting apps in Indiana. Those eight apps are DraftKings Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook, BetRivers Sportsbook, BetAmerica Sportsbook, PointsBet, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbooks, and theScore.
Over 21’s are allowed to bet on both live and mobile sportsbooks with single and multiway wagers on a variety of sports. There are certain in-play restrictions for those betting as Hoosier Park, however.
Additionally, customers are not able to speculate on eSports and amateur competitions where the participants are under the age of 18.
USBettingReport.com partner with these sportsbooks in Indiana:
More in Indiana sports betting.
Illinois
Illinois- When did sports betting in Illinois become legal? June 2019
- Is online sports betting available? Yes
- Is land-based sports betting available? Yes
Illinois voted in favor of sports betting in June 2019 and while the industry is still finding its feet, the betting bill introduced contains provisions for offline and online betting.
We legalized sports betting and expanded gaming, leading the Midwest in a new industry and setting us up to generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue for our state. pic.twitter.com/zQJ1cqC1YV
— Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) June 2, 2019
There are several online sportsbooks available today. BetRivers was the first to launch since they are tethered to Rivers Casino Des Plaines.
Rivers Casino Des Plaines was the first casino sportsbook to launch but six more have opened since.
The Illinois Gaming Commission continues to accept sportsbook applications and they are vetting through other potential operators now. DraftKings has launched, and so has FanDuel and PointsBet by partnering with retail casinos.
Look out for more Illinois sportsbooks to open throughout 2021.
More on Illinois sports betting.
Iowa
Iowa- When did sports betting in Iowa become legal? May 2019
- Is online sports betting available? Yes
- Is land-based sports betting available? Yes
Sports fans and gamblers alike have multiple ways in which they can bet on sports in Iowa.
When lawmakers and Governor Kim Reynolds passed IA SF 617 in May of 2019, it opened the door for both retail sportsbooks to be opened in the state’s casinos and for mobile sports wagering apps to launch in Iowa.
As of right now, every casino in the state has been approved by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission to offer a land-based sportsbook. Besides Casino Queen Marquette, each of these casinos currently accepts sports wagers.
In order to use sports betting apps in Iowa, you used to have to register in-person at the casino. This rule remained in place until January 1, 2021. But, now Iowa sports bettors can register for any mobile sportsbook from anywhere.
Online betting website in Iowa:
Those who are 21 and up can put money down on just about every sport there is. Betting on collegiate games is also allowed, however, prop bets on college athletes that are based in Iowa is off-limits.
More on Iowa sports betting.
Michigan
Michigan- When did sports betting in Michigan become legal? December 2019
- Is online sports betting available? Yes
- Is land-based sports betting available? Yes
Sports betting in Michigan was legalized on December 20, 2019, when sports wagering was included in a package of gambling expansion bills.
The three commercial casinos in Detroit are operating retail sportsbooks and signed a deal with an online sportsbook provider. The same goes for the 23 tribal casinos in the state. The difference comes in the tax rate they have to pay.
Betting on in-state collegiate teams is allowed and remote registration is also allowed for online sportsbooks in Michigan.
The first batch of online sportsbooks launched in late January 2021, however, more online sportsbooks are still entering the market.
More on Michigan sports betting.
Mississippi
Mississippi- When did sports betting in Mississippi become legal? August 2018
- Is online sports betting available? Yes
- Is land-based sports betting available? Yes
The old riverboat gambling traditions of Mississippi are alive and well. Currently, 23 of 28 licensed casinos have sportsbooks.
The Pearl River Resort was the first tribal casino to launch a sportsbook in 2018. Unfortunately, the new gaming laws do not allow online gambling outside of casino premises. Mississippi sportsbooks do have live betting and mobile sports wagering apps available within their establishment.
The Mississippi gaming laws do allow betting on Ole Miss, Mississippi State, and other college teams based in the state. Betting on college teams and professional teams outside the state is also permitted.
More on Mississippi sports betting.
