How to bet on sports legally

Retail-Only Sports Betting States · Delaware · Mississippi · Montana · Nebraska · New Mexico · North Dakota · South Dakota · Washington. Sports betting is now legal in a majority of US states. On this page, you can find out where you can place a sports bet online in the USA. The table below. Sports bettors place their wagers either legally, through a bookmaker/sportsbook, or illegally through privately run enterprises how to bet on sports legally to as "bookies". Legal Sports Betting States. You don't have to live in a state that has passed online sports betting bills just to enjoy mobile wagering.

Entering the Exciting World of Legal Sports Betting

As the sports industry continues to grow, so does the world of sports betting. It's essential to indulge in this exhilarating venture responsibly and legally. Here's a concise guide on how to navigate the world of legal sports betting.

Understanding the Legalities

Sports betting remains a regulated activity, varying from country to country and even within states. It's imperative to grasp the legal landscape before placing your bets. Research the laws governing sports betting in your jurisdiction to ensure you're engaging legally.

Finding a Legitimate Sportsbook

Opt for licensed and regulated sportsbooks to ensure the safety of your funds and personal information. Check for authentication and reviews to identify reputable platforms that offer fair play and timely payouts.

Learning the Basics of Odds and Wagers

Understanding odds is fundamental in making informed betting decisions. Familiarize yourself with the different types of odds - decimal, fractional, and moneyline - to interpret betting lines effectively. Additionally, grasp the various wagering options such as moneyline bets, point spreads, and over/under bets.

Setting a Budget and Sticking to It

Establish a budget dedicated to sports betting and abide by it meticulously. Avoid chasing losses or exceeding your allocated funds, ensuring a sustainable and enjoyable betting experience.

Monitoring Your Bets

Track your bets and analyze your performance in detail. Understanding your strengths and weaknesses can help refine your strategies and improve your overall betting outcomes.

Conclusion

Sports betting can be a thrilling pastime when approached prudently and legally. By comprehending the legal aspects, choosing reputable sportsbooks, and mastering the intricacies of odds and wagers, you can enhance your betting acumen responsibly. Remember, betting should be enjoyable and within legal bounds for a fulfilling experience in the realm of sports wagering.

Legal Sports Betting States: Where You Can Bet Online & In-Person

What is the maximum you can deposit on DraftKings? DraftKings doesn't offer a deposit limit for DraftKings Marketplace specifically. DraftKings deposit limits include the cumulative total for deposits made to Fantasy Sports, Sportsbook, Casino, Pick6, and Marketplace.

What kind of gambling is illegal? PC 330 states that “Every person who deals, plays, or carries on, opens, or causes to be opened, or who conducts, either as owner or employee, whether for hire or not, any game of faro, monte, roulette, lansquenet, rouge et noire, rondo, tan, fan-tan, seven-and-a-half, twenty-one, hokey-pokey, or any banking or ...

Can I play DraftKings in Texas? Bettors cannot use DraftKings Sportsbook, as the Lone Star State has not legalized sports betting in Texas. However, the DraftKings DFS product is available for Texas residents, and they are free to sign up and dive into the world of daily fantasy sports.

Can you place sports bets in Texas? No, sports betting is not currently legal in Texas, despite a concerted effort to change the situation in 2023 which has seen lawmakers battle over its legislation. There is expected to be a renewed push in 2024 after billionaire Mark Cuban sold part of his stake in the NBA's Dallas Mavericks to the Adelson family.

Please wait while your request is being verified...

Home to 7 million over the age of 21 and teams in every major-league sport, Michigan has quickly become one of the top betting states, regularly finishing among the top 10 in monthly handle. It ranks 7th among states in dollars bet all-time, right behind Colorado. It's also one of the few states where iGaming is legal.

Despite the proliferation of betting across the mid-west in recent years, and a new market on the way in Ohio, Michigan's operator-friendly rules should keep it atop the leaders in sports betting for years to come. The state technically has mobile wagering, but you can only place bets while inside a casino.

