Where is sports betting legal in the US? New York Post
Kentucky’s law allows an open, competitive market with no restrictions on college wagering, a legal age of 18, no requirement to use official league data, and a 14.25% tax rate. Six online sportsbooks operate in Kansas, one of the smaller pools among fully competitive states. Iowa carries the lowest sports betting tax rate in the country at 6.75%, which is part of why operators run relatively generous promotions there. Betting on sports online has been legal in Iowa since May 2019, with the market launching in August that year. There is no sports betting in Idaho, and even DFS is off limits.
Understanding those promos, and knowing where and how to claim them, is an important part of betting on sports in the US. But beyond that, non-regulated sportsbooks do not need to provide the same consumer protections that a regulated site would. Fanatics launched its online sportsbook in August of 2023, taking over the license for PointsBet in many states, and joining new state launches after that. It’s also the only online sportsbook available in Florida. One of the two most popular sportsbooks in the US, DraftKings is available in 26 states and Washington, DC.
- West Virginia was among the first states to regulate sports betting following the overturning of PASPA.
- Our team combines industry research with firsthand experience using online sportsbooks.
- Retail and online Florida sports betting are legal.
- The implications of the decision are unclear, but the decision has not stopped a growing number of states from taking up sports betting legislation.
- The 2011 opinion paved the way for states to legalize online gambling sites for the first time in American history.
Retail sportsbooks include Belterra Park, Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley, JACK Cleveland Casino and Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. Michigan sports bettors can make bets on in-state college teams as well. FanDuel online sportsbook has teamed up with Boyd Gaming and BetMGM online sportsbook was able to join with Diamond Jo Casino. DFS sites are also legal in Indiana for major sports leagues such as the NFL, NBA, MLB and the PGA Tour.
For more on that, make sure to read our guide on how to use AI for sports betting. In more recent years, there’s also been plenty of talk about the role of artificial intelligence within sports betting. College sports betting are the source of plenty of differences between states. Nevada, for example, requires in-person registration for sports betting.
Top US sportsbooks 2026
Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Legalized sports betting launched in June 2023 High school sports betting is prohibited nationwide.
Gov. Henry McMaster’s opposition to gambling expansion remains the main obstacle, and near-term legalization is unlikely. Online betting launched on September 4, 2019, and handle increased once legislators ended the in-person registration requirement. All betting on college games and college player props is prohibited statewide, which is one of the strictest college restrictions in the country. At the start of 2022, Oregon switched from that app to DraftKings as its sole sportsbook.
Alternatively, you bet the under if you feel that the teams won’t reach that combined total. To win a bet on Team B, the team must either win outright or lose by 3 points or less. The state’s constitution requires gambling activity to be managed by the Native American tribes and the bill still must pass the Senate. Despite the slowdown in new markets, 2025 was another one for the record books in terms of the amount of money Americans gambled on sporting events. “We were zero for zero last year,” says Brendan Bussmann, a managing partner of B Global, a local consulting firm focused on gaming.
For example, never to bet on prohibited favorites’ moneylines because the value proposition is very low, or how to formulate low-risk parlays that increase value without sacrificing risk. We will talk about all of the major markets, such as moneylines, spread, and points totals, as well as parlays, futures, teasers, and other exotic markets. Gaming commissions regulate DFS in the states in which they legally operate, and they are available from a variety of operators. Other sports such as MMA, Boxing, and Tennis might be a little less popular, yet are still super relevant and are always avaliable at the top sportbooks across the country.
AlaskaOnline sports betting is not yet legal in Alaska.ArizonaOnline sports betting is live and legal in Arizona. The decision to legalize and regulate sports betting now resides with each individual U.S. state. Whether you are a sports betting rookie, or are a pro looking to improve your online betting experience, read our sports betting reviews and start betting the smart way! No, mobile sports betting is not available in every state. The answer to this question will depend on a few factors, including the legality of sports betting in the state and the availability of sports betting options. The legality of betting sites in America varies from state to state.
