Where Is Sports Betting Legal? 2026 State-by-State Guide | OutKick

Where is sports betting legal? As of November 2026, sports betting is legal in 39 states and Washington, DC, and online betting is live in 31 of those states plus DC. Eight states allow only in-person betting, and 11 have not legalized sports betting at all.

This guide covers the current status of every state, including launch dates, legal betting ages, college betting rules and which major sportsbooks operate where. It also tracks the states closest to legalizing next and explains how prediction markets fit into the picture.

Last updated: Nov. 12, 2026.

Sports betting falls into three categories across the US. Here is where every state stands as of November 2026.

Wisconsin is the closest to adding online betting. The state legalized tribal mobile betting in April 2026, but apps are not yet live.

For decades, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) barred most states from authorizing sports betting. Nevada was exempt. Delaware, Montana and Oregon kept limited carve-outs for older lottery-style products.

New Jersey challenged the law, and on May 14, 2018, the US Supreme Court ruled in Murphy v. NCAA that PASPA was unconstitutional. The decision left each state free to set its own rules, and Delaware took the first legal single-game bet outside Nevada weeks later.

Here is when each state took its first legal bet:

These 31 states and Washington, DC, allow online sports betting. Each listing covers the launch date, the state regulator, the minimum age, college betting rules and which of our featured sportsbooks are available.

Arizona launched online and retail betting on the same day in September 2021, timed to the start of the NFL season. It is one of the largest markets in the West, and all six of our featured sportsbooks operate there.

Arkansas opened casino sportsbooks in 2019 and added mobile betting in 2022, with the state's casinos running the apps. FanDuel entered in March 2026 as a partner of a casino licensee, which must keep at least 51% of the revenue.

Colorado voters approved sports betting through Proposition DD in 2019, and online and retail books opened in May 2020. It has one of the deepest app markets in the country.

Connecticut runs a three-operator market built on agreements with the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes and the Connecticut Lottery. Only three operators are licensed online, including FanDuel and Fanatics.

Delaware took the first legal single-game sports bet outside Nevada on June 5, 2018. Online betting runs through a single lottery-contracted platform, so none of our featured sportsbooks operate there.

Florida's market is controlled by the Seminole Tribe under a 2021 gaming compact, which makes Hard Rock Bet the only legal online sportsbook in the state. After a federal court fight over the compact paused the 2021 launch, Hard Rock Bet relaunched statewide in late 2023.

Illinois is one of the largest markets in the country by handle. Since July 2025 operators have paid a per-wager tax on top of a graduated revenue tax, and Chicago began taxing sportsbook revenue in January 2026.

Indiana launched mobile betting in October 2019, one of the first states in the Midwest to do so. In September 2026 the Indiana Gaming Commission declined an NCAA request to ban college player props, leaving the question to lawmakers.

Iowa launched online and retail betting together in August 2019. In-person registration was required at first, but that rule ended in January 2021.

Kansas launched online betting in September 2022, with the Kansas Lottery as the operator of record. Current sportsbook contracts run through August 2027, and a 2025 budget provision barred the lottery from negotiating new ones, so the market's long-term structure is an open question.

Kentucky launched in September 2023 with an 18 and older minimum age. In April 2026 lawmakers overrode Gov. Andy Beshear's veto of HB 904, which raised the betting age to 21 effective July 15, 2026, and banned under-style player props on athletes at Kentucky colleges.

Louisiana legalized sports betting by parish-level vote in 2020, and online betting works only in the 55 of 64 parishes that approved it. The state raised its online tax rate to 21.5% in August 2025.

Online betting in Maine is reserved for the state's Wabanaki Nations, which partner with national operators. None of our featured sportsbooks operate there.

Maryland voters approved sports betting in 2020, and mobile apps launched just before Thanksgiving 2022. The state raised its online tax rate from 15% to 20% in 2025.

Massachusetts launched mobile betting in March 2023, just ahead of March Madness. Lawmakers have debated stricter rules, including limits on props and live betting, though none had become law as of October 2026.

Michigan launched online sports betting and online casino games on the same day in January 2021. bet365 became the latest major sportsbook to enter the state in April 2026.

Missouri voters approved Amendment 2 in November 2024, and online and retail betting launched together on December 1, 2025. It is the newest legal market in the country.

For a full breakdown of the state's legal sportsbooks, see our Missouri sports betting guide.

Nevada was the only state with full-scale legal sports betting before 2018, thanks to an exemption in federal law. Mobile apps are run by Nevada casino companies, and national brands such as FanDuel do not operate there.

