What States Can I Legally Bet on Sports?

Looking to bet on sports but not sure what states you can do it legally in? Check out our blog post to find out!

Checkout this video:

Introduction

With the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018, sports betting is now legal in select states across the US. Here is a breakdown of where sports betting is currently legal, as well as where it is expected to be legalized in the near future.

States where sports betting is currently legal:
-Nevada
-Delaware
-New Jersey
-Mississippi
-Pennsylvania
-West Virginia
-Rhode Island
-Arkansas
-(Technically) Montana

States where sports betting is expected to be legalized in 2019:
-Oregon
-Illinois
-Indiana
-(Possibly) Connecticut

It should be noted that while sports betting may be legal in these states, not all forms of sports betting may be available. For example, while you may be able to bet on sporting events in Nevada, online and mobile sports betting may not yet be available. Always check with your local laws and regulations before placing any bets.

Federal Laws

In the United States, sports betting is only legal in Nevada, Montana, Oregon, and Delaware. There are also a few US territories where sports betting is legal, including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Sports betting is illegal in all other US states. Federal law does not specifically make sports betting illegal, but it does make it illegal to accept payments for sports bets.

Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act

The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was a United States federal law that was enacted in 1992. The act banned sports betting nationwide, with the exception of Nevada, Delaware, Montana, and Oregon, which had pre-existing sports lotteries. After the law was enacted, New Jersey attempted to legalize sports betting in 2014 but was challenged by the major professional sports leagues and the NCAA. The case made its way to the Supreme Court, which ultimately struck down PASPA in May 2018, effectively legalizing sports betting across the country.

State Laws

There are four states where betting on sports is legal – Nevada, Delaware, Montana, and Oregon. If you live in one of these four states, you can bet on sports legally. If you live in any other state, you can bet on sports through an online sportsbook that is based in one of the four legal states.

Nevada

In Nevada, only Las Vegas is able to offer full sports betting. There are no other locations in the state that are able to do so. All other forms of gambling are also only available in Las Vegas. This includes casinos, bingo, and poker rooms. There are no exceptions to this rule.

New Jersey

It is currently legal to bet on sports in the state of New Jersey. In 2012, the state of New Jersey passed a law that would allow sports betting in the state. This law was challenged by the major professional sports leagues in the United States, but the Supreme Court of the United States sided with New Jersey and struck down the federal law that had prevented states from legalizing sports betting.

Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, legal sports betting is done through the state’s casinos. There are currently nine casinos operating in Pennsylvania, with several more in the process of being built or expanded. All of the casinos offer sports betting, and most have online and mobile options as well.

There are a few caveats to keep in mind when betting on sports in Pennsylvania. First, all bets must be placed in-person at a casino or through an online/mobile platform provided by a casino. Second, all bettors must be at least 21 years of age. Finally, while there is no law specifically banning Pennsylvania residents from betting on out-of-state sportsbook apps, doing so may violate the terms and conditions set forth by those apps.

The following types of bets are currently allowed in Pennsylvania:

-Moneyline bets
-Point spread bets
-Proposition (“prop”) bets
-Parlays
-Futures bets

Rhode Island

In Rhode Island, sports betting is not currently legal. However, there has been legislation introduced in the Rhode Island General Assembly that would authorize sports betting in the state. The legislation was approved by the House of Representatives in March 2019 and is currently being considered by the Senate. If the legislation is passed by the Senate and signed into law by the governor, sports betting would be allowed at twin river casino locations in Lincoln and Tiverton.

West Virginia

West Virginia sports betting is live as of August 2019. The state lottery commission will oversee all activities related to sports betting in the state.

There are currently four licensed casinos in West Virginia that can offer sports betting: Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort, The Greenbrier, and Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack.

Out-of-state bettors can also place bets online through the following mobile apps: BetLucky (operated by Miomni Gaming), FanDuel Sportsbook, and DraftKings Sportsbook.

In order to place a bet, you must be 21 years of age or older and physically located within the state of West Virginia.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are a number of states in which you can legally bet on sports. These include Nevada, Oregon, Montana, and Delaware. In addition, there are a number of other states in which you can legally bet on sports through online platforms.