Which States Have Legal Sports Betting?

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A new dawn for legal sports betting in the U.S. began when the Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018.

Sports enthusiasts across the nation welcomed the change as it allowed all states to decide whether or not to legalize sports betting. While PASPA was enacted from 1992 to 2018, only Nevada, Delaware, Oregon, and Montana were exempt from the federal ban on sports betting in some form.

Now that PASPA is abolished, more than 30 states have legalized sports betting in land-based casinos, online, or both. This guide will go over the current and future status of sports betting in each of the 50 states as well as Washington D.C.

Map of Sports Betting Legality by State

Use the following map to see which states have legal sports betting 

Legend

More About Which States Have Legal Sports Betting

Below you can find a full overview of sports betting in every American state in alphabetical order. Click a state in the list to jump down:

Alabama

  • Online Betting: No
  • Retail Betting: No
  • Projected Launch Date: No projected launch date.

Online and retail sports betting are both illegal.

Senators Jim McClendon, Del Marsh, Greg Reed, and Bobby Singleton, are pushing Senate Bill 319 to legalize sports betting and casino gaming in Alabama. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 23-9 but failed to get support from the House of Representatives. Henceforth, it won’t be on the ballot anytime soon. The proposed constitutional amendments would have introduced the lottery, casinos, sports betting, and bingo games to the market. The new Alabama Gaming Commission would have been in charge of regulating the market. However, this appears to be out of reach for the foreseeable future.

Alaska

  • Online Betting: No
  • Retail Betting: No
  • Projected Launch Date: No projected launch date.

There are no sports betting legalization plans in Alaska.

Under the Alaska Statutes, all forms of gambling, including sports betting, are illegal. There are no indications that this will change in the future.

Arizona

  • Online Betting: Yes
  • Retail Betting: Yes
  • Launch Date: September 9, 2021

Online and retail sports betting are legal.

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey signed House Bill 2772 in April 2021, making online and retail sports betting legal. Customers can place bets on sports at tribal casinos and sites owned by professional sports teams and franchises. The Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) will award 20 sports betting licensees in total. Each retail sportsbook will be allowed to have two online skins. Betting on professional and college sports is allowed. DraftKings, BetMGM, and FanDuel are the first big sports betting companies with signed sportsbook deals in the state.

>> Read More: Best Online Sportsbooks in Arizona

Arkansas

  • Online Betting: Yes
  • Retail Betting: Yes
  • Launch Date: Retail sports betting approved in 2018 and online in 2022.

Only retail sports betting is legal.

In a 2018 vote, 54% of Arizonian voters supported gambling expansion in the state, which brought retail sports betting to up to four gambling venues. At the moment, you can place bets in Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort, Southland Casino Racing, and Saracen Casino Resort Annex, while the fourth casino—River Valley Casino—is under construction. The Arkansas State Racing Commission is the state’s chief gambling regulator. Rep. Lee Johnson introduced a new House Bill 1942 in April to allow casinos to launch online sportsbooks and it launched in March 2022.

California

  • Online Betting: No
  • Retail Betting: No
  • Projected Launch Date: No projected launch date.

Sports betting is illegal and doesn’t look likely any time soon.

Although California is home to numerous commercial and tribal casinos, it doesn’t allow sports betting. For many years, tribal casinos have fought to bring sports betting to their patrons. In June 2020, attempts to legalize wagering on sports were stopped. The native tribes formed a coalition to push for a ballot that should take place in November 2022. However, this initiative does not include online sports betting. Rather, it only focused on in-person wagering in tribal casinos and registered venues.

Colorado

  • Online Betting: Yes
  • Retail Betting: Yes
  • Launch Date: May 2020

Online and retail sports betting are legal.

In November 2019, Colorado residents cast their votes in a bipartisan ballot measure, HB 1327 or Proposition DD, to legalize both online and retail sports betting. All Colorado commercial casinos can apply for a license for in-person and online wagering. Users who are at least 21 and physically located within the Colorado borders can place a bet on all professional and collegiate sporting events. Each casino is allowed up to two skins for online sportsbooks. The operators are required to pay a 10% flat tax on net sports betting proceeds.

