Which States Is Sports Gambling Legal?

The Supreme Court’s decision in Murphy v. NCAA has cleared the way for states to legalize sports gambling. But which states are actually going to do it?

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Federal Law

The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act

The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) is a 1992 federal law that prohibits sports gambling in most states. The law was challenged in court by the state of New Jersey, and in 2018, the Supreme Court ruled that PASPA was unconstitutional. This ruling paved the way for states to legalize and regulate sports betting.

As of 2021, 18 states have legalized sports betting, with more expected to follow suit in the coming years. Sports betting is a popular way to gamble on sporting events, and it can be done online or in-person at licensed sportsbooks.

State Law

Since the federal ban on sports gambling was lifted in May 2018, states have been scrambling to get their own laws in order. So far, only a handful of states have been able to get everything up and running smoothly. Here is a list of all the states where sports gambling is currently legal.

Nevada

The state of Nevada has long been the only state in the US where gambling is legal. As such, it has a well-developed regulatory system for casinos and sports books. Nevada is also the only state where you can find online sports gambling sites that are specifically licensed and regulated by the state.

Nevada has a long history of gambling, dating back to the early 1900s when it first became legal. In 1931, the state passed a law legalizing casino gambling, and in 1949 it established the Nevada Gaming Commission to regulate the industry. Today, there are more than 200 casinos in Nevada, and gambling is a major contributor to the state’s economy.

Sports betting was first legalized in Nevada in 1975, and there are now more than 60 sports books operating in the state. You can bet on all major professional and collegiate sports, including football, basketball, baseball, hockey, golf, and more. There are also several online sports gambling sites that are based in Nevada and regulated by the state.

New Jersey

Sports betting in New Jersey is currently legal. In 2012, the state passed a law that would have allowed sports betting at casinos and racetracks, but it was challenged by the major professional sports leagues and the NCAA and never went into effect.

In May 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a federal law that had effectively banned sports betting in most states. This opened the door for individual states to pass their own laws governing sports betting.

New Jersey quickly took advantage of the ruling, passing a law in June 2018 that made sports betting legal at casinos and racetracks. The first bets were placed on July 14, 2018.

Mississippi

In 2018, Mississippi became the third state in the nation to legalize sports gambling. The state’s gaming commission will oversee the activity, which will take place at casinos and betting parlors. Sports betting was originally slated to launch in August 2018, but it was delayed due to a dispute between the state’s gaming commission and the NCAA.

Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, sports betting is regulated by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. The first sports bet was placed on August 28, 2019. The state offers online and retail sports betting. Online sports betting is only available through licensed casinos. There are eight land-based casinos in Pennsylvania. Retail sports betting is only available at these casinos.

The legal age for both online and retail sports betting in Pennsylvania is 21. Bets can be placed on professional and collegiate sporting events, except for those taking place within the state of Pennsylvania or involving Pennsylvania teams. There are no limitations on the amount that can be bet on a single game or event.

The tax rate for sports betting in Pennsylvania is 36% for in-person bets and 54% for online bets. Revenues generated from sports betting are used to support the state’s horseracing industry, with a portion also going to the general fund.

West Virginia

West Virginia Sports Betting is live as of December 2018. 3 casinos in the state have already begun taking bets, with a 4th adding sports betting in early 2019. The legal age for betting in West Virginia is 21, and all bets must be placed within the state at one of the land-based casinos. There is currently no online or mobile sports betting allowed in West Virginia.

Future of Sports Gambling

After SCOTUS overturned PASPA in May 2018, it left the future of sports gambling up in the air. It was now up to each individual state to decide whether or not they wanted to legalize sports gambling. Some states have already taken advantage of the opportunity and have made sports gambling legal, while other states are still debating the pros and cons.

The Supreme Court Case of Murphy vs. NCAA

The case of Murphy vs. NCAA is a historic one that will have major implications on the future of sports gambling in the United States. The case was brought to the Supreme Court by the state of New Jersey, which has long beenadelphia 76ers wanting to allow sports betting in its casinos and racetracks. The NCAA, along with other major sports leagues, argued that allowing sports betting would lead to corruption and harm the integrity of their games.

The Supreme Court sided with New Jersey, ruling that the federal law that prohibited states from legalizing sports gambling was unconstitutional. This ruling gives states the green light to legalize sports gambling if they so choose. It is expected that many states will quickly move to do just that, and it is estimated that there could be as many as 32 states with legal sports gambling by 2025.

This ruling could have a major impact on the economy, with billions of dollars expected to be generated in new revenue each year. It could also lead to a boom in new jobs and businesses related to sports gambling.