Federal Gambling Laws 2026: US Betting & Gaming Laws Explained
Sports betting grew even more in Jan. 2021 when an old law that required in-person registration expired — leading to a boom in mobile sports wagering since then. This followed Governor J.B. Pritzker signing legislation in June 2019 that finally brought legal sports betting to the Prairie State. In May 2021, Connecticut figured out a deal with the state’s two influential Native American tribes to pave the way for online sports betting in the state. There are also 21 mobile sports betting apps, which makes CO one of the most competitive markets in the country. These promotions have fueled the rapid growth of online sports betting across the United States.
But Tres York, the vice president of government relations with the Washington, D.C.-based American Gaming Association, says there is hope for a few more states this year to legalize sports wagering. Not one state legalized sports gambling last year while only one state—Missouri—legalized it in 2024. Every licensed US sportsbook is required to offer deposit limits, time limits, cooling-off periods, and self-exclusion. Check our collection of the best sportsbook bonuses to see which books offer the most valuable welcome and reload promos.
Once the “Lawful Sports Betting Act” was signed, it paved the way for both mobile and in-person sports wagering in the state — starting with a pair of casinos that opened in March 2020, according to ESPN. According to SportsHandle, 56 of Louisiana’s 64 parishes approved both mobile and in-person sports betting, so those in the eight parishes — or, essentially, counties — that didn’t approve will need to travel to one that did. Retail sports wagering began in October 2021, then online sportsbooks launched in Louisiana in January 2022. It was one of the fastest legalization to launch turnarounds of any state and Kansas has approved nine licensed online sportsbooks so far.
- A good alternative to sports betting in California at this time is Kalshi, a legal federally regulated prediction market.
- Governor Doug Ducey signed a bill in April 2021, paving the way for its legalization.
- Sports betting websites all have their unique designs, but the process of getting signed up is fairly universal.
- Boot Hill Casino, Hollywood Casino, Kansas Star and Kansas Crossing Casino are the major players with sports betting.
- In-game betting continues to gain popularity, so we review the offerings from the betting sites we review.
The SBA says a proposed 40% tax rate would significantly punish players, with sportsbooks likely to pull back bonuses and boosts while increasing vig. The House committee advanced a bill in March 2025 that would allow gamblers to deduct betting losses from their state income taxes, matching what federal tax laws already have in place. DraftKings is the exclusive provider of online sports wagering in The Granite State, launching in tandem with the New Hampshire Lottery Commission in late 2019. This earlystart allowed Nevada to enjoy an online betting monopoly until 2018. It was also the first tolaunch online betting platforms, with STN Sports debuting in 2010. The law accepts asmany as 15 licenses, eight of which are tied to land-based casinos andracetracks, and seven obtained through a competitive bid.
Do I have to be physically located in a legal state to bet online?
Only use state-licensed sportsbooks. Verify that your state allows online betting and you meet the minimum age (usually 21, sometimes 18). Sports betting is only legal in some states. Most states have a Gaming Commission or Lottery Commission that regulates sportsbooks. BettingInUnitedStates may receive compensation when readers sign up with sportsbooks via outbound links on this page.
Maine officially launched sports betting on November 3, 2023, with a unique approach that grants control of the mobile and online sports betting market to the state’s Native American tribes. Louisiana officially launched sports betting on October 2021 for retail and then January 2022 for online sportsbooks following the passage of Senate Bill 247. The state offers both retail and online sports betting, providing a versatile platform for bettors. With 33 casinos, all of which are now allowed to offer retail betting and establish online partners, the Colorado online market is already getting crowded.
Casino Max
Both mobile and in-person sports betting exist in West Virginia, and the state has been accepting bets since August 2019. All betting in Tennessee occurs online, as there are no casinos in the state and, therefore, no retail betting locations. Pennsylvania accepts one of the largest sports betting handles each month, including both mobile and in-person sports wagering.
“Skins” is an industry parlance for individually branded betting sites or apps operating off a single casino’s license. Customers are on their own when it comes to chasing down payments and dealing with rogue operators and illegal betting sites. When the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was passed in 2006 to block payments to online gambling sites, it specifically granted fantasy sports an exception from the law. A majority of states have legalized sports betting, and more attempt to do so each year. Below is a map of where sports betting is legal in the USA, and state-specific information after that.
If you bet in Florida, you are taking Hard Rock’s number or no number at all. On the plus side, Connecticut does allow wagering on college player props for out-of-state teams. California is home to 21 major professional sports franchises, more than any other state, and it is the most populous state in the country.
