Where Is Sports Betting Legal in the US? State by State

As of October 2026, sports betting is legal in 39 US states plus Washington, DC, according to state regulators and the American Gaming Association. Missouri was the most recent state to launch, on 1 December 2025. In most of those states you can bet online through state-licensed apps, as long as you are physically inside the state; in a few, betting is limited to casinos, tribal venues or retail locations. Sports betting is not legal in the other 11 states. This page is information only: we do not recommend or link to any sportsbook for US readers, and the international bookmakers covered elsewhere on this site do not accept US customers.

If gambling is causing problems for you or someone close to you, free and confidential help is available 24 hours a day by calling or texting 1-800-MY-RESET, the national helpline run by the National Council on Problem Gambling, a national non-profit organisation based in Washington, DC.

Why did sports betting become legal state by state?

For a quarter of a century a federal law, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA), stopped most states from authorising sports betting; Nevada was the main exception. On 14 May 2018, in Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, the US Supreme Court struck PASPA down, holding that it unconstitutionally commandeered state legislatures. The ruling did not legalise sports betting nationwide. It returned the decision to each state, which is why the map is a patchwork: every state that allows betting has its own law, regulator, licensing process, tax rate and consumer rules.

Federal laws still shape the market. The Wire Act of 1961 restricts the interstate transmission of sports wagers, which is one reason licensed apps must confirm that you are inside the state when you bet, and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 targets payments to illegal online gambling businesses. Those laws are why licensed sportsbooks use geolocation checks and why offshore sites operate outside the US system.

Where is sports betting legal? The state-by-state table

The table lists every state with legal sports betting in October 2026. “Online statewide” means licensed mobile and online betting is available anywhere in the state (to people physically located there). “Retail or tribal only” means betting is limited to physical venues or their premises. The year is when the first legal wager was taken under the post-2018 framework (Nevada’s market is much older).

State rules change. A state can add online betting, limit certain markets or change its licensees, so check the regulator’s own website before you bet, especially in states that legalised recently.

What is notable about individual states?

Every state’s market has its own history and quirks. These notes cover states readers ask about most; they summarise the position in October 2026 and are not a substitute for the regulator’s own pages.

New York

New York allowed retail betting at upstate casinos from 2019 and launched online betting in January 2022. Operators pay a 51% tax on gross gaming revenue from online betting, one of the highest rates in the country, which shapes how much they spend on promotions. The New York State Gaming Commission publishes weekly and monthly figures.

New Jersey

New Jersey brought the case that ended PASPA and took its first legal bets in June 2018, weeks after the ruling. It has one of the most competitive online markets, regulated by the Division of Gaming Enforcement, with retail sportsbooks at Atlantic City casinos and racetracks.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania launched retail betting in November 2018 and online betting in 2019. Its tax rate on sports wagering revenue is 36%, plus a local share. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board licenses operators and runs a statewide self-exclusion programme.

Illinois

Illinois launched in March 2020. In 2025 the state added a per-wager tax on operators on top of its revenue tax, charged for each bet placed, and several operators responded by adding transaction fees for customers. Check an operator’s terms for any per-bet fee before you bet.

Ohio

Ohio launched retail and online betting on the same day, 1 January 2023. The Ohio Casino Control Commission later banned player props on college athletes, one of the first states to do so.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts opened retail sportsbooks in January 2023 and online betting in March 2023, regulated by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. The state’s Attorney General has taken action against offshore operators serving residents, including the Bovada case filed on 3 October 2024.

Florida

Florida’s sports betting runs through the Seminole Tribe under a 2021 compact with the state. After a short launch in 2021 and legal challenges, the tribe’s Hard Rock Bet app relaunched in late 2023. Commercial operators cannot offer sports betting in the state.

North Carolina

Tribal casinos in North Carolina took sports bets from 2021, and statewide online betting launched on 11 March 2024 under the North Carolina Lottery Commission.