>> Read More: Best Online Sportsbooks in Colorado

Connecticut

  • Online Betting: Yes
  • Retail Betting: Yes
  • Launch Date: September 2021 (retail), October 2021 (mobile)

Online and retail sports betting is legal and officially began in October 2021.

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont signed an agreement with the two federally recognized native tribes of Mashantucket Pequots and Mohegans to expand the gambling market in the state and introduce legal online and retail sports betting. According to the agreement, the Connecticut Lottery is also able to operate up to 15 sports betting locations, two of which must be in Bridgeport and Hartford. Both of the tribes and the Connecticut Lottery can operate one online skin each. The agreements have a 10-year expiration date during which the operators need to pay a 13.75% tax rate on sports betting. Gov. Lamont placed the first in-person sports bet on September 30, 2021, while mobile sports betting went fully operational on October 19, 2021.

>> Read More: Best Online Sportsbooks in Connecticut

Delaware

  • Online Betting: Coming soon
  • Retail Betting: Yes
  • Launch Date: June 2012

Retail and online sports betting are legal but online is not available yet.

Delaware lived up to its nickname, the First State, when it became the first state to legalize online gambling back in 2012. It was also the first state to approve full-scale sports betting after the fall of PASPA and has offered sports betting parlay cards dating back to 1976. In 2018, Delaware approved single-game wagering in its three land-based sportsbooks: Delaware Park, Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, and Harrington Raceway & Casino. Even though online sports betting is legal, it isn’t yet available.

>> Read More: Delaware Parlay Cards

Florida

  • Online Betting: Yes
  • Retail Betting: Yes
  • Launch Date: November 1, 2021

Retail sports betting 

Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Seminole Tribe signed a gambling compact in April 2021, allowing the tribe to add retail sports betting at horse tracks, jai-alai frontons, and former dog tracks, as well as run online wagering. In May, the Florida legislators approved the deal, while the federal officials gave their consent in August 2021. The agreement is projected to bring at least $500 million in annual revenue for the state over the next 30 years. Hard Rock Sportsbook officially launched on November 1, 2021 in partnership with the Seminole Tribe.

>> Read More: Florida Sports Betting

Georgia

  • Online Betting: No
  • Retail Betting: No
  • Projected Launch Date: No projected launch date.

Sports betting is illegal.

During the 2021 Georgia legislative session, the Senate approved SB 135 and SB 142, two bills that looked to bring the referendum on betting to the voters and the legal framework of licensing sports betting. However, the Georgia House of Representatives did not pass the SB 142 bill before the legislative session concluded. If the bill passes, citizens will be able to cast their ballots during the November 2022 election.

Hawaii

  • Online Betting: No
  • Retail Betting: No
  • Projected Launch Date: No projected launch date.

Sports betting is illegal.

Hawaii is a state with one of the strictest possible anti-gambling laws. Sports betting and all other forms of gambling are prohibited. There have, however, been initiatives and bill propositions to alter the gambling landscape in the state. HB 736 sponsored by Rep. Sean Quinlan, would have created a pilot program for mobile sports betting in Hawaii. However, the bill ended up being deferred after strong opposition.

Idaho

  • Online Betting: No
  • Retail Betting: No
  • Projected Launch Date: No projected launch date.

Sports betting is illegal.

Idaho forbids sports betting and other forms of gambling, as per its statutes. There are no pending gambling bills for the legislators to consider currently, so it looks like sports betting won’t come to Idaho any time soon.

Illinois

  • Online Betting: Yes
  • Retail Betting: Yes
  • Launch Date: March 2020

Online and retail sports betting are legal.

Sports betting became legal in Illinois thanks to the Sports Wagering Act Governor J.B Pritzker signed into law in June 2019. Wagering on sports had its debut in March 2020 when BetRivers Sportsbook took the first bet. To open a new online sports betting account and place your bets, you need to complete an in-person registration at a casino or sportsbook. Wagering on minor leagues or Illinois college teams is not allowed.

>> Read More: Best Online Sportsbooks in Illinois

Indiana

  • Online Betting: Yes
  • Retail Betting: Yes
  • Launch Date: May 2019

Online and retail sports betting are legal.