Despite being opposed to gambling, Gov. Bill Lee let theTennessee sports betting bill slide into law without his signature. Handle dropped for a second consecutive month to $83.5 million, but a whopping 14.9% hold resulted in a $6.2 million tax windfall, the highest figure for a single month in Oregon legal sports betting history. The law legalized sports betting ontribal lands, with the Eastern Band of Cherokee as the sole eligible tribeinitially. January 2025 saw New York sports betting sites rack up a record $2.49 billion in wagers, resulting in $248 million in gross revenue and a tax haul of $149.1 million.
You can also find plenty of casinos here, including Live! However, the Aloha State rejected the proposal to legalize offline gambling in 2019 to project its family-friendly nature. Hawaii is one of only two states without any form of legal offline gambling.
List of All US Sportsbooks – Inactive Sportsbooks
Your state’s stance on horse racing can be found in our review of states and their betting markets. Other states turn a blind eye to the “grey market” industry but will not interfere if you run into an issue with a rogue sportsbook. Just because a state has a gambling market does not mean that they don’t have restrictions on online gambling. This means that, depending on the state you’re in, you can now frequent regulated and offshore sportsbooks. ACH transfers – Another very safe way of sending money to and from sportsbooks, and although they also charge a fee, it is often lower than credit card companies.
Sports betting has become the fastest-growing part of the U.S. gambling market. With PASPA repealed, states gained direct authority to regulate sports betting. PASPA’s repeal marked the start of the modern sports betting boom. Since then, dozens of states have legalized sports wagering, both IRL and online. For decades, it restricted sports betting to land-based venues only. The Wire Act targeted organized crime and interstate sports betting.
Welcome bonuses are a standard offer at most online books, and is basically a thank them for favoring their company over another. The Act does not address or target players in any way, nor does it prohibit US players from enjoying online gambling options. The state was sued by the major sports leagues and the law was shut down by the federal government. Even the 4 exempted states could not introduce any new type of betting that wasn’t present at the time of PASPA’s enactment. All other states had a year to pass legislation that introduced regulated betting, but none did so. Now that state-regulated sports gambling is no longer prohibited by the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, the application of the Wire Act changed significantly.
Only place bets that you can afford to lose, and do not consider gambling as a way of earning money. In some states, gaming tribes are fighting against the legalization, others can’t agree on tax rates, and a few have government officials who are adamantly against all gambling. Meanwhile, commercial sportsbooks made over $15.9m in revenue in 2025. In addition, even though not featured in the table below, greyhound race betting is still also legal in over 30 states. However, betting on high school, college, or non-sport events is still illegal in some states.
Nevada is the original sports betting state, but the Silver State hasn’t suffered from sports betting expansion. BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel, and Caesars all operate a New York sports betting license The Empire State boasts nine online sportsbooks, including some of the biggest names in the industry.
It is unlikely that either state will legalize state-regulated sportsbooks any time soon. State-approved sportsbooks don’t offer prop lines on politics, entertainment, and novelty sports. Super Bowl LVII reportedly generated approximately $16 billion in wagers across all sports betting channels. This was until New Jersey fought in a historic Supreme Court case to authorize state run sports betting in 2018 and won. Since 2018, the US Government made a landmark decision to empower states to regulate sports betting, opening up new possibilities for economic growth and individual choice.
Players should have access to the best online betting sites and a secure, fair environment and governments should have the opportunity to benefit from the resulting tax revenue. For readers in states where it is not yet legal to bet online, remain patient and avoid unregulated offshore gambling sites. Since then, eight US states have passed laws to authorize online casinos and poker sites. Legal horse racing betting sites and ADWs partner with hundreds of tracks to deliver live video simulcasting, wagering and data to fans across the country. PASPA included exemptions for state sports betting laws that were already in place at the time it took effect. Use our guide to find the best betting bonuses, current promo codes, and learn how specific sports betting signup offers work, including rollover requirements and important terms and conditions to watch out for.
