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US Sports Betting — Guide to Online and Retail Sports Betting in Each State

by William Schwartz (WSchwartz) Last Updated 2024-11-20T21:08:18

Ever since the fall of PASPA in 2018, sports bettors have had more and more legal sportsbooks to choose from. Between online sportsbooks and retail locations, legalized sports betting continues to spread across the country slowly but surely.

It can be hard to keep track of each state’s progress, but luckily, we’ve compiled key information for all 50 states right here. You’ll also find information for new bettors on how to use betting lines and get started with U.S. sports betting.

Let’s dig right into the states that have legalized sports betting in some capacity.

What States Have Legal Sports Betting?

Currently, 38 states plus Washington D.C. have legalized sports betting in some capacity, with varying availability in each one. Let’s talk about what types of sports betting are available in each state and key information about the local regulations.

Arizona

Betting age is 21 years old in Arizona. College sports bettors can place wagers on futures and game results, but not props on individual player performances. Nearly 20 online sportsbooks are available to Arizona residents.

Check out the latest Arizona sportsbook promos so you can get started on top platforms like FanDuel, ESPN BET, DraftKings, and more.

Arkansas

Three Arkansas online sports betting sites are available, each of which is associated with an in-person casino. You must be 21 years old to engage in sports wagering in the state.

Colorado

20 online sports betting sites are currently legal and available in Colorado, and the state’s betting legislation allows for up to 30 to operate at the same time. Colorado also has quite a few casinos at which you can bet in person, and to do this or play online, you must be 21 years of age. College player props are not available in Colorado.

If you’re physically present in the Centennial State, claim the best Colorado sportsbook promos at platforms such as bet365 and Fanatics Sportsbook.

Connecticut

There are currently three online Connecticut sports betting options, as well as a celebrated history of legalized sports betting at in-person casinos. You need to be at least 21 years old to bet on sports in Connecticut, and there is no betting on in-state college teams unless they’re participating in an intercollegiate tournament.

Delaware

The offerings in Delaware are quite limited, with only BetRivers providing legal online sports betting to residents of the state. There are also only three retail betting locations active as of now. Players must be 21 years of age or older to legally participate in Delaware sports betting.

District of Columbia (Washington D.C.)

The nation’s capital has a very interesting approach to online sports betting. There are a few online sportsbooks available, but most are only accessible within a tight radius of an associated in-person location. FanDuel is the only online sportsbook available from anywhere in the district.

Another interesting wrinkle is that you can bet at the age of 18, but always be sure to check operator-specific policies, which may be more stringent than local law.

Florida

The only operator in the state is Hard Rock Bet, which is a great option despite limiting users to a degree. A U.S. Supreme Court ruling in June 2024 essentially solidified the Seminoles’ monopoly over Florida online sports betting until at least 2051.

As is the case in many states, you must be 21 years old to bet on sports in Florida.

Illinois

Illinois features many in-person retail and online sportsbooks (which feature top Illinois sportsbook promos). If you want to bet on in-state college teams, you can do so as long as you’re at a retail location and don’t bet on college player props. The state’s betting age is 21 years.

Indiana

Indiana has had legal online sports betting for quite some time, with an outstanding array of operators available in the state. To bet in Indiana, you have to be at least 21 years old. Indiana is less restrictive than other states, as you can bet on in-state college teams and even college player props as long as you place your bet before the game begins.

Check out the latest Indiana sportsbook promos so you can sign up for favorites like FanDuel and BetMGM.

Iowa

Iowa has been launched in the online sports betting space for quite some time and offers some great variety to bettors. You must be 21 years old to play, and while there are restrictions on college prop bets, the Hawkeye State has generally strong offerings.

Claim the top Iowa sportsbook promos so you can score some bonus bets and get started on the right foot.

Kansas

Kansas rolled out retail and online sports betting on the same day. To play with one of the major legal and regulated online sportsbooks in Kansas, you simply must be 21 years old or older and located within the state.