New Jersey
New Jersey- When did sports betting in New Jersey become legal? June 2018
- Is online sports betting available? Yes
- Is land-based sports betting available? Yes
New Jersey was the second state to launch sports betting on June 14, 2018. Monmouth Park actually took the first legal sports bet in New Jersey when Governor Phil Murphy wagered $20 on Germany to win the soccer World Cup and $20 on the New Jersey Devils to win the Stanley Cup in 2019.
Online betting is available and, unlike Nevada, in-person registration is not required. So as long as you are located within the borders of the state you can sign up online and bet from online.
More on New Jersey sports betting.
Nevada
Nevada- When did sports betting in Nevada become legal? 1949
- Is online sports betting available? Yes
- Is land-based sports betting available? Yes
Online sports betting is available but sports bettors must register for an account at a casino. The first online sports betting app launched in 2010 and today there are 8 online sportsbooks.
Not only is sports betting allowed in the many casinos in Las Vegas but customers can also bet on virtual sports and esports.
More on Nevada sports betting.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire- When did sports betting in New Hampshire become legal? July 2019
- Is online sports betting available? Yes
- Is land-based sports betting available? Yes
New Hampshire sportsbooks have been legal since July 16, 2019. By signing Bill HB480 into law, Gov. Sununu gave the New Hampshire Lottery control over the local betting industry.
Two companies have been awarded sports betting licenses: DraftKings and Intralot (which is the current operator of New Hampshire Lottery games).
DraftKings launched the state’s first mobile sports wagering app in December 2019. They also launched the first retail sportsbook in New Hampshire in August of 2020 at The Brook in Seabrook.
A bill has been introduced in 2021 that would expand the number of retail sportsbooks and would give them the opportunity of accepting live wagers. The likelihood of this bill passing is still unknown.
More on New Hampshire sports betting.
Pennsylvania
- When did sports betting in Pennsylvania become legal? November 2018
- Is online sports betting available? Yes
- Is land-based sports betting available? Yes
The Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course was the first sportsbook to open in Pennsylvania in November 2018. The Sugarhouse and Rivers casinos joined with their live sports betting offering in December that same year.
Online sports betting in Pennsylvania is live and accessible throughout the state. The first online sportsbook to launch was PlaySugarHouse and they did so in June of 2019.
There are now nine sports betting apps in PA for residents to choose from:
- PlaySugarHouse provided by SugarHouse Casino
- BetRivers provided by Rivers Sportsbook Pittsburgh
- Parx Sportsbook provided by Parx Casino
- FanDuel Sportsbook offered by Valley Forge Casino
- Fox Bet provided by Mount Airy Casino
- Unibet through a deal with Mohegan Sun Pocono
- DraftKings through a partnership with Penn National Gaming
- Caesars Sportsbook through Harrah’s Philadelphia.
- Barstool Sportsbook through a partnership with Penn National Gaming.
More on Pennsylvania sports betting.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island- When did sports betting in Rhode Island become legal? November 2018
- Is online sports betting available? Yes
- Is land-based sports betting available? Yes
There are two casino sportsbooks in Rhode Island: The Twin River Casino and the Tiverton Casino Hotel.
All legal wagering is operated by the state lottery which launched a sportsbook app on September 4, 2019.
Players in the state can sign up and bet remotely although they need to be able to show proof of ID when making an online account.
More on Rhode Island sports betting.
West Virginia
West Virginia- When did sports betting in West Virginia become legal? September 2018
- Is online sports betting available? Yes
- Is land-based sports betting available? Yes
Five casinos have sportsbook in West Virginia:
- Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races
- The Greenbrier
- Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort
- Mardi Gras Casino & Resort
- Wheeling Island Hote-Casino Racetrack
Online and mobile sports betting is legal and live. There are five sports betting apps available in the state: William Hill, Betly, FanDuel Sportsbook, DraftKings Sportsbook, and BetMGM.
Residents may register to use these apps from wherever, so long as they are within state lines. West Virginia gambling is regulated by the state lottery.
More on West Virginia sports betting.
States with in-person sportsbooks at local casinos
Arkansas
Arkansas- When did sports betting in Arkansas become legal? November 2018
- Is online sports betting available? No
- Is land-based sports betting available? Yes
Legal Arkansas betting became a reality in 2018 when the Arkansas Racing Commission was put in charge of the industry.
