The Complete List of Legal Sports Betting States in the United States for 2026

Legal Sports Betting States 2026: Online & Retail Options Explained

Eight years ago, Nevada stood alone.

It was the only state in the entire United States where a sports bettor could legally walk into a sportsbook, place a wager on an NFL game, and collect their winnings without any legal concern.

That world no longer exists.

As of 2026, sports betting is live in 39 US states plus Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico. The transformation from a single-state monopoly to a continent-spanning regulated industry happened faster than almost anyone predicted — and the pace shows no sign of slowing.

The number of states where sports betting is legal has grown steadily since 2018, when the Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on sports betting, allowing each state to decide if and when they wanted to legalize it. What followed was a state-by-state legislative stampede unlike anything the American gambling industry had ever seen.

The financial stakes are enormous. The American Gaming Association reported record results for 2024, including 13.7 billion dollars in sports betting revenue. Based on available 2025 data from January through September, sports betting generated 2.71 billion dollars in state tax revenue — compared to 2.15 billion over the same period in 2024.

Yet the map remains unfinished. Eleven states — including two of the largest populations in the country — still prohibit sports betting entirely, leaving billions of dollars in potential tax revenue on the table while their residents turn to offshore platforms or simply go without.

This comprehensive guide examines every state, every legal status, every online betting situation, and every legislative development shaping the American sports betting landscape in 2026.

The Moment Everything Changed: The Supreme Court’s 2018 Ruling

To understand where sports betting is in 2026, it is essential to understand where it was in 2017.

For twenty-six years, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 — universally known as PASPA — made it effectively illegal for any state except Nevada to offer legal sports betting. Nevada’s pre-existing exemption allowed its famous Las Vegas sportsbooks to operate. Every other state was locked out.

In May 2018, the US Supreme Court repealed PASPA, overturning the federal ban on sports betting and allowing states to make individual decisions about legalizing it. Delaware became the first state other than Nevada to offer full legal sports betting in June 2018. New Jersey became the first state to legalize online sports betting in August 2018 with DraftKings Sportsbook launching.

The floodgates opened. In the summer of 2019, sports betting was legalized in Pennsylvania, Indiana, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Oregon. Year after year, additional states followed — each with their own regulatory structures, tax rates, licensing requirements, and definitions of what betting was actually permitted within their borders.

The result is a patchwork of legal frameworks that makes American sports betting simultaneously one of the largest and one of the most complex gambling markets in the world.

The Current Landscape: 39 States, Dramatically Different Rules

The most recent major addition was Missouri, which launched legal sports betting on December 1, 2025 and was widely described as the 39th state to do so.

But legal status does not tell the whole story. Legal sports betting does not mean the same thing everywhere. Even among legalized states, the rules can differ substantially. Some states permit mobile betting statewide, others restrict mobile wagering to casino grounds, and a few prohibit mobile betting entirely. Most states require bettors to be 21 years old, while a small number allow wagering at 18 in limited circumstances.

Not all states that have legalized sports betting allow both retail and online sports betting. Only 32 states have legalized online sports betting. Tennessee, Vermont, and Maine are states where sports betting is legal but only through online platforms, with no retail sportsbooks.

Additionally, not all regulated sportsbooks are licensed to operate in every state. DraftKings Sportsbook is only available in 27 states. Florida and Delaware are states with legal sports betting but only one licensed online sportsbook each.

States Where Sports Betting Is Fully Legal and Online

Legal Sports Betting States 2026: The Complete Map of Where You Can Wager Online & In-Person

The following states represent the most developed sports betting markets in the country — jurisdictions where residents can download an app, create an account, and place a bet within minutes.

Arizona

Sports betting was legalized in Arizona on April 15, 2021, and launched on September 9, 2021. Both retail and online sports betting are available, with 14 sportsbooks operating in the state. Arizona’s market is among the most competitive in the country, with major operators including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, and numerous tribal partners all competing for customers.

