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Legal Sports Betting: Where Does It Stand in All 50 States?

Tim Lavalli

A photo of the Iowa State Capitol. In the foreground is the Bicentennial Fountain, which was installed in 1992. Constructed between 1871 and 1886, the Iowa State Capitol was Designed by John C. Cochrane and Alfred H. Piquenard. The French Baroque Revival building, located in Des Moines, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This photo © Capitolshots Photography, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

With Iowa set to become the 11th state taking legal sports bets on Thursday, it’s time to check in on the status of sports betting across the United States.

Legislation in Iowa paved the way for an Aug. 15 launch of fully legal sports betting in the sate. (Image: kmaland)

Since the US Supreme Court acted to effectively turn sports betting over to the states, the will to allow this form of gambling has varied.

So far 43 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico have at least legislatively considered moving towards some form of legalized wagering. Not that all or any of the proposals are the same, but the tide is clearly turning.

Just nine months ago, half the country had yet to act in any way toward sports betting legalization. Twenty-five states had no bills or voter initiatives in place. But now the number of states expressing little interest in allowing residents (and visitors) to put money on a game has dropped to just 10.

This map put out by the AGA, showing the proliferation of legalized sports betting across the country, has had to be updated a lot in 2019. (Image: American Gaming Association)

Estimates are that the US could be up to 18 jurisdictions taking legal bets by the start of the 2020 football season. Below is a state-by-state breakdown of where the matter of gambling on sports, legally, stands today.

Open for Business: States with Legal Sports Betting

As of tomorrow, the day Iowa enters the legal sports betting world, there will be 11 states where you can legally place a bet.

  1. Nevada
  2. New York
  3. Pennsylvania
  4. New Jersey
  5. Rhode Island
  6. West Virginia
  7. Delaware
  8. New Mexico
  9. Arkansas
  10. Mississippi
  11. Iowa (launches Aug. 15)

In the Hopper: States Getting Ready to Take First Bets

Bills that pass the legislative hurdles often need time to implement full legal sports betting. Some just await a start date, others the establishment of a gaming commission or the issuing of licenses and contracts. But laws have passed in these six states and Washington, DC. The list hints at which states might be next to go live.

  1. Indiana – legal wagering begins Sept. 1
  2. Oregon – approved, awaiting implementation, possibly as soon as September
  3. Illinois – limited legal sports betting now at casinos, mobile app and online in start-up process, racetracks to add sportsbooks in 2020
  4. Montana – at this time only Montana Lottery can accept legal sports bets
  5. New Hampshire – legal but no brick and mortar sites yet approved
  6. Tennessee – law in effect July 1 but implementation is incomplete
  7. District of Columbia – implementation on hold while officials squabble over details

Slow to Market: States with Legislation in Committee

Seventeen states and Puerto Rico are actively considering legal sports betting in one or both statehouses. While some may pass legislation, at this point none will be ready to offer legal sports betting in 2019. But up to a dozen could have something sitting on their governor’s desk before the end of next year.

  1. Hawaii
  2. Texas
  3. Georgia
  4. Alabama
  5. South Carolina
  6. North Carolina
  7. Kansas
  8. Arizona
  9. Virginia
  10. Kentucky
  11. Missouri
  12. Colorado
  13. Massachusetts
  14. Minnesota
  15. North Dakota
  16. Washington
  17. Vermont
  18. Puerto Rico

To the Masses: States with Ballot Initiatives Pending

Six states will vote on gambling referendums in their next state-wide elections. Both Michigan and Maine had previously passed legislation, only to have governors veto the bills. In response, the legislatures have gone to the people with ballot initiatives. Current state polls have all six states heading for voter approval.

  1.  Michigan
  2.  California
  3.  Colorado
  4.  Ohio
  5.  Maine
  6.  Massachusetts

Snuffed Out: States That Have Rejected Sports Betting

For one reason or another, legislation for legal sports betting has failed or been permanently tabled in only three States. No bills will be produced in this legislative session.

  1. Maryland
  2. Oklahoma
  3. Louisiana

On the Sidelines: States with No Legislative Action

For the time being six States are simply not addressing the issue of sports gambling. However, both Wisconsin and Florida could have gaming bills introduced in the next legislative session.

  1. Alaska
  2. Idaho
  3. Wisconsin
  4. Wyoming
  5. Nebraska
  6. Florida

Snowball’s Chance: State with No Prayer for Legal Sports Betting

Utah will remain on a list all by itself for the foreseeable future. Utah doesn’t permit any forms of gambling — none, zero, zip, nada — and has no intention to chance that, in 2019, 2020, or ever.

  1. Utah

Tim Lavalli holds a Ph.D. in psychology and has focused his work on the mental aspects of competitive games. He co-authored Check-Raising the Devil, the autobiography of poker pro Mike Matusow. You can follow him on Twitter @timlavalli.