Oaklawn Jockey Club and the Southland Racing Corporation were granted sports betting licenses. These operators now have the ability to run legal sportsbooks inside their existing facilities or via adjacent properties. Both of those casinos have opened their sportsbook to the public.
Alongside the two established operators, Arkansas’ sports betting law allows for two additional license holders. The new casinos must be built within Pope County and Jefferson County. The Quapaw Nation built and operates the Jefferson county gaming facility. The Pope County license is still up for grabs.
Mobile sportsbooks in Arkansas were not initially legalized. However, the Arkansas Racing Commission is considering updating its rules, a change that would have to be approved by a legislative committee.
More on Arkansas sports betting.
Delaware
Delaware- When did sports betting in Delaware become legal? June 2018
- Is online sports betting available? No
- Is land-based sports betting available? Yes
Delaware was the first state to introduce regulated sports betting outside of Nevada on June 5, 2018.
Three horsetrack/casinos, known as racinos are licensed to accept sports bets:
- Delaware Park
- Dover Downs
- Harrington Raceway
The Delaware Division of Gaming Enforcement has not yet authorized online sports wagering. The state authorized online gambling in 2013, so there is no legal bar for launching online sports betting. It appears that the regulator is watching to see how in-person sports betting works out before giving the racinos authorization to launch online sports betting.
Online poker is provided through a state-mandated monopoly and 888 has that contract. That puts 888 in a great position to win any contract for online sports betting. 888 is already operating online sports betting in New Jersey.
More on Delaware sports betting.
Montana
Montana- When did sports betting in Montana become legal? May of 2019
- Is online sports betting available? No
- Is land-based sports betting available? Yes
Sports betting has been legal since 2019 in sportsbooks operated by the state lottery. There is a chance that private companies will be allowed to offer legal sports betting in the future.
Restaurants, bars, and taverns can offer sports wagering kiosks and licensed establishments can offer mobile betting in Montana as betting is conducted on-premises.
Sports betting officially launched in March 2020 when hundreds of sports betting kiosks were distributed to license holders. The Montana Lottery is currently accepting applications from businesses hoping to open sportsbooks inside their establishments.
More on Montana sports betting.
New Mexico
New Mexico- When did sports betting in New Mexico become legal? October 2018
- Is online sports betting available? No
- Is land-based sports betting available? Yes
New Mexico has four casinos with active sportsbooks:
- The Santa Ana Star Casino and Hotel which opened on October 16, 2018
- The Hilton Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino in Santa Fe which opened just before the 2019 Super Bowl
- The Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino, whose online betting platform is powered by William Hill, opened in July of 2019
- Isleta Resort & Casino which was the last tribal casino to offer sports betting in August of 2019.
New Mexico is unique in that the State has not passed new laws authorizing sports betting. The state compact between New Mexico and the tribal groups permits the tribal members to offer sports betting even without the need for new state laws.
More on New Mexico sports betting.
New York
New York- When did sports betting in New York become legal? Legalized in 2013, rules approved in June 2019
- Is online sports betting available? No
- Is land-based sports betting available? Yes
Sports betting was legal in New York in 2013 but didn’t start accepting bets until July 2019. Today, all four commercial casinos approved in 2013 have sportsbooks.
Three tribes have exercised their ability to open a sportsbook in New York. The first tribe was the Oneida Nation which now offer sports betting at Turning Stone, Point Place, and the Yellow Brick Road casino. The Seneca Tribe brought sportsbooks at Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino in Buffalo, Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino, and Niagara Resort & Casino which opened their sports wagering area in December 2019.
Mobile sports betting is not yet approved but New Yorkers are hopeful this will change in 2021 following new betting bills introduced in 2020.
More on New York sports betting.
States with online and mobile betting only
Oregon
Oregon- When did sports betting in Oregon become legal? First sportsbook launched in August of 2019
- Is online sports betting available? Yes
- Is land-based sports betting available? Not yet
Oregon was one of four states that were grandfathered into PASPA and was able to bring about sports betting without the need to pass new legislation. The Oregon Lottery provides legal sports betting under pre-existing laws.
