Since the infamous New Jersey Decision on sports betting every state in the US has at least considered legalizing sports betting and the complementary online component. Some have succeeded in doing so while others have made progress while others have been subject to deep-seated political opposition. Here I will explore the current status of each state in relation to sports betting legalization. Itās reasonable to expect online casino in Canada to work in conjunction with the US state casinos to broaden the market, although this will likely take some time to implement.
As of June 20, 2022 there are 32 states in the US that either have or are currently engage in sports betting at some level. The breakdown is as follows:
- 9 States allow in-person sports-books (kiosk)
- 1 State has only physical sports-books now, online pending
- 17 States have full mobile betting
- 4 States have limited mobile betting options
- 1 State has stopped their sports betting
Arizona
Full mobile betting with multiple options
Arizona passed its sports betting bill in April 2021. This allows for online wagering with some of the nationās first in-stadium sports-books.
The first online sports-books went live Sept.
Arkansas
Full mobile betting with multiple options to come
On Feb. 22, 2022, the Arkansas finalized rules to bring sports betting online, expanding it beyond in-person activity at three casinos.
The online sports-book went live March 5th.
Arkansas allows eight online sports-books, but they must partner with one of the stateās three casinos.
Colorado
Full mobile betting with multiple options
Colorado took its first legal online and retail wagers in May 2020, six-months after voters narrowly approved sports betting during the November election.
Online sports-books must partner one of the Coloradoās 33 casinos to operate legally in the state, which has left the door open for even more apps to come.
Law makers have started tightening some loopholes low levels of tax revenue.
Connecticut
Full mobile betting with multiple options
Connecticut Government struck a deal with the native tribes in May 2021, to run online sports betting.
They may open a total of 15, under state law.
Delaware
In-person sports-books only
Delaware became the first state outside Nevada to accept a legal single-game sports bet on June 5, 2018
Delawareās lottery-run sports betting market prohibits online betting
Florida
Halted, unlikely to resume in coming months
Illinois
Full mobile betting with multiple options
Illinois launched in-person betting on March 9, 2020,
Indiana
Full mobile betting with multiple options
Indiana went live with online sports betting Oct. 3, 2019, just a month after its first in-person bets.
Indianaās law allows for over 40 online sports-books, though only 13 currently operate in the state.
Iowa
Full mobile betting with multiple options
Iowa started accepting bets on Aug. 15, 2019
Home to a dozen plus online sports-books, Iowa has some of the cheapest licensing fees in the US.
Louisiana
Full mobile betting with multiple options
In November 2020, voters in 55 of the stateās 64 parishes approved legal sports betting, including all those in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Lafayette.
In-person betting launched in October of 2021. Six online sports-books launched on Jan. 28, 2022.
Louisianaās law allows for up to 41 different mobile apps.
Maryland
In-person sports-books only, online pending
Marylandās had in-person sports betting since December 2021, but while voters approved online betting in Nov, 2020.
Marylandās law allows for up to 60 online sports-books and 30 retail sites.
Michigan
Full mobile betting with multiple options
Michigan launched in-person wagering at the MGM Grand Detroit on March 11, 2020 and online sports-books, in early 2021. It now has a total of 15, the maximum allowed under state law.
Mississippi
In-person sports-books only
Mississippi was one of the earlier states to launch, opening up for business on Aug. 1, 2018.
The state technically has mobile wagering, but you can only place bets while inside a casino.
Montana
In-person sports-books only
Montana has mobile wagering, but you can only place bets on a retail locationās property.
Nevada
Full mobile betting with multiple options (in-person sign up required)
Nevada, the gold standard for in-person betting, still hasnāt quite mastered online wagering. The state requires bettors to come into a casino to register in person before placing via the Internet.
New Hampshire
One mobile betting option
New Hampshire went live with online wagering on Dec. 30, 2019.
Betting on in-state colleges is not permitted.
