What States Are Sports Betting Apps Legal?

If you’re looking to place a bet on your favorite team, you may be wondering if sports betting apps are legal in your state. We’ve got the scoop on which states have legalized sports betting, and which ones have yet to catch up.

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Sports Betting in the US

Since the US Supreme Court overturned a federal ban on sports betting in 2018, many states have since passed legislation to legalize sports betting within their state borders. As of 2020, there are now 20 states (and Washington D.C.) where sports betting is legal. In this article, we’ll take a look at which states have legalized sports betting and what apps are available in each state.

Federal laws

The federal government has not yet taken any steps to regulate sports betting, but it could do so in the future. Currently, the only federal law that has any bearing on sports betting is the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), which was passed in 1992. This law effectively banned sports betting nationwide, with a few exceptions.

PASPA was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2018, opening the door for states to legalize and regulate sports betting. Since then, more than a dozen states have done so, and many more are considering it.

The federal government could choose to step in and regulate sports betting at any time, but for now, it appears content to let the states handle it.

State laws

In the United States, the professional and amateur sports betting industry is regulated by state governments. This means that each US state has the freedom to create its own sports betting laws, and many states have done so in recent years.

As of 2021, there are 20 US states where sports betting is legal. Here is a list of those states, along with a brief overview of their sports betting laws:

-Alabama: Sports betting is not legal in Alabama.
-Alaska: Sports betting is not legal in Alaska.
-Arizona: Sports betting is not legal in Arizona.
-Arkansas: Sports betting is not legal in Arkansas.
-California: Sports betting is not legal in California.
-Colorado: In 2020, Colorado voters passed Proposition DD, which legalized sports betting in the state. Sports bettors must be 21 or older, and bets can be placed online or at physical sportsbooks.
-Connecticut: In June 2019, Connecticut lawmakers passed a bill that would legalize sports betting in the state. The bill has not yet been enacted, but it is expected to do so in the near future.
-Delaware: In June 2018, Delaware became the first US state to legalize sports betting after the Supreme Court ruling on Murphy vs NCAA. Bets can be placed online or at physical casinos in Delaware.
-Florida: Sports betting is not legal in Florida.
-Georgia: Sports betting is not legal in Georgia.
-Hawaii: Sports betting is not legal in Hawaii.
-Idaho: Sports booking is illegal under Idaho law.
-Illinois: Illinois lawmakers passed a bill to legalize sports gambling in 2019, but the bill has not yet been enacted due to ongoing negotiations over regulations between various stakeholders. If enacted, bets could be placed online and at physical casinos and racetracks throughout Illinois.
Indiana:: In May 2019, Indiana lawmakers passed a bill to legalize sports gambling statewide . Bets can be placed online and at physical casinos and racetracks throughout Indiana .J K Kentucky : In 2020 , Kentucky lawmakers passed a bill to legalize sports gambling statewide . Bets can be placed online and at physical casinos and racetracks throughout Kentucky . L Louisiana : Louisiana passed a law in 2020 allowing for statewide sports gambling , but it has yet to be implemented . M Maine : Maine voters approved a ballot initiative to legalizedsports gamblingin November 2019 . The law has not yet been enacted , but itis expectedtocome into effect sometime in 2021 . N Maryland : In 2020 , Maryland voters approved a ballot initiativeto legalizedsports gambling statewide . The law hasnotyet been enacted , but itis expectedtocome into effect sometimein2021 . O Massachusetts :InNovember 2016 , Massachusetts voters approveda ballot initiativeto legalize casino gaming statewide . The first commercial casino opened its doorsinJune 2019 , but there are currentlyno plans to legalize sports gamblingin Massachusetts . P Michigan : Michigan lawmakerspassed abilltolegalizesportsgamblingstatewidein December 2019 .Thebillhasnotyetbeenenactedintspiteof strongsupportfrom Governor Gretchen Whitmer ,butitisexpectedtobeenactedsometimein2020andcomeinto effect early2021Q Minnesota :Minnesota doesnotpresentlyhaveanylawsprohibitingorregulatinggamblingof any kind ; howeverthis doesnot mean that all forms oftentimes V – Z arelegal as federal lawssuch as UIGEA still applyWWest VirginiaIn March 2018 West Virginia becomes only thesecond stateto offerlegalizedonlineand mobilebettingwiththe launchof DraftKingsSportsbook X XavierCollege Preparatorya private Catholicgirls schoolwith an enrollment of about 1 700 students founded 1847byMotherSt Francis XavierCabrini See also list of highschools

The Current Status of Sports Betting in the US

As of May 2019, sports betting is only legal in the states of Delaware, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia. There are currently bills pending in several other states, which would legalize sports betting if passed. This article will provide updates on the current status of sports betting in the US.

Nevada

In 1949, the Nevada Legislature first passed a law authorizing sports betting at Nevada casinos. Since that time, sports betting in the Silver State has been a mainstay of the gaming industry and one of Nevada’s most popular forms of entertainment. Today, you can find sports books in all major casinos in Las Vegas and other gaming establishments throughout the state.

Sports betting is currently legal in Nevada, and it has been for many years. The first sports book in the state was opened in 1931 at the Las Vegas Club casino. However, prior to 1949, there was no state law specifically authorizing sports betting, so it was technically illegal. In 1949, the Legislature passed a bill that made sports betting explicitly legal in Nevada.

The law authorized sports books at Nevada casinos and required them to be operated under strict regulation by the Nevada Gaming Commission. The Commission has since promulgated regulations that are designed to ensure the integrity of sports betting in the state. For example, all bets must be placed with licensed sports books, and all books must use official league data to settle bets.

