States can legalize sports betting if they choose after the US Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on single-game wagering in 2018. Interest in the legalization of sports betting was ramping up in the US in recent years, even prior to that decision.
2021 sports betting bills
There are now a variety of bills on file around the country and even some new laws on the books. Below is a look at current legislation by state. These states in particular are close to having legal sports betting:
- North Carolina (Legalized July 2019)
- Maryland (Approved by voters in November 2020)
- Louisiana (Approved by voters in November 2020)
- South Dakota (Approved by voters in November 2020)
All could have some sort of legal wagering in 2021.
States with legal sports betting
These states have legal, regulated sports betting industries:
- Arkansas sports betting
- Colorado sports betting
- Delaware sports betting
- Illinois sports betting
- Indiana sports betting
- Iowa sports betting
- Nevada sports betting
- New Hampshire sports betting
- New Jersey sports betting
- New York sports betting
- Michigan sports betting
- Mississippi sports betting
- Montana sports betting
- Oregon sports betting
- Pennsylvania sports betting
- Rhode Island sports betting
- Tennessee sports betting
- Virginia sports betting
- West Virginia sports betting
In New Mexico, some tribes are now offering sports betting under an existing Class III gaming compact. Some Oregon tribes have also begun operating sportsbooks as well.
Here is a look via map (green = legal; yellow = pending launch):
The climate for sports betting legislation
Nearly two years after the US Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on legal sports betting, nearly 75% of US states have either legalized sports wagering or introduced legislation to do so.
Legislative live streams
Want to follow along as a sports betting bill is considered in a hearing or legislative session. Here’s a guide to all the video and audio streams for US legislatures:
Previous sports betting bills
Here is the recent history of bills related to sports betting in the United States:
2018 legislation
| State | Bill(s) | Synopsis | Latest News |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | ACA 18 | Constitutional amendment would legalize sports betting. | Latest news |
| Connecticut | H 5307 S 540 | Bills would legalize sports betting. | Latest news |
| District of Columbia | B 22-944 | Bill would legalize sports betting. | |
| Illinois | H 4214 H 5186 S 7 S 2478 S 3125 S 3432 | Bills would legalize or prohibit sports betting. | Latest news |
| Indiana | S 405 H 1325 | Bills would legalize sports betting. | Latest news |
| Iowa | H 2448 | Bill would legalize sports betting. | Latest news |
| Kansas | H 2533 H 2752 H 2792 H 2793 S 455 | Bills would legalize sports betting. | Latest news |
| Kentucky | BR 155 H 536 | Bills would legalize sports betting. | Latest news |
| Louisiana | H 245 S 266 | Bills would legalize sports betting via referendum. | Latest news |
| Maryland | S 836 HB 1346 HB 1014 | Bills would legalize sports betting via referendum. | Latest news |
| Massachusetts | S 2273 | Bill would study legalization and regulation of sports betting. | Latest news |
| Michigan | H 4060 H 4261 H 4926* | Bills would legalize sports betting; first via referendum; second would allow parlay wagering; third would legalize online gambling. *Passed by legislature Dec. 2018 but vetoed by governor. | Latest news |
| Mississippi | H 1113 H 1154 | First bill would prohibit sports betting; second would study tax rates for sports betting. | Latest news |
| Missouri | H 2320 H 2406 H 2535 S 767 S 1009 S 1013 | Bills would legalize sports betting. | Latest news |
| New Jersey | A 3911 A 4111* S 2602 | *Passed June 2018. Bills would legalize sports betting. | Latest news |
| New York | A 11144 S 1282 S 7900 A 5438 A 10322 A 11225 | Bills would broaden legalization of sports betting; last two would create a task force to study sports betting. | Latest news |
| Ohio | H 714 S 316 | Placeholder bills express intent to legalize sports betting. | Latest news |
| Oklahoma | H 3375 S 1175 | Bills would legalize sports betting as part of tribal gaming package; "sports pools" language removed by amendment. | Latest news |
| Rhode Island | S 2045 H 8320 H 7200* | *Passed June 2018. Bills would legalize sports betting; third is the state budget proposal. | Latest news |
| South Carolina | H 3102 | Bill would legalize sports betting. | Latest news |
| West Virginia | H 2751 S 106 S 415* H 4396 | *Passed March 2018. Bills would legalize sports betting. | Latest news |
| US | H 783 H 4530 | Bills would allow individual states to legalize sports betting. |
2017 legislation
| State | Bill(s) | Synopsis | Latest News |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | ACA 18 | Constitutional amendment would legalize sports betting in the state. | Latest news |
| Connecticut | H 6948* | *Passed July 2017. Bill would allow regulators to prepare for legal sports betting, should state and federal law allow. | Latest news |
| Hawaii | H 927 | Bill would study legalization and regulation of gambling, including sports betting. | Latest news |
| Kentucky | B 155 | Bill would legalize sports betting. | Latest news |
| Maryland | H 989 | Bill would create a task force to study sports betting. | Latest news |
| Michigan | H 4060 H 4261 H 4926 | Bills would legalize sports betting; first via referendum; second would allow parlay wagering; third would legalize online gambling. | Latest news |
| Mississippi | H 967* | *Passed March 2017. Bill would allow state to regulate sports betting under fantasy sports law. | Latest news |
| New Jersey | S 3375 | Bill would repeal sports betting prohibition. | Latest news |
| New York | S 1282 A 5438 | Bills would broaden legalization of sports betting. | Latest news |
| Oklahoma | S 857 | Bill would legalize sports betting as part of tribal gaming package. | Latest news |
| Pennsylvania | H 519 H 271* | *Passed Oct. 2017. Bills would legalize sports betting; first is standalone bill; second is part of omnibus gambling expansion package. | Latest news |
| South Carolina | H 3102 | Bill would legalize sports betting and gambling. | Latest news |
| West Virginia | H 2751 | Bill would legalize sports betting. | Latest news |
| US | H 783 | Bill would allow individual states to legalize sports betting. |
2016 legislation
| State | Bill(s) | Synopsis | Latest News |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | A 1441 | Bill would legalize sports betting. | Latest news |
| Delaware | S 183 | Bill would expand existing sports betting lottery. | Latest news |
| New Jersey | Bill became law in 2014; challenged in court. | Bill would legalize sports betting. | Latest news |
| New York | S 940 | Bill would legalize sports betting. | Latest news |
| Pennsylvania | HR 619 | Bill would legalize sports betting. | Latest news |
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