Although states like New Jersey and Pennsylvania receive all the fanfare for their multiple tiers of online gambling, other states are launching or making plans to launch online casinos and sportsbooks all the time. In fact, there are so many things happening in the states that it can be hard to keep track. Legal online sports gambling is increasing throughout the United States. Several states have already legalized sports betting, while many others have begun discussions on how sports betting bills will benefit their state and can be passed.

Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware all used their right to regulate the online gambling market on their territory, with the former focusing on online poker action, while the latter two additionally set up legislation for online casino sites. “Live, Legal” denotes states where single-game sports betting is legally offered to consumers through retail and/or online sportsbooks. States classified as “Legal – Not Yet Operational” have authorized sports betting, but have yet to launch. “Active or Pre-Filed Legislation” denotes jurisdictions where bills to legalize single. From then on, each state had an opportunity to legalize other gambling forms like betting with free bets, individually. Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware were among the quickest to react by adopting.

After New Jersey's Supreme Court victory in May 2018, any state that wishes can legalize sports betting.

At the same time various state lawmakers are considering sports betting legislation, Congress is too. Senators Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and now-retired Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, co-introduced comprehensive sports betting legislation at the end of 2018. On Sept. 27, 2018 the House Judiciary Committee held a formal hearing on the topic.

The dual track of proposals -- state and federal -- have increased in frequency since the start of 2017.

To measure the change in the landscape, we ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia in terms of how likely it is for each jurisdiction to offer full-scale legal sports betting. A brief synopsis for the active states is included, with updates to follow.

Last updated on November 3, 2020.

Already there

1. Nevada

No longer the only state to permit a wide variety of legal sports betting, Nevada is a mature market that has existed for decades. Given its long history in successfully offering regulated sports wagering, many states might look to Nevada for best practices.

Type of wagering permitted: In-person and mobile
Notable prohibitions: None
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 223
Population: 3,034,392 (2,246,259 21+)

2. Delaware

On June 5, 2018, Delaware moved to offer single-game betting on a number of different sports at three casinos in the state. Expanded sports wagering options could take place at additional locations or online. Delaware's authorization of what Gov. John Carney described as 'a full-scale sports gaming operation' happened less than a month after the Supreme Court ruled that the federal law restricting single-game betting to Nevada was unconstitutional.

Type of wagering permitted: In-person
Notable prohibitions: No betting on games involving in-state college teams
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 3
Population: 967,171 (726,161 21+)

3. New Jersey

On June 11, 2018, Gov. Phil Murphy signed the sports betting bill that had passed the previous week. A William Hill sportsbook at Monmouth Park took the first bets on Thursday, June 14 at 10:30 a.m. ET. Gov. Murphy was the first customer in line. The Borgata in Atlantic City booked sports bets 30 minutes later. Other sportsbooks in New Jersey opened soon thereafter. For example, FanDuel's first sportsbook at the Meadowlands opened its doors on July 14.

Type of wagering permitted: In-person and mobile
Notable prohibitions: No betting on games involving in-state college teams and collegiate events held within the state
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 9
Population: 8,908,520 (6,634,683 21+)

4. Mississippi

Two casinos owned by MGM Resorts booked their first sports bets in Mississippi on Aug. 1, 2018. Mississippi enacted a new law in 2017 that allowed for sports betting pending a favorable decision by the Supreme Court. In June 2018, the Mississippi Gaming Commission adopted implementing regulations that require all betting to take place in person, with mobile wagering to be considered later.

Type of wagering permitted: In-person
Notable prohibitions: None
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 29
Population: 2,986,530 (2,153,795 21+)

5. West Virginia

On Aug. 30, 2018, West Virginia became the fifth state to offer legal and regulated sports betting when the Hollywood Casino -- a sportsbook owned by Penn National -- opened its doors. The move came six months after the West Virginia legislature passed a new bill with the West Virginia Lottery Commission serving as the chief regulator.