Online and retail sports betting became legal in Indiana in May 2019, when Gov. Holcomb signed the sports wagering bill into law. The first retail sportsbooks began operating in September 2019, while the first online sports betting sites started accepting bets in October 2019. The Indiana Gaming Commission regulates all forms of gambling in the state. You can bet on college and professional sports, but wagering on esports and high school sports is prohibited.

>> Read More: Best Online Sportsbooks in Indiana

Iowa

  • Online Betting: Yes
  • Retail Betting: Yes
  • Launch Date: August 2019

Online and retail sports betting are legal.

Iowa’s Gov. Kim Reynolds signed the bill SF617 into law on Aug 15, 2019, marking retail and online sports betting entirely legal. The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission is in charge of licensing the operators, which can offer up to two skins each. They rescinded the in-person registration requirement at the start of 2021. All forms of betting are allowed except in-game props bets on college games.

>> Read More: Best Online Sportsbooks in Iowa

Kansas

  • Online Betting: Yes
  • Retail Betting: Yes
  • Launch Date: September 1, 2022

Online and retail sports betting are legal.

Sports betting was legalized in Kansas in May 2022 when Gov. Laura Kelly signed SB 84 into law. The bill allows the state's four casinos to conduct in-person and online sports betting business. Sports betting launched in Kansas on September 1, 2022, with Gov. Kelly placing the first bet—$15 on the Chiefs to win Super Bowl LVII at 10/1 odds.

Kentucky

  • Online Betting: Yes
  • Retail Betting: Yes
  • Launch Date: September 28, 2023.

Online and sports betting are legal.

Kentucky is home to the Kentucky Derby, the world’s largest horse racing event. In 2023, Kentucky legislature passed HB 551 to legalize retail and online sports betting in September 2023. Legal sports betting in Kentucky officially went live on September 28, 2023, with Governor Beshear placing the first bet at Churchhill Downs.

Louisiana

  • Online Betting: Yes
  • Retail Betting: Yes
  • Launch Date: October 2021 (retail), January 2022 (online)

Online and retail sports betting are both legal.

Louisiana retail sports betting went live on Halloween 2021 and former Saints quarterback Bobby Herbert placed the first bet. The Louisiana Gaming Control Board approved emergency sports betting rules in August 2021 which allowed 20 land-based and riverboat casinos and 41 mobile platforms to launch sports wagering during the NFL season. Back in November 2020, the voters in Louisiana's 64 parishes approved sports betting law, composed of Senate Bill 247 and Senate Bill 142 that Gov. Edwards signed into law. Online sports betting officially launched on January 28, 2022.

>> Read More: Best Online Sportsbooks in Louisiana

Maine

  • Online Betting: Yes
  • Retail Betting: Yes (not launched yet)
  • Launch Date: November 2023

Sports betting was legalized in May 2022 and online sportsbooks launched on November 3, 2023. Retail sports betting expected soon.

Maine’s opposition to legal sports betting finally came to an end in May 2022 when Gov. Janet Mills signed law LD 585 into law, allowing the state's 4 tribes to offer sports betting. Gov. Mills previously vetoed the 2019 bill LD 553. The Maine Gambling Control Unit approved rules surrounding sports betting, paving the way for online sports betting to start in November 2023. Retail sportsbooks are expected soon at Oxford Casino and Hollywood Casino.

Maryland

  • Online Betting: Yes
  • Retail Betting: Yes
  • Launch Date: December 2021 (retail), November 2022 (online)

Retail launched in December 2021, online launched in November 2022.

Maryland voters decided to legalize sports betting in November 2020 with an overwhelming majority. The Senate and House approved HB 940 in April 2021, and Gov. Larry Hogan signed the bill into law in May 2021. Under the new bill, up to 60 online sports betting sites will be allowed, while all commercial casinos, pro sports venues, and the Maryland Jockey Club can run retail sportsbooks. Retail sports betting went live in December 2021 with the launch of Live! Casino and Hotel and Horseshoe Casino. Online sports betting launched a little less than a year later on November 23, 2022.