Colorado

Sports betting was legalized by voters in 2019 and launched in May 2020 in Colorado. The state offers numerous mobile sportsbooks and several retail locations. Colorado has become one of the most bettor-friendly markets in the country, with a low tax rate and a wide selection of operators.

Illinois

Illinois is one of the largest legal sports betting markets by population in the country, offering statewide mobile betting through major operators including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, and BetRivers. The state has generated significant tax revenue since launch and continues to see strong growth in handle year over year.

Michigan

Michigan launched online sports betting in January 2021 and has established itself as one of the most mature online betting markets in the Midwest. The state is notable for also having legal online casino gaming running alongside sports betting — one of only a handful of states with both regulated products operating simultaneously.

New Jersey

New Jersey has a special place in the history of American sports betting — it was the state that fought the legal battle that ultimately brought down PASPA. New Jersey became the first state to offer online sports betting following the Supreme Court ruling, with DraftKings Sportsbook launching in August 2018. The state’s market remains one of the most competitive and highest-revenue in the country, with more than a dozen licensed operators competing for market share.

New York

New York launched online sports betting in January 2022 and quickly became the highest-handle sports betting market in the United States by volume. The state’s massive population — centred on New York City — generates extraordinary betting handle figures, though New York’s high tax rate of 51% on gross gaming revenue is one of the most aggressive in the country and has drawn criticism from operators who argue it limits competition and promotional spending.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is one of the most significant legal sports betting markets in the country, offering both retail and online betting since 2019. The state has a robust regulatory framework and a wide selection of licensed operators.

Virginia

Virginia does not require a land-based partnership for online sites to launch, making it one of those legal betting states with sports betting that operates entirely through online platforms. Online sports betting came to the state in January 2021 and the Virginia Lottery oversees all sports betting. Online sportsbook apps available include DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars, BetRivers, BetMGM, bet365, Betway, Unibet, Betfred, ESPN Bet, Bally Bet, Hard Rock, Betr, Superbook, and Fanatics.

Ohio

Ohio launched online sports betting on January 1, 2023 — a deliberate New Year’s Day launch designed to capture Super Bowl season betting. The state rapidly became one of the largest markets in the Midwest, with aggressive promotional spending from operators in the launch window that attracted millions of new registered bettors.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts launched retail sports betting in January 2023 followed by online sports betting in March 2023. The state’s market is driven heavily by Boston’s passionate sports fan base — one of the most dedicated in the country across all four major professional sports.

North Carolina

The most recent state to launch legal sports betting before Missouri was North Carolina, which began accepting online wagers on March 11, 2024. North Carolina’s market launched with several major operators simultaneously and generated significant early handle figures driven by the state’s passionate college basketball and NFL fan bases.

Missouri

Missouri launched legal sports betting on December 1, 2025 and was the most recent major market to go live, representing the 39th state to offer legal sports betting. Missouri’s legalization came through a voter ballot initiative after years of legislative attempts failed to advance through the state legislature — a pattern that has become increasingly common as states bypass deadlocked legislatures through direct democracy.

States With Legal Betting But Limited Online Access

Some states occupy a middle ground — sports betting is technically legal, but access is restricted in ways that limit the market’s development and bettor choice.

Mississippi

Mississippi allows retail sports betting at licensed casinos but does not permit statewide mobile wagering. In retail-only markets like Mississippi, players may only place wagers at an authorized physical venue. Retail-only markets comprise a very small percentage of total bettors and produce relatively low gross revenue compared to mobile-only markets.

Nebraska

Nebraska similarly restricts sports betting to retail locations, limiting the market’s reach in a geographically large state with a relatively dispersed population.

Florida

Florida’s situation is among the most complex in the country. Hard Rock Bet operates as the sole online sportsbook in Florida under a compact between the state and the Seminole Tribe — a structure that faced significant legal challenges before ultimately prevailing. Florida is a state with legal sports betting but only one licensed online sportsbook.

