Sports betting is legal in the US 2026 (full list)

Sports betting is legal in 39 states and Washington DC as of May 2026, with 30 states offering legal online sports betting through licensed apps. Other states limit betting to retail sportsbooks, operate in exclusively tribal markets, or do not allow sports betting at all. The landscape changed after the Supreme Court struck down PASPA in 2018, allowing each state to legalize and regulate sports betting independently. Since then, new states have launched almost every year, with more expected to consider legalizing sports betting in 2026. This page profiles each state when it comes to sports betting, including where online betting is available and which states still restrict or ban betting. Below is a comprehensive guide to the legality of sports betting in all 50 states, including online availability, launch dates, restrictions on college betting, and licensed sports betting. Legal Sports Betting States: Quick Reference 2026 The table below shows the current state of sports betting in all 50 states and Washington DC. How Sports Betting Became Legal in the United States Sports betting was effectively illegal at the federal level under the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) from 1992 to 2018. The law prohibited states from allowing sports gambling, with limited exceptions for Nevada and a few other jurisdictions with existing frameworks. In May 2018, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association that PASPA was unconstitutional, leaving the decision up to individual states. New Jersey launched the first legal online sports betting site outside of Nevada in August. Since then, more than 30 states have followed suit. For the latest welcome offers in legal states, visit our sports betting promotions page. Sports Betting by State: Current Status, History, and Available Sports Betting The sections below cover each U.S. state in alphabetical order. Each entry includes current legal status, online and retail availability, restrictions on college betting and licensed sports betting where applicable. Is sports betting legal in Alabama? Several sports betting bills have failed in Alabama in recent years. A proposed 2026 constitutional amendment (SB 257) would allow voters to decide whether to allow sports betting alongside a state lottery and casinos. He has yet to muster enough legislative support to move forward. Is sports betting legal in Alaska? The most recent legalization bill (HB 145) was introduced in March 2025 but has not moved forward. There is no clear timeline for sports betting in Alaska. Is sports betting legal in Arizona? Arizona is one of the most competitive markets in the country with 14 licensed online carriers. Betting on professional and college games is possible, but college player props are prohibited. Check out our complete guide to Arizona sports betting for current promotions and apps. Is sports betting legal in Arkansas? Arkansas launched retail betting in July 2019 and added online betting in March 2022. In March 2026, DraftKings and FanDuel entered as technology providers through local partnerships, attracting large national operators to the state for the first time. Is sports betting legal in California? Two California ballot measures in November 2022 each received less than 20% of voter support. No new legislation has been introduced in 2025. Tribal gambling interests have significant influence on California’s path to legalization, and no near-term launch appears likely. Visit our California sports betting page for the latest legislative updates. Is sports betting legal in Colorado? Colorado has the most licensed online sportsbooks of any state at 16. Professional and college games are available, but college player paraphernalia is prohibited. Full list of operators and current offers on our Colorado sports betting page. Is sports betting legal in Connecticut? Connecticut operates under tribal gaming agreements and is one of the smallest markets, with only three licensed online operators. Bettors cannot bet on public schools like UConn except during multi-team tournaments. Check out our Connecticut sports betting guide for current offerings. Is sports betting legal in Delaware? Delaware was the first state outside of Nevada to launch sports betting following the 2018 Supreme Court decision. Online betting launched in December 2023 with BetRivers as the sole online operator. The market is small but fully regulated. Is sports betting legal in Florida? Sports betting in Florida has a complicated history. It launched briefly in November 2021 as part of an agreement with the Seminole Tribe, was shut down three weeks later due to legal challenges, and relaunched in November 2023. Hard Rock Bet is the only licensed online sports betting site available statewide. Learn more on our Florida sports betting page. Is sports betting legal in Georgia? Two Georgia House measures were debated in 2025 before missing the legislative deadline. A 2026 bill (HB 910) would legalize mobile betting in the Georgia Lottery without requiring a constitutional amendment, but significant hurdles remain. Follow our Georgia sports betting page for the latest updates. Is sports betting legal in Hawaii? Several bills were introduced in 2025, but none passed before the legislative deadline. A small step forward was seen in February 2026, but Hawaii remains one of the most restrictive gaming states in the country, with no clear launch timeline. Is sports betting legal in Idaho? No sports betting legislation