>> Read More: Best Online Sportsbooks in Maryland

Massachusetts

  • Online Betting: Yes
  • Retail Betting: Yes
  • Launch Date: January 2023 (Retail), March 2023 (online)

Online and retail sports betting are legal.

Massachusetts finally legalized sports betting on August 10, 2022, after previous attempts to legalize sports betting were blocked by the Senate in 2020. Under the new bill, both retail and online sports betting are allowed except for prop bets on individual college athletes. Retail sports betting launched in Massachusetts in January 2023 while online went live in March 2023.

Michigan

  • Online Betting: Yes
  • Retail Betting: Yes
  • Launch Date: March 2020

Online and retail sports betting are legal.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed bills S4916 and H4311 into law in 2019 and legalized sports betting in Michigan casinos, both online and mobile. This package of bills is also referred to as the Lawful Sports Betting Act, under which up to 26 gambling enterprises are eligible to apply for sports betting licenses. So far, 15 online operators have been licensed by the Michigan Gaming Control Board, including DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars Sportsbook, and others.

>> Read More: Best Online Sportsbooks in Michigan

Minnesota

  • Online Betting: No
  • Retail Betting: No
  • Projected Launch Date: No projected launch date.

Sports betting is illegal.

There is no legal sports betting in Minnesota in any form. DFL Senator Karla Bigham introduced a bill to legalize sports betting that would provide an estimated $40 million in annual tax revenue. The bill (SF 410) hasn’t reached the Senate or the House yet, and there isn’t a clear timetable for its reading.

Mississippi

  • Online Betting: No
  • Retail Betting: Yes
  • Launch Date: August 2018

Only retail sports betting is legal.

Mississippi legalized sports betting in 2017 and the first bets were taken by the Beau Rivage Casino and Resort and Gold Strike Casino Resort on August 1, 2018. The Mississippi Gaming Commission regulates sports betting in the state and allows both commercial and tribal casinos to run sportsbooks. Unfortunately, online sports betting is not allowed at this time.

Missouri

  • Online Betting: No
  • Retail Betting: No
  • Projected Launch Date: No projected launch date.

Sports betting is illegal.

Missouri does not allow sports betting currently. Only riverboat casinos are licensed to offer gambling in the state. State Sen. Denny Hoskins (R-Warrensburg) has declared his plans to pre-file sports betting legislation in December 2021, which might be a topic of discussion in Missouri’s 2022 legislative session.

Montana

  • Online Betting: Yes
  • Retail Betting: Yes
  • Launch Date: May 2019

Online and retail sports betting allowed.

Montana Governor Steve Bullock signed the sports betting HB 725 into law on May 3rd, 2019. According to the bill, players can bet on all sports either online or at one of the hundreds of licensed sales agents around the state. Bear in mind that placing a bet on your mobile device is only possible through the only licensed app—Sports Bet Montana. In fact, you need to be physically present within a licensed establishment to place an online sports bet.

Nebraska

  • Online Betting: No
  • Retail Betting: Yes
  • Projected Launch Date: 2023

Only retail sports betting is legal.

After the state’s gambling expansion in 2020, when Nebraska voters decided to introduce casino gambling at horse racing tracks, it was only a matter of time when sports betting would follow. Sen. Tom Briese introduced LB 561, which got overwhelming support from the lawmakers, with 44 votes in favor, and only three against. The bill signed into law by Gov. Pete Ricketts in June 2021 only allows for in-person betting. The state still needs to come up with rules and regulations, however, so it isn't expected to launch until 2023.

Nevada

  • Online Betting: Yes
  • Retail Betting: Yes
  • Launch Date: Retail betting March 1949; Online betting 2010

Online and retail sports betting are legal.

Nevada is the Mecca of gambling. It first legalized retail sports betting back in 1949 and followed up with online sports wagering in 2010. There is a mandatory in-person registration process you need to complete at an online sportsbook’s retail partner before you can place bets online.

>> Read More: Best Online Sportsbooks in Nevada

New Hampshire

  • Online Betting: Yes
  • Retail Betting: Yes
  • Launch Date: December 2019

Online and retail sports betting are legal.

