Legal Sports Betting in the United States 2020
A lot in the United States is changing after the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) by the Supreme Court. Use this page as a state-by-state overview to understand the development of the new sports betting industry in the US.
There was a federal ban on sports betting in the United States from 1992 to 2018 under the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). The 1992 law granted immunity to four states that had previously allowed sports betting inside their borders. Those states are Nevada, Delaware, Oregon, and Montana. The state of New Jersey challenged the legality of PASPA. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in late 2017. On May 14, SCOTUS issued a decision reversing the ban, striking down PASPA in full by a vote of 6-3.
Thanks to the decision, the following states can now offer legal sports betting, once they create and approve regulations, that is: New Jersey – Launched June 14, Mississippi – Launched Aug. 1, West Virginia – Launched Aug. 30, Pennsylvania (established temporary regulations in June 2018), and Rhode Island – Launched Sept. 2019. Delaware was actually the first to the expanded market launching June 5, 2018. The state used its existing sports betting law on the books, established single-game wagering regulations, and began taking bets on June 5, 2018. New Jersey signed its law into effect on June 11. On June 14, New Jersey officially started accepting wagers. Mississippi was next to launch, taking bets effective Aug. 1.
Online Sports Betting Sites in the United States
Legal US online sports betting is now available and fully regulated in a number of other states. This means that for citizens inside those states there is the possibility to wager on sports events. In most cases that person does not need to be a citizen of that state–or even reside there–but just be physically within its borders at the time.
Betting sites and online bookmakers have been able to sign up new customers using promotions and bonuses. They also offer markets on all the big events. The sports betting sites look to annual peaks, like the start of the NFL season, to attract new players.
The number of legal US online sports betting sites will only grow as more states introduce the necessary regulations. But you should keep a close eye on the legality in each state–especially where you live.
Featured States
New Jersey
As mentioned, some states were very quick to pass the new bills covering online sports betting. Some of these are well known for a long tradition of sports betting and it was no surprise that somewhere like New Jersey was first in line.
With globally renowned attractions like Atlantic City, there was obviously a desire for legal US online sports betting in the Garden State. Now there are a number of international sportsbooks available online as well as their physical versions at the casinos on the Boardwalk.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania was able to offer online sports betting just in time for the new football season in 2019. The Eagles may not be going all the way to the Super Bowl this year but the people of Pennsylvania will be able to place their bets on who does.
Indiana
Another state that was interested in jumping on the sports betting bandwagon early on is Indiana. There was the potential for sports fans to place a bet in person by the beginning of the NFL season, but that changed in October when the first online sportsbooks were launched.
Check out the status of legal online sports betting in your state:
Alaska
Sports betting, as well as horse racing, is prohibited and unlikely to be regulated.
Alabama
Sports betting is projected to become legal in 2022. For now, players may bet on greyhound and horse racing at several tracks in the state.
Arkansas
Horse and dog racing is permitted online but general sports wagering is projected to be regulated by 2022.
Arizona
Sports betting is projected to be regulated in 2021. For now, players may bet on greyhound and horse racing at several tracks and other licensed locations in the state.
California
Online horse race betting is permitted but general sports wagering isn’t projected to become regulated until 2022.
Colorado
Sports betting is predicted to be regulated in 2021. For now, players can enjoy live and off-track betting on horse racing events.
Connecticut
Online horse race wagering is permitted but sports betting is predicted to be regulated in 2019.
Delaware
One can bet on sports in Delware since 2018.
Florida
Sports betting is likely to be regulated in 2021.
Georgia
Sports betting is likely to become regulated after 2022. The state also prohibits betting of any kind on horse or greyhound racing.
Hawaii
Sports wagering is not expected to ever be regulated.
Idaho
Wagering on horses can be done today, however, sports betting is projected to be regulated after 2022.
Illinois
Wagering on sports is projected to become legal in 2019 but horse race betting is allowed today.
Indiana
Sports betting is regulated in the state of Indiana.
Iowa
Sports betting is regulated in the state of Iowa.
Kansas
It is projected by 2021, one should be able to make sports wagers.
Kentucky
Horse racing bets can be currently made and, by 2022, sports wagering is expected to be legal here.
Louisiana
Horse racing online is available now, though wagering on sports is supposed to be regulated after 2022.
Maine
Lawmakers are projected to pass sports betting legislation after 2022. Online horse race betting is permitted currently, however.
Maryland
Sports betting is projected to start in 2021. Betting on horses is already allowed.
Massachusetts
A bill was proposed in Jan. 2019 to legalize online sports betting and making legal bets on sports is likely to start in 2021. However, one can bet on horses online today.
Michigan
Online betting on sports was legalized in December 2019. Betting on horses has already been allowed.
Minnesota
Wagering on sports is projected to be legal here in 2021. Although horse race betting is allowed currently.
Mississippi
Regulated sports betting already exists since 2018. More online sports betting legislation is expected soon.
Missouri
By 2022, betting on sports is expected to be regulated in the state of Missouri.
Montana
Wagering on horse races is allowed now. After 2022, sports wagering is likely to become legal.
Nebraska
Betting on sports is most likely to be here after 2022.
Nevada
Physical sportsbooks have been here for a long time. The transition to online sports betting is underway.
New Hampshire
Betting on sports is expected after 2022 in this state. Participate in horse race betting now.
New Jersey
An active market of online sportsbooks exists in the state of New Jersey. Find out the specific rules and regulations in addition to where you can make bets on odds online.
New Mexico
Betting on sports is likely to come here after 2022.
New York
New laws could allow limited sports betting by 2020, most likely. Betting on horses is currently regulated.
North Carolina
Betting on sports is likely to be permitted after 2022 here.
North Dakota
Wagering on sports legally is expected here in 2022 but one can bet on horses now.
Ohio
Place bets on horses now but, and by 2021, making bets on sports is expected to be regulated.
Oklahoma
Sports betting is likely to be addressed by lawmakers by 2022.
Oregon
In 2019 sports betting is expected to be regulated, though horse race betting is permitted now.
Pennsylvania
As of May 2019, online sports betting is legal in Pennsylvania.
Rhode Island
Since 2018, sports wagers have been taken here.
South Carolina
This state is unlikely to ever regulate sports betting.
South Dakota
Sports betting should be addressed by regulators in 2022. Horse racing is already available.
Tennessee
Online sports betting is legal in the state of Tennessee.
Texas
Legal sports betting is likely to start after 2022.
Utah
This state is expected to keep its laws against sports betting.
Vermont
It’s projected that sports wagers will be taken after 2022 here.
Washington
General sports wagering is expected after 2022, although, one can already bet on horses.
West Virginia
Sports betting is permitted here at land-based casinos and via a sports betting app.
Wisconsin
By 2021, sports betting is projected to be addressed by lawmakers.
Wyoming
Though horse race betting is permitted currently, full sports betting is not expected to occur here.
Washington DC
Sports betting is regulated in the Nation’s capital.