The tribal gaming compact allows tribal casinos to offer sportsbooks and any other gaming activities that the lottery offers. The first casino to take advantage of this freedom was the Chinook Winds Casino Resort.
The only other tribal casino to also introduce a sportsbook in Oregon is The Mill Casino located in North Bend.
A mobile sports betting app called Scoreboard launched during the Fall of 2019 and is available statewide to those who are 18 years old or older.
At this time, tribal casinos DO NOT offer mobile apps but they do offer collegiate sports betting. To counter that, the state lottery offers mobile sports betting but does not offer collegiate betting odds.
More on Oregon sports betting.
Tennessee
Tennessee- When did sports betting in Tennessee become legal? May 2019
- Is online sports betting available? Yes
- Is land-based sports betting available? No
Following a vote in May 2019, online sportsbooks got the green light in Tennessee. What’s interesting about Tennessee’s sports betting bill is that it only has provisions for online operators: There are no offline venues where locals can bet on sports.
Licensed operators will be able to offer single, multiway, and in-play betting, giving bettors access to live bets as well as pre-event wagers within the state.
Online sportsbooks went live in November 2020, when DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM and Tennessee Action 24/7 started taking their first bets.
More on Tennessee sports betting.
Virginia
Virginia- When did sports betting in Virginia become legal? April 29, 2020.
- Is online sports betting available? Yes
- Is land-based sports betting available? Not yet
Sports betting in Virginia came by way of changes to the state’s gambling industry in 2019 when a bill that would put the opening of the state’s first-ever casinos on the 2020 November ballot was signed. Those casinos would have the ability to offer sportsbooks.
The catch was that the bill had to be passed by the state legislature again in 2020. Fortunately for sports bettors in Virginia, that happened by way of House Bill 4 passing.
These other two bills set in place the rules and regulations for retail sportsbooks and for online sports betting apps in Virginia to follow. Those new rules allow for NASCAR tracks and professional sports stadiums to host sportsbooks as well as open the field for 12 online sportsbooks.
These Virginia sports betting laws went into effect July 1, 2020, and the Virginia Lottery board had until September 15, 2020, to finalize rules and regulations for the industry. The first online sportsbooks launched before Super Bowl LV.
More on Virginia sports betting.
States where sports betting is pending
Louisiana
Louisiana- When did sports betting in Louisiana become legal? November of 2020
- Is online sports betting available? Undetermined
- Is land-based sports betting available? Undetermined
Sports betting in Louisiana came by way of a voter referendum. While many had eyes on the 2020 presidential election, voters in Louisiana got the chance to approve or deny legal sports betting inside their individual parish. A resounding 55-64 parishes chose to approve the activity.
However, the rules for Louisiana sportsbooks and sports bettors have yet to be determined.
The only aspect that has been figured out is that the Louisiana Gaming Control Board will be in charge of overseeing sports betting operations in the state. The locations of land-based sportsbooks and the legality of online sports betting sites will have to be figured out by lawmakers in the 2021 legislative session.
Past sports betting bills have indicated that the state’s casinos and racetracks will be in line to open sportsbooks if given the chance.
More on Louisiana sports betting.
Maryland
Maryland- When did sports betting in Maryland become legal? November of 2020
- Is online sports betting available? TBD
- Is land-based sports betting available? TBD
Maryland sports betting was legalized during the wave of gambling expansion that happened throughout the U.S. during the 2020 elections.
Before sports betting was put on the ballot, a sports betting bill in Maryland sought to award the state’s racetracks and casinos the ability to have sportsbooks as well as get skins for online sportsbooks to enter the market.
However, those provisions were contested in the final days of the 2020 session due to the fact that it left minorities unable to join and compete in the industry. Rather than debate it, the bill turned into a referendum-style bill.
Lawmakers will now have to write and pass the rules for the industry in the 2021 legislative session. They could choose to go a similar route to what they tried to pass in 2020, or they could go another route completely.
More on Maryland sports betting.
