Sports Betting Legalization In The USA
The legal landscape surrounding sports betting in the USA has changed significantly in recent years and continues to evolve. In 1992 a law was passed that banned sports betting in the USA outside of Nevada (and some betting activities such as lottery in Oregon, Delaware and Montana). This law was called the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA).
PASPA was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2018, allowing each state to determine its own legal frameworks around allowing sports betting. What followed was a number of states launching legalized sports betting – Delaware, New Jersey, Mississippi, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, New York and Arkansas were some of the first states to legalize sports betting.
The legalization of sports betting in most states has been divided between in-person and online sports wagering. Therefore, some states allow customers to bet in person and online, whereas others have restricted online sports betting and for now only allow customers to bet in person at establishments such as land-based casinos.
Which US States Have Legalized Sports Betting?
Sports betting is now legal in some format in Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia and Wyoming.
Information provided on this page relating to the legality of sports betting in states is correct at the time of writing. Laws relating to sports betting in the USA can change frequently, so please check your local state government for up to date information.
Which US States Allow Online Sports Betting?
Sports betting is legal in some states, but only for sports betting in person. This means that some states do not have any mobile wagering, and customers can only place sports bets over the counter as establishments such as casinos or race tracks.
States which do currently allow mobile sports wagering include Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia and Wyoming.