has been introduced in Idaho since 2025. The state constitution largely restricts gambling and there is little political momentum for change. Is sports betting legal in Illinois? Illinois has 10 licensed online sportsbooks and is one of the largest markets in the Midwest. The state increased its sports betting tax rate in the 2025 budget. Bettors cannot bet on the state’s college games or college players’ props. Check out our Illinois sports betting guide for current promotions. Is sports betting legal in Indiana? Indiana launched in September 2019 and is one of the most established markets in the Midwest with 11 licensed operators. College games are available but college player accessories are prohibited. Check out our Indiana sports betting guide for current promotions. Is sports betting legal in Iowa? Iowa was an early adopter and has become a competitive market with 14 licensed online operators. College games are available for wagering, but college player props are prohibited. Complete guide on our Iowa sports betting page. Is sports betting legal in Kansas? Kansas launched in September 2022 with six licensed online operators. College games are available, but college player paraphernalia is not permitted. Check out our Kansas sports betting page for current offers. Is sports betting legal in Kentucky? Kentucky is one of the most bettor-friendly states with no restrictions on betting on college games or college player props. Eight approved operators are available. It was launched in September 2023 and has been growing rapidly. Check out our Kentucky sports betting guide. Is sports betting legal in Louisiana? Louisiana allows sports betting at the parish level, not statewide. Not all parishes have joined, so availability varies by location. Eight approved operators are active in the authorized areas. College player accessories are prohibited. Check out our Louisiana sports betting guide for a complete analysis. Is sports betting legal in Maine? Maine is an online-only market with only two licensed operators. There are no retail sports betting locations. Betting on state college games and college player props is prohibited. Is sports betting legal in Maryland? Maryland has 11 licensed online carriers and is one of the most competitive Mid-Atlantic markets. College games are available but college player accessories are prohibited. Current promotions and app reviews on our Maryland sports betting page. Is sports betting legal in Massachusetts? Massachusetts has some of the most specific college betting rules in the country. National teams can only bet on in multi-team qualifying tournaments like the NCAA tournament. College player accessories are completely prohibited. All the details in our Massachusetts sports betting guide. Is sports betting legal in Michigan? Michigan is one of the most established and competitive online betting markets in the Midwest. Several major operators are licensed and the market launched in early 2021. Check out our Michigan sports betting guide for current offerings. Is sports betting legal in Minnesota? Minnesota passed a sports betting bill in 2022 but has not initiated it due to ongoing disputes between tribal gaming interests and racetrack operators. The 2023 and 2024 legislative sessions are at a standstill, and the 2025-2026 session represents the next big opportunity for progress. Is sports betting legal in Mississippi? Mississippi has offered retail sports betting since August 2018, but online betting is not available statewide. The House passed two 2026 bills, including one by a 100-11 margin, but both died in the Senate. The Chairman of the Gambling Committee has consistently blocked progress and remains in office until 2028. Is sports betting legal in Missouri? Missouri voters approved sports betting via ballot and the market launched in December 2025. All major operators are now in the state. Check out our Missouri sports betting guide for current promotions. Is sports betting legal in Montana? Montana regulates sports betting through the state lottery. Bets can only be placed at authorized Sports Bet Montana locations. The app does not work statewide and no major national carriers are available. Is sports betting legal in Nebraska? Nebraska legalized retail sports betting in May 2021 and physical locations opened in 2023. Online sports betting remains prohibited. A 2024 special session introduced legislation on online expansion, but it has not moved forward. A 2026 ballot initiative is under consideration. Is sports betting legal in Nevada? Nevada has been legal sports betting longer than any other state and remains the retail sports betting capital of America. Online betting has been available since 2010, eight years before any other state. Las Vegas offers hundreds of sportsbooks at casinos and resorts. Is sports betting legal in New Hampshire? New Hampshire launched online-only sports betting in January 2020 under an exclusive six-year deal with DraftKings. No other operators are available and there are no points of sale. In-state college games and college player paraphernalia are prohibited. Is sports betting legal in New Jersey? New Jersey was the driving force behind the Supreme Court case that legalized sports betting nationwide and launched the first legal online sportsbook outside of Nevada in August 2018. It remains one of the largest markets in terms of handle. Check out our New Jersey sports betting guide for current offerings. Is sports betting legal in New Mexico? New Mexico was one of the first states to offer