If you live in or are visiting the Sunflower State, we encourage you to check out these Kansas sports betting promos for some added value.

Kentucky

Kentucky law allows bettors as young as 18 years of age to play with the state’s online sportsbooks, but certain operators will enforce their own policy of a minimum age of 21.

Louisiana

The legal betting age in the state is 21 years, and while college prop betting previously allowed, the state banned the practice in August 2024.

Luckily, you can still bet on other college events and pro sports markets with the help of Louisiana sports betting promos.

Maine

Maine online sports betting permits bettors to wager on any pro team, but wagering on Maine’s in-state college teams is off-limits. Players 21 years of age and older can bet with just a couple of online sportsbooks, as well as a handful of retail sites.

Maryland

Since the launch of legal sports betting in Maryland, there have been few restrictions in the state, except for no prop bets and the minimum age of 21 years to play with any of the online or in-person sportsbooks.

Here are our top recommendations for Maryland sportsbook promos to help you start betting in the Free State.

Massachusetts

You can bet on Massachusetts college teams only if they are participating in a tournament like March Madness, but other than that unique distinction, anyone of at least 21 years of age who is physically located within Massachusetts can place bets with any of the state’s online or retail sportsbooks.

Be sure to check out our guide on the best Massachusetts sports betting promos.

Michigan

Anyone who is at least 21 years old can bet on sports in Michigan including college games.

Find the Michigan sports betting promos so you can sign up for a sportsbook account today.

Mississippi

Online sports betting in the traditional sense is not available in Mississippi; users can bet with select apps but only on-premises at sportsbook locations. You must be 21 years old to play at these locations. The state’s governing bodies are working on legislation to expand sports betting, but nothing is finalized as of now.

As long as you’re playing at online sportsbooks at retail locations, you can take advantage of these Mississippi sportsbook promos.

Montana

Bettors in Montana can bet in person at various locations; any location licensed by the state’s lottery governing body can support sports betting, including casinos, convenience stores, bars, and more. You may also bet via the app Sports Bet Montana if you’re physically present at a retail location. In Montana, you must be at least 18 years old to gamble.

Nebraska

There are just two retail spots at which Nebraskans can wager on sports. You cannot bet on minor league sports, college athlete prop bets, or individual games involving in-state colleges. For the bets you can place, you must be at least 21 years old to engage in online wagering.

Nevada

Nevada has a longer sports betting history than most states and a unique set of regulations to go along with it. Players can access mobile platforms, but before they start placing bets, they must register at an in-person casino in the state. You must be 21 years of age or older to participate in Nevada online sports betting.

New Hampshire

Currently, DraftKings is the only available online sportsbook in New Hampshire. The legal gambling age in New Hampshire is 18 rather than 21, differentiating it from many other states.

New Jersey

New Jersey has long been a trailblazer in the online betting space and offers a wide array of sportsbooks. The main restrictions on betting in the Garden State are in the area of college sports as there’s no betting on NJ-based college teams. You must be at least 21 years old to place wagers and take advantage of New Jersey sports betting promos.

New Mexico

Only tribal casinos are able to operate sports betting in New Mexico; there are no online options. You must be 21 years of age to bet on sports in the state.

New York

Few restrictions exist at New York’s online and in-person sportsbooks, other than a ban on betting on competitions involving the state’s own college teams and the legal betting age of 21.

Those physically located in the Empire State can leverage these New York sports betting promos today.

North Carolina

North Carolina does not enforce restrictions on the state’s college teams like some other jurisdictions do. All online operators must be partnered with an in-state team or venue, and all bettors must be 21 years of age to place bets.

North Dakota

In-person gambling is legal in North Dakota at select tribal gaming facilities, at which all gamblers must be at least 21 years old.

Ohio

Ohio offers odds on plenty of markets to online users, with the most notable exception being college player props. You must be 21 years of age to place bets in the Buckeye State and claim Ohio sports betting promos.

