Sports Betting by State: Where Is Sports Betting Legal?

Nevada has legally been a sports bettor’s dream for nearly a century! Unfortunately, sports betting isn’t legal in every state, and some have certain rules about how you can participate. Luckily it’s becoming more widely accepted. See where your state stands with sports betting here, from which states have legalized sports betting for online and retail betting to which states are still on the fence – or may never legalize sports betting any time in the near future.

 

Current Legal Sports Betting by State

 

Arizona

Online: Yes | Retail: Yes

Arizona became the largest state in the southwest to legalize sports betting on April 15, 2021. Legislation allows for 20 operators in the state, with both online and retail betting opportunities that launched September 9, 2021.

 

Arkansas

Online: No | Retail: Yes

Arkansas voters legalized sports betting at casinos via a 2018 ballot initiative. The first bets were placed on July 1, 2019, at Oaklawn Racing Casino.

 

Colorado

Online: Yes | Retail: Yes

Sports betting was legalized by Colorado voters on Nov. 6, 2019. Both online and retail sports betting launched on May 1, 2020.

 

Delaware

Online: No | Retail: Yes

Delaware was the first state outside Nevada to offer legal sports betting. Retail sports betting launched in the state on June 5th, 2018 under Title 29 of the Delaware Code.

 

Illinois

Online: Yes | Retail: Yes

The state legislature passed the Sports Wagering Act, signed into law by Governor J.B Pritzker on June 28, 2019. The first legal online wagers were placed in Illinois in June 2020.

 

 

Indiana

Online: Yes | Retail: Yes

HB 1015 was signed into law on May 8, 2019, authorizing sports betting at riverboat casinos and other establishments throughout the state. Both retail and online sports betting are now available as of August 30, 2019.

 

Iowa

Online: Yes | Retail: Yes

Iowa legalized sports betting on May 13, 2019, when Governor Reynolds signed an Iowa sports betting and fantasy sports bill into law. Both retail and online sports betting are available as of August 15, 2019.

 

Michigan

Online: Yes | Retail: Yes

On December 20, 2019, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the Lawful Sports Betting Act, legalizing sports betting in the state. Betting launched March 11, 2020.

 

Mississippi

Online: No | Retail: Yes

Sports betting officially started in Mississippi on August 1, 2018, after the state repealed its sports betting ban in 2017. Retail betting is available at many casinos, but the state is not licensing online operators at this time.

 

Montana

Online: On-Premises Only | Retail: Yes

“Gov. Steve Bullock signed a bill Friday [May 3rd, 2019] for the Montana State Lottery to oversee wagering on sports through kiosks and mobile devices,” per AP News. Betting launched March 9, 2020.

 

 

Nevada

Online: Yes | Retail: Yes

Sports betting has been legal in Nevada since 1931. Both online and retail betting are legal, and some of the most impressive sportsbooks in the world can be found right in Las Vegas.

 

New Hampshire

Online: Yes | Retail: Yes

HB480 was passed in July 2019, legalizing sports betting in New Hampshire. Both retail and online betting are allowed as of December 20, 2019.

 

New Jersey

Online: Yes | Retail: Yes

New Jersey’s sports betting bill was signed on June 11th, 2018, officially allowing venues to start accepting wagers, which they did just three days later. The law also allows for extensive online licensing.

 

New Mexico

Online: No | Retail: Yes

The Santa Ana Star Casino became the first to offer sports betting in New Mexico on October 16, 2018. The state does not license online sportsbooks at this time.

 

New York

Online: Pending | Retail: Yes

A constitutional amendment legalized sports betting in New York in 2013, though the first sportsbooks began accepting wagers in June 2019. Only retail sportsbooks can be licensed to operate, but that will change in 2022.

 

 

North Carolina

Online: No | Retail: Yes

Governor Roy Cooper signed Bill S 154 into law on July 26, 2019, legalizing sports betting at tribal casinos located in the western part of the state.

 

Oregon

Online: Yes | Retail: Yes

Sports betting in Oregon started on Tuesday, August, 27th, at Chinook Winds Casino in Lincoln City, reports the Oregonian.

 

Pennsylvania

Online: Yes | Retail: Yes

Both retail and online sports betting are legal and licensed in Pennsylvania as of November 15, 2018. High taxes and licensing fees have resulted in some online operators deciding not to enter the fledgling licensed online market.

 

Rhode Island

Online: Yes | Retail: Yes

Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo signed the state’s sports betting bill into law in 2018. A separate bill authorizing remote registration became law in 2020.

 

South Dakota

Online: No | Retail: Yes

Voters approved Amendment B in the November 2020 US election, paving the way for legal sports betting within the city limits of Deadwood, SD, and at existing tribal casinos within the state. Betting launched on September 9, 2021.

 

 

Tennessee

Online: Yes | Retail: No

Tennessee passed the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act on June 4, 2019. The state’s unique online-only sports betting market launched on November 1, 2020.

 

Virginia

Online: Yes | Retail: Yes

A fairly comprehensive Virginia sports betting bill was signed into law in April 2020. Online sports betting launched in the state in the first weeks of 2021 on January 21.

 

West Virginia

Online: Yes | Retail: Yes

Sports betting started in West Virginia on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018, at the Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, per ESPN.

 

Washington, DC

Online: Yes | Retail: Yes

Sports betting was legalized in the nation’s Capitol in December 2018, with both retail and online operations managed by the DC Lottery live by summer.

 

Wyoming

Online: Yes | Retail: Yes

Governor Mark Gordon signed HB 133 into law on April 5th, 2021, legalizing online sports betting. At least five sportsbooks are expected. Additionally, the Northern Arapaho Tribe will have sports betting at its casinos.

 

 

States Awaiting Legal Sports Betting Legislation

 

Legal Sports Betting Coming Soon

• Connecticut
• Florida
• Louisiana
• Maryland
• Nebraska
• Washington
• Wisconsin
  

 

Sports Betting Legislation in Consideration

• California
• Georgia
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Maine
• Missouri
• Massachusetts
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• South Carolina
• Texas
• Vermont
  

 

Sports Betting Legislation Not in Consideration

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Hawai’i
• Idaho
• Minnesota
• North Dakota
• Utah
  

 

How to Bet on Sports Legally in Nevada

 

Luckily for us, sports betting has been legal in Nevada for nearly a century! Circa Sports is the ultimate sportsbook in Las Vegas for all sports betting. Stop by Circa Resort, the D, or one of the other Circa Sports locations in Las Vegas to place your bets in person. Can’t make it into the sportsbook? Download the Circa Sports app on iOS or Android to have your bookie right in your pocket.

Whether in person or on the app, join Circa Sports for your premier place to bet on sports in Vegas.