Which States Offer Legal Online Sports Betting?

Guide to Legal Gambling in US

For most Americans, the only way to legally play casino games online is to use an offshore gambling site. If you are a player who doesn’t live in one of these states, the good news is there are no current laws or prohibitions in the federal code that would make online gambling illegal in the US. As of 2026, there are many states that now offer legal and regulated online gambling. To add to the inconsistency, legal online gambling is not addressed one way or the other in most individual state gambling laws. Your tax rate will vary depending on the state in which you’re betting, but in general, you’ll need to pay taxes if your sports betting winnings for the year are a net positive. If you’re looking for a sports betting alternative, check out the Griddy referral code!

There are now 30 states with online betting, and more are on the way. The act would also ban prop betting on college sports. Montana offers in-person betting through lottery terminals and an app that only works in authorized Sports Bet Montana locations.

Which States Offer Legal Online Sports Betting?

• It’s important to note that GambleSpot is not a gambling operator and does not provide gambling platforms.
• There are only three major US federal gambling laws that affect US players who wish to participate in online casinos, poker rooms, sportsbooks, and racebooks.
• Wyoming’s sports betting market is unique in that it operates entirely online, with no physical sportsbook locations, and was among the first to accept cryptocurrency for wagering.
• Alabama doesn’t currently run a lottery, which is often a catalyst for sports betting and online sportsbooks.
• This shift also encouraged legislation on iGaming and online poker.

While it didn’t make betting illegal for US citizens, it did make it illegal to accept any payments on behalf of an illegal online casino or sportsbook operating in America. Wisconsin also sued Kalshi, Robinhood, Coinbase, Polymarket, and Crypto.com in April 2026 over what it called illegal sports betting. Gov. Tony Evers signed online sports betting into law on April 9, 2026. More casinos are in the works thanks to provisions in the sports betting law that called for building those venues. The law allows between two and six mobile sportsbooks, and the market opened on January 11, 2024. New York is the largest online sports betting market in the US by handle, but it also carries the highest tax rate in the country at 51%.

In late 2025 they decided to eschew the legal online sportsbook industry in favor of launching their own prediction market. All of these sportsbooks were licensed and legal, but in a developing market found it tough to gain traction and eventually shut down. However, its live betting features and overall market depth don’t match the stronger national operators, making it more of a situational option than a top-tier sportsbook. While it doesn’t offer the deepest live betting menu in the market, it remains a reliable option across most legal states. Again, every single sportsbook on this list is legal and licensed to operate in the United States and currently accepting bets.

For the experienced bettor, live betting can be one of the best ways to take advantage of inefficient betting lines and beat the market to secure lots of value. A totals bet requires the player to decide whether the number set by the sportsbook is too high or too low, known as taking the over or the under. You’ll need to create an account to bet online, and when you do so, you can use either a mobile app or a desktop website. Idaho’s laws currently expressly prohibit sports gambling but allow horse racing. However, throughout the rest of the state, you cannot engage in mobile betting. You can bet at tribal casinos in Wisconsin either through traditional in-person methods or with supported apps.

While lawmakers in many states are actively pushing for new gambling bills centered around allowing iGaming, these law proposals either move painfully slow or are basically dead in the water from the very beginning. One of the most common ones is prohibiting betting on in-state college teams. When moving on to the wagering of college sports, the field narrows. And, of course, what are the top sportsbook apps in my state?

In 2023, the Alabama lawmakers are showing slight improvement in legalizing sports betting in the state. In 2020, HB 336 would have created a gambling commission that would oversee the state’s sports betting laws. Some state lawmakers in South Carolina are hesitant on legalizing sports betting. Retail and online sports betting in Kentucky will be allowed to include professional and college games. There are nine horse tracks with casinos that will operate retail sportsbooks. On March 4 of that same year, legal bettors in the state could now place wagers on professional and college sports from online sportsbooks.

The Maine Gambling Control Unit approved rules surrounding sports betting, paving the way for online sports betting to start in November 2023. Online and retail sports betting are both legal. Online and retail sports betting is legal and officially began in October 2021.

Since 2020, Colorado betting laws have permitted a competitive market with multiple online sportsbooks and in-person wagering at casinos. Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed bills S4916 and H4311 into law in 2019 and legalized sports betting in Michigan casinos, both online and mobile. If you live in or near a state with legal online sports betting, you can bet at online sportsbooks/mobile sports betting apps from anywhere within that state. Have legal sports betting in some capacity whether it’s retail betting, online sportsbooks, or both. Some states have taken a measured approach to legalization by authorizing retail sportsbooks and betting kiosks but not online sports betting. Though Mississippi technically has mobile sports betting, those online bets can only be placed inside casinos, which has caused the state’s wagering business to lag behind neighboring states.

The comprehensive sportsbook sites we feature also offer https://www.pokernewsdaily.com/sportsbooks/ a wide range of game lines and props covering both popular niches and more refined, less popular events. As of September 2023, sportsbooks are legal in 38 states, the District of Columbia, and the territory of Puerto Rico. While gambling is legal under U.S. federal law, there are significant restrictions pertaining to interstate and online gambling, as each state is free to regulate or prohibit the practice within its borders. This Know Your Customer (KYC) process prevents fraud, ensures responsible gaming, and enables sportsbooks to issue IRS Form W-2G for winnings over $600. Lucky Rebel and BetUS offer the fastest withdrawals among US sportsbooks, with PayPal payouts processing within 24 hours and ACH transfers completing in 2-3 business days. Set bankroll limits for sports betting and never gamble more than you can afford to lose.