New Jersey
Full mobile betting with multiple options
New Jersey, the state to bring the sports gambling case to the Supreme Court, is now enjoying the fruits of its labor. āThe Gold Standardā for legal sports betting was the third state to take a legal bet and has continued to set state records thanks to a competitive, operator-friendly system.
It is home to 21 online sports-books, with room for at least 20 more.
New Mexico
In-person sports-books only
New Mexico hasnāt passed any legislation, though Native American tribes have run in-person sports betting at their casinos since October 2018.
Itās seen little to no movement towards legalizing online sports betting.
New York
Full mobile betting with multiple options
New York launched online sports betting on, Jan. 8 2022, and has left almost every other state in the dust since then.
North Carolina
In-person sports-books only
Thereās been no political movement to legalize sports gambling in North Dakota, but state tribes have already opened retail sports-books under authority granted to them by the federal government.
Oregon
One mobile betting option
Thanks to a limited exemption in the federal sports betting ban that allowed it to offer parlay cards, Oregon officials determined the state lottery could begin taking bets without a separate act of the legislature. The state lottery app took its first bet in 2019, but with only one legal mobile wagering option.
Notably, in-state college betting is prohibited. A handful of Native American casinos have opened retail sports-books, which permit college betting as well.
Pennsylvania
Full mobile betting with multiple options
Pennsylvania was among a handful of states to accept a legal retail sports bet in 2018 and, beginning with its 2019 digital launch. A limit of 14 total operator licenses have been issued
Rhode Island
One mobile betting option
Rhode Island has been offering legal sports betting since 2018 when retail sports-books opened at its two commercial casinos. William Hill is the only legal retail and online sports-book in the state.
South Dakota
In-person sports-books only
The first retail sports-books opened in September 2021.
Tennessee
Full mobile betting with multiple options
Since it has no casinos, Tennessee is the only state that has online-only sports betting.
Virginia
Full mobile betting with multiple options
Virginia took its first online sports bet in January 2021. Six operators went live in the first few months.
Washington
In-person sports-books only
Washington legalized sports betting on March 25, 2020 and took its first bet Sept. 9, 2021.
Mobile sports betting will only be allowed if it is placed within a casino facility.
Washington D.C.
Limited mobile betting options
D.C. is technically a sole-source operator jurisdiction. There is only one legal District-wide mobile app and it is run by the lottery.
The retail book opened July 31, 2020 as a makeshift sports-book at an arena box office.
A partnership with the Washington Nationals a retail sports-book opened Feb. 1, 2022 at Nationals Park. Its mobile app too, is available within a two-block radius of its retail location.
West Virginia
Full mobile betting with multiple options
Mobile betting has been fully live since August 2019.
The state has a handful mobile operators, bettors have have several legal options to place a bet from anywhere within the state.
Wisconsin
In-person sports-books only
The Oneida tribe announced in July 2021 that tribes can to open sports-books at its casinos. Statewide mobile betting or wagering on in-state-college sports is not allowed.
Wyoming
Full mobile betting with multiple options
Lawmakers approved statewide mobile wagering and took its first bet beginning Sept. 1, 2021.
Kansas
Approved, awaiting further action by regulators
Kansas legalized sports betting in May 2022 authorizing at least 12 online sports-books.
Kansas allows in-person wagers at its four casinos. The law allows native tribes to partner with commercial operators to offer online betting.
Regulators expect first bets by early September 2022.
Maine
Approved, awaiting further action by regulators
Maine was the first state to legalize sports betting in 2022.
A bill signed in April permits Maineās four native tribes to partner with commercial operators and offer online sports betting.
Ohio
Approved, awaiting further action by regulators
In late 2021, Ohio legislators passed an online sports betting. The law says betting must begin by Jan. 1, 2023.
Nebraska
Approved, awaiting further action by regulators
Voters approved three constitutional amendments in November that would legalize āgames of chanceā at Nebraskaās licensed horse tracks.
The bill doesnāt permit bets on Nebraska College teams played in the state.
Remaining States
There is little to no movement on legislation in the remaining states. This leads one to believe there is no chance of sports-betting becoming legal in the near to mid future.
