Legislative Tracker: Sports Betting

Online sportsbooks account for the vast majority of legal wagering on sports throughout the United States. While online betting is not new, any website or app outside Nevada that began offering sports betting inside the United States before 2018 did so illegally.

North Carolina became the 30th state to launch online sports betting, upgrading its offerings on March 11. Now, these states (and Washington, DC and Puerto Rico) have legal, regulated sports betting industries:

In New Mexico, North Dakota, Washington, and Wisconsin, some tribes now offer sports betting under an existing Class III gaming compact.

Mississippi allows app-based sports betting but only on-site at licensed casinos. Montana offers in-person betting through lottery terminals and an app that only works in authorized Sports Bet Montana locations.

The states where there is no sports betting are Alabama, Alaska, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas and Utah.

Which states could legalize sports betting next?

States seeking additional sources of tax revenue and wanting to better address responsible gambling issues continue to look into sports betting legalization and regulation.

In recent years, these states examined sports betting bills but failed to get them across the finish line:

• Alabama sports betting: Senate versions of a bill died in the House in 2023. This year, prospects appeared promising before sports betting was removed from a lottery bill that eventually failed anyway.
• California sports betting: A ballot effort in 2022 to legalize mobile wagering failed spectacularly, drawing less than 20% support with California voters. Tribal gaming interests control the future of sports wagering in the Golden State.
• Georgia sports betting: Multiple bills came close to passage in recent years but fell short because of competing political pressures. A push went through the Senate in 2024, but the House could not come to an agreement by the end of the March session.
• Minnesota sports betting: A promising 2023 legislative push fell apart late, and the same appears to be happening this year. Minnesota’s legislative session ends on May 20.
• Mississippi sports betting: While sports betting is already legal in Mississippi, it is only available in person, or online while physically located at a sportsbook. A proposal during the 2024 session was passed by House, but died in conference committee in the Senate.
• Missouri sports betting: Frustration is growing in Missouri, where Sen. Denny Hoskins is single-handed obstructing sports betting legislation over his desire for the inclusion of video lottery terminals (VLT). However, voters might have their say in November 2024.
• Oklahoma sports betting: There is support from many stakeholders within the state, including the Governor, but getting a bill passed that satisfies the needs of tribes and legislators has been an issue.
• Texas sports betting: A bill to legalize sports wagering passed the House in 2023, a first in Texas. The bill quickly stalled in the Senate and cannot be picked up until 2025, when the legislature next meets.

Active 2024 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 online sports betting:

• Minnesota: Bills in the Senate and House are going through the legislative committee process. Some issues have been ironed out over the years, while others still remain in a typically complicated environment.
• Missouri: Bills are in the legislature but are expected to stall again. However, the best chance could be with a ballot initiative this November. Voter signatures have been submitted and are currently being verified by the Missouri Secretary of State. 170,000 valid signatures are required to place the question of legal sports betting on the ballot.
• Oklahoma: Two sports betting bills are active and awaiting movement in the Senate. One is a new bill introduced during the 2024 legislative session, and the other was brought forward from last year.
• South Carolina: There is one active sports betting bill in South Carolina. The bill has not moved since 2023 and missed 2024’s April 10 crossover deadline for bills to move from one chamber to the other.

How sports betting legalization laws affect athletes and coaches

There are 25 jurisdictions that explicitly prohibit an athlete or related person from betting:

• Arizona
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Illinois
• Iowa
• Louisiana
• Massachusetts
• Maryland
• Michigan
• Mississippi
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New York
• North Carolina
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Virginia
• Washington DC
• West Virginia
• Wyoming

Of those, four include penalties for the person betting – the others penalize the sportsbook/license holder:

• Colorado
• Michigan
• Virginia
• West Virginia

Ten jurisdictions explicitly via law and/or regulation bar the use of non-public information:

• Arizona
• Illinois
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• New York
• Pennsylvania
• South Dakota
• Washington DC
• West Virginia
• Wyoming

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:

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