DraftKings Sportsbook (Best for Fast Payouts)

An interesting fact about Arizona’s sports betting is its low tax rate on profits, which, while attractive to operators, means the state sees limited financial benefits. Arizona’s sports betting scene officially kicked off on September 9, 2021, marking a swift journey from legislation to live betting in just five months. While there are some similarities, the states have varied significantly in their approach to sports betting. In the post-PASPA world, each state is responsible for creating its own set of sports betting rules. Over the years many states have exercised that right, creating a diverse, flourishing sports betting industry in the United States. The landmark decision restored the right for each state to individually pursue sports betting by creating their own set of rules and regulations.

Sports betting has the potential to be legal in all 50 states given the 2018 SCOTUS decision that repealed PASPA. Now that there is no federal ban, multiple states have already passed sports gambling laws, and many more have legislation in the works. The US-friendly offshore sportsbooks you see on this page are all operating legitimately within the industry.

Best Legal Online Poker Sites For USA Players 2026

There are many ways to fund all of the online sportsbooks reviewed on this page. BetOnline is one of the most reliable and trustworthy online sportsbooks that is available. When ranking the best online sportsbooks that accept US players, we factor in all of these details and more. He combines his knowledge of stats with his understanding of game theory to find the best values when sports betting.

Licensed sportsbooks must confirm the physical location of every customer who wishes to place a wager. However, you can only place real money wagers from within a state where that online sportsbook holds a license. As a result, sports fans can play at legal, US-based daily fantasy sports sites for real money.

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.

Of these, 31 states + DC offer online/mobile sports betting, while 8 states only allow retail (in-person) betting at casinos or tribal locations. The most popular form of wagering in the U.S. is mobile betting, and the majority of legal sports betting states now offer full online access. DFS sites serve as a legally accessible alternative to online sports betting sites in markets that have yet to formally legalize sports betting.

The layoffs, which go into effect at the end of May, are designed to cut costs following a worse-than-expected NFL season for the sports betting and gaming giant. Both online and retail sports wagering were legalized ayear prior. The market launched inOctober, and by the start of 2024, there were eight active Louisiana sports betting apps.

Sandia Resort and Casino launched its native sportsbook in November 2024, with the space featuring a bar and restaurant, more than 50 televisions and an outdoor patio. House Bill 162 was introduced in January 2025; the proposal would allow existing operators to offer online slots and table games within state lines. Online betting is allowed butconfined to tribal lands and properties. Several casinos have partnered with major operatorslike DraftKings and Caesars, facilitating on-site app usage.

US sportsbooks require Social Security Numbers and ID verification to comply with federal anti-money laundering regulations, verify your age (21+), and fulfill state tax reporting requirements. Withdrawal speed depends on account verification status, payment method, and whether you’ve met any bonus wagering requirements at your chosen US sportsbook. Deposit bonuses at US sportsbooks match your initial deposit up to a percentage (e.g., 100% up to $1,000), adding bonus cash to your account with playthrough requirements. Nevertheless, many offshore sportsbooks remain available to US residents in Washington. However, there are no active sportsbooks yet as these states are in the process of working out legislation.

Wisconsin became the 33rd state with full online betting on April 9, 2026, when Governor Tony Evers signed AB 601 into law. FanDuel is offering online sports wagering in Kansas under an agreement with Kansas Star Casino, LLC. The 10 highest-rated US sports betting operators, ranked by our editorial team. Most states establish a minimum age of 21 to bet on sports or participate in online gambling. However, we do not let that affect the integrity of our reporting and we only promote the best betting sites to our readers. The 2011 opinion paved the way for states to legalize online gambling sites for the first time in American history.

For now, however, bettors in these states must travel to a licensed venue to participate in legal sports betting. In these sports betting states, you must visit a physical location, such as a casino, racetrack, or tribal sportsbook, to place a bet. Missouri now offers both online and retail betting statewide, making it one of the most accessible markets for bettors. These states represent the core of the U.S. sports betting market, where multiple licensed operators compete to offer odds, bonuses, and betting options. The number of states with legal sports betting has steadily increased every year since 2018, and the trend is expected to continue.

Betfred and bet365 are international sportsbook operators, and Hard Rock Sportsbook at Bristol is a retail book. In August of that same year, online sportsbooks launched operations through desktop and laptop computers via the web. After a US Supreme Court ruled in favor of the states, the Garden State quicky passed the necessary bill to let legal sportsbooks operate in its border. The Connecticut Lottery formed its own sports betting site with Rush Street Interactive.

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.

Florida’s sports betting landscape has been a rollercoaster of legal battles and developments. Colorado voters narrowly approved the state’s sports betting referendum in late 2019, with the market officially launching on May 1, 2020. The state has embraced both retail and online platforms, offering residents and visitors a comprehensive betting experience. The result was that online sportsbooks with any legal or financial connection to the US withdrew from the country.

That cost gets passed to bettors in the form of thinner promotions and slightly worse pricing than you would find in New Jersey. The CFTC then sued New Mexico in June, and Polymarket sued the state attorney general in July. New Jersey remains one of the deepest and most competitive markets in the country.

Sportsbooks have also been made available online via websites and mobile apps and at retail locations, such as casinos or sports bars & grills. That decision allowed all states to create legal sports betting markets, whereas sports betting had been previously restricted to Nevada. Yes, legal online sports betting in the USA is now allowed thanks to the repealing of a long-standing legal precedent.

Only tribal casinos are able to operate sports betting in New Mexico; there are no online options. New Jersey has long been a trailblazer in the online betting space and offers a wide array of sportsbooks. Players 21 years of age and older can bet with just a couple of online sportsbooks, as well as a handful of retail sites. Maine online sports betting permits bettors to wager on any pro team, but wagering on Maine’s in-state college teams is off-limits.