Type of wagering permitted: In-person and mobile
Notable prohibitions: None
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 5
Population: 1,805,832 (1,375,788 21+)

6. New Mexico

On Oct. 16, 2018, the Santa Ana Star Casino & Hotel booked its first sports bet in partnership with Nevada-based USBookmaking. Although New Mexico has not passed any new sports betting legislation since the Supreme Court's decision, the move by the Santa Ana Star Casino & Hotel was made via a gaming compact with the state. According to Nedra Darling, spokeswoman at the Department of the Interior's Office of Indian Affairs -- the federal agency in Washington, DC that oversees tribal gaming compacts -- the New Mexico compacts permit 'any or all forms of Class III Gaming,' a category in the federal regulations that specifically includes '[a]ny sports betting and pari-mutuel wagering.'

Type of wagering permitted: In-person
Notable prohibitions: No betting on games involving in-state college teams
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 32
Population: 2,095,428 (1,529,540 21+)

7. Pennsylvania

The Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course booked the first legal sports bets in Pennsylvania in mid-November 2018. The move came just over a year after Gov. Tom Wolf signed a new sports betting bill as part of a broad legislation push that included online poker and DFS. The October 2017 bill became effective after the Supreme Court's May 2018 ruling upending the federal ban on single-game betting outside of Nevada.

Type of wagering permitted: In-person and mobile
Notable prohibitions: None
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 12
Population: 12,807,060 (9,645,705 21+)

8. Rhode Island

The Twin River Casino in Lincoln opened its doors for legal sports betting on Nov. 26, 2018. The move came five months after Gov. Gina Raimondo signed the state budget, which included language allowing sports betting. Only two locations would be allowed to offer sports betting under the law, with the state's lottery providing regulatory oversight. In early 2019, the law was tweaked to provide for mobile betting.

Type of wagering permitted: In-person and mobile
Notable prohibitions: No betting on games involving in-state college teams
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 2
Population: 1,057,315 (800,838 21+)

9. Arkansas

On July 1, 2019, the Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort booked the first legal sports bets in Arkansas. Two other retail locations opened sportsbooks in the subsequent months. Sports betting is regulated by the Arkansas Racing Commission.

Type of wagering permitted: In-person
Notable prohibitions: No betting on games involving in-state college teams
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 3
Population: 3,013,825 (2,191,256 21+)

10. New York

On July 16, 2019, the first legal sports bets were placed in New York. J. Gary Pretlow -- a New York lawmaker and chair of the state's racing and wagering committee -- was among the first to place a wager at the Rivers Casino in Schenectady. The opening of a legal sportsbook came six years after New York passed a law to allow sports betting at four on-site locations, all in upstate New York. After lying dormant for years, the law was revived after the Supreme Court ruling in 2018 and the issuance of regulations earlier this year. The current law does not allow for mobile wagering.

Type of wagering permitted: In-person
Notable prohibitions: No betting on games involving in-state college teams
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 28
Population: 19,542,209 (14,724,807 21+)

11. Iowa

Legal sports betting arrived in Iowa on Aug. 15, with multiple operators all opening their doors to customers on the first day. The move came three months after Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed into a law a comprehensive bill to legalize sports betting in the Hawkeye State. Operators must pay a $45,000 licensing fee and there is a 6.75 percent tax on revenue. The new law permits mobile wagering. Betting on college sports is permitted, but certain kinds of in-game prop bets involving college games are banned. The new law bestows the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission with authority to regulate sports betting.

Type of wagering permitted: In-person and mobile
Notable prohibitions: No prop betting on in-state college athletics
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 23
Population: 3,156,145 (2,286,374 21+)

12. Oregon

Legal sports betting returned to Oregon on Aug. 27 after a long hiatus, with the first bets booked on-site at the Chinook Winds Casino Resort in Lincoln City. Oregon is one of a small number of states that already had a law on the books permitting some forms of sports betting, so the resumption of wagering did not require the legislature to pass any new law or have the governor amend an existing tribal-state compact. In mid-October, mobile sports betting arrived in Oregon too, with the state-run lottery overseeing the launch of a new website and app.

