Bet on the Breeders’ Cup
Bet on the Breeders' Cup
The Breeders' Cup is just around the corner! This big horse racing event takes place at Churchill Downs every fall. This yea...
Legal sports betting in the United States
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.
STATE-BY-STATE LEGAL SPORT BETTING GUIDE
Green state enacted sports betting laws that went into effect after PASPA was overturned
Blue states have sports betting laws grandfathered in under PASPA
Orange states introduced sports betting legislation in 2017 or 2018
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) Rhode Island Additionally, Delaware was actually the first to the expanded market. 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.
Alaska
Sports betting is prohibited and unlikely to be regulated.
Alabama
Sports betting is projected to become legal in 2022.
Arkansas
Horse 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.
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.
Connecticut
Online horse race wagering is permitted but sports betting is predicted to be regulated in 2019.
Delaware
One can bet on sports here since 2018.
Florida
Sports betting is likely to be regulated in 2021.
Georgia
Sports betting is likely to become regulated after 2022.
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 expected to be regulated here in 2021. Betting on horses can be done now.
Iowa
Place horse racing bets now. In 2021, sports wagering is expected to be regulated.
Kansas
By 2021, one should be able to make sports wagers.
Kentucky
Horse racing bets can be currently made but 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 rules after 2022. Online horse race betting is permitted currently, however.
Maryland
One can legally make sports bets in 2021, most likely. Betting on horses is already allowed.
Massachusetts
Making legal bets on sports is likely to start in 2021. However, one can bet on horses online today.
Michigan
In 2021, wagering on sports will likley be drafted and legal.
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.
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 sports books exists. 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, 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
By early 2019, betting on sports will be fully regulated.
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
Sports betting is likely to remain prohibited here.
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 the online market is soon to open up.
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
One should be able to make legal sports bets in this city by early 2019.
