Legality of Sports Betting in the United States: Identifying the States that Permit Wagering (First Installment)
In a significant shift, 38 U.S. states plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico have now legalized sports betting in some form, with 30 states offering online sports betting via apps or websites [1]. This transformation follows the Supreme Court's 2018 decision in Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association that struck down the federal ban known as the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), enabling states to legalize and regulate sports betting individually [1][4].
States with Legal Sports Betting (Including Online Options)
A total of 38 states have legalized sports betting. Among these, 30 states provide online/mobile betting platforms along with retail options [1]. Notable states that have embraced this change include:
- Delaware: Before 2018, Delaware was one of the few states that could offer NFL sports betting due to a PASPA exemption. After PASPA was repealed, Delaware expanded its offerings to many other sports and became the first state after New Jersey to legalize single-game sports betting [2].
- Indiana: Indiana became the first state in the Midwest to legalize sports betting in May 2019 [3].
- Illinois: The first legal bets were placed in Illinois in March 2020, following a 2019 law legalizing sports betting [3].
- Iowa: Sports betting became legal in Iowa in August 2019 [3].
- Massachusetts: Both in-person betting at casinos or betting offices, and online betting, are now legal in Massachusetts [3].
- Maryland: Maryland offers one of the largest sports betting markets in the US, with over 40 betting offices and more than 60 online betting providers accepting sports bets [3].
- Louisiana: Sports betting has been permitted in Louisiana since the end of 2021 [3].
- Arkansas: Sports betting was initially only allowed at one of the state's three casinos, but online betting became legal in 2022 [3].
- Kansas: Sports betting has been legal in Kansas since the end of 2022 [3].
- Connecticut: Online sports betting was legalized in Connecticut in 2021 [3].
- Colorado: In Colorado, sports betting revenues are used to fund water projects in the state [3].
Notable Exceptions and Future Developments
While the majority of states have moved towards legalizing sports betting, some large states remain exceptions. For instance, California and Texas continue to see active legislative efforts to legalize, with California potentially seeing a tribal-controlled online sports betting market in 2025 [5].
Other states, such as Ohio, New York, and Connecticut, have already legalized online sports betting, with Ohio regulating via the Ohio Casino Control Commission and allowing betting on college sports with restrictions [2].
Meanwhile, states like Florida and Georgia are still in discussions regarding sports betting [3]. A bill passed the House in Texas in 2023, but it stalled in the Senate and cannot be reconsidered until 2025 [1][3].
The Impact of Murphy v. NCAA (2018)
The Supreme Court's 2018 ruling ended the federal ban and allowed states to decide on legalization, leading to the rapid growth of legal sports betting markets across many states [4]. The landscape is dynamic, with ongoing bills in several states aiming for future legalization [1][3][5].
As the United States continues to navigate this evolving landscape, the future of sports betting looks promising, with more states expected to join the ranks of those offering legal sports betting options.
References
- Legal Sports Report
- Ohio Casino Control Commission
- American Gaming Association
- Murphy v. NCAA
- California Nations Indian Gaming Association
What states also offer sports-betting in addition to Delaware, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Maryland, Louisiana, Arkansas, Kansas, Connecticut, and Colorado?
What states are working on legislative efforts to legalize sports-betting, similar to California and Texas?
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