Legal Online Sports Betting in USA 2026
Typically, two-factor authentication involves receiving a fix or six-digit number by text and www.pokernewsdaily.com/sportsbooks/ inputting that number every time you log in to your online betting account. As mentioned, the minimum age to be permitted to gamble at any legal sportsbook in the US is 21. Signing up for an online sportsbook account begins with completing a registration form. Meanwhile, a great sportsbook will offer regular promotions on a weekly basis, whether or not a major sporting event is imminent. A good sportsbook will offer promos based around major events like the Super Bowl and NBA Finals. Most states have opted for open market regulatory frameworks that allow multiple sportsbook brands to apply for licenses and compete for customers.
Outside of a hand full of states, Bovada is able to supply odds to all other US residents whether their local sports betting market has launched or not. Read this page to compare legal online sportsbooks and to make sure your desired site is available in your area. Our guide on these states will also update you on their steps to make betting on sports online legal.
Both online and retail sports betting are live through licensed operators connected to the state’s tribal gaming framework and the Connecticut Lottery. Below is a summary of key legal sports betting states and how each market currently operates. However, we believe the Wire Act will not actually be a major roadblock to state efforts to legalize online sports betting. Three other federal gaming laws deal with gambling in more general terms but are occasionally referenced in matters related to sports betting and horse racing. We also review online gambling websites to help you find the best sportsbooks and casino sites to play at. States now regulate sports betting, online casinos, poker, lotteries, and sweepstakes in unique ways.
Lawmakers introduced a bill in January 2025 that would raise the minimum legal age for sports wagering from 18 to 21; it’s presently one of only seven states (along with D.C.) to allow 18-year-olds to legally place a bet. Presently,the state offers around 200 retail betting locations and 14 betting apps. Retail sportsbooks debuted in 2020, followed by onlinesportsbooks in early 2021.
States Where Horse Racing Betting is Legal
Offline sports betting is available at only one casino in New Mexico. New Hampshire became the 16th state to legalize sports betting in 2019. However, many bettors still prefer the flexibility offered by offshore sportsbooks.
Take a swing at cricket betting with legal online sportsbooks that offer odds on popular leagues from around the world. While the law was previously used to prevent US-based online sports betting, the law now simply restricts interstate wagering. The allowable forms of legal online sports betting may vary drastically from one state or country to another, and wagering on the Internet has become a popular, multi-billion-dollar industry. In the meantime, US sports bettors in all 50 states can access safe and legal sports betting at offshore sportsbooks like BetUS, BetNow and MyBookie.
There are offshore betting sites available to players throughout the US and some sportsbook apps that are available in 29 states. Bodog, a sister brand to Bovada, is a top choice for sports betting in Canada and other countries with legal sports betting. Sportsbook apps like DraftKings and FanDuel which are regulated locally have a legal sports betting age of 21 and up. From our experience, Bovada and BetOnline are the two best NFL sportsbooks based on what they offer in terms of bets and bonuses. Football is typically the most popular sport offered by all online sportsbooks in the US, between college football and the NFL. Almost all online sportsbooks have promotions offered to new players but some are significantly better than others in 2026 .
It was the second state to adopt an online-only model,giving operators a smoother entry without needing land-based partners. The global gaming giant launched Horseshoe Online Casino in the Mountaineer State in October 2024, following entries into Michigan, Pennsylvania and Ontario. Bets began to flow after PASPA fell, beginning in November2018 and taking off online in May 2019. Anotable rule in Nevada is that bettors must register in person to use theseapps, usually with a minimum $50 deposit. Lawmakers sent out five more cease-and-desist letters in early March 2025, on the heels of having chased some of the biggest names in unregulated wagering out of the state. Meanwhile, the first websites started operations in early 2023.
By 1911 less than 30 racetracks remained and organized crime had solidified its position as the main option for gambling and sports betting. In 1860, the US federal government banned almost all forms of gambling that involved a bettor making a cash wager with a bookmaker or casino, including betting on sports. The law gives Wisconsin’s federally recognized tribes exclusive rights to run mobile sportsbooks, so DraftKings, FanDuel, and the other national brands cannot launch independent apps in the state. Retail sportsbooks were already operating inside tribal casinos across the state before that, including at Oneida Nation properties in the Green Bay area.
- As of September 2023, sportsbooks are legal in 38 states, the District of Columbia, and the territory of Puerto Rico.