Kentucky and Vermont

Kentucky launched retail betting in September 2023 and online betting later that month, with a minimum age of 18. Vermont launched online-only betting in January 2024 with a small number of licensed operators, regulated by the Department of Liquor and Lottery.

Missouri

Missouri voters approved sports betting in November 2024, and the Missouri Gaming Commission launched retail and online betting on 1 December 2025, making it the 39th state with a live market. The minimum age is 21.

Tennessee and Wyoming

Both states allow online betting only, with no retail sportsbooks. Tennessee’s Sports Wagering Council regulates its market and the minimum age is 21; Wyoming’s market is regulated by the Wyoming Gaming Commission and the minimum age is 18.

Nevada

Nevada’s sportsbooks were legal long before 2018 and still operate mainly from casinos, with mobile apps run by licensed casino operators. The Nevada Gaming Control Board regulates the market, and the minimum age is 21.

Where is sports betting still illegal?

Eleven states had no legal sports betting in October 2026: Alabama, Alaska, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Minnesota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas and Utah. The reasons differ. California’s voters rejected two sports betting measures, Propositions 26 and 27, on 8 November 2022. Bills have been debated in several of the others, including Georgia, Minnesota and Texas, without becoming law. Utah’s constitution prohibits gambling, and Hawaii has no legal commercial gambling at all.

Living in one of these states does not stop you from betting legally when you travel. Licensed sportsbooks check where you are, not where you live: a California resident visiting Nevada or Arizona can bet there under that state’s rules, as long as they meet the age limit and the app’s geolocation shows them inside the state’s borders.

How has the US market grown since 2018?

What is the difference between online and retail-only states?

In online states, licensed operators offer apps and websites that anyone of legal age who is physically inside the state can use. You register remotely, verify your identity online, and every bet passes a geolocation check that uses your device’s location services, Wi-Fi data and sometimes a small plug-in on desktop. Leave the state and the app will refuse bets until you return.

In retail-only states, betting happens at physical locations: commercial casinos in Mississippi, tribal casinos in New Mexico, North Dakota, Washington and Wisconsin, racetrack casinos in Nebraska, Deadwood casinos in South Dakota, and lottery-run venues in Montana. Some allow mobile betting on the premises of a casino. Tribal sports betting is governed by compacts between the tribes and the state, and the tribes themselves run the books.

How old do you have to be to bet on sports in the US?

The minimum age is 21 in most states with legal sports betting. A handful of jurisdictions set it at 18, including Kentucky, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Wyoming and Washington, DC, and some tribal venues set their own age under their compacts. Licensed operators must verify your age and identity before you can bet, usually with your Social Security number, date of birth and address, and sometimes a photo ID. Using someone else’s account or details to get around the age rule is illegal and leads to the account being closed.

Which sportsbooks are licensed in the US?

Each state licenses its own operators. Large national brands such as DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, Fanatics Sportsbook and bet365 hold licences in many states, but no brand is licensed everywhere, and some states have only one or a few operators. In Florida, sports betting runs through the Seminole Tribe’s Hard Rock Bet under the tribe’s compact with the state. In New Hampshire, Oregon and some lottery-run markets, the state has contracted with one main operator.

The only reliable source for which apps are legal where you are is your state regulator’s list of licensed or authorised operators. Most regulators publish that list on their website, and licensed apps display the regulator’s name, a licence number and responsible gambling information. We do not rank or recommend US sportsbooks, and we do not take payment from them.

How do you check that a US sportsbook is licensed?

1. Find your state’s regulator in the table above and open its own website (type the address; do not follow ads).
2. Look for the page listing licensed, approved or authorised sports wagering operators.
3. Check that the app or website you plan to use is on that list under the same brand name.
4. Confirm the app asks for location permission and identity verification. A site that lets you bet without either is not a licensed US operator.
5. Check that responsible gambling tools are available in the account: deposit limits, time limits and self-exclusion.

Are offshore sportsbooks legal in the US?

