Legislative Tracker: Sports Betting

Interest in the legalization of sports betting has ramped up in the US recent years. There are now a variety of bills in states around the country and even some laws on the books.

The current climate for sports betting legislation

The push for legal sports gambling got a boost as the New Jersey sports betting case gained some traction in 2017. The US Supreme Court will hear the case late in 2017 and render a decision in 2018.

A win for New Jersey could mean other states could legalize sports betting, should the court rule that the federal prohibition on sports wagering is unconstitutional. That prospect has generated interest in several state capitols.

Some states — including Mississippi and Connecticut — have already started moving to change their laws with enacted legislation.

Current sports betting bills

Here is a look at bills related to sports betting in the United States:

State	Bill Number(s)	Bill Synopsis	Latest News
California	ACA 18	The constitutional amendment would legalize sports betting in the state, if federal law is changed to allow it.	Latest news
Connecticut	H 6948	(Passed July 2017) The bill would allow regulators to prepare for legal sports betting, should state and federal law allow.	Latest news
Hawaii	H 927	The bill studies the future of gaming in Hawaii, sports betting included	Latest news
Maryland	H 989	The bill sets up a task force to study sports betting.	Latest news
Michigan	H 4060 H 4261	The first bill would legalize sports betting via a referendum. The second would allow for parlay wagering.	Latest news
Mississippi	H 967	(Passed 2017) As part of a fantasy sports law, language allows the state to regulate sports betting should federal law allow.	Latest news
New Jersey	S 3375	The bill would repeal the state's prohibition on sports betting	Latest news
New York	S 1282 A 5438	The bills would legalize sports betting.	Latest news
Oklahoma	S 857	The bill would authorize sports betting as a part of a larger package related to tribal gaming.	Latest news
Pennsylvania	H 519	The bill would legalize sports betting if federal law allows it.	Latest news
South Carolina	H 3102	The bill would legalize casino gambling and sports betting.	Latest news
West Virginia	H 3102	The bill would legalize sports betting.	Latest news
US	H 783	The bill would allow individual states to legalize sports betting.

Previous sports betting bills

Here’s a rundown of legislation introduced prior to 2017:

State	Bill Number(s)	Bill Synopsis	Status Of Bill / Latest News
California	A 1441	The bill would legalize sports betting in the state, if federal law is changed to allow it.	Introduced in September 2015. Latest news.
Delaware	S 183	The bill would expand the state's parlay card offerings online.	Introduced in January 2016.
New Jersey	Bill became law in 2014, but is pending a legal challenge.	The bill allows sports betting in the state at casinos and racetracks.	The law is not in effect, as a court injunction has held up implementation. The case is being appealed. Latest news.
New York	S 940	The bill would legalize sports betting.	The bill was introduced in 2016 and referred to the attorney general for an opinion. No further action was taken.
Pennsylvania	HR 619	The bill would legalize and regulate sports betting in the state.	The bill passed a committee hearing in 2016.

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