- Virginia state’s legislature passed Senate Bill 384 and House Bill 896 in 2020 and paved the way for sports betting.
- For casino games, that means that the chances you have to win are exactly the same as they would be in brick-and-mortar casinos in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, while for sports betting, it means that the lines you see are the lines you get.
- Sports betting bills have been proposed in South Carolina in 2019 and 2022, but neither got far.
- The IGRA also created the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) to oversee Indian gaming at the federal level.
The West Virginia Lottery Sports Wagering Act (S 415) became law without Gov. Jim Justice’s signature due to a possible conflict of interest. You can also bet in person at the William Hill Sportsbook inside the Capital One Arena, at the BetMGM Sportsbook at Nationals Park, and soon at Audi Field via FanDuel. The Texas Constitution bans most, if not all forms of gambling.
BetOnline accepts international players from a variety of countries, with it being one of the top sports betting options in Mexico. Many great online sportsbooks accept international players in 2026. While local sportsbook apps like DraftKings do offer college football game lines, they have banned player props and other bet types in a ton of states in 2026.
The best online sportsbooks have odds on small-market sports as well like badminton, beach volleyball, snooker, chess, eSports, and more. The UFL even saw a lot of action at legal betting sites in the inaugural 2024 season. As betting on sports has become so mainstream in 2026, most sportsbooks do not charge any fees to deposit. When using the best legal betting sites like Bovada or BetOnline, players can use Bitcoin for the fastest transactions.
The process for legalization in Missouri was long and winding, but the lawmakers got a bill narrowly passed and launched with several operators at the tail-end of 2024. The in-person sign-up requirement was dropped on March 5, 2022, allowing players to register online or on mobile. Back in 2018, Delaware was one of the first states to accept a legal single-game wager, behind Nevada.
There are no US laws that criminalize offshore gambling, and there are no domestic online gambling sites that even come close to offering the variety of games, odds, and lines that offshore operators provide. Our legal online casinos guide provides a deeper look at the online casino market in the United States. It does not impact individual bettors, and it does not make sports betting illegal. The Interstate Wire Act of 1961 is a law barring interstate sports betting. With sports betting legal in some capacity in 38 states already, there’s a good chance it already has.
They are operating in countries such as Panama and Costa Rica, and so adhere to the laws and regulations of those nations. However, online bookmakers based outside of the USA are available to players in all fifty states. There are a number of cultural and societal factors that can increase someone’s risk for developing gambling disorder. Trent is a professional sports journalist specializing in UFC, MMA, and esports coverage. However, legalization does not look the same everywhere.
Sports betting in the District of Columbia officially launched on May 28, 2020, with the introduction of GambetDC, an online and mobile sports betting platform operated by the DC Lottery. The process was relatively swift, as Delaware had already been offering limited sports betting through parlay cards since 2009. Delaware made headlines on June 5, 2018, by becoming the first state outside Nevada to fully legalize sports betting, following a landmark Supreme Court decision.
Daily Fantasy sports is regulated separately, so while sports betting may be off the table, legal fantasy and pick’em games may be available in your region. And Puerto Rico, have legalized some form of sports betting. Regulated markets are not homogeneous across the U.S. and regulated sports betting in general is by no means perfect. Overall, Congress has lately seemed content to let states legalize and regulate sports betting as they see fit. But the bill — which would have basically created a clearinghouse and some federal standards for state sports betting markets — didn’t have any legs.
Since the Supreme Court struck down PASPA in May 2018, 38 states plus Washington DC have legalized some form of sports betting. The IRS considers all gambling and sports betting winnings taxable income. Our team considers ourselves a “small business” in the sports betting affiliate industry, competing against much larger corporate teams and marketing budgets. We enjoy connecting with our readers, but we do not offer any sports betting picks or predictions. Problem gambling is a concern BettingUSA.com takes seriously, while also recognizing that people are already betting on sports online.
Agreeing to deals has been difficult in those states, as tribal control over gaming and how to manage it in a legal sports betting world has proven difficult. Perhaps the biggest player in sports betting legalization in the US is tribal casinos, or the tribes themselves. The most commonly advertised bonuses at US sports betting sites are the welcome bonuses that new users can claim when they register a new sportsbook account.