No offshore sportsbook is licensed by any US state. Sites run from abroad that accept US customers operate outside every state’s licensing system, so they are not legal operators anywhere in the country, whatever their foreign licence says. States have acted against them. On 3 October 2024 the Massachusetts Attorney General sued the operators of Bovada for illegally offering sports betting and casino games to Massachusetts residents, and several state regulators have issued cease-and-desist letters to offshore operators.

The practical risks for bettors are real even where individual players are rarely prosecuted:

• No regulator to complain to: if an offshore site refuses to pay, no state agency can order it to.
• No required consumer protections: state rules on fund protection, fair settlement, advertising and responsible gambling tools do not apply.
• Payment problems: banks and card networks may block or flag transactions to unlicensed gambling businesses, and offshore sites often push customers towards crypto.
• Self-exclusion does not follow you: state self-exclusion lists cover licensed operators only.

The international bookmakers we review elsewhere on this site all exclude the United States in their terms. Using a VPN or false details to open an account breaks their terms and can lead to closed accounts and withheld balances, in addition to the legal issues above.

What about sweepstakes sportsbooks and prediction markets?

Two other kinds of products advertise sports-related play to Americans, and both are in legal flux.

Sweepstakes and social sportsbooks use virtual currencies and “free entry” methods to claim they are not gambling. States have increasingly disagreed. Several have banned sweepstakes-style gaming by law, including California (from 1 January 2026), New York (8 December 2025), Indiana (1 July 2026), Maine (29 July 2026), Louisiana (1 August 2026) and Oklahoma (1 November 2026). Most of these laws target sweepstakes casinos, and some also reach sports-style products.

Prediction markets and event contracts are offered by exchanges registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the federal derivatives regulator, and since 2025 some have listed contracts on sports outcomes. Several states and tribes argue that these are unlicensed sports betting and have gone to court, while the exchanges argue that federal commodities law takes precedence. As of October 2026 the question was unresolved, and the outcome may differ from state to state. If you use them, understand that they are not regulated by your state gaming regulator and do not offer its protections.

How do licensed apps check your location and identity?

Every bet on a licensed US app passes two checks. The first is identity, done once when you register: the operator matches your name, date of birth, address and the last digits of your Social Security number against third-party databases, and may ask for a photo of your ID and a selfie if the automatic check fails. It also checks state and national self-exclusion lists. The second is location, checked continuously: the app uses your device’s GPS, nearby Wi-Fi networks and other signals to confirm that you are inside a state where it is licensed, and repeats the check during a session.

These checks are why US apps ask for permissions that international sites do not, and why they refuse bets when location services are off, when you are near a border, or when a VPN or remote-desktop tool is running. If an app does none of this, it is not a licensed US operator.

How does betting at a retail sportsbook work?

At a casino or retail sportsbook you bet at a counter or a self-service kiosk. You choose the market from the boards or a printed sheet, give the bet number and stake, and receive a paper ticket showing the bet, the odds and the potential payout. Keep it safe and check it before you leave the counter: at most retail books the ticket is the bet, and whoever presents a winning ticket gets paid. Unclaimed winning tickets usually expire after a period set by state rules or the venue. In states with on-premises mobile betting, you can also use the venue’s app while inside the property, after registering there.

Is daily fantasy sports the same as sports betting?

Not legally. Daily fantasy sports (DFS) contests, where you pick a team of players and win based on their statistics, are treated as games of skill or regulated separately in many states, which is why DFS is available in some states that have no legal sports betting. The line has blurred with “pick’em” products that look like player-prop betting, and several regulators have ordered changes to them or required them to be licensed as sports wagering. If a product lets you bet on whether players go over or under statistical lines, check how your state classifies it before using it.

Can you bet on horse racing where sports betting is illegal?

Often, yes. Horse racing in the US uses pari-mutuel wagering under separate federal and state laws, and many states allow online racing bets through licensed advance deposit wagering (ADW) providers even where sports betting is not legal. California is an example: sports betting is illegal there, but licensed ADW racing betting is allowed. Racing bets go into pools at the track, as explained in our horse racing betting guide, and ADW providers are licensed by state racing authorities rather than sports betting regulators.