New Hampshire legalized sports betting in 2019 when Gov. Chris Sununu signed House Bill 480-FN into law. According to the law, the New Hampshire Lottery is in charge of licensing operators, and so far, only DraftKings has been licensed to offer both online and retail sports betting services. All individuals that are 18 or older can place bets on all professional sports, but betting on college sports is prohibited.

>> Read More: Best Online Sportsbooks in New Hampshire

New Jersey

  • Online Betting: Yes
  • Retail Betting: Yes
  • Launch Date: June 2018

Online and retail sports betting are legal.

New Jersey was the second U.S state to legalize sports betting. In June 2018, Governor Phil Murphy signed Assembly Bill 4111 into law, allowing casinos and racetracks to accept wagers and apply for online betting licenses. The Garden State has over 15 sportsbooks operating with more than $6 billion worth of bets placed in 2020. The only restriction applies to college sports bets. You can’t bet on games involving in-state college teams or any collegiate events held within the state.

>> Read More: Best Online Sportsbooks in New Jersey

New Mexico

  • Online Betting: No
  • Retail Betting: Yes
  • Launch Date: October 2018

Only retail sports betting is legal.

Thanks to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988, tribal casinos can operate any Class III games, including sports betting. In cooperation with USBookmaking, Santa Ana Star Casino and Hotel in Bernalillo opened the first sportsbook in the state in 2018. For now, online sports betting is restricted, and bets on games involving in-state college teams are also forbidden.

New York

  • Online Betting: Yes
  • Retail Betting: Yes
  • Launch Date: July 2019 (retail), January 2022 (online)

Online and retail sports betting are legal.

New York legalized sports betting in 2013, but the placement of the first bets occurred much later on July 16, 2019, at the Rivers Casino in Schenectady. Tribal and commercial casinos can apply for a sports betting license issued by the New York State Gaming Commission. Online sports betting launched in January 2022 after Assembly Bill A3009 included a plan to allow online sports wagering.

>> Read More: Best Online Sportsbooks in New York

North Carolina

  • Online Betting: Yes
  • Retail Betting: Yes
  • Launch Date: March 2021 (retail), March 2024 (online)

Online and retail sports betting are legal.

North Carolina’s Gov. Roy Cooper signed a bill in 2019 to allow tribal casinos to operate sportsbooks on their premises. March 2021 saw the booking of the first bets. Governor Roy Cooper signed the sports wagering law in June 2023, paving the way for online sports betting. The commission decided to award 12 licenses to online sportsbooks and created the framework for them to open physical sportsbooks. Tax revenue from sports betting will provide $2 million each year to help those struggling with gambling addition and another $1 million for youth sports.

North Dakota

  • Online Betting: No
  • Retail Betting: Tribal Casinos only
  • Launch Date: December 2021 for retail, no indications when mobile may go live

Sports betting is legal only at the state's three tribal casinos.

North Dakota has extended the ban on sports betting following another rejection of the sports betting ballot measure in March 2021. While the House passed the bill, the Senate killed it, so a constitutional amendment won’t be on the ballot at the 2022 referendum. Sports betting is legal at the state's 3 tribal casinos.

Ohio

  • Online Betting: Yes
  • Retail Betting: Yes
  • Launch Date: January 1, 2023

Sports betting is legal and launched on January 1, 2023.

Sports betting launched in Ohio just in time to start 2023. In June 2021, Ohio Senate passed a new sports betting legislation, SB 176. According to the bill, retail and online operators would share 40 licenses. However, retail operators can’t host a sportsbook onsite at a casino, which casinos did not accept in goodwill. The amended version HB 29 passed in December 2021, however, paving the way for sports betting The Buckeye State. Online and retail sports betting launched on January 1, 2023.

>> Read More: Best Online Sportsbooks in Ohio

Oklahoma

  • Online Betting: No
  • Retail Betting: No
  • Projected Launch Date: No projected date.

Sports betting is illegal.

Oklahoma doesn’t have legal sports betting. Comanche Nation and Otoe-Missouria Tribe signed two new tribal gaming compacts with Gov. Kevin Stitt in 2020 to allow sports wagering in tribal casinos. Still, the Federal Department of the Interior has not yet approved the compact. There are no indications of whether commercial or tribal sports betting will be sanctioned in Oklahoma.