Oregon

Only DraftKings is available as an online operator in Oregon and only at in-person tribal locations can you bet on college sports, including competitions involving in-state programs. Regardless of whether you play online or in person, you must be at least 21 years old to engage in Oregon online sports betting.

Pennsylvania

You can bet on just about everything in Pennsylvania, with college player props standing as the main exception. You must be 21 years of age to place bets in the state.

If you want to sign up for online sportsbooks in the Keystone State, be sure to claim Pennsylvania sports betting promos.

Rhode Island

Rhode Island has limited sportsbook options, but there is online betting within the state through Sportsbook Rhode Island. You can bet on college sports in Rhode Island, just not on teams from the state or events taking place within it. If you want to partake in Rhode Island online sports betting, the minimum age is just 18.

South Dakota

Sports betting in South Dakota is limited to approved in-person casinos; you must be at least 21 years old to play at these locations.

Tennessee

Tennessee is a relatively unique state in the sense that you can bet online, but there are no retail locations. You have plenty of options within the state, and anyone 21 years of age or older can bet on all standard betting markets other than college player props.

Check out the best Tennessee sports betting promos so you can sign up today.

Vermont

Vermont is another one of the few states in which online betting is permitted, but no in-person venues are available. You can’t bet on Vermont colleges unless they’re participating in a tournament, and you must be 21 years of age or older to bet inside Vermont state lines.

Virginia

In Virginia, wagering on in-state college teams and on any college prop bets are unavailable. The state offers both retail and online options for players of or above the age of 21.

Be sure to claim the top Virginia sportsbook promos today.

Washington

In Washington, you can only bet on the reservation lands of federally recognized Native American tribes. You may use mobile apps on-site at these gambling venues, but nowhere else. You must be at least 21 years old to wager at these locations.

West Virginia

West Virginia has some of the least restrictive sports betting laws in the country, with few bet types off-limits other than college player props. You must be at least 21 years of age to bet in West Virginia.

Snag the latest West Virginia sportsbook promos so you can boost your bankroll from the get-go.

Wisconsin

You can bet at tribal casinos in Wisconsin either through traditional in-person methods or with supported apps. The most unique wrinkle of the laws in place is that you can bet at a few truck stops in the Green Bay area, as they are owned by the Oneida tribe. However, throughout the rest of the state, you cannot engage in mobile betting. To bet on sports anywhere in Wisconsin, you must be at least 21 years old.

Wyoming

Wyoming features a minimum age of 18 for online sportsbooks rather than the standard of 21 you’ll see in many states. This is another one of the few states that allows online sportsbooks but does not include any retail locations.

What States Don’t Have Legalized Sports Betting?

While plenty of states have moved to legalize sports betting at this point, there are still a good number of holdouts; let’s talk about the situations in these states.

Alabama

Alabama doesn’t currently run a lottery, which is often a catalyst for sports betting and online sportsbooks. The state has seen sports betting bills make it through the House but has always come up short in the Senate.

Alaska

Alaska is truly The Last Frontier on many fronts, as little progress, if any, has been made in terms of getting sports betting legalized. Sportsbooks often don’t bother to lobby here due to the state’s small, spread-out population and lack of major sports teams.

California

In 2022, Californians voted against online sportsbooks in resounding fashion. The earliest time at which we might see another attempt to legalize California sports betting is 2026, but even that date looks to be quite optimistic.

Georgia

Sports betting bills have failed in Georgia in 2022, 2023, and 2024; some have made it through the Senate but never the House. Once the Peach State legalizes the practice, you should be able to claim Georgia sports betting promos.

Hawaii

Hawaii is one of the very few states with no major gaming entity whatsoever; there have been preliminary efforts to legalize sports betting, but no meaningful progress has ever been made.

Idaho

Idaho’s laws currently expressly prohibit sports gambling but allow horse racing. There’s no sign of movement to legalize sports betting, with little motivation from state politicians.

Minnesota

In 2022, 2023, and 2024, state legislators came quite close to legalizing sports betting, but the bills never made it over the finish line. The state’s tribes have opposed many of these proposals, a major obstacle for any bill.

