States Where Sports Betting Is Legal
If you don’t know if your state has legal online sports betting, you are in the right place. This article contains up to date information on recent sports betting laws and regulations in the United States.
As for legal online sports betting in the US, the situation is changing rapidly. This is because the US Supreme Court made a historic decision to lift the federal ban on sports betting, allowing each state to regulate markets and its sports betting laws.
A few months after the decision, several states, including New Jersey, Delaware, Mississippi, West Virginia, and New Mexico, had begun safe sports betting. Soon after, the other states followed.
This is a sensational time for sports betting in the US, and with loads of new betting opportunities opening up every day, there has never been a better chance to test your luck. Use our article to find complete information on legalized sports betting in the US.
If your state hasn’t approved sports betting yet, follow your state’s guidelines on the important developments in the near future.
BetRivers is a trustworthy sportsbook, where you can bet on any sport and virtual sport, follow the latestest odds and news.
We strongly encourage you to wait for your state to issue legal and regulated online sports betting before betting with real money. While U.S. residents betting on unregulated foreign casinos is technically not illegal, there are a lot of risks.
Current Situation of Online Sports Betting in the United States
The situation is changing rapidly as more states scramble to pass laws and take advantage of the wealth of tax revenues associated with regulated sports betting.
Where Is Sports Betting Legal in the United States?
States that have enacted laws allowing betting vendors and currently accept fully legal sports betting include:
- New Jersey
- Nevada
- Delaware
- West Virginia
- Pennsylvania
- New Hampshire
- Rhode Island
- Arkansas
- Montana
- Iowa
- Indiana
- Illinois
- Michigan
- Tennessee
- Colorado
- North Carolina
- Mississippi
Sports betting in Indiana is expected to become a reality in 2020. It must be said that the current sports betting laws in New Mexico and North Carolina are limited to tribal gambling establishments. Meanwhile sports betting Illinois has become a reality since late 2019.
Each state that chooses to license sports betting operators has a gaming commission established to ensure that betting regulations that were put in place during legislative sessions comply with state and federal laws.
Which States Could Legalize Online Betting or Mobile Sports Betting?
Virginia is likely to introduce mobile sports betting with a bill that was recently passed by lower divisions of the state legislature. Given the dynamics behind the bill, it is only a matter of time until it becomes law.
Maryland also has several bills ready to bring online sports betting in the state.
New York is determined to allow and regulate online and mobile betting as more and more New Yorkers come to neighboring New Jersey to legally place bets.
Other states have similar laws to support online sports betting. These states include Nebraska, Wyoming, and Connecticut.
There is also a list of states that have expressed interest in legalizing sports betting, whether through a bill or through politicians in favor of a local sports betting bill.
- Ohio
- California
- Montana
- South Carolina
- California
- Oklahoma
- Louisiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Kentucky
Check the status of the gambling regulations in your state from time to time.
In Which States Is Online Sports Betting Difficult to Legalize?
The only state that is unlikely to legalize sports betting is Utah. The state’s strict Mormons have always taken a tough position against gambling, and that will not change anytime soon.
Hawaii and Alaska are other states that do not have legal guidelines for sports betting. These two states are isolated from the US continent, so the tax revenues from gambling will not seep into the neighboring states (such as the case of New York and New Jersey).
South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin, Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Nebraska, and Wyoming are likely to legalize sports betting one day, probably in the distant future.
What Are the Sports That You Can Bet on Online in the US?
In general, if the state has legalized sports betting, you can bet on all professional sports and many college sports, except for sports in which the participants (or most participants) are under eighteen.
The sports to bet on include MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, college football and basketball, horse races, golf, MMA, tennis, eSports.
Some states also have provisions for betting on esports, but it is not common for sportsbooks to offer these bets.
How to Make Sure You Are Legally Betting on Sports Online
The best way to ensure that your sports betting is 100% legal is to visit the DGE website of your home state so you always get the most recent information.
USA Online Sports Betting Bonuses & Promotions
Competition in the online sports betting world is strong and with the gradual opening of the US market, sports betting is gaining a foothold as the market grows.
One of the ways online sportsbooks attract new customers is by offering attractive bonuses and promotions. These offers can be very interesting, so if you are looking for an online sportsbook to sign up for, be sure to take advantage of them.
There are many types of bonuses that sports betting operators usually offer. Some of the most common are:
- Free bet bonus
- Refund bonus
- Risk-free bet
- Reload bonus
- Registration / Deposit Bonus
- No deposit bonus
- Better odds
For more information, check out our comprehensive guide to sports betting bonuses which has everything you need to know about sports betting promotions.
What Is the Current Situation of Illinois Sports Betting?
Illinois sports betting was legalized at the end of 2019 and online betting in the state has actually been available in late summer 2020. With the opening of sports betting in the state, the new industry opened up to nearly 13 million people. The first residents showed up for sports betting.
Before coronavirus, the state had a registration law that required anyone wishing to register for an online sports betting account to contact the betting bookmaker’s partner directly and register. Governor Pritzker has ordered the suspension of personal registration requirements, making Illinois one of the states with the highest rate of mobile sports betting registration in the United States.
With this new administrative order, anyone in Illinois can now open a new sports betting online account anytime, anywhere in the state.
Currently, the sports betting Illinois tax is 15%, slightly higher than the national average.
What Is Going to Happen with Online Sports Betting Illinois in the Long Run?
Sports betting is now a reality in Illinois and the only way is up. If we take into account the tax revenues from sports betting that are now transferred to the state treasury, we can expect that the industry will be firmly established in the state. Illinois sports betting market is estimated to reach $5 billion by 2023.
Online sports betting in Illinois could be in the form of a formal partnership between sports franchises and a sportsbook, or it could be a team and a sportsbook. In other states, teams have partnered with sportsbooks.
Questions and Answers About Sports Betting Illinois
Is sports betting legal in Illinois?
Yes, by the end of 2019 sports betting has become legal in Illinois.
How old do you need to be to open a sports betting account?
You need 21 years old to place a bet online in Illinois.
Do I need to live in Illinois to place my bets online?
You don’t need to be a resident of the state to bet in Illinois but to place a bet, you need to be physically in the state.
What sports can you bet on in Illinois?
Most sports can be bet on in Illinois.
Do you pay taxes for betting in Illinois?
The sportsbook is responsible for the 15% income tax in Illinois.
Is it legal to register and bet with offshore sportsbooks in Illinois?
Sports betting with offshore sportsbooks is illegal and dangerous because there is no guarantee that your winnings will be paid off.