Delaware

Delaware was the first state other than Nevada to offer full legal sports betting in June 2018. However, the Delaware market has developed slowly, with limited operator competition and state lottery-controlled structures that have produced a less dynamic betting environment than multi-operator markets.

The Eleven States Where Sports Betting Remains Illegal

As of 2026, the states that do not allow sports betting in any form are Alabama, Alaska, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Minnesota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah.

These eleven states represent a diverse range of political, cultural, and economic situations. Understanding why each state remains outside the legal market reveals the complexity of sports betting legislation in America.

California: The Billion-Dollar Holdout

California is the most consequential missing piece in the American sports betting landscape. California would collect nearly 570 million dollars in tax revenue annually if sports betting were legal in the state.

The most recent attempts to legalize sports betting through Propositions 26 and 27 were decisively rejected by voters in November 2022, with over 80% opposing Prop 27 which aimed to legalize online sports betting. As of 2025, no new sports betting legislation has been enacted. Stakeholders including tribal leaders and gaming companies continue to discuss potential future ballot initiatives, with the earliest possible return to the ballot being 2026.

The California situation is complicated by the powerful role of the state’s tribal gaming operators, who control a significant portion of the existing gambling infrastructure and have strongly resisted legalization models that would benefit commercial operators like DraftKings and FanDuel at their expense.

Texas: Political Resistance in the Largest Market

Texas represents perhaps the largest untapped sports betting market in the world. With a population exceeding 30 million passionate sports fans and professional franchises across the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL, a legal Texas sports betting market would immediately rank among the largest in the country.

Texas would add 326 million dollars in annual tax revenue if sports betting were legalized.

Texas has made multiple attempts to legalize sports betting, but legislation has failed in recent years. The state’s conservative political culture, combined with significant opposition from established gaming interests in neighbouring states and religious organisations, has made legislative progress consistently difficult. Texas requires a constitutional amendment approved by voters to legalise gambling expansion, adding a procedural barrier beyond the standard legislative process.

Georgia: Close But Not There Yet

Georgia came close to sports betting legalization in 2025. In 2025, efforts to legalize sports betting included House Bill 686 and House Resolution 450, which aimed to authorize online sports wagering and allocate revenue to education programs such as Pre-K and the HOPE Scholarship. Despite support from some lawmakers and stakeholders, the proposed constitutional amendment and accompanying legislation failed to receive a vote in the House before the legislative deadline. The earliest potential for legalization would be through a constitutional amendment presented to voters in the November 2026 election, contingent on legislative approval in the 2026 session.

Alabama: Renewed Efforts in 2026

Multiple bills to legalize sports betting in Alabama have failed over the past several years, and while sports betting remains illegal in the state, lawmakers have renewed efforts in early 2026. A new constitutional amendment proposal known as SB 257 has been introduced that would let voters decide whether to authorize sports betting along with a state lottery and casinos, but significant legislative support is still needed before it can advance.

Hawaii and Utah: Cultural and Religious Barriers

Utah and Hawaii prohibit nearly all forms of gambling. Utah’s prohibition is rooted in the dominant influence of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which has historically opposed gambling in all forms. Hawaii faces different cultural dynamics but similarly strong community resistance to gambling expansion. Both states are considered among the least likely to legalise sports betting in any meaningful timeframe.

Minnesota and Oklahoma: Tribal Negotiations

Minnesota and Oklahoma remain tied up in negotiations with tribal gaming authorities. In both states, the relationship between state government and tribal gaming operators — who hold significant political and economic power — has made reaching an agreement on sports betting terms extremely difficult. Any legalization path in these states almost certainly requires tribal participation and support.

Idaho, Alaska, and South Carolina

Alaska has traditionally maintained a strong anti-gambling stance, with retail and online sports betting banned and little legislative movement toward legalization. The state’s wealth partly due to its oil and gas resources may reduce the perceived need for additional revenue from gambling.

Idaho and South Carolina similarly show little legislative momentum toward sports betting legalization, with no major bills advancing in recent sessions.