Oregon

  • Online Betting: Yes (Oregon Lottery only)
  • Retail Betting: Yes
  • Launch Date: August 2019

Online and retail sports betting are legal.

As one of the four states exempt from PASPA, Oregon did not pass any additional legislation to offer sports betting. Tribal casinos, together with the Oregon State Lottery, hold the monopoly over wagering on sports. The only online sportsbook is the lottery-owned Scoreboard, while three different tribal casinos run retail sportsbooks. You can’t use the Scoreboard app while on tribal land. Betting on all sports is allowed, except on collegiate events.

>> Read More: Best Online Sportsbooks in Oregon

Pennsylvania

  • Online Betting: Yes
  • Retail Betting: Yes
  • Launch Date: November 2018

Online and retail sports betting are legal.

Pennsylvania legalized sports betting under the auspices of HB 271, signed into law by Gov. Tom Wolf. There are over 10 legal sportsbooks in the state, all of which are required to partner with a land-based gambling facility. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) is in charge of regulating gambling in the state. In Pennsylvania, you can’t bet on esports, high-school events, or any non-sporting contests.

>> Read More: Best Online Sportsbooks in Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

  • Online Betting: Yes
  • Retail Betting: Yes
  • Launch Date: November 2018

Online and retail sports betting are legal.

Sports betting became legal in Rhode Island just a month after PASPA was annulled. Governor Gina Raimondo signed the bill into law in June 2018, and Twin River Casino in Lincoln booked the first bet in November that year. In 2019, Gov. Gina Raimondo signed Senate Bill 37, which initiated mobile sports betting in the state. The Sportsbook Rhode Island is currently the only legal online betting site. Thanks to the bills S 2919 and H 8097, in-person registration is no longer required.

>> Read More: Best Online Sportsbooks in Rhode Island

South Carolina

  • Online Betting: No
  • Retail Betting: No
  • Projected Launch Date: No projected launch date

Sports betting is illegal in South Carolina.

South Carolina does not support any forms of gambling within its borders, including sports betting. In 2020, some motions and plans to legalize betting in the Palmetto State occurred, such as the House Resolution 3395, but it failed to gain support, making the future of gambling in the state quite grim.

South Dakota

  • Online Betting: No
  • Retail Betting: Yes (exclusively in Deadwood casinos)
  • Launch Date: September 2021

Only retail sports betting is legal.

South Dakotans approved a constitutional amendment last November to allow casinos in Deadwood to run sports betting businesses. Gov. Kristi Noem signed SB 44 in March 2021, making Deadwood casinos exclusive sports wagering proprietors. Patrons to these casinos can use mobile devices to place bets but only while they are on the casino premises.

Tennessee

  • Online Betting: No
  • Retail Betting: No
  • Launch Date: November 2020

Only online sports betting is legal.

In July 2019, Tennessee legalized sports betting through the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act. It opted for an online-only approach, so operators are not required to be tethered with land-based casinos. Henceforth, there are no retail sports betting options. They launched the first online sportsbooks on November 1, 2020. Notable betting rules include a 90% cap that applies to all payouts.

>> Read More: Best Online Sportsbooks in Tennessee

Texas

  • Online Betting: No
  • Retail Betting: No
  • Projected Launch Date: No projected launch date.

Sports betting is illegal.

The Texas Constitution bans most, if not all forms of gambling. Only the state’s lottery, pari-mutuel betting, tribal casinos, and charitable gaming are allowed. Commercial gambling and sports betting is strictly prohibited. Not even the heavy lobbying from the Las Vegas Sands Corporation didn’t help. Since the Texas legislature is due to convene only in odd-numbered years, any further propositions will have to wait for 2023.

Utah

  • Online Betting: No
  • Retail Betting: No
  • Projected Launch Date: No projected launch date.

Sports betting is illegal.

Utah has the strictest anti-gambling laws in the country. The legislators oppose all forms of gambling and games of chance, including lottery tickets, casino table games, and sports betting.

Vermont

  • Online Betting: Yes
  • Retail Betting: No
  • Launch Date: January 2024

Online sports betting is allowed.