Type of wagering permitted: In-person and mobile
Notable prohibitions: None at the Chinook Winds Casino Resort, but sportsbook operated by the Oregon Lottery does not permit betting on games involving in-state colleges
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 10
Population: 4,190,713 (3,167,912 21+)

13. Indiana

Legal sports betting opened up at a number of locations in Indiana on Sept. 1. The Indiana Gaming Commission oversees all sports betting regulations and has issued licenses to operators across the state. Wagering on both college and pro sports is permitted, but betting on esports and high school sports is banned. Indiana's new law allows for both mobile and in-person wagering. Regulations permit sports leagues or colleges to request 'to utilize a geofence to prohibit wagers at the location of a particular sporting event.'

Type of wagering permitted: In-person and mobile
Notable prohibitions: No prop betting on in-state college athletics
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 14
Population: 6,691,878 (4,842,337 21+)

14. New Hampshire

Governor Chris Sununo placed the ceremonial first legal sports wager -- on the New England Patriots -- in New Hampshire on Dec. 30, 2019. The state's lottery is in charge of regulatory of regulatory oversight. Both retail and mobile sports betting will be permitted on a wide variety of sports, although no betting on New Hampshire's in-state colleges is allowed.

Type of wagering permitted: Mobile
Notable prohibitions: No betting on in-state colleges
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 0
Population: 1,356,458 (1,042,882 21+)

15. Illinois

Legal sports betting arrived in Illinois on March 9, 2020. The move came less than a year after the Illinois legislature passed a broad gaming bill that allowed for both online and in-person sports betting. With Governor J.B. Pritzker's signature, the new law also provided for betting on-location at venues such as Wrigley Field. Operators and certain data providers are required to obtain a license under the new law.

Type of wagering permitted: In-person and mobile
Notable prohibitions: No wagering on minor leagues or Illinois college teams
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 10
Population: 12,741,080 (9,391,158 21+)

16. Michigan

Legal sports betting in Michigan commenced on March 11, 2020, with two Detroit-area casinos launching on the same day. The move came less than three months after Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the 'Lawful Sports Betting Act' into law. The new law provides for wagering on a wide variety of sports, including college contests.

Type of wagering permitted: In-person and mobile
Notable prohibitions: None
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 27
Population: 9.995,915 (7,428,72721+)

17. Montana

Legal sports betting arrived in Montana in March 2020. The move came after Governor Steve Bullock formally signed into law a 28-page bill that brought sports wagering to Big Sky country via the state's lottery. Governor Bullock cited the Montana Lottery's 'proven track record of responsibility and integrity' when signing the bill.

Type of wagering permitted: In-person
Notable prohibitions: None
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 13
Population: 1,062,305 (793,151 21+)

18. Colorado

May 1, 2020 marked the launch of legal sports betting in Colorado, with multiple operators allowing residents to open accounts online and place wagers. The move came less than six months after Colorado voters -- by a narrow margin -- approved a ballot measure that would provide 'for the regulation of sports betting through licensed casinos.' Both mobile and retail sports betting are permitted. Tax revenue from sports betting will help fund various state water projects.

Type of wagering permitted: In-person and mobile
Notable prohibitions: None
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 35
Population: 5,695,564 (4,210,663.00 21+)

19. Washington, D.C.

In June 2020, the D.C. Lottery launched its 'GameBetDC' platform allowing consumers 'to wager while in the District on major sports worldwide' via computer or mobile device. Sports betting in nation's capital followed the passage of the Sports Wagering Lottery Amendment Act of 2018 and a Congressional review period during which time Congress did not formally object. The Office of Lottery and Gaming provides regulatory oversight of all sports wagering in D.C.

Type of wagering permitted: In-person and mobile
Notable prohibitions:No betting on games involving colleges located in D.C.
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019):None
Population: 705,749

20. Tennessee

Regulated sports wagering -- all online -- launched on November 1, 2020 in Tennessee with four licensed operators offering a wide variety of options. The 'Tennessee Sports Gaming Act' permits statewide mobile sports betting without any brick-and-mortar anchor. As such, there are no in-person retail sports betting locations in the state. Subject to an exception, Tennessee's new law requires all licensed operators to 'exclusively use official league data for purposes of live betting.'