The Economic Impact: Sports Betting as a Revenue Engine

The fiscal case for sports betting legalization has become one of the most powerful arguments available to advocates pushing for expansion in holdout states.

Sports betting tax revenue has increased each year since data collection began in 2021. Based on available 2025 data from January through September, sports betting generated 2.71 billion dollars in state tax revenue, up from 2.15 billion over the same period in 2024. Total 2024 revenue was 2.99 billion dollars.

Sports betting legalization in all 50 states would generate an additional 1.6 billion dollars per year in tax revenue, assuming a 10% tax on gross gaming revenue. The largest tax revenue gains would be in California at 570 million dollars, Texas at 326 million dollars, and Florida at 199 million dollars.

The aggregate national betting figures tell an even more dramatic story. Consumers legally wagered more than 157 billion dollars on sporting contests in fiscal year 2025, creating more than 3.2 billion dollars in state tax revenue.

These figures represent only the legal, regulated portion of the market. The actual amount Americans wager on sports — including through offshore platforms and illegal bookmakers — is almost certainly significantly larger.

Online vs. Retail: The Most Important Distinction in State-by-State Analysis

One of the most important distinctions for sports bettors evaluating their options is between states with full online and mobile access and those that restrict betting to physical retail locations.

Retail-only markets comprise a very small percentage of total bettors and produce relatively low gross revenue when compared to mobile-only markets.

The difference is not trivial. A state with full statewide mobile betting typically generates ten to twenty times the handle volume of a comparable retail-only market. The convenience of mobile betting — placing a wager from a phone anywhere within state lines — drives dramatically higher engagement than requiring a trip to a physical sportsbook location.

Some states permit mobile betting statewide, others restrict mobile wagering to casino grounds, and a few prohibit mobile betting entirely. Understanding which category a specific state falls into is essential before planning any betting activity.

The College Sports Question: A Critical Carve-Out in Many States

An important nuance that affects millions of sports fans across the country is the treatment of college sports betting — specifically, whether bettors can wager on in-state college teams.

Several states that have legalized sports betting have prohibited or restricted wagering on in-state college teams as a condition of legalization. This restriction reflects concerns about the integrity of amateur athletics and the potential for betting markets to influence college team performances and players.

States like Illinois, Georgia’s proposed framework, and several others have incorporated college betting restrictions into their legislative proposals — a pattern that suggests this will remain a contested issue as additional states move toward legalization.

What the Future Holds: States to Watch in 2026 and Beyond

Several states appear positioned to make significant legislative or regulatory progress on sports betting in 2026 and the immediate future.

Georgia represents perhaps the most imminent major market addition. The earliest potential for legalization in Georgia would be through a constitutional amendment presented to voters in the November 2026 election, contingent on legislative approval in the 2026 session. A successful Georgia legalization would add one of the country’s most sports-passionate fan bases to the regulated market.

Texas continues to attract intense lobbying from major operators who recognize the enormous revenue potential of the state. While the political pathway remains challenging, the economic pressure of watching neighboring states collect sports betting tax revenue is building year over year.

California faces the most complex path of any remaining state. The tribal gaming question that derailed the 2022 ballot initiatives has not been resolved, and any new ballot measure will need to find an approach that brings the state’s powerful tribal gaming operators into alignment rather than opposition.

Minnesota and Oklahoma both remain in ongoing negotiation with tribal gaming authorities whose cooperation is essentially prerequisite for any successful legalization framework.

In states like California, Texas, and Georgia where sports betting remains illegal, offshore sportsbooks remain illegal, and residents do not have access to regulated domestic wagering platforms. This creates a population of millions of sports bettors who either go without or access unregulated offshore platforms — a situation that consumer protection advocates consistently cite as one of the strongest arguments for accelerating legalization.

How to Bet Legally: What Every US Sports Bettor Needs to Know

For bettors in the 39 legal states and Washington D.C., the process of getting started with legal sports betting involves a few straightforward steps that apply universally across all regulated markets.

