Since the Supreme Court decision on sports betting in 2018, players have been asking about the states where sports betting is legal. In fact, several states have either regulated the activity or have decided to move in that direction. All told, some 42 states are taking steps toward the regulation of betting on sports.
Below is a list of states where sports betting is legal and open for business (or where a launch date for regulated sports gambling has been set) as of August 11th, 2019:
Nevada legalized sports betting in 1949. It was the first state to regulate sports betting and was grandfathered in after the PASPA was passed to prohibit future state expansion.
Since the Supreme Court decision in 2018, Delaware was the first state to legalize sports betting.
New Jersey sports betting launched in 2018 after being signed into law in June. It is one of the largest markets in the country.
Mississippi legalized sports betting in 2018. 23 properties now offer sports betting since launching on August 1, 2018.
Pennsylvania was one of the first states to pass a law authorizing sports betting. Online sports betting is also legalized. Sports betting was officially launched in November 2018.
West Virginia legalized sports betting in August 2018 and online betting in December 2018.
In November 2018, state residents approved expanding casino gaming in Arkansas by voting on the midterm election ballot. The state became the eighth to legalize sports betting.
Rhode Island legalized sports betting in 2018, but that didn’t include mobile betting. No launch date has been set.
Montana became the first state in 2019 to legalize sports betting. The state lottery will oversee a system of wagering through kiosks and mobile applications.
Sports betting became legal in Tennessee on April 30, 2019. The governor did not sign the bill but allowed it to become a law.
Indiana legalized sports betting on May 8, 2019. The law allows for statewide mobile betting, which was originally stripped from the bill during the early process.
Legalized sports betting in New Hampshire was signed into law in June 2019. While most states allow betting to those 21 and older, New Hampshire is one of the states where someone must be 18 years old to bet.
New York moved ahead with sports betting plans in June of 2019. The Gaming Commission unanimously approved guidelines for sports betting facilities across Upstate New York. These guidelines include rules and regulations for licensing, opening, and operating facilities.
The Illinois state legislature passed a bill to legalize physical sports books and online sports betting in June 2019.
While sports betting is not actually authorized in New Mexico, in July of 2019 two Tribal casinos launched sports books.
Sports betting officially became legal in North Carolina on July 26, 2019. The law allows the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to operate retail sports books at two casinos in the Appalachian Mountains.
Legalized sports betting in Iowa was passed in May and is set to launch August 15th, 2019. Under the law, those 21 and older can gamble.
Oregon was one of the four states grandfathered in when the PASPA law was passed in 1992. However, the industry was not regulated. The state plans to have mobile and retail operations prior to the 2019 NFL season.
You can read more about states where sports betting is legal (and where it may be regulated soon) at the Business Insider