sports betting after PASPA, but betting is limited to in-person tribal casinos under existing gaming agreements. No major national operators are available and there is no statewide online betting. Is sports betting legal in New York? New York quickly became the most profitable sports betting market in the country after launching online in January 2022. Nine operators are licensed. Betting on in-state college games and college player props in New York is not permitted. For current promotions, check out our New York sports betting page. Is sports betting legal in North Carolina? North Carolina became the 30th state to offer statewide online sports betting when it launches in March 2024. All major operators are available. It is possible to bet on college games, but college player paraphernalia is prohibited. Check out our North Carolina sports betting guide for current promotions. Is sports betting legal in North Dakota? North Dakota offers in-person sports betting at tribal casinos, but does not have a statewide online option. A proposed 2025 constitutional amendment to allow voters to decide online betting was defeated in the House. Is sports betting legal in Ohio? Ohio launched retail and online sports betting on January 1, 2023 following legalization in December 2021. Several large operators are licensed and the market has grown rapidly. Check out our Ohio sports betting guide for current promotions. Is sports betting legal in Oklahoma? Two bills passed the Oklahoma House in early 2025 but remained stalled in the Senate. Disagreements between tribal interests and lawmakers have repeatedly blocked progress, despite support from the governor and other stakeholders. Is sports betting legal in Oregon? Oregon did not need new legislation to launch sports betting because existing state law allowed limited betting. DraftKings operates through an exclusive lottery partnership. Betting on college games and college player props is not available. Is sports betting legal in Pennsylvania? Pennsylvania was one of the first states to allow sports betting following the 2018 Supreme Court ruling and now has one of the most established markets in the country with several licensed operators. See our Pennsylvania sports betting guide for current offers. Is sports betting legal in Rhode Island? Rhode Island offers retail and online sports betting. Two operators are approved for online betting. In-state college games and college player paraphernalia are prohibited. Is sports betting legal in South Carolina? A South Carolina Senate committee held a hearing in February 2026 for S.444, which would establish a Sports Betting Commission to regulate online betting. Despite this progress, near-term legalization remains unlikely given the political and regulatory hurdles it entails. Is sports betting legal in South Dakota? South Dakota voters approved sports betting in 2020. Four casinos in Deadwood began accepting wagers in September 2021. Bettors must be on casino property to wager. A constitutional amendment proposed in 2025 to allow online betting statewide is expected to go before voters in 2026. Is sports betting legal in Tennessee? Tennessee is an online-only sports betting market with no retail outlets. Several large operators are approved. It is possible to bet on college games, but college player props are not available. Check out our Tennessee sports betting guide for current promotions. Is sports betting legal in Texas? Sports betting in Texas remains illegal despite growing support from major professional sports franchises and some lawmakers. A bill passed the Texas House in 2023 for the first time in state history, but remained stalled in the Senate. No major sports betting legislation has advanced during the 2025 legislative session, with efforts yet to gain traction in the Senate. The Texas Legislature meets every two years in odd sessions, making 2027 the next realistic opportunity for another attempt at legalization. Our Texas sports betting page tracks the latest legislative developments. Is sports betting legal in Utah? Utah has some of the strictest gambling laws in the country. The state constitution explicitly prohibits all forms of gambling, making legalization of sports betting extremely unlikely without a constitutional amendment. Is sports betting legal in Vermont? Vermont launched online-only sports betting in January 2024. There are no retail sportsbooks. DraftKings, FanDuel and Fanatics Sportsbook are the three licensed operators. Is sports betting legal in Virginia? Virginia launched in January 2021 and has become a competitive market. Betting on state college games and college player props is prohibited. Check out our guide to sports betting in Virginia. Is sports betting legal in Washington State? Washington state passed a law in 2020 to allow sports betting at tribal casinos. All bets must originate from tribal lands. More than 15 casinos offer in-person and app betting, but the app only works within tribal boundaries. Major commercial carriers like FanDuel are not available statewide. Is sports betting legal in Washington DC? Washington DC offers legal sports betting throughout the District through six licensed operators. The market has grown significantly in 2024 compared to a previous single-operator model. The minimum legal age for betting is 18, although some operators require 21. Check out our Washington DC sports betting guide for more details. Is sports betting legal in West Virginia? West Virginia became the fifth state to legalize sports betting following the 2018 Supreme Court ruling. Retail and online betting are available through several major licensed operators. Check out our West Virginia sports betting page. Is sports betting legal in Wisconsin? Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers signed the Online Sports Betting Act into law on April 9, 2026. The law gives Wisconsin’s federally recognized tribes exclusive rights to operate mobile sports betting, meaning commercial operators like DraftKings and FanDuel cannot offer independent apps. The launch is planned several months after the law comes into force. Is sports betting legal in Wyoming? Wyoming is an online-only sports betting market that launched in September 2021. Five operators are currently licensed in the state. States Where Sports Betting Is Not Legal Currently, the following states have no legal sports betting of any kind: Georgia, Minnesota, Texas, and South Carolina are in active discussions and are the most likely candidates to launch in the next two to four years. California and Utah face the highest structural barriers. Which states could legalize sports betting next? Legal Sports Betting by State The operators below hold active licenses in several US states. Click on any bookmaker name to see current welcome offers, promo codes and registration details. How to Start Betting on Sports in Your State If you’re in a state where online sports betting is legal, getting started is simple: For a comprehensive comparison of the best apps licensed in legal states, check out our guide to the best betting apps. Responsible Gaming Sports betting should be fun. Only bet what you can afford to lose and never bet to recoup your losses. All licensed sportsbooks in legal states must offer responsible gaming tools, including deposit limits, self-exclusion, and expense tracking. If gambling stops being enjoyable or begins to affect your daily life, free and confidential support is available 24 hours a day. You must be 21 or older to place a sports bet in most states. Some states allow betting from the age of 18. Age requirements vary by state and carrier. Sports Betting FAQs by State Where is sports betting legal in the United States? Sports betting has been legal in 39 states, plus Washington DC, as of May 2026. Of these, 30 states offer online or mobile betting through licensed apps. Other legal states are limited to retail sports betting or tribal-only markets. Some states, including Tennessee, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and Wyoming, are online-only markets with no retail sports betting. Others, like Florida and Washington, only allow limited forms of online sports betting. Here is a list of all legal states for sports betting, including online, retail, and tribal-only states: AZ, AR, CO, CT, DE, FL, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, VT, VA, WA, DC, WV, WI, WY How many states have legal online sports betting apps? As of May 2026, 30 states plus Washington DC offer legal online sports betting. Wisconsin enacted online betting in April 2026, but has not yet launched. Here is a list of states that allow online or mobile sports betting in some form: AZ, AR, CO, CT, DE, FL, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MO, NV, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, RI, TN, VT, VA, DC, WV, WI, WY. Which states don’t allow sports betting? Alabama, Alaska, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah currently have no legal sports betting options. L he Minnesota passed a law, but it has not been launched. Utah faces the highest structural hurdle due to a constitutional ban on all gambling. When did sports betting sites become legal in the United States? The federal ban on sports betting (PASPA) was overturned by the Supreme Court in May 2018. New Jersey launched the first legal online sports betting site outside of Nevada in August 2018. Since then, more than 30 states have followed. In which states is DraftKings legal? DraftKings is the most widely available sports betting site in the United States, licensed in 26 states as well as Washington DC. It operates in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming. In which states is FanDuel legal? FanDuel is the most used sportsbook in the United States in terms of market share. It operates in all major online markets including New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Colorado, Michigan, Massachusetts, and more. Can I bet on sports if I visit a legal state? Yes. If you are physically located in a state where sports betting is legal, you can place bets through any app permitted in that state, regardless of where you live. You cannot place bets when you are in a state where sports betting is not legal. All licensed sportsbooks use geolocation to verify your physical location. What is the minimum age for betting on sports? The minimum age is 21 in most states. Some states, including New Jersey, Iowa, Wyoming and Washington DC, allow betting at 18, although individual operators can impose a minimum of 21, regardless of state law. Always check your state law and the age requirements of the specific application before registering. Is online sports betting legal in my state? Online sports betting is only legal in certain states and the rules vary greatly depending on where you are. Some states allow full statewide mobile betting through multiple licensed apps, while others limit betting to tribal lands, a single operator, or retail sportsbooks only. Check the table above to see if online sports betting is legal in your state.