Verify your state’s legal status. The information in this article reflects the situation as of early 2026, but sports betting legislation moves quickly. Always verify current legal status in your specific state before registering with any platform.

Download a licensed sportsbook app. In states with statewide mobile betting, major operators including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, and ESPN Bet are typically available. Each requires account registration with identity verification.

Be prepared for geolocation checks. For regulated US apps, your location must be verified inside state lines via geolocation checks. Attempting to place bets from outside the state where a sportsbook is licensed will be blocked by the platform’s geolocation technology.

Understand the minimum age requirements. Most states require bettors to be 21 years old, with a small number allowing wagering at 18 in limited circumstances.

Compare operators before committing. The competitive nature of most legal markets means operators offer significant welcome bonuses to attract new customers. Comparing bonus offers, odds quality, and available markets across multiple platforms before choosing a primary sportsbook is one of the most valuable things any new bettor can do.

A Complete State-by-State Status Reference

Conclusion: The Map Is Still Being Drawn

The transformation of American sports betting since the Supreme Court’s 2018 ruling has been one of the most dramatic regulatory stories in modern American history. Legal sports betting has spread to 38 states plus the District of Columbia since the fall of PASPA in 2018.

The pace of expansion has exceeded almost every projection made in the immediate aftermath of that ruling. Billions of dollars in tax revenue have flowed into state coffers. Millions of Americans who previously bet through offshore platforms or illegal bookmakers now have access to regulated, consumer-protected domestic alternatives.

Yet the map remains incomplete. With a couple of the largest markets still closed to legal operators in California and Texas, the biggest months of US sports betting are still on the horizon.

The states that have yet to legalize sports betting are not failing to act because the demand is absent. They are acting slowly because the political, cultural, and economic negotiations required to build durable regulatory frameworks take time — especially where tribal gaming relationships, constitutional amendment requirements, and strongly held cultural values all intersect.

What is not in doubt is the direction of travel. The financial incentives for legalization are growing year by year. The neighbouring-state effect — watching adjacent states collect tax revenue from an activity that remains illegal at home — is a political pressure that accumulates rather than fades. And the demonstrated success of regulated markets in protecting consumers and generating stable tax revenue has removed much of the uncertainty that slowed early adopters.

The American sports betting map of 2030 will look different from the one of 2026. The only real question is which states will join the regulated market next — and how quickly they choose to act

Where Is Sports Betting Legal in the US? — Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: How Many States Have Legal Sports Betting in 2026?

Sports betting is live in 39 US states plus Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico as of 2026. The most recent major addition was Missouri, which launched legal sports betting on December 1, 2025 and was widely described as the 39th state to do so. The number has grown dramatically since the Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on sports betting in May 2018, when only Nevada had a fully operational legal market. The pace of state-by-state legalization has exceeded almost every early projection made in the immediate aftermath of that ruling.

Q2: Which States Is Sports Betting Still Illegal In?

As of 2026, the states that do not allow sports betting in any form are Alabama, Alaska, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Minnesota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah. The reasons vary. Utah and Hawaii prohibit nearly all forms of gambling. California has seen repeated ballot initiatives fail due to disputes between tribal interests and commercial operators. Texas and Georgia face political resistance despite strong public interest. Minnesota and Oklahoma remain tied up in negotiations with tribal gaming authorities.

Q3: Is Online Sports Betting Legal in Every State That Has Legalized Sports Betting?

No. Not all states that have legalized sports betting allow both retail and online sports betting. Only 32 states have legalized online sports betting. Tennessee, Vermont, and Maine are states where sports betting is legal but only through online platforms with no retail sportsbooks. Mississippi and Nebraska restrict sports betting to retail locations only. Some states permit mobile betting statewide, others restrict mobile wagering to casino grounds, and a few prohibit mobile betting entirely.

Q4: What Was PASPA and Why Did Its Repeal Matter?