North Carolina
North Carolina- When did sports betting in North Carolina become legal? July 2019
- Is online sports betting available? No
- Is land-based sports betting available? No
Sports betting in North Carolina was legalized in July of 2019, though, in a very limited fashion. With a new bill, tribal casinos could broaden their gambling offering to include sportsbooks.
Tribal casinos are not allowed to offer sports betting apps outside of their establishments, however. Another bill will have to be signed into law in order for that to happen. Neither casino has opened a sportsbook yet but they are aiming to launch before March Madness in 2021.
The tribes were negotiating their tribal gaming compact with the state which caused a bit of a holdup. In the meantime, renovations are being made for the first North Carolina sportsbooks.
More on North Carolina sports betting.
Oklahoma
- When did sports betting in Oklahoma become legal? April 2020 is when two tribes in the state were granted the ability to offer sports betting.
- Is online sports betting available? No
- Is land-based sports betting available? No
Sports betting in Oklahoma is a bit of a trickery territory, given the nature between the state and it’s tribal casino owners.
In April 2020, the Otoe-Missouria and Comanche Nation each struck a deal with the Governor giving them the ability to offer sports betting at their land-based casinos. The compacts underwent a 45-day review by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The Bureau did not reject the new compacts, though the state’s supreme court sided with the tribes.
The court found that Governor Stitt did not have the authority to sign these compacts, dooming Oklahoma sports betting before it could even get started.
South Dakota
South Dakota- When did sports betting in South Dakota become legal? November 2020
- Is online sports betting available? No
- Is land-based sports betting available? No
Sports betting in South Dakota became legal when Amendment B was passed in 2020, allowing casinos in the traditional gambling town of Deadwood to open sportsbooks.
But, by law, that new rule also allows tribal sportsbooks across the state to also open sportsbooks. There should be a spot to bet on sports on every side of the state if all the casinos choose to venture into sports betting.
What Amendment B failed to mention was if there was going to be any future provisions for online and mobile sports betting.
Rules for online sports betting- what sports you can and can’t bet on, for example – will have to be approved by the state legislature during the 2021 session. So far only one bill has been introduced and it would prohibit online sports betting in South Dakota. But, whether or not it passes is still up for debate.
More on South Dakota sports betting.
Washington
Washington- When did sports betting in Washington become legal? March 2020
- Is online sports betting available? No
- Is land-based sports betting available? No
Sports betting in Washington became legal at a time where almost the entire sports industry was suspended indefinitely. A bill titled WA ESHB 2638 was introduced in January 2020 and the information gained from previous hearings led legislators to write it in such a way that it only allowed the tribal casinos to operate sportsbooks in Washington.
The legislative session in 2020 was supposed to be short because it is an election year. In order to get the bill passed, it had to be attached with emergency status. This pushed the bill through the legislature and garnered a signature from Governor Jay Inslee in March of 2020. However, this doesn’t mean there are active sportsbooks yet.
Certain sports are still suspended, COVID-19 is still not allowing tribal casinos from opening, and plenty of work still has to be done by regulators and the casinos themselves. Look for Washington sports betting venues to officially open up later on in 2021.
More on Washington sports betting.
More states to legalize betting in 2021
We are going to see each state progress in a different way because local lawmakers decide on what type of betting will be available to their residents.
As Justice Alito puts it when delivering the court’s opinion “Americans have never been of one mind about gambling” and this is as true today as it has ever been.
California and possibly another 20 states should follow in 2021 or later. The states that have introduced a bill to legalize sports betting in 2021 are:
- Kentucky
- Missouri
- Washington
- Florida
- California
- Virginia
- Massachusetts
- Alabama
- Georgia
- Connecticut
- Minnesota
Covid-19 affected the legislative sessions for some of these states in 2020 and eliminated the possibility for legislation in 2020. Florida, Georgia, Missouri, and Kentucky all fell victim to this, but are trying again in 2021.
Washington D.C. also legalized sports betting in December of 2018. The District is currently reviewing sports applications submitted by potential operators.
The nation’s capital launched its first legal retail sportsbooks in August of 2020 inside Capital One Arena. The District’s mobile app provided by the lottery has already launched but has drawn early criticism. More companies will join the market in 2021 including BetMGM.