Missouri

In November 2024, voters said “yea” on Amendment 2 to legalize sports betting in Missouri. A rollout should happen by December 2025, but we’ll keep you posted with updates.

Oklahoma

With highly influential tribal groups affecting the process, it doesn’t seem likely that widespread legal sports betting is coming to Oklahoma anytime soon.

South Carolina

Bills have been proposed in 2019 and 2022, but little headway has been made in South Carolina, as neither came particularly close to passing.

Texas

Despite past support from the state’s governor, there are plenty of opponents to Texas sports betting. With the state legislature meeting only once per two years, 2025 will be the next opportunity, with no chance of implementation until a year after that.

Utah

With absolutely no gaming currently active in Utah, it’s not particularly likely that we’ll ever see legal sports betting in the state. The anti-gambling sentiments held by the state’s large population of Latter-day Saints are a major obstacle.

History of Sports Betting in the United States

Sports betting has never been accessible to more Americans than it is now, but how exactly did we get here?

Initially, there wasn’t much legislation to regulate sports betting across the country, but the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1998 (PASPA) outlawed the practice except for in select locations. Sports betting markets were available in places like Las Vegas, but most Americans had no legal way to bet on sports.

In 2018, PASPA was struck down by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, suddenly clearing a path to legalize sports betting in every state. The technology already existed for online sports betting to get started; all that remained was for individual states to legalize and launch.

New Jersey paved the way, as Governor Phil Murphy’s name was on the case brought to the Supreme Court, and after the state legislature passed the appropriate laws, the first post-PASPA online sportsbook launch was in the Garden State in August 2018.

Since then, plenty of states have followed suit. The exact terms vary from location to location, but now, more than half of the states in the country have moved to legalize sports betting, with retail and online options available to millions of Americans.

Legal Sports Betting Info for All 50 States

One day, there very well could be legal sports betting in every one of the 50 states, but for now, availability varies by location. Below, we’ve compiled a table giving you the most important facts about the status of legal gambling in every state, so be sure to check it out to see what might be possible in your own home state.

StateMobile Sports BettingRetail Sports BettingSports Betting Notes
Alabama❌❌N/A
Alaska❌❌N/A
Arizona✅✅No college props, betting age of 21
Arkansas✅✅Betting age of 21
California❌❌N/A
Colorado✅✅No college props, betting age of 21
Connecticut✅✅No college bets on in-state teams (barring tournaments), betting age of 21
Delaware✅✅Betting age of 21
District of Columbia (Washington D.C.)✅✅Most operators require you to be on-site to bet, betting age of 18
Florida✅✅Only one operator, betting age of 21
Georgia❌❌N/A
Hawaii❌❌N/A
Idaho❌❌N/A
Illinois✅✅No college betting for in-state teams, betting age of 21
Indiana✅✅Betting age of 21
Iowa✅✅Some college prop market restrictions, betting age of 21
Kansas✅✅Betting age of 21
Kentucky✅✅Betting age of 18, but some operators enforce an age of 21
Louisiana✅✅Betting age of 21, no college props allowed
Maine✅✅No college betting for in-state teams, betting age of 21
Maryland✅✅Betting age of 21
Massachussetts✅✅No college betting for in-state teams unless they are in a tournament, betting age of 21
Michigan✅✅No college props, betting age of 21
Minnesota❌❌N/A
MississippiOn-premises at sportsbook locations only✅Betting age of 21
Missouri❌❌Likely a rollout will occur by December 2025
MontanaOn-premises at sportsbook locations only✅Betting age of 18
Nebraska❌✅No minor league sports, college props, games involving in-state colleges, betting age of 21
Nevada✅✅In-person registration required, betting age of 21
New Hampshire✅✅Only one operator, betting age of 18
New Jersey✅✅No betting on NJ-based college teams, no live betting on any college sports, no college props, betting age of 21
New Mexico❌✅Betting on tribal grounds only, betting age of 21
New York✅✅No betting on NY-based college teams, betting age of 21
North Carolina✅✅Betting age of 21
North Dakota❌✅Betting age of 21
Ohio✅✅No college props, betting age of 21
Oklahoma❌❌N/A
Oregon✅✅Limited options and locations, betting age of 21
Pennsylvania✅✅No college props, betting age of 21
Rhode Island✅✅Just one state-specific online sportsbook, no betting on in-state college teams, betting age of 18
South Carolina❌❌N/A
South Dakota❌✅Only in-person, betting age of 21
Tennnessee✅❌No college props, betting age of 21
Texas❌❌N/A
Utah❌❌N/A
Vermont✅❌No college betting for in-state teams unless they are in a tournament, betting age of 21
Virginia✅✅No betting on Virginia-based college teams, no college props, betting age of 21
WashingtonOn-premises at sportsbook locations only✅Betting age of 18
West Virginia✅✅No college props, betting age of 21
WisconsinOn-premises at sportsbook locations only✅Betting age of 21
Wyoming✅❌Betting age of 18