Much like Utah, Vermont used to have a tough stance on sports betting and gambling, in general. Wagering on sports in the Green Mountain State was illegal without indications of changing drastically in the future. A glimmer of hope came from Bill S0059 that created a Sports Betting Study Committee and granted it authority to study the impact of legalizing sports betting in the state. Rep. Matthew Birong introduced a Vermont sports betting bill in February 2023 and it was approved by the state Senate in May and signed by governor Phil Scott on June 14. Online sports betting subsequently launched in January 2024. It is unclear if/when retail sportsbooks will be allowed.

Virginia

  • Online Betting: Yes
  • Retail Betting: Yes
  • Launch Date: January 2021

Retail and online sports betting is allowed.

Virginia state’s legislature passed Senate Bill 384 and House Bill 896 in 2020 and paved the way for sports betting. In January 2021, the first online sportsbooks went live, including FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, and BetRivers, while land-based sportsbooks are yet to open in casinos. The Virginia Lottery regulates betting and wagering on Virginia college sports is prohibited.

>> Read More: Best Online Sportsbooks in Virginia

Washington

  • Online Betting: No
  • Retail Betting: Yes
  • Launch Date: September 9, 2021

Retail sports betting in tribal casinos is legal.

Governor Jay Inslee signed House Bill 2638 on March 25, 2020, to authorize tribal casinos to run sports wagering on their premises. The Washington State Gambling Commission signed Tribal-State Class III Sports Compacts with fourteen tribes in May 2021, and they took the first sports bets in September 2021, just in time for football season. Online betting remains unaddressed at this point.

Washington D.C.

  • Online Betting: Yes
  • Retail Betting: Yes
  • Launch Date: May 2020

Online and retail sports betting are legal.

Sports betting is legal in Washington D.C., both online and in person. To bet online, you have to use the GambetDC app—the only online sportsbook in the state. You can also bet in person at the William Hill Sportsbook inside the Capital One Arena, at the BetMGM Sportsbook at Nationals Park, and soon at Audi Field via FanDuel.

West Virginia

  • Online Betting: Yes
  • Retail Betting: Yes
  • Launch Date: August 2018

All forms of sports betting are legal.

West Virginia was among the first states to regulate sports betting following the overturning of PASPA. The West Virginia Lottery Sports Wagering Act (S 415) became law without Gov. Jim Justice’s signature due to a possible conflict of interest. Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races was the first casino to take a bet in West Virginia, while the first online sportsbook was BetLucky, which quickly exited the market.

>> Read More: Best Online Sportsbooks in West Virginia

Wisconsin

  • Online Betting: No
  • Retail Betting: Yes
  • Projected Launch Date: No projected launch date

Retail sports betting is legal.

Gov. Tony Evers signed a new tribal compact with the Oneida Nation that allowed retail sports betting at tribal casinos. It's unclear when online sports betting will launch in Wisconsin.

Wyoming

  • Online Betting: Yes (mobile only)
  • Retail Betting: No
  • Launch Date: September 1, 2021

Only online sports betting is legal.

Wyoming became the second state to offer mobile-only sports betting on September 1, 2021. Gov. Mark Gordon signed HB133 in April 2021 and gave the Wyoming Gaming Commission the green light to finalize the sports betting rules until September 1st, which was a timeframe mandated by the law. As of the last update of this guide, you can bet on your mobile phone with DraftKings and BetMGM.

>> Read More: Best Online Sportsbooks in Wyoming

Learn More About Sports Betting in the U.S.

Interested in learning more about sports betting in the United States?

Check out our sports betting statistics guide that goes over who is betting, how much they bet, handle and revenue data by state, and more. You can also see the legal sports betting age by state here.

Dave Rathmanner

Dave Rathmanner is the Founder & CEO of Odds Assist. After struggling to find helpful sports betting resources and honest reviews when he first started betting, he decided to create the site he always wished he had. Dave has been betting on sports since NJ legalized it in 2018 and regularly analyzes sportsbooks to find the best options for bettors. Aside from creating new content for OA readers, Dave is also passionate about researching betting markets, creating models, and developing profitable betting strategies.