What are the rules on college sports betting?

Most legal states allow betting on college sports, but many add limits. Some ban bets on games involving in-state colleges, some ban betting on college player props (bets on an individual student-athlete’s statistics), and some allow in-state college games only for tournament play. These rules exist to protect student-athletes and the integrity of college sport, and they have tightened since 2024 after reports of harassment of players by bettors. Check your state’s list of permitted events; licensed apps simply will not show markets your state does not allow.

How is US sports betting regulated for consumers?

Licensed states impose rules that offshore sites do not follow. The details vary, but common requirements include:

Some states also restrict markets: several limit or ban bets on in-state college teams or on college player props, and a few restrict certain in-play markets. Check your state regulator’s rules for details.

How are sports betting promotions and advertising regulated?

Licensed US sportsbooks advertise heavily, but states set rules. Many prohibit advertising aimed at people under 21, require responsible gambling messages and the helpline in ads, and restrict or ban the phrase “risk-free” for offers where the customer can lose money. Some states limit how promotional credits may be deducted from taxable revenue, which affects how generous offers are. Treat sign-up offers from licensed apps with the same caution as anywhere: read the terms, including wagering conditions and expiry, and remember that bonus bets usually do not return the stake. Our bonuses guide explains the maths, although the operators it names do not serve the US.

What do the biggest state markets have in common?

New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Ohio are among the largest legal sports betting markets by amount wagered, with many licensed operators competing on price and promotions. They share full online betting, retail sportsbooks at casinos or stadiums, published monthly figures from the regulator and formal complaint processes. Tax rates on operators vary widely between states, from single-digit percentages to around half of gross revenue in New York, and higher taxes tend to mean fewer or less generous promotions. Smaller markets, such as New Hampshire or Oregon, have a single main operator, so price comparison within the state is limited.

Monthly reports from regulators are a useful reality check. They show the total amount bet (handle) and how much operators kept (gross gaming revenue), which together give the market’s average hold. Across states it is usually several percent of handle and higher on parlays, a reminder that the sportsbook’s margin is built in, as our bet types page shows for accumulators.

How do you self-exclude from sports betting in the US?

Self-exclusion is a formal request to be barred from gambling for a period you choose. In the US it works at three levels. Inside a licensed app, you can usually self-exclude or take a time-out from the account settings, which blocks that operator. At state level, many regulators run programmes that, once you enrol, require every licensed operator in the state to close or block your accounts; enrolment periods often range from one year to five years or a lifetime, depending on the state. Some casinos and tribal operators keep their own lists as well.

To enrol in a state programme, go to the regulator’s website (from the table above) and look for “self-exclusion” or “responsible gaming”. Some states let you enrol online with identity verification; others ask you to complete a form in person or by mail. Self-exclusion covers only licensed operators: it cannot block offshore sites, which is one more reason to avoid them. If you want to block access more widely, many banks let you block gambling transactions on cards, and blocking software can stop gambling websites on your devices.

Which sports and events can you bet on?

Every legal state publishes, or authorises operators to offer, a list of events. Major professional leagues and international sports are allowed almost everywhere; differences appear at the edges.

If a market you expect is missing from a licensed app, it is usually because the state has not approved it. Sites that offer every market everywhere are, almost by definition, not following state rules.

What about sportsbooks at stadiums and arenas?

Several states allow sportsbooks at or next to professional sports venues, sometimes with an extended zone where the venue’s own mobile app works. Washington, DC, Illinois, Arizona, Ohio and Maryland are among the jurisdictions that have used this model in some form. These books are licensed and regulated like any other in the state, with the same age limits and identity checks, and teams and leagues must follow integrity rules about who can bet.

Which states might legalise next?