But if you walk outside to head down to Stockman’s, you can’t bet on your phone or when you get there because it is not a licensed establishment. The law took effect on June 28, 2023, paving the way for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission to establish rules and license operators. This means you can sign up anywhere there is an internet connection via your computer or mobile device. Iowa elected to require in-person registration during the market’s first year but that is now a thing of the past.
Sky Ute Sportsbook
Ohio sportsbooks began taking bets at midnight on New Year’s Day 2023, after lawmakers passed a bill at the end of 2021 and Gov. Mike DeWine signed it into law. New York’s first retail sportsbooks launched in July 2019, and mobile followed on January 8, 2022 after lawmakers folded it into the state budget bill. New Jersey’s legal fight is what brought PASPA down in May 2018, and the state launched retail and mobile operations shortly after, opening its first sportsbooks on June 14, 2018. Gov. Pete Ricketts signed sports betting into law on May 25, 2021, but the law only authorized in-person wagering. People in Montana over 21 can legally bet on sports in person or via a mobile sportsbook at a retail location.
MaineOnline sports betting is legal but not yet operational in Maine. KentuckyOnline sports betting is not yet legal in Kentucky.LouisianaOnline sports betting is live and legal in Louisiana. IowaOnline sports betting is live and legal in Iowa.KansasOnline sports betting is live and legal in Kansas. ConnecticutOnline sports betting is live and legal in Connecticut. CaliforniaOnline sports betting is not yet legal in California.ColoradoOnline sports betting is live and legal in Colorado.
States That Have Legalized Sports Betting
The American Gambling Association and local hotlines offer resources for responsible play. With very few exceptions, gambling is simply not allowed. At the other end of the spectrum, players often ask What is the strictest state for gambling? When people ask Which U.S. state has the most gambling? There is no single federal rulebook that applies to every form of gambling. Millions of Americans face gambling problems each year.
New York quicky became the No. 1 legal sports betting market in 2022. In July of 2019, retail sportsbooks were legal in a few upstate New York commercial and tribal casinos. The Rhode Island Lottery Commission oversees legal sports betting, and Caesars Sportsbook is the only online operator in the state. Once online sports betting is established, the four gaming tribes will pay a 10% tax on revenue annually and $200,000. PlaySugarHouse Sportsbook is the third retail and online sports betting site in the state. Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed the state legislative bill offering legal sports betting in May of 2021.
Tribal gaming exists all across the U.S. by the federal law of 1987, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), and tribal-state compacts, which govern the terms and conditions of gaming in the state. Should the state’s casinos be able to obtain the licenses? Likewise, the NHL is exploring the use of advanced stats for licensure and betting. Even the NFL now permits team-sportsbook partnerships, and the first came in June 2020 when the Broncos teamed up with FanDuel and Betfred. A bill that places local tribes in charge of betting in Oklahoma passed the house on March 23, 2023, giving life to OK betting hopes. His experience allows him to provide tips and information to help other bettors improve their game.
The legal sports betting landscape is always changing, even when new states aren’t coming on board. Florida’s issues were sent all the way to the Supreme Court, which declined to hear a challenge to the Seminole Tribe’s exclusive rights to online sports betting. The legalization of sports betting, however, has forced states to step up their responsible gambling initiatives. The expansion of legal sports betting in the US has had a huge impact on the economy and sports in general, specifically on how games are consumed by fans. Most states require any sports betting advertising be accompanied by responsible gambling messaging, and the targeting of minors is outlawed.
Hawaii and Utah are the only two US states with no legal gambling of any kind, so no sportsbooks operate on the islands. The potential market is the largest untapped prize in US sports betting. California came close to legalizing sports betting in 2022, but voters turned down both propositions. Bills aiming to legalize sports betting were introduced in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 but ultimately failed. You can help with the ongoing legal disputes in the US sports betting industry by contacting your state representatives and encouraging them to vote on matters you support. This freed up local lawmakers to issue legislation that would legalize online casinos and poker.
This is why, for example, when PASPA (a federal law) was in effect, states had no option to legalize and regulate sports betting. In short, there are two sets of laws we must address in any discussion of sports betting or gambling. Essentially, what the Department of Justice opined was that the Wire Act only applies to sports betting, not to other forms of online gaming. Topendsports.com is an affiliate website that provides reviews and comparisons of sports betting sites. I’m Stefan Peric, a sports-betting writer at TopEndSports with a University of Belgrade law degree and more than five years reviewing sportsbooks. You must be physically located in a state where sports betting is legal to place bets.