Type of wagering permitted: Mobile only
Notable prohibitions:None
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019):None
Population: 6,829,174

On-deck circle

21. North Carolina

On July 26, 2019, Governor Roy Cooper signed into a law a bill to 'allow sports and horse race wagering on tribal lands,' with such betting designated as a 'Class III' gaming activity under the state compact. The new law permits betting on both college and professional sports, but all bettors must place their wagers in-person at one of two retail locations.

22. Washington

Governor Jay Inslee signed Washington's sports betting bill into law on March 25, 2020. The new law permits sports wagering at Class III tribal casinos in the state. Mobile sports wagering is not allowed statewide, but is permitted when on-site at a licensed tribal casino. Betting on an 'esports competition or event' is allowed, but the new law bans wagering on games involving in-state colleges or minor league professional events. The new bill delegates regulatory oversight to the Washington State Gambling Commission.

23. Virginia

After some back-and-forth between Governor Ralph Northam and the legislature, legalized sports wagering was approved in the Commonwealth of Virginia in April 2020. Online betting is allowed, but wagering is not permitted on Virginia-based college sports or certain youth sports.

24. Maryland

In November 2020, Maryland voters approved 'sports and events betting for the primary purpose of raising revenue for education' by about a 2-1 margin. A regulatory framework must be created by Maryland lawmakers before any sports wagering takes place. The Maryland referendum would potentially allow for both in-person and mobile sports betting throughout the state.

25. South Dakota

On November 3, 2020, voters in South Dakota approved a ballot measure permitting 'sports wagering in Deadwood.' Other tribal locations in South Dakota could see the arrival of regulated sports betting too. State lawmakers must now establish a regulatory apparatus and tax rate for legalized sports wagering.

26. Louisiana

In November 2020, voters in the vast majority of Louisiana's 64 parishes approved a ballot measure permitting 'sports wagering activities and operations.' As a result, regulated sports wagering could come to New Orleans and certain other cities as early as 2021. Lawmakers will be tasked with setting up a regulatory scheme during an upcoming state legislative session.

Moving toward legalization

All of these states have seen some degree of legislative activity towards the legalization of sports betting the past few years.

27. Oklahoma

In April 2020, two federally-recognized tribes reached agreement with Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt on new gaming compacts that include sports betting. On June 8, 2020, Governor Stitt announced that the Department of the Interior had approved the compacts, paving the way for sports betting to start in Oklahoma as soon as the 'compacts are published in the Federal Register.' A bipartisan group of state lawmakers, along with Oklahoma's attorney general, have expressed opposition to the expansion of sports betting in Oklahoma and the prospect of legalized sports wagering remains uncertain.

28. Maine

On the last day of the state's 2019 legislative session -- June 19 -- Maine lawmakers passed 'An Act to Ensure Proper Oversight of Sports Betting in the State.' Shortly thereafter, the governor vetoed the bill. The legislature could re-introduce the bill later.

29. Nebraska

On November 3, 2020, Nebraska voters approved certain amendments to its state constitution legalizing 'all games of chance.' If the new constitutional amendments are construed to include wagering on sporting events, legalized sports betting could arrive in Nebraska upon the establishment of certain regulations.

30. Connecticut

31. Kentucky

32. Massachusetts

33. Minnesota

34. Missouri

35. Kansas

36. South Carolina

37. California

39. Ohio

40. Arizona

41. Hawaii

42. Texas

43. Georgia

44. Vermont

45. Alabama

46. Florida

47. Alaska

48. Wyoming

No legalization activity ... yet

49-50. Idaho and Wisconsin

These states have not had any publicly-announced bills devoted to sports betting legalization.