West Virginia legalized sports betting in 2018 and now offers both retail and regulated online wagering through licensed operators overseen by the West Virginia Lottery. The UIGEA also applies to online sports betting, but it is important to note that the law specifically excludes legal gambling operations. Many states now offer both IRL sportsbooks at casinos and racetracks, as well as mobile betting apps. Caesars now offers online sports betting in numerous U.S. states, and operates as a retail sportsbook sponsor in several more. Unlike many states, Vermont has opted to focus solely on online and mobile sports betting, with no plans for retail sportsbooks. New York officially launched its sports betting operations with retail sportsbooks in 2019, but the major expansion came with the introduction of online sports betting on January 8, 2022.
State regulations determine where casinos can operate and whether online versions are available. This includes popular sportsbooks like BetOnline, SportsBetting.ag, and Bovada. Fans can place bets on football, basketball, baseball, and many other sports. Since PASPA’s repeal in 2018, states have gained control over sports wagering and many have legalized the practice. It seeks to prohibit major digital platforms from targeting sports gambling and prediction market advertisements to minors under 18.
In June 2021, Ohio Senate passed a new sports betting legislation, SB 176. North Dakota has extended the ban on sports betting following another rejection of the sports betting ballot measure in March 2021. The commission decided to award 12 licenses to online sportsbooks and created the framework for them to open physical sportsbooks. All individuals that are 18 or older can place bets on all professional sports, but betting on college sports is prohibited. The amendment sets a 10% tax on gross sports-betting revenue, with funds directed toward education and problem-gambling programs.
One thing led to another and, in 1949, the state eventually legalized sports betting. Although horse racing was still exempt, the stigma attached to gambling and sports betting resulted in many racetracks closing down. In 1860, authorities banned all forms of gambling and sports betting, apart from horse racing. This type of betting is also called live betting, and is at the forefront of mobile sports betting.
Utah’s constitution explicitly prohibits all forms of gambling. HJR 134 and SJR www.pokernewsdaily.com/sportsbooks/ 65 followed, proposing a constitutional amendment to put legalization to a public vote. College game outcomes are bettable, but college player props are prohibited. The market is regulated by the state’s Sports Wagering Council. A 2022 bill, SJR 502, would have added a mobile option and passed the Senate before failing in the House.
Spreads are a traditional form of single-game wagering, although they’re a bit more complicated than moneylines. The odds and thus payout will vary based on the projected likelihood of each outcome, but the mechanics are as simple as can be—correctly project a winner, win your bet. This is the simplest type of bet; all you have to do is pick the outright winner of a game. Let’s talk about the difference between these two different methods of playing so you can be prepared for what’s available in your state. The anti-gambling sentiments held by the state’s large population of Latter-day Saints are a major obstacle.
Vermont launched its online sports betting in January 2024, following the legalization process that began earlier in 2023. With the signing of House Bill 347 by Governor Roy Cooper in June 2023, North Carolina officially entered the sports betting arena, paving the way for both retail and online sports betting. Nebraska officially launched its sports betting operations on June 22, 2023, but only for in-person wagering, as online sports betting remains prohibited. Michigan managed to push through legislation for online sports betting, casino and DFS in December 2019. Massachusetts entered the sports betting arena with the launch of retail sportsbooks on January 31, 2023, following legislative approval.
Does ESPN Sportsbook Still Exist?
Delaware lived up to its nickname, the First State, when it became the first state to legalize online gambling back in 2012. The agreements have a 10-year expiration date during which the operators need to pay a 13.75% tax rate on 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. The operators are required to pay a 10% flat tax on net sports betting proceeds. All Colorado commercial casinos can apply for a license for in-person and online wagering. Each retail sportsbook will be allowed to have two online skins.
Readers can visit each state page on BettingUSA for up to date legal information where they live and a list of safe, legal betting sites that are available in that state. We will update this list and cover the latest legislative actions across the United States as more states legalize sports betting, . Lawmakers in three dozen states have introduced legislation seeking to legalize and regulate sports betting. The removal of PASPA did not automatically legalize sports betting across the nation, though.
Pennsylvania’s sports betting market is among the nation’s largest, with numerous online and retail sportsbooks contributing to substantial tax revenues. Ohio’s sports betting law includes provisions for both online and retail sportsbooks, with operations commencing on January 1, 2023. New Jersey’s sports betting market has become one of the largest in the U.S., with both online and retail sportsbooks generating significant revenue.