Online channels are growing fastest, with iGaming revenue climbing more than twenty-two percent year-to-date and sportsbooks continuing to expand. And a handful still prohibit all gambling entirely, standing apart in a nation where betting has become mainstream. It depends entirely on the online casino you are visiting and its offerings. Online casinos offer all sorts of entertainment, from traditional table and card games to slot machines. Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) are, like horse race betting, legal in some states and illegal in others.
BetLucky.com was the first online sports betting site in the state, but it shut down in March of 2019. The Virginia Lottery controls the legal sports betting in the state, and it is legal to bet on professional and college sports. Delaware Park Casino, Dover Downs and Harrington Raceway & Casino all had legal sportsbooks to go along with horse racing and casino games. As the only New England state that does not have legal sports betting, Vermont is slowly changing with the times. Rhode Island was one of the first states to legalize retail sports betting since the US Supreme Court ruled in favor of the states.
Iowa has been launched in the online sports betting space for quite some time and offers some great variety to bettors. Indiana has had legal online sports betting for quite some time, with an outstanding array of operators available in the state. As we mentioned earlier, many states are enamored by the prospect of adding a legal sports betting market. As more states create legal sports betting markets, the handle, revenue, and profit margins all increase. Others may have online sports betting but completely restrict online casino games, whereas in other states they typically go hand-in-hand. It is likely that more sports betting laws will come into effect as the market continues to hit unprecedented heights, and more states come under growing pressure to legalize the industry.
At first, registration at an online sportsbook could only be done at a retail betting account. Indiana sportsbooks offer both professional and college sports games, with pre-game and live in-game bets. As another Deep South www.pokernewsdaily.com/sportsbooks/ conservative state, Georgia sportsbooks remain illegal both retail and online.
College games are open for wagering, but college player props are prohibited. Gov. Janet Mills signed LD 585 into law in May 2022, and all four of Maine’s federally recognized tribes can acquire a license. Retail launched in October 2021 and mobile at the end of January 2022. The state also enacted a 14.25% excise tax on prediction market contracts, which the industry is challenging in federal court. Kentucky has taken the hardest line in the country on prediction markets. In April 2026, Iowa became the first legislative chamber in the country to advance a bill that would license and tax prediction markets rather than ban them.
Since taking over ESPN BET’s licenses, theScore Bet has established itself as one of the best sportsbooks in the US. Sports betting in the US is not universal, as legal betting can vary wildly from state to state. Please consult the sportsbook website directly to view the most up-to-date terms and conditions regarding the bonus offers outlined on this page. One of the most popular and esteemed gambling sites in the UK & Ireland, this household name offers some of the largest odds selections in the industry. 888sport offers tons of betting options for new and experienced bettors alike.
Online poker is only available in six states, despite being arguably the most popular form of gambling in America. For most American players, Texas Holdem poker online is only available offshore, as are other popular poker games like Omaha and Omaha Hi-Lo. Virtual sports are RNG simulations that pit generic teams against one another. The ones listed here are all operating legally within the industry and they are – for all intents and purposes – the only game in town. What’s legal in one region may be illegal in another, and this lack of consistency often leaves American gamblers in the dark.
While this is a matter of opinion, the staff here at Sportsbooks Online have searched far and wide to determine which sports betting site will provide you with the best experience. Wagr was a unique Tennessee sportsbook focused on peer-to-peer betting and a social element. Fubo Sportsbook was a sports betting operation from the digital streaming cable service fuboTV. Once an up-and-comer with a solid sports betting app, MaximBet abruptly closed its doors in November 2022. After going live in several states, they decided to punt on sports betting and fully re-focus on horse racing.
Everyone who enjoys legal sports betting should be grateful to the state of New Jersey. Some states only allow mobile sports bets to be placed on casino premises (or another licensed gaming facility like a tavern). However, if you live near the border of your state it is possible to cross into another state that does have legal sports betting, place a wager, and return home.