In May 2018, the US Supreme Court ruled that the ban under the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was unconstitutional. PASPA was a law that attempted to define the legal status of sports betting in the USA and effectively outlawed sports betting across the country with the exception of a few states.
Where is sports betting legal right now?
When SCOTUS overturned PASPA, the legal status of sports betting in the USA changed dramatically. While not every state has legalized sports betting since this legal ruling, many have, and many more look like they will soon follow suit. To date, there are a total of 33 states, including Washington D.C., where sports betting, in some form, is legal.
25 LEGALIZED
Nevada
New Jersey
West Virginia
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Arkansas
New York
Iowa
Oregon
Indiana
New Hampshire
Illinois
Michigan
Colorado
Tennessee
Virginia
Ohio
Arizona
Connecticut
Maryland
Kansas
Massachusetts
Washington DC
Wyoming
Louisiana
14 ON THE WAY TO LEGALIZATION
Maine
Kentucky
Minnesota
Missouri
South Carolina
California
Hawaii
Texas
Georgia
Vermont
Alabama
Florida
Nebraska
Oklahoma
9 LEGALIZED, BUT NOT ONLINE YET
Washington State
North Carolina
Delaware
Mississippi
Montana
New Mexico
South Dakota
North Dakota
Wisconsin
3 NO MOVEMENT TOWARDS LEGAL SPORTS BETTING
Idaho
Utah
Alaska
USA Sports Betting Legal Map | Sidelines
The Next 3 States to Have Operational Legal Sports Betting
Maine: Maine legalized sports betting in August of 2022 but is still a ways away from its citizens being able to place bets. It’s a slow process, but the four federally recognized tribes in Maine will eventually partner with four online sportsbooks. We don’t know yet what those four will be, and our best guess is that they’ll be operational in Maine in mid to late 2023.
Massachusetts: Massachusetts is set to launch live sports betting on January 31st, and projects to have online sportsbooks available sometime in March. BetMGM, Caesars, WynnBET, Barstool Sportsbook, and Fanatics Sportsbook have all been approved for a mobile license. Other applications including DraftKings, FanDuel, and PointsBet are still being reviewed.
Nebraska: Nebraska has legalized in-person betting at approved locations, but no movement on online sports betting. In-person betting should be available by the beginning of 2024
How would LEGAL sports betting benefit you?
The biggest benefit of sports betting legally as opposed to illegally is regulation. You don’t have to place bets with a sketchy bookie who could stiff you without any repercussions. You don’t run the risk of an illegal website disappearing without a word but with your money. It’s ultimately a much safer, risk-free experience.
When legalized and regulated, sports betting is made more transparent, which eliminates the demand for the black market.