Every year bills are filed in several of the 11 states without legal sports betting, and ballot campaigns are discussed in states where voters can propose laws. Progress usually depends on agreement between tribes, commercial casinos, racetracks and lawmakers, and on how tax revenue would be shared. Georgia, Minnesota, Texas and South Carolina have all seen bills debated without becoming law, and California’s tribes have discussed a future ballot measure. Nothing is guaranteed: some states have rejected sports betting several times. When a state does legalise, launch usually follows months later, after the regulator writes rules and licenses operators, and early launches sometimes start with retail only.

How do you deposit and withdraw at licensed US sportsbooks?

Licensed apps support the payment methods their state allows, which usually include debit cards, online bank transfers (ACH), PayPal and other e-wallets at many operators, prepaid cards branded for the operator, and cash at a casino cage or retail sportsbook. Credit card rules vary: some states, including Massachusetts, prohibit credit card deposits for sports betting, and some card issuers block gambling transactions anyway. Withdrawals normally go back to the method you used, after identity checks, and processing times depend on the operator and method.

Because licensed operators work inside the US banking system, deposits and withdrawals are traceable and protected by the usual consumer rules, which is not the case with offshore sites that rely on crypto or third-party payment processors. If a site asks you to pay through gift cards, peer-to-peer apps to a private person or a crypto address in order to bet, treat that as a strong sign it is not licensed.

US apps show American odds by default, with decimal odds as an option at many operators. A price of −110 means staking 110 to win 100, and +150 means staking 100 to win 150; our odds guide converts between formats.

Do you pay tax on sports betting winnings in the US?

Yes. The IRS treats gambling winnings, including sports betting, as taxable income that must be reported, whether or not you receive a tax form from the sportsbook. Licensed operators issue Form W-2G for winnings above federal thresholds and may withhold tax in some cases. Losses are deductible only if you itemise deductions, and only up to the amount of your winnings; under the federal tax law passed in July 2025, from the 2026 tax year the deduction for gambling losses is limited to 90% of those losses. States tax winnings under their own income tax rules, and some states have no income tax. Keep records of every bet, deposit and withdrawal, and take advice from a qualified tax professional for your own situation.

What does US sports betting look like in practice?

The US market centres on the NFL, college football, the NBA, MLB, the NHL and college basketball, with soccer, tennis, golf and combat sports growing. Prices are usually shown in American odds (such as −110), spreads and totals dominate, and same-game parlays are heavily promoted. If you want to understand the markets themselves, our guides to NFL betting, basketball betting and betting odds explain spreads, totals, key numbers and margins. They are educational: for where to bet, use only the operators your state regulator lists.

One habit carries over from any market. Compare prices between licensed apps in your state before betting, because margins differ, and the gap between −110 and −105 on the same bet is worth real money over a season. The method for measuring a margin is on our odds page.

What happens if you bet from a state where it is not legal?

A licensed app will not let you. Its geolocation check blocks bets placed outside the states where it is licensed, even if your account was opened elsewhere. You can usually log in, view your account and withdraw, but not bet, until you are back in a legal state. Trying to defeat geolocation with a VPN or location-spoofing tool breaks the operator’s terms and can lead to your account being closed and winnings voided; regulators require operators to detect and block it.

Border areas are a common source of confusion. Geolocation works on your actual position, so standing a few metres on the wrong side of a state line can block a bet. Apps usually show a message explaining why the bet was refused.

What if you are visiting the US from abroad?

The same rules apply to visitors as to residents. A tourist who is of legal age and physically in a legal state can usually bet at a retail sportsbook with a passport, and some apps accept non-US customers if they can pass identity checks, though many require a US Social Security number. Accounts at international bookmakers from your home country will not work while you are in the US: the bookmakers we cover elsewhere on this site exclude the United States, and using them from US soil breaks their terms. Winnings paid to non-residents can be subject to US federal withholding, so keep your betting records and ask the operator how it handles non-resident tax.

How do you bet responsibly in the US?

