The history of sports betting in the United States can get a little murky. Legislators have come down hard on sports betting, alongside other forms of gambling, several times throughout the nation’s history.
In 2018, we finally saw the Supreme Court overturn one of the most influential pieces of legislature to impact sports betting: the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. This act, which banned sports betting across the nation beginning in 1992, is now a thing of the past.
So, is sports betting legal now? You might assume that the answer is a resounding yes, but not so fast. In overturning the PASPA, the federal government left it to each state to decide what to do about sports betting.
To get a clearer answer, we’re going to have to look at sports betting by state. Read on as we dive into sports betting legalization in America.
Where Is Sports Betting Illegal Across the Board?
To be more specific, where is sports betting illegal currently? The reality is that for most states that don’t allow legal sports betting, change is on the horizon.
Let’s take a look at some of the states that may see legalization in 2022. These include:
- Alabama
- Georgia
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- Ohio
- Vermont
- Wisconsin
There are also a handful of states that may see legalization in 2023 or beyond. These include:
- California
- Minnesota
- Oklahoma
- Texas
While South Carolina is often making moves to legalize, the legislation is almost always shot down. However, it’s impossible to say when or if we’ll see future legalization from states like South Carolina, as well as Alaska, Hawaii, and Utah.
Where Is Sports Betting Legal in Person?
The good news is that in-person sports betting is legal in the vast majority of states already. These states include:
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington DC
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
If you’ve ever lived in or visited Florida before, you might be thinking, “Wasn’t sports betting legal in Florida? Why isn’t it on this list?”
When it comes to Florida, things are still up in the air. After a brief but exciting period of legalization, Florida had to put a pause on legal sports betting. Now, Floridians are waiting to see how things shake out in order for sports betting to become an option once more.
What About Online Sports Betting?
It’s important to make the distinction between legal in-person sports betting and legal online sports betting. The states that offer online sports betting also offer in-person sports betting. However, the opposite is not universally true.
What do we mean by online sports betting? Some states allow you to place bets through online sportsbooks, making sports betting a possibility from home. The following states allow full online sports betting, offering multiple platforms to use when placing your wagers:
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Michigan
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
Some states do offer online sports betting options that aren’t considered “full mobile.” In other words, online sports bettors will be limited to one or a handful of online sports betting platforms. These states include:
- New Hampshire
- Rhode Island
- Washington DC
Finally, we’re looking at a few states that have pending legislation to legalize online sports betting. These states include Louisiana and New York.
Can You Bet on eSports?
Traditional sports aren’t the only thing attracting hundreds of thousands of viewers. Electronic sports are growing quickly in popularity with many viewers (and players) wondering if there are new ways to get in on the action. Is eSports betting legal in the US?
This is where things can get exceptionally confusing. Depending on who you ask, the answer might be no. There are no legal eSports betting outlets in the United States at this time.
However, don’t get too down about it. There is one eSports betting platform that is safe and accessible for American bettors to use.
That being said, keep an eye on these laws. As the tides continue to change, laws regarding eSports betting are bound to shift, making it legal in many states that just haven’t considered the question yet.
What Other Sports Betting Laws and Limitations Should You Know About?
The reality is that knowing whether or not sports betting is legal in your state is just the tip of the iceberg. Because it has been left up to state governments to make the rules, your state’s laws might look different from another state’s laws.
For example, while online sports betting is legal in Illinois and Nevada, these two states have one unique caveat. Before betting online, you have to head to an in-person sports betting location and register as a sports bettor.
What if you live in a state where sports betting isn’t legal, but you want to place some wagers in a state where it is legal? This is fine–as long as you’re in the state where you’re placing your bets. In other words, you can’t head online and provide a false address to place online bets from out of state.
Enjoy Sports Betting Without Running Into Trouble
Is sports betting legal? We’ve had a tumultuous relationship with sports betting in America, but things are finally looking up. Use our guide to figure out where and how to get in on the action without running into any trouble.
Is your appetite for sports news peaked? Do you want to learn more about your favorite players–or the best gear to start playing, yourself? Take a look around as we cover all things sports-related.