This has hurt its market share, despite being one of the few legal Southern betting states. It passed retail sports betting in , as a corollary to a fantasy sports bill, at a time when the Supreme Court lifting the federal ban seemed unlikely. Since then several bill online bills have been introduced, but none have made it to a vote. Expanding sports betting in conservative Mississippi will be a tall task.

Like most Southern states, it's politicians have deep-seated opposition to gambling. Montana, like Mississippi, technically has mobile wagering, but you can only place bets on a retail location's property. Intralot, a Greek company that runs the state lottery, started taking bets in March It's the only game in town and has severely jeopardized competitive pricing.

Not surprisingly, Montana's limited betting options and sparse population make it a small part of the overall U. Voters approved three constitutional amendments in November that would legalize "games of chance" at Nebraska's licensed horse tracks.

A regulatory bill that permits retail sportsbooks was signed into law, and in-person sports betting began at WarHorse Sportsbook is now open in Omaha and Lincoln in Nevada, the gold standard for in-person betting, still hasn't quite mastered online wagering. The state requires bettors to come into a casino to register in person before placing via the Internet.

Nevada will always hold a special spot for American gaming, but its already dropped to the second-most lucrative sports betting state and may continue to fall down the ranks as more and more populated states with statewide mobile wagering launch in the coming years.

DraftKings is the sole mobile operator in the state, though there are a handful of retail betting locations that have opened or intend to do so. Intralot, which runs apps in Montana and Washington D. New Hampshire has done decently well despite its limited market, but its handle will likely plummet after Massachusetts launched online betting.

New Jersey, the state to bring the sports gambling case to the Supreme Court, is now enjoying the fruits of its labor. It's home to 21 online sportsbooks, with room for at least 20 more. It's also accepting new operator models like betting exchange Prophet. How to bet on sports legally It now leads all states in handle, despite a betting ban on in-state colleges, which cost it during Saint Peters' Cinderella run to the Elite Eight.

Though New York's mobile sports betting launch — and the massive revenue its amassed since January — pose a threat to New Jersey's dominance, so far revenue's been up over last year. New Mexico hasn't passed any legislation, though Native American tribes have run in-person sports betting at their casinos since October They've done so by interpreting their gaming compact with the state to mean that they can offer any form of Class III gaming.

The Department of Interior, which overseas tribal agreements with states, hasn't intervened. It's one of the first "grey states" to take bets without approval from lawmakers or voters, though only six retail locations are open. New York launched online sports betting on, Jan. New York had retail sports betting at a handful of upstate commercial and tribal casinos, but these have generated little revenue despite the state's massive population and gaming interest.

That's because online betting was not legalized. But the time has come. Sports bettors can rejoice and bet from the comfort of their own homes instead of crossing bridges or going through tunnels to place their wagers. In the meantime, New Jersey has essentially turned into "Vegas East" with the help of New Yorkers coming across the border.

North Carolina legalized in-person sports betting in for two tribal casinos miles away from any of its major cities. It first took bets in March Now, online betting is almost here. The NC House and Senate aligned on a few changes to the state's sports betting bill on June 2, , and concurred early the next week, paving the way for legalization.

Roy Cooper is an advocate for sports betting and signed the bill on Wednesday, June 14, Online betting will start on March 11, , with eight North Carolina sports betting apps :. The bill allows for 12 online sportsbook licenses, so all the big players like FanDuel and DraftKings are there. The bill also adds pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing to the state, and adds more brick-and-mortar sportsbooks.

Lawmakers came one vote shy of passing online sports betting during the session, though confusion over reworked legislation and concerns over collegiate betting killed the effort just when it seemed to be at the finish line. There's been no political movement to legalize sports gambling in North Dakota, but state tribes have already opened retail sportsbooks under authority granted to them by the federal government, a similar legal path for the sports betting launch in New Mexico.