In addition, the Commission requires casinos to post odds on all major sporting events, so bettors can shop around for the best lines. Betting on sporting events is big business in Nevada. In 2017, total handle (the amount of money wagered) was $4.87 billion. Of that amount, $4.75 billion was bet on football alone.

New Jersey

In 2012, New Jersey voters passed a referendum to legalize sports betting in the state. The first bet was placed in June 2018, and sports betting is now fully operational in the state. There are dozens of sportsbooks currently operating in the state, both online and at physical locations.

sports betting is currently legal in New Jersey, Nevada, Mississippi, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Arkansas. Sports betting is also legal in Washington DC. Dozens of other states are currently considering legalization measures.

Pennsylvania

Since the repeal of PASPA in 2018, Pennsylvania has been one of the frontrunners in the world of legal US sports betting. The state first legalized sports betting in November 2018 and since then has been home to a number of successful online and retail sportsbooks.

However, it is worth noting that not all states have been as successful as Pennsylvania in the realm of legal US sports betting. In fact, some states have yet to legalize sports betting at all, while others have only just begun to roll out their own Sports Betting apps. Here is a quick rundown of where each state currently stands on the issue of legal US Sports Betting:

Alabama: Illegal
Alaska: Illegal
Arizona: Illegal
Arkansas: Legal (retail only)
California: Illegal
Colorado: Legal (online and retail)
Connecticut: Illegal
Delaware: Legal (online and retail)
Florida: Illegal
Georgia: Illegal
Hawaii: Illegal
Idaho: Illegal
Illinois: Legal (online only)
Indiana: Legal (online and retail)
Iowa: Legal (online and retail)
Kansas: Illegal
Kentucky: Illegal Louisiana: Illegal Maine: Legal (retail only) Maryland: Illegal

Delaware

Delaware was one of the first states to offer sports betting after the Supreme Court ruling, with single-game and multi-game betting options available at its three racetrack casinos. All bettors must be at least 21 years old. The state’s lottery runs sports betting operations.

In-person registration was initially required in order to bet, but the state has since moved to online and mobile registration in order to make the process more accessible. Bets can be placed on pro and college sports, but not on games involving Delaware colleges or minor league sports.

There is a $5 minimum bet for single-game wagers, and parlay bets start at $2. The maximum bet limit is set at $1,000.

Rhode Island

In November 2018, Rhode Island became the eighth state in the US to legalize sports betting. The state’s sports betting law allows for mobile and online sports betting, with a 20% tax on gross gaming revenue imposed on both retail and online operators. The law also enables the state lottery to offer sports betting through its existing network of retail locations and its website.

The Future of Sports Betting in the US

While the US has been slow to catch up with the rest of the world when it comes to legal sports betting, there are now several states that have legalized sports betting apps. This is a huge step forward for the industry, and it is sure to change the landscape of sports betting in the US.

New York

New York has not passed any laws specifically pertaining to sports betting, but there are a number of bills that have been introduced in recent years. In 2019, a bill was introduced that would have allowed sports betting at four on-site locations, but the bill did not make it to a vote before the end of the legislative session. There has been significant movement on the issue in 2020, with a number of bills being introduced and hearings being held. The most recent bill, introduced in March 2020, would allow sports betting at both on-site and online locations. It is unclear if any of these bills will be passed into law in the near future, but it seems likely that sports betting will be legalized in New York at some point in the next few years.

Michigan

Michigan is one of the many states that are currently in the process of legalizing sports betting. In December 2019, the Michigan Gaming Control Board unanimously approved sports betting regulations, and Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed them into law in March 2020. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, sports betting was not able to launch in Michigan until November 2020.

Since then, a number of online sports betting apps have gone live in Michigan, including DraftKings Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook, BetMGM, and PointsBet. There are also a number of brick-and-mortar casinos that offer sports betting, including the Greektown Casino, the MGM Grand Detroit, and the MotorCity Casino.

Sports betting is currently only available to adults aged 21 and over, and it is expected to generate around $200 million in annual tax revenue for the state.

Illinois

In Illinois, sports betting is currently not legal. However, state lawmakers are considering a bill that would legalize sports betting in the state. If the bill is passed, sports betting would be allowed at physical casinos and online. There are no specific regulations regarding online sports betting in the bill, so it is unclear whether or not Illinois residents would be able to bet on sports through apps.

Indiana

Indiana sports betting launched on October 3, 2019. The state’s gaming commission has authorized nine casinos to offer sports betting, and all of them are now live. Online and mobile sports betting is also available in Indiana through the BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetRivers apps. All four apps are available to residents and visitors of the state who are 21 or older.

Sports betting is currently regulated by the Indiana Gaming Commission. The commission is tasked with ensuring that all gambling in the state is fair and transparent. They are also responsible for issuing licenses to casinos, bookmakers, and other gaming operators.

The legal age for gambling in Indiana is 21. This applies to both brick-and-mortar casinos and online/mobile sports betting apps.

Iowa

In Iowa, sports betting is currently legal. The state has had legal sports betting for many years, but it wasn’t until 2019 that the legislature passed a bill to formalize and expand sports betting in the state. The bill was signed into law by Governor Kim Reynolds and went into effect on August 15th, 2019.

The law allows for both in-person and online sports betting. There are currently eight casinos in Iowa that offer sports betting, and all of them offer online betting as well. Bettors must be 21 years or older to bet on sports in Iowa.

The law also imposes a 10% tax on winnings from sports bets. The tax revenue generated from sports betting will go towards the state’s general fund, which is used to finance various state programs and services.

So far, sports betting has been very popular in Iowa. In the first month after the law went into effect, over $100 million was wagered on sports in the state. This generated $1 million in tax revenue for the state.