Licensed US sportsbooks must offer tools to help you stay in control. Set a deposit limit when you open the account, use time-outs if you find yourself betting more often than you planned, and use self-exclusion if you need a longer break. Many states run their own self-exclusion programmes that cover every licensed operator in the state, and some casinos and lotteries have separate lists.

Warning signs include betting more to win back losses, hiding betting from family, borrowing to bet, and feeling restless or irritable when not betting. If any of that sounds familiar, call or text 1-800-MY-RESET for free, confidential help at any time, or visit the National Council on Problem Gambling’s website for online chat options and links to state resources. Gamblers Anonymous also runs meetings across the country. Our safer betting page lists more tools and international services.

A checklist before you bet in any US state

1. Confirm that sports betting is legal in the state where you are physically located today.
2. Check that you meet that state’s minimum age.
3. Choose an app or venue from the state regulator’s list of licensed operators.
4. Read the operator’s terms on fees, bonus conditions and withdrawal methods.
5. Set deposit and time limits in the account before your first bet.
6. Keep records for tax purposes.
7. Save 1-800-MY-RESET in your phone, in case you or someone close to you needs it.

Help also comes in different forms. Helplines (call, text or chat) are free and confidential. State self-exclusion programmes block you from licensed operators for a period you choose. Peer support groups such as Gamblers Anonymous meet in person and online. Financial counselling services can help with debts. Many people use more than one of these at the same time, and family members affected by someone else’s betting can use the same helplines and support groups.

Common myths about US sports betting

What could change next?

Sports betting legislation is debated every year in the states without it, and in states that want to add online betting to a retail-only market. Wisconsin authorised online betting under its tribal compacts in 2026 but had not launched it by October. Ballot initiatives are possible in states such as California. Tax rates also change: several states raised sports betting taxes in 2025 and 2026, which can affect promotions and the number of operators. The safest assumption is that rules will keep moving, so check your regulator’s site whenever you are unsure, rather than relying on old articles.

For readers outside the US, the rest of this site covers sportsbooks we have checked for other countries. For US readers, the only safe recommendation we can make is to use an operator on your state regulator’s list, set limits before you start and keep 1-800-MY-RESET to hand. You can read about how we work on our about page.

Frequently asked questions

How many states have legal sports betting?

Thirty-nine states plus Washington, DC had legal sports betting in October 2026. Missouri was the most recent to launch, on 1 December 2025. Most of these states allow online betting statewide; the rest limit it to casinos, tribal venues or other physical locations.

Is sports betting legal in California?

No. California voters rejected Propositions 26 and 27 in November 2022, and no legal sports betting market existed in October 2026. Californians can bet legally only when they are physically in a state where sports betting is legal.

Can I bet on sports in another state if it is illegal where I live?

Yes, if you are physically in a state where it is legal and you meet its age limit. Licensed apps check your location, not your home address, and will block bets once you leave the state.

Are offshore betting sites legal in the US?

No. Offshore sportsbooks are not licensed by any state, so they are not legal operators anywhere in the US. You have no regulator to turn to if they refuse to pay, and state consumer protections and self-exclusion lists do not apply.

What is the legal age for sports betting in the US?

Twenty-one in most states. A few jurisdictions, including Kentucky, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Wyoming and Washington, DC, allow betting from 18, and some tribal venues set their own age limits.

Can I bet on horse racing online in the US?

In many states, yes, through advance deposit wagering providers licensed by state racing authorities, even in some states without legal sports betting, such as California. Racing bets use pari-mutuel pools rather than fixed sports betting odds.

Where can I get help for a gambling problem in the US?

Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET for free, confidential help 24 hours a day from the National Council on Problem Gambling’s helpline. Your state may also run its own helpline and self-exclusion programme.

Do I have to pay taxes on sports betting winnings?

Yes. Gambling winnings are taxable income under IRS rules, whether or not you receive a W-2G form. Losses are deductible only if you itemise, up to your winnings, and from the 2026 tax year only 90% of losses can be deducted.