This too means retail only, but North Dakota is among a rare group of states that can take bets without an act of the legislature. Ohio is another sports-crazy state that's behind in legalizing sports gambling, especially given the action in many of its Midwestern neighbors.

But late in , Ohio legislators passed an online sports betting bill and Gov. Mike DeWine approved it. Some had hoped betting would start in time for the NFL season, but in May regulators announced all forms of betting will go live Jan. More than a dozen sportsbooks launched on New Year's Day and more than a dozen more could join the fold in the coming year.

Ohio sets up to be one of the biggest and most competitive sports betting markets in the country, which is great news for bettors. Thanks to a limited exemption in the federal sports betting ban that allowed it to offer parlay cards, Oregon officials determined the state lottery could begin taking bets without a separate act of the legislature.

The state lottery app took its first bet in , but with only one legal mobile wagering option, it has not been able to match competitive markets. In January of , Oregon switched from its own lottery app to DraftKings as its sole operator. A handful of Native American casinos operate retail sportsbooks.

Pennsylvania was among a handful of states to accept a legal retail sports bet in and, beginning with its digital launch, has been among the biggest markets in the country. Pennsylvania consistently pulls in among the top five largest sports betting handles, despite higher taxes and fees than some other states.

The fees, and a limit of only 14 total operator licenses, could continue to hinder Pennsylvania's potential, but it's large population and high-profile sports teams will help it maintain some of the nation's highest-grossing handle totals. Pennsylvania is also one of five states with online casinos , generating massive revenue for operators. Rhode Island has been offering legal sports betting since when retail sportsbooks opened at its two commercial casinos.

William Hill now owned by Caesars is the only legal retail and online sportsbook in the state. Lawmakers repealed an in-person mobile registration requirement, but the small population and lone legal option keep revenues small, despite Rhode Island's proximity to Massachusetts. South Dakota legalized sports betting in November as part of a ballot initiative and lawmakers passed retail-only authorization for Deadwood casinos and certain tribal gaming facilities.

The state constitution only permits wagering within Deadwood and tribal lands, but some policymakers believe statewide mobile wagering can be approved as long as the servers are placed in Deadwood. Legislation to do so gained little traction in or in , but could open an interesting new digital market in the years to come. Since it has no casinos, Tennessee is the only state with online-only sports betting.

The conservative state's unlikely launch of an uncapped, digital sports betting market excited industry stakeholders, but other restrictions could hurt its potential. But in April , TN passed a bill that removed this rule and replaced it with a 1. It's the first rule of its kind in the U. Matthew Birong introduced a new sports betting bill in February of that would allow online sportsbooks in Vermont.

In late April, a Senate committee approved it, and the full senate approved it in early May, sending it to Gov. Phil Scott's desk. He signed it on June Vermont will undergo a competitive bidding process, much like New York, where operators will submit their plan and what tax rate they'd be willing to pay to get licensed. They also did something similar in Massachusetts and Connecticut, though those tax rates ended up much lower.

That resulted in just three sportsbooks entering the market on Jan. Virginia took its first online sports bet in January and is now home to over a dozen operators. The state's lagged behind some of its neighbors in handle and tax revenue, despite its close proximity to Maryland and Washington D. In an effort to change lawmakers worked a clause into the budget that phases out promo tax deductions for operators after months in the market.

Washington legalized sports betting on March 25, and took its first bet Sept. Only certain tribal casinos can take bets. When can i bet on sports in massachusetts Mobile sports betting, like Mississippi, will only be allowed if it is placed within a casino facility, a huge deterrent to the state's revenue potential. Statewide mobile betting doesn't seem like a reality anytime soon.

The bad news. The good news is that FanDuel Sportsbook is now live, as of April 15, The lone legal District-wide mobile app, GamBetDC, was run by the lottery and, partially because it has no legal competition, has offered lines worse than market averages. The app is geofenced out of any federal properties, a major problem in the nation's capital. That has allowed the city's first retail sportsbook, a full sportsbook bar and restaurant in Capital One Arena.