New Hampshire runs a single-operator market through the state lottery, which keeps about half of the revenue, and none of our featured sportsbooks operate there. It is one of the few states where adults 18 and older can bet.

New Jersey brought the case that ended the federal ban, Murphy v. NCAA, and opened its first sportsbooks in June 2018. The state raised its online sports betting tax rate to 19.75% in 2025.

New York is the largest legal betting market in the country by handle, with mobile apps live since January 2022. Operators pay a 51% tax on online revenue, one of the highest rates in the country.

For a full breakdown of the state's legal sportsbooks, see our New York sports betting guide.

North Carolina launched mobile betting in March 2024, days before the ACC Tournament and March Madness. The state's July 2026 budget raised the online tax rate from 18% to 23%.

For a full breakdown of the state's legal sportsbooks, see our North Carolina sports betting guide.

Ohio launched online and retail betting together on January 1, 2023, during college football bowl season. A 2026 bill (HB 971) would sharply restrict online betting, but it had not advanced as of October 2026.

For a full breakdown of the state's legal sportsbooks, see our Ohio sports betting guide.

The Oregon Lottery runs the state's online market through a single-operator partnership, and no college betting is offered on the app. Tribal casinos offer in-person betting.

Pennsylvania legalized sports betting in 2017, before the federal ban was struck down, and launched online in May 2019. Its 36% tax rate on sportsbook revenue is among the highest in the country.

For a full breakdown of the state's legal sportsbooks, see our Pennsylvania sports betting guide.

The Rhode Island Lottery runs the state's only sportsbook, available in person and through a single statewide app. None of our featured sportsbooks operate there.

Tennessee was the first state to launch online-only betting with no retail sportsbooks. It taxes operators on the total amount wagered rather than revenue, which is unique among legal states.

Vermont launched online-only betting in January 2024 with three operators, including FanDuel and Fanatics.

Virginia launched mobile betting in January 2021, and casino sportsbooks followed in 2022. A 2026 law (HB 515) banned credit card deposits for sports betting starting July 1, 2026.

The District launched the lottery-run GambetDC app in 2020 and replaced it with FanDuel in 2024. A 2024 law change let private sportsbooks operate citywide, and bet365 became the latest to enter in September 2026.

West Virginia legalized sports betting before the Supreme Court ruling and opened its first sportsbook in August 2018. bet365 launched in the state in August 2026.

Wyoming offers online-only betting with no retail sportsbooks, and adults 18 and older can bet. The state places no cap on the number of sportsbook licenses.

These eight states allow sports betting only in person, usually at commercial or tribal casinos. Some offer apps, but they work only on casino property.

Mississippi opened casino sportsbooks in August 2018, and apps such as BetMGM work only on casino property. A bill to allow statewide mobile betting passed the House for a third straight year in 2026 but died in the Senate.

Montana's betting runs through the state lottery's Sports Bet Montana, available at licensed bars and taverns. The lottery app works only on those premises, so there is no statewide mobile betting.

Nebraska allows sports betting at its licensed racetrack casinos. Voters  decide don November 3, 2026, whether to legalize online sports betting through a constitutional amendment (Initiative Measure 440) and a companion statute. At the time of writing, it looks as if the vote will reject online sports betting.

New Mexico's tribal casinos began taking bets in October 2018 under existing gaming compacts, without new state legislation. Online betting is not available.

Sports betting in North Dakota is limited to a few tribal casinos. A 2025 proposal to put the question to voters failed, and the legislature does not meet again until 2027.

South Dakota voters approved betting in Deadwood casinos in 2020, and bets can be placed only in person or on casino property. A 2026 plan to put statewide mobile betting on the ballot died in a House committee.

Washington's tribal casinos offer sportsbooks and apps that work only on casino grounds. A 2026 law (SB 6137) began allowing bets on in-state college games while banning props on athletes at Washington schools.

Wisconsin legalized online betting through its tribes in April 2026, but apps have not launched because each tribal compact needs federal approval. A lawsuit filed in August 2026 challenges the law under the state constitution. 

Sports betting is not legal in 11 states. Here is where each one stands.

Alabama has no lottery or commercial casinos. A 2026 constitutional amendment covering a lottery, casinos and mobile betting died in committee, the third straight year a gambling bill failed.

Alaska has no legal sports betting. A mobile betting bill (HB 145) remains in committee and has never received a vote.

California voters rejected two sports betting measures in 2022, and no measure is on the 2026 ballot. Most observers point to 2028 as the next realistic attempt, which would likely need the support of the state's tribes.