How to Bet on Sports in the US

In some sports betting states, a gambler must place wagers in person. In others, you can bet on your phone or computer. 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.

Online Sports Betting

With mobile sports betting, you can place bets from your phone or computer anywhere you have a strong internet connection. You’ll need to create an account to bet online, and when you do so, you can use either a mobile app or a desktop website.

Mobile sportsbooks have lots of special rewards, boosts, and other features to help you have a great online sports betting experience. The convenience afforded by the ability to play from your own home or on the go is one of the greatest perks of the rise of widely available mobile sports betting. Note that some states restrict mobile play to users who are physically in a retail location.

Retail Sports Betting

For a classic sports betting experience, consider heading to a retail location like a casino or an in-house sportsbook at a sporting venue. This is a highly personable betting experience, as you’ll interact with staff and fellow bettors alike.

There’s no need for an account when you go to an in-person sports betting site, although some are associated with mobile platforms and allow you to use the rewards you’ve earned while playing online. It’s not quite as convenient as playing at online sportsbooks in your living room, but the experience of watching your bets play out amongst other fans and bettors can be lots of fun, while the assistance and human element you get from staff members can be very helpful for new players.

Types of Sports Bets

Once you’ve determined the legality of sports betting in your state, if it’s available, you’ll want to learn about the bets you can place. Let’s talk about some of the most common bet types, ones you’ll be able to find through any online or in-person sports betting platform in the U.S.

Moneylines

This is the simplest type of bet; all you have to do is pick the outright winner of a game. 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.

Moneylines are great for backing an underdog you’re confident can beat the odds, or a favorite you think should win outright but might not dominate.

Spreads

Spreads are a traditional form of single-game wagering, although they’re a bit more complicated than moneylines. A spread is the projected margin of victory for the favored team in a game, and the bettor’s task is to decide whether they’ll overperform that number.

For instance, a spread of 6.5 means that a bet on the favored team requires them to win by at least 7 points, while a bet on the underdog is successful if they win by any margin or lose by 6 or less. These are great bets for underdogs in which you are tentatively confident, or a favorite you think can pull away from the competition.

Totals

A total is exactly what it sounds like—a projection of how many total points, goals, or runs the two teams in a game will combine to score. A totals bet requires the player to decide whether the number set by the sportsbook is too high or too low, known as taking the over or the under.

Totals bets are a wise way to play if you think you know the general pace a game will exhibit but aren’t sure who will win or even how close the game will be.

Futures

Futures bets are settled over a longer period than a single game; they deal with events that take place over the course of a full season. This could mean bets on a team’s total wins, playoff qualification, or championships. On a more individual level, you might bet on a player’s statistical performance or awards.

These wagers take many factors into account, making them tough to hit for beginners, but the payouts can be significant. Future bets often have many potential outcomes, namely ones for championships and awards, so picking the right option could mean hitting a wager with very long odds.