PASPA — the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 — was a federal law that effectively prohibited states from legalizing sports betting, with an exemption carved out for Nevada’s pre-existing market. In May 2018, the US Supreme Court repealed PASPA, overturning the federal ban on sports betting and allowing each state to decide individually if and when they wanted to legalize it. Delaware became the first state other than Nevada to offer full legal sports betting in June 2018, and New Jersey became the first state to legalize online sports betting in August 2018 with DraftKings Sportsbook launching. The ruling transferred the regulatory decision entirely to individual states, producing the patchwork of different laws and frameworks that exists today.

Q5: How Much Tax Revenue Does Legal Sports Betting Generate?

The fiscal impact of legal sports betting has been one of the strongest arguments driving continued legalization across the country. Based on available 2025 data from January through September, sports betting generated 2.71 billion dollars in state tax revenue, up from 2.15 billion over the same period in 2024, with total 2024 revenue reaching 2.99 billion dollars. Sports betting tax revenue has increased each year since data collection began in 2021. Consumers legally wagered more than 157 billion dollars on sporting contests in fiscal year 2025, creating more than 3.2 billion dollars in state tax revenue.

Q6: Why Has California Not Legalized Sports Betting?

California represents the most consequential missing market in American sports betting. The most recent attempts to legalize sports betting through Propositions 26 and 27 were decisively rejected by voters in November 2022, with over 80% opposing Prop 27 which aimed to legalize online sports betting. As of 2025, no new sports betting legislation has been enacted. Stakeholders including tribal leaders and gaming companies continue to discuss potential future ballot initiatives, with the earliest possible return to the ballot being 2026. California would collect nearly 570 million dollars in annual tax revenue if sports betting were legalized — making it the single largest untapped sports betting market in the world.

Q7: Can I Bet on Sports in a Legal State if I Live in an Illegal State?

Yes — with an important limitation. For regulated US sportsbook apps, your location must be verified inside state lines via geolocation checks. This means that a resident of Texas can legally place sports bets while physically present in New Jersey, for example — but cannot access the New Jersey sportsbook app from their home in Texas. The geolocation technology built into every licensed sportsbook app verifies the bettor’s physical location before accepting any wager, making it impossible to bet through a regulated platform from outside the state where it is licensed.

Q8: What Is the Minimum Age to Bet on Sports in the United States?

Most states require bettors to be 21 years old, with a small number allowing wagering at 18 in limited circumstances, usually tied to retail locations or lottery-run platforms. The 21-year minimum is by far the most common standard and applies to the overwhelming majority of licensed sportsbook operators across all legal states. Identity verification during account registration is a mandatory requirement for all licensed platforms, and operators are required by their state licences to enforce age restrictions rigorously.

Q9: Which States Are Most Likely to Legalize Sports Betting Next?

Several states are considered strong candidates for imminent legalization. The earliest potential for legalization in Georgia would be through a constitutional amendment presented to voters in the November 2026 election, contingent on legislative approval in the 2026 session. In Alabama, a new constitutional amendment proposal known as SB 257 has been introduced that would let voters decide whether to authorize sports betting along with a state lottery and casinos, but significant legislative support is still needed before it can advance. Texas and California remain the largest potential markets, though both face significant structural and political barriers that make near-term legalization challenging.

Q10: How Much Revenue Would Legalizing Sports Betting in All 50 States Generate?

Sports betting legalization in all 50 states would generate an additional 1.6 billion dollars per year in tax revenue, assuming a 10% tax on gross gaming revenue. The largest tax revenue gains would be in California at 570 million dollars annually, Texas at 326 million dollars, and Florida at 199 million dollars. These projections are based on mature market estimates and assume open, competitive, statewide mobile markets rather than restricted retail-only or monopoly structures. With a couple of the largest markets still closed to legal operators in California and Texas, the biggest months of US sports betting are still on the horizon.

This article reflects the legal status of sports betting across US states as of April 2026. Sports betting legislation changes frequently. Always verify the current legal status in your specific state before registering with any sportsbook platform. Please gamble responsibly and only with funds you can comfortably afford to lose. If you have a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit www.800gambler.org or www.gamblersanonymous.org.