A constitutional amendment fell short of the two-thirds House vote it needed in March 2026, and the companion framework bill never reached a floor vote. Georgia's next chance comes in the 2027 session.

Hawaii and Utah are the only states that ban all forms of gambling. Several 2026 bills stalled, and a state tourism and gaming working group is expected to report in late 2026 or early 2027.

Idaho's constitution limits gambling, and lawmakers have not seriously considered sports betting.

Minnesota has debated sports betting for years. A tribal-run mobile betting bill failed again in 2026 amid a long-running dispute between tribes and racetracks.

A bill to allow tribal retail and mobile betting failed in the state Senate in April 2026. Supporters plan to try again in 2027, when a new governor takes office.

A bill to create a state sports wagering commission received a hearing in February 2026 but did not advance.

Legalization requires a constitutional amendment approved by two-thirds of both chambers and then by voters. The legislature next meets in January 2027, and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick remains opposed.

Utah's constitution bans all forms of gambling, and there is no effort to change it.

Several states have active legalization efforts heading into 2027. These are the ones to watch.

Not every sportsbook operates in every legal state. Here is where each of our featured sportsbooks is live online as of November 2026.

Florida is the only state where Hard Rock Bet is the sole legal online option. Delaware, Rhode Island and Nevada run their own state or casino-based platforms.

Prediction markets such as Kalshi and Polymarket let users trade contracts on the outcome of sporting events. They operate under federal oversight from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) rather than state gaming licenses, which is why they are available in some states where sportsbooks are not legal, including California and Texas.

Many states argue these contracts are sports betting and should require a state license. Federal appeals courts have split. The Third Circuit sided with Kalshi against New Jersey in April 2026, while the Ninth Circuit (Nevada, August 2026) and the Sixth Circuit (Ohio and Tennessee, September 2026) ruled that states can regulate sports event contracts. New Jersey has asked the US Supreme Court to take up the issue.

Prediction markets are not the same as a licensed sportsbook. They are not overseen by state gaming regulators, and state responsible gambling protections may not apply. FanDuel also runs a separate product, FanDuel Predicts, which offers sports contracts only in states where FanDuel Sportsbook is not available.

Offshore sportsbooks are not licensed or regulated by any US state. They often advertise to bettors in states without legal betting, but they offer no protection if a site refuses to pay, freezes an account or shuts down.

Licensed sportsbooks must verify your identity and location, keep player funds separate, follow state advertising rules and offer responsible gambling tools. If a sportsbook is not listed by your state regulator, it is not legal where you live.

The minimum age is 21 in most states. Adults 18 and older can bet in New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Wyoming, Montana and Washington DC, though some sportsbooks in DC, including BetMGM, set their own minimum of 21. In Washington, the age depends on the tribal casino. Kentucky raised its minimum age from 18 to 21 on July 15, 2026.

No. You only need to be physically located inside a legal state when you place a bet. Sportsbook apps use geolocation to confirm your location, so visitors can sign up and bet while they are in the state.

No. If you travel into a state without legal betting, your app will block wagers until you return to a legal state. You can usually still log in, view your account and withdraw funds.

Many states limit college betting. The most common rules ban bets on in-state college teams, ban player props on college athletes, or both. Restrictions are listed in each state's section above.

Sports betting should always be entertainment. If gambling stops being fun, these free and confidential resources can help.

Every legal sportsbook also offers deposit limits, time limits and self-exclusion tools, and most state regulators run their own self-exclusion programs.

Sports betting is legal in 39 states and Washington, DC, as of November 2026. Online betting is live in 31 of those states plus DC, while eight states allow only in-person betting.

Online betting is live in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming and Washington DC.

Sports betting is not legal in Alabama, Alaska, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Minnesota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas and Utah.

The Supreme Court struck down the federal ban (PASPA) on May 14, 2018. Delaware took the first legal bet outside Nevada on June 5, 2018, and New Jersey followed days later.

The minimum age is 21 in most states. New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Wyoming, Montana and Washington DC allow betting at 18, though some sportsbooks set a higher minimum.

Yes. You do not need to be a resident. You only need to be physically located in a legal state when you place your bet.

Nebraska voters decided on online betting on November 3, 2026, and Wisconsin has legalized online betting but not yet launched. Texas, Georgia and Oklahoma are the largest states expected to revisit legalization in 2027.

Prediction markets operate under federal CFTC oversight rather than state gaming licenses, so they are not licensed sportsbooks. Several states are challenging them in court, and their legal status in some states remains unsettled.