Props

These highly specific wagers are great for honing in on a specific aspect of a game. The most popular type is generally player props, which allow you to bet on an individual player’s performance in the game, such as how many points they’ll score.

Team and game props are also often available, allowing you to bet on things like the number of fouls, scoring in the first half, or other measurables that aren’t directly associated with the final score.

Live Betting

This isn’t a bet type as much as it is a category; live bets can be any of the types above, but they’re placed as a game happens. The odds are constantly changing based on the unfolding events of the game, making this an extremely high-paced way to play, as value appears and disappears at a moment’s notice.

For the experienced bettor, live betting can be one of the best ways to take advantage of inefficient betting lines and beat the market to secure lots of value.

Parlays

As one of the most quickly-growing bet categories, parlays provide lots of fun and potential value to at-home bettors. Parlays pull together multiple individual selections, compounding the odds to create an elevated potential payout since the parlay only wins if each of the individual bets, or “legs,” all hit. If even one fails, the whole bet loses.

Despite parlays being tough to hit, the rewards from online sportsbooks can be significant. Traditionally, parlays pull together spreads, moneylines, and totals from separate games, but same-game parlays are becoming more popular, allowing you to really dive into one contest. These special wagers often use traditional game lines but may also involve props.

Teasers

Teasers are special types of parlays that pull together alternate lines. For example, you might parlay two teams who are favored by 6.5 points, but you could get alternate spreads of 2.5 for each. Teasers decrease both your risk and payout, providing a relatively safe way to get reasonable value out of lines that should hit.

Hedge Bets

Once more, this isn’t exactly a bet type—it’s more of a strategy. Hedges are used to either protect against losses or guarantee a payout, as they directly contradict an existing bet. Hedges lower the maximum potential value of the event in question, but they also raise the floor, protecting you from worst-case scenarios.

Hedges are most commonly associated with futures betting, but by using live lines, this strategy can also be employed for individual matchups.

Responsible Gambling and Legal Sports Betting

Whether you’re gambling online or at a retail location, always make sure that you’re practicing responsible gambling. Never bet more than your means allow, and always step away when it stops being fun. Don’t chase your losses to avoid an even more dire situation.

Many online sportsbooks have in-house options to help, such as wagering, play-time, and deposit limits, as well as account timeouts. If these resources aren’t sufficient and you believe that you might be dealing with a gambling problem, be sure to call 1-800-GAMBLER to reach the National Problem Gambling Helpline. You can also visit a Gamblers Anonymous meeting, or check out GamTalk.org for online resources and assistance.

US Sports Betting FAQs

Learn more about legalized sports betting in the U.S. with the help of this FAQ section:

How many states in the US have legal sports betting?

38 states plus Washington D.C. have legal sports betting in some capacity whether it’s retail betting, online sportsbooks, or both.

Why is sports betting not legal in some states?

After the fall of PASPA in 2018, each state is able to set its own laws in regard to sports gambling. Each state’s legislature and citizens have different opinions on sports betting and online sportsbooks, so legalization has come in waves, and not every state has decided to do so just yet.

How do I know when my state will legalize sports betting?

With sports betting legal in some capacity in 38 states already, there’s a good chance it already has. But, if you’re in one of the other 12 states, keep an eye on news regarding any relevant bills that may be proposed in your state legislature. We’ll also provide the latest updates on this page.

What is the best sports betting site?

Every sports bettor has their specific needs and preferences; there is no shortage of great sports betting sites to give every player what they’re looking for.

Do I pay taxes on sports betting winnings?

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.

How many states have legal retail sports betting?

35 states offer some form of legal retail sports betting.

About the Author

WSchwartz
William Schwartz (WSchwartz)

Since entering the sports journalism field, William has covered everything from the World Cup, to College Football, to reviews and guides for the most popular sportsbooks. He aims to blend analytics and research with engaging writing to bring you entertaining coverage as well as profitable betting advice for just about every major sport.