Unlikely

51. Utah

Utah's anti-gambling stance is written into the state's constitution. Any change to existing state policy toward gambling would be a massive departure from decades of opposition to any form of gambling, including lottery tickets, table games and sports betting.

Our guide to legal gambling by state will have you prepared to use any type of online gambling site or even gamble in person. We admit that we don't know all there is to know about the different laws in the various states around the U.S. and we're not going to pretend like we do. Instead, we provide a real-world perspective of online gambling in the U.S.; the laws can say one thing but the actuality/reality of those laws can really vary greatly.

Below, this guide will educate you on what we and other online gamblers have learned through years of experience. Before going any further, know that we are not legal professionals in any state. We started out just as many of you did... confused. But through trial and error, plus input from trusted contributors, we've managed to make sense of the whole thing so that you can know what you are truly risking when gambling online.

States That Have Legalized Online Gambling

As always, if you are still uneasy or uncertain about the gambling laws where you live and the legality of online gambling in your state, we recommend consulting a paid legal professional to answer your questions. Those with a bar license in your state are far more educated about the ramifications of gambling online, if any. This page is for informational purposes only and is in no way meant to be interpreted as legal advice/consultation.

Guide To Online Gambling By State

Below, we have a chart of which states actually have laws on the books that expressly forbid online gambling by its residents. States that do not have those types of laws on the books can be considered to 'legal' for online gambling as there is nothing from a legal standpoint to stop you as long as you meet the required age to gamble online. You may use this to reference whether or not your state has laws against the activity.

Do know that even if your state does forbid some type of online gambling, such as online casinos, that doesn't mean you will get into trouble and that certainly doesn't mean that you will not be able to play casino games for real money at websites.

We Suggest These Websites For Online Casino Games, Sports Betting, & Poker

Bovada - Industry Leader For Live Sports Betting; One Of Largest Online Poker Sites - Click Here To Visit

Without a doubt, Bovada is the best all-around gambling site for USA players... in 46 states. Unfortunately, Bovada does not allow new registrations from the state of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, or Nevada; for everyone else, this site is wide open for legal sports wagering, online poker plus casino games. In each of these areas, Bovada is considered to be an online leader and their product has become the benchmark that other sites strive to achieve.

Bovada will never disclose any of your information and it is very discreet for being such a big player in the industry. Players in the U.S. will find the deposit options at Bovada to be rather friendly which is good because you will want to deposit to take advantage of their many bonuses available for different types of online gambling activity.

BetOnline - Accepts Deposit Methods That Other U.S. Gambling Websites Do Not - Click Here To Visit

If you live in one of those three states excluded by Bovada, you may want to consider BetOnline (welcomes all U.S. users at least 18 years old) especially if you want to bet on sports or play legal online poker. We don't necessarily recommend their online casino, though available, because there are better options out there. Unfortunately, that would mean a different account at a site that is just for casino games but that is honestly the better route.

Besides the difference in software and games offered, BetOnline doesn't have as good of a bonus for casino games as what you would find with a dedicated online casino. While their 15% or 25% lifetime load/reload bonus is very generous (worth up to $900 on every deposit) when it comes to sports betting and poker, it fails in comparison to first time/new player deposit bonuses available from the site below.

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As far as dedicated online casinos that are legal for players in the US, it just doesn't get much better than what you will encounter at Lucky Red Casino. Beyond accepting anyone that goes through the proper steps for registration (extremely simple), this online casino is powered by the best games provider that USA online casinos can use... RTG or Realtime Gaming.

This casino is just a spoke in a larger wheel of extremely reliable online casinos. Of those casinos in that network, Lucky Red allows depositors to collect some of the biggest bonuses imaginable. Who doesn't like slots? Well, Lucky Red lets you play more of them when using the bonus code LUCKYRED400 which is good for a 400% (up to $4,000) match of your first deposit into the casino for playing online slots. A compliment to this bonus is a 100% to $1,000 table games bonus that is achieved with the bonus code LUCKYRED100.