Take a swing at cricket betting with legal online sportsbooks that offer odds on popular leagues from around the world. While the law was previously used to prevent US-based online sports betting, the law now simply restricts interstate wagering. The allowable forms of legal online sports betting may vary drastically from one state or country to another, and wagering on the Internet has become a popular, multi-billion-dollar industry. In the meantime, US sports bettors in all 50 states can access safe and legal sports betting at offshore sportsbooks like BetUS, BetNow and MyBookie.
This Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act led to a massive decline in sports betting. The Interstate Horse Racing Act of 1978 was a turning point for sports betting. However, in the mid-1970s, the government imposed lower taxes on sportsbooks, and for the first time, a sportsbook could operate inside a casino.
The legal betting age here for online and offline betting is 21 years. These entered into competition with the online sportsbooks not based in Mississippi that continue operating there. Sports betting sites have been operating in Indiana for decades. Idaho does not have any offline sports betting, nor has it considered any such legislation recently. The offshore sportsbooks are also available in Delaware.
A few retail sportsbooks exist, and those are run at Native American casinos. Similar to a few other states, there’s only one option for legal mobile sports betting in Oregon, and that’s DraftKings which started in January 2022. New York recently approved online sports betting and it has been live in the Empire State for over a year after its official launch on Jan. 8, 2022. In-person betting has long been a staple in Nevada, but mobile wagering in this state requires registration at one of the many casinos. Retail sportsbooks launched on September 7, 2023, and mobile betting began on September 28. Kansas legalized sports betting in the spring of 2022 and launched in-person and online betting on Sept. 1 of that year, right in time for the 2022 NFL season.
For most Americans, the only way to legally play casino games online is to use an offshore gambling site. If you are a player who doesn’t live in one of these states, the good news is there are no current laws or prohibitions in the federal code that would make online gambling illegal in the US. As of 2026, there are many states that now offer legal and regulated online gambling. To add to the inconsistency, legal online gambling is not addressed one way or the other in most individual state gambling laws. Your tax rate will vary depending on the state in which you’re betting, but in general, you’ll need to pay taxes if your sports betting winnings for the year are a net positive. If you’re looking for a sports betting alternative, check out the Griddy referral code!
Nevada has a longer sports betting history than most states and a unique set of regulations to go along with it. For the bets you can place, you must be at least 21 years old to engage in online wagering. The state’s governing bodies are working on legislation to expand sports betting, but nothing is finalized as of now.
Collegiate sports remain one of the most common restrictions for states to specify when legalizing sports betting. The NHL surprised many in the sports betting world by awarding the gambling mecca, Las Vegas, with its first professional sports franchise in 2017. This shift began in 2014 when Commissioner Adam Silver publicly advocated for the legalization and regulation of sports betting.
In those days, horse racing was viewed differently from other sports betting types and was generally enjoyed by the elite society. In all other states with legal, online betting, 21 is the minimum age for betting. However, we’ve still gathered the most interesting information available about sports betting in each. Just click on your state for our expert review about the best betting sites and apps available near you!
Even before the Europeans colonists set foot ashore, the local tribes had often multiple gambling-type games and activities. In May 2018 the court reached its verdict, declaring the law unconstitutional by a 6-3 vote. Often criticized for its slow pace, it’s now possible to create excitement through in-game wagering. New Jersey was first on its list, launching online operations on September 7, 2018. Fanatics Sportsbook is part of Fanatics Betting & Gaming and is available online in 22 states and D.C.
There are no US laws that criminalize offshore gambling, and there are no domestic online gambling sites that even come close to offering the variety of games, odds, and lines that offshore operators provide. Our legal online casinos guide provides a deeper look at the online casino market in the United States. It does not impact individual bettors, and it does not make sports betting illegal. The Interstate Wire Act of 1961 is a law barring interstate sports betting. With sports betting legal in some capacity in 38 states already, there’s a good chance it already has.
However, after a couple of unimpactful years, they decided to pull out of the US market. They still host one of the best DFS 2.0 apps on the market in most states if you’re interested in that as an alternative. However, due to laws on interstate trading, the operator was only able to go live in New Jersey where it struggled with low-liquidity on its lines. Unfortunately, due to a combination of licensing hold-ups and the rise of prediction markets in the US, there wasn’t enough of a demand for Sporttrade to take off. However, its market depth isn’t as extensive as larger national competitors, and the company has undergone several brand transitions in recent years, which may confuse users.
