A Regional Breakdown Of Legal Sports Betting In The USA

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Sports Betting was once the exclusive domain of Nevada, but the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in May 2018 by the Supreme Court ushered in a new era of US sports betting. And a lot has changed.

Just over three years after the decision, 30 states and the District of Columbia have legalized sports betting, or in some instances, like Wisconsin and Florida, are in the process of attempting to legalize the activity.

And of course, there is a lot of variety in those legal sports betting states, from retail-only markets to in-person registration to restrictions on market access and product offerings.

That said, some common threads are emerging at the regional level.

Sports Betting In The Northeast: 11 New England and the Mid-Atlantic States

Since the fall of PASPA, the Northeast has been a hotbed of sports betting activity. Ten of the 11 states in the region have legal sports wagering industries, and perhaps more importantly, all the states that have passed or are considering legislation have authorized mobile betting.

Green = legal | Red = illegal | Blue = active bill

A Look At The Remaining States

Vermont

Of all the Northeast states, Vermont is the furthest away from legal sports betting.

The Green Mountain State possesses little in the way of legal gambling. Daily fantasy sports are permitted, as is parimutuel betting. However, there are currently zero operational race tracks in the state, limiting horse racing betting to online ADW options, which reside in a legal gray area.

The state did commission an expanded gambling study in 2020, but with no vested commercial interests and lacking a state lottery, who would run Vermont’s sports betting industry is an open question.

Sports Betting In The South: 14 South Atlantic, Gulf Coast, and Deep South States

If the Northeast is the division leader, the South is battling for a playoff spot. The region has a success rate of just 57%, with eight of 14 states passing sports betting laws, and one of those states, Florida, is likely facing legal challenges.

Green = legal | Red = illegal | Blue = legal, but awaiting approval

That record is even less impressive when you factor in that several southern states lack mobile sports wagering components. Of the eight states with legal sports betting in the region, Mississippi, Arkansas, North Carolina, and quite possibly Florida (depending on how the legal challenge plays out) are retail-only sports betting states.

A Look At The Remaining Southern Sports Betting States

Alabama

A famously anti-gambling locale, Alabama did take a swing at sports betting legalization in 2020 after the state received a near-900-page study on expanded gambling. COVID-19 derailed that attempt, and the legislature adjourned without tackling the topic in 2021.

Georgia

Georgia is another deep south state that has long resisted the siren song of gambling, but as Bob Dylan sang, the times they are a-changin’. After serious but failed efforts in 2020 and 2021, Georgia is looking more and more like a real contender for sports betting in the near term.

Kentucky

The Bluegrass State is another strong candidate for legalization, but despite recent efforts and the support of well-placed politicians, Kentucky has come up short on the sports betting front. Still, it seems like legal sports betting in Kentucky is a case of when not if.

Oklahoma

Some Oklahoma tribes thought they had negotiated an agreement to bring sports betting to the state, but the new compact between the tribes and Gov. Stitt was kyboshed by the state Supreme Court. As such, it would take legislative action to legalize sports wagering in the Sooner State, something that doesn’t seem to be on the state’s to-do list.

South Carolina

Like many of its neighbors, South Carolina isn’t a gambling state by any stretch of the imagination. And even the current interest in sports betting hasn’t penetrated South Carolina.

Texas

Texas sports betting is the crown jewel of the southern region, and while the state has shown some interest in sports betting, it will likely have to wait for an administrative change, as Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is opposed to legalization. The state is also considering commercial casino expansion, which could help or hurt sports betting chances if the two issues are tied together.

Sports Betting In The Midwest: 12 Great Lakes and Great Plains states

The Midwest started strong, with some of its most prominent states passing sports betting legislation in the first and second waves. It’s been a slow slog since with sparsely populated Nebraska and South Dakota the only new states adding their names to the list. However, after Department of Interior approval, Wisconsin joined the list as a tribal sports betting state limited to retail betting.

Green = legal | Red = illegal | Blue = legal, but awaiting approval

Meanwhile, several key states like Ohio and Missouri have dragged their feet, and Minnesota is barely in the conversation.

A Look At The Remaining Midwest States

Minnesota

Minnesota is a state that seems like a perfect candidate, but thus far, there has been little interest in legalizing sports betting outside of some halfhearted efforts. The key hurdle will be tribal buy-in. Minnesota tribes currently pay zero tax, which makes them apprehensive about reopening their compacts for any reason, let alone one as trivial as retail sports betting.

Missouri

Missouri is getting closer to legalized sports betting, but the state still seems to have many wrinkles to iron out. Efforts in recent years have stalled early on in the process, but the Show-Me State is likely to get its ducks in a row in the coming years.

North Dakota

Sports betting in North Dakota has been discussed but doesn’t seem high on the state’s wish list. Additionally, talks have been limited to retail betting run by charitable gaming operators.

The West: 13 Pacific and Mountain states

The West is the second most successful region when it comes to the percentage of states with legal sports betting. However, its record of eight out of 13 states is a bit deceiving, as California, and its nearly 40 million-strong population (more than the 12 other states in the region combined), is one of the holdouts. That said, a ballot measure could bring retail sports betting to California in 2022.

Further, most of the holdouts have little interest in legalizing sports betting.

Green = legal | Red = illegal

A Look at the Remaining States

Alaska

Alaska isn’t devoid of legal gambling, but it’s as sparse as its population. That makes the legalization of sports betting an uphill climb. Not surprisingly, a half-hearted effort to bring legal sports betting to the Last Frontier State went nowhere in 2020.

California

Sports betting in California seems destined to land in the state as an initiative to bring retail sports betting at tribal casinos and race tracks before the voters in 2022. However, it’s unlikely the state will see mobile sports betting anytime soon unless the legal uncertainty surrounding the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) and online gambling is somehow resolved.

Hawaii

Hawaii rivals Utah when it comes to gambling, meaning the state has zero legal gambling options to choose from outside of charitable gambling.

That said, Hawaii has started discussing the possibility of bringing sports betting and other forms of gambling to the islands. These discussions are still in the very preliminary phase, but they are occurring.

Idaho

Idaho has land-based gambling, but the state is one of only a handful that still expressly outlaws DFS contests. If Idaho does tackle sports betting, it will likely be in a retail-only capacity.

Utah

Like Hawaii, Utah is best classified as a non-gambling state. Unlike Hawaii, there hasn’t been the slightest hint the state is interested in legalized sports betting or any other form of gambling.

Steve Ruddock Content Director / Legal Analyst

Steve Ruddock is the content director for BettingUSA and the Editor-in-Chief of Gaming Law Review.

Steve has covered the legal and legislative developments in the US gambling sector for more than a decade for online and print publications.

A Regional Breakdown of Legal Sports Betting in the USA

Sports Betting In The Northeast: 11 New England and the Mid-Atlantic States