WinPalace Casino - Exclusive Deposit + No-Deposit Bonuses For USA Players - Click Here To Visit

WinPalace Casino excels in the most important aspects of an online betting site for their players. WinPalace is a legal casino option for American players, so the good news is all 50 states can play legally here. The site offers over 120 fantastic casino game options under the direction of RTG online casino software. In a word, WinPalace is simply awesome.

What's even more for those reading this review on LegalOnlineGamblingSites.com is the fact that there is an exclusive bonus offered through WinPalace that gets you a ton of free cash that can be used for online slots. Get up to $4,000 in bonus cash simply by using WinPalace’s coupon code 4000FREE. It's that simple. This is given out following the deposit you make, which American players can use a Visa or Mastercard for efficient transfer of funds. Be sure to check out WinPalace today, and find out why it comes so highly rated.

Online Gambling FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

Are There Any States That Have Regulated Gambling Sites?

Yes, the states of Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Nevada have sent bills through their legislative branches which now allow those states to offer online gaming in a regulated atmosphere. Of those three states, Nevada was actually the first to have online gambling go live with the introduction of online poker in the 2nd quarter of 2013. Right now, the selection is still limited and that is why you will not see a lot of these sites listed here yet, but they soon will be as they begin gaining a larger foothold in the industry. As it stands now, using the gaming websites that were previously open to U.S. players is still the best option in many cases.

As a side note, the bill that was passed in Nevada, Assembly Bill 114, will allow the state to partner up with other states that have plans to regulate the industry for their residents. Who knows gambling better than Nevada? That is exactly what Nevada lawmakers are banking on when they established that clause.

Are There Any Federal Laws That Prevent Online Gambling?

Yes, but it depends on the type of gambling that you are thinking about pursuing. Know that the actual act of playing games at an online casino or a few hands of online poker is not illegal while activities like sports betting are in a gray area. Learn more about U.S. gambling laws by following the preceding link.

The main thing to take away from the laws that relate to online gambling is that penalties only exist for those who run or profit from owning a gambling site that operates within U.S. borders. That doesn't apply to the sites on this website and thus they will continue to operate and allow players from the U.S.

How Old Do I Need To Be To Gamble Online?

This is really a two part question that is best answered on our page about the legal age to gamble. You've got to consider the age in your state (for the type of gambling you're thinking about) and/or the minimum age to sign up for a new account at whatever site you choose.

If you want to be totally safe, meet both the age as set by your state as well as the age set by the gambling site although only the minimum age for the gambling site must be met to register and play for real money online.

Can I Get Into Trouble For Gambling Online?

Not likely. Despite what laws say (even in the states that express forbid gambling online), hardly anyone ever gets in trouble for it... on the consumer level. With that said, you are asking for a lot of trouble if you plan on opening or operating an online gambling site or an 'Internet Cafe' in the state you live.

Furthermore, the government has no way of knowing that you are actually participating in any online gambling activity as none of the offshore gambling providers will ever disclose any of your details to any authority. That means the government has no record of you playing and it also means that you will not pay taxes on any winnings as they are not reported to the IRS or anyone else.

Where Can I Get More Information About The Gambling Laws In My State?

Again, you should probably consult professional legal counsel or you could try to find a copy of your state's statutes online. Most states have them somewhere online but they can be hard to find sometimes. And when you find them, finding what you are looking for can be tough and of course it's all in 'legalese' so making sense of it can be tough too; just use patience.

Why Do Some Sites Exclude Users Living In Certain States?

This can be for multiple reasons but it is unlikely that it is because of the laws. More often than not, exclusions occur when users start running into problems with not being able to make deposit or in some cases, not being able to cash a payout check or receive a bank wire, etc... When it becomes too much of a hassle and it starts hurting their reputation, they stop offering services to those users living within the areas that are affected.

Will States Legalize Online Gambling

To remedy the frustration caused by exclusion, we only provide gambling sites that welcome players in the U.S. with the one exception being Bovada. Normally we would cast them aside but they are such a high quality operator that they cannot be ignored even if Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Nevada residents aren't allowed to sign up.