Caesars allows mobile wagering only within the stadium. Under its former brand-name—William Hill—the retail book opened July 31, as a makeshift sportsbook in the arena's box office. Its retail sportsbook opened Feb. Its mobile app too, is available within a two-block radius of its retail location near Nats Park.

Another entrant, Handle 19, is readying to enter the marketplace with a retail location. Overall, D. Mobile betting had some initial hiccups in West Virginia, but it's been fully live since August It will never rival some of the larger markets, but bettors at least have several legal options to place a bet from anywhere within the state. The Oneida Nation and Gov. Tony Evers announced a deal In July that permits the tribe to open retail sportsbooks at its casinos.

The deal does not permit statewide mobile betting or wagering on in-state college sports, and there's no timetable for online betting. Following federal approval in August , the tribe to launched sports betting at its Green Bay casino in November Lawmakers surprisingly approved statewide mobile wagering, becoming just the second state to allow online betting without any retail sportsbooks.

The first two online sportsbooks took bets beginning Sept. Meanwhile, the Northern Arapaho Tribe appears it may add retail sports betting under the authority of existing law, much in the way tribes in New Mexico are operating sports betting without any legislation. HB , another sports betting bill, will be discussed last month, as well.

Passing such a bill remains a difficult task in a state with strong gaming aversions, but it's nice to see progress. Alabama is one of the few remaining states without a lottery, but there's some appetite from at least a few lawmakers on all gambling fronts — sports betting, casinos and lottery. The bill doesn't have specific language about the number of sports betting licenses, but it would separate retail from online licenses.

The biggest hurdle is still the Poarch Band of Creek Indians PCI , the key gaming stakeholder in Alabama, and changes could be required to the bill to get the group on board. Alabama Rep. Andy Whitt tells me his committee will pass Alabama sports betting, casino and lottery legislation today. Georgia had some hope for legal sports betting, but a bill died in the final day of the legislative session without being discussed.

It's a frustrating ending, and an identical one to how legal sports betting hopes died in Georgia in both and Sports betting bills have gotten past the Georgia Senate several times in the last few years, but no bill has ever passed through the House. How to bet on sports legally The bill needs approval from at least two-thirds of the House to move forward, since it now includes a constitutional amendment after the Senate changed that on Feb.

Minnesota came extremely close to legalizing sports betting in and lawmakers took it up again in , but fell short once again. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are back in with a pair of bills. Tim Walz is confident something can get done this year. The state's tribes, which hold a significant lobbying presence in the statehouse, have for years opposed any legislation that wouldn't give them a monopoly on sports betting.

It's a hurdle, but lawmakers believe they can get something done. An amendment to a Minnesota sports betting bill in March that would ban live betting could cause problems, as well. Matt Klein said. Senator Miller's bill was a serious effort at finding a solution this year, and we're hearing that from all interested parties — the tracks, the tribes — people want to get this done and they want to get it done this session.

Missouri lawmakers introduced two new bills in early January, and a ballot measure could be added to the ballot in November if things can't be worked out by lawmakers. Missouri had two new sports betting bills in and there was a desire to get something done after nearly getting things across the finish line in It now moves to a full House vote.

But the past two years, promising sports betting bills have gotten through the House then died in the Senate. HB would allow for double-digit sports betting licenses — three skins to each casino and one to each pro sports team in the state. At one point Missouri looked like the surest bet to pass a sports betting bill in , as lawmakers openly competed with their counterparts in Kansas to get there first.

The House managed to pass a bill that would have authorized up to 39 sportsbooks, but it fell apart somewhat unexpectedly in the Senate and never recovered despite a last-minute push. There's a variety of statuses here — some states, like Idaho and Utah, will likely never have legal sports betting. Others like California and Oklahoma have complex situations with tribes, which control much of the gaming in those states.

Alaska is pretty much nowhere on sports gambling. The 49th state might actually be the 49th to legalize it, if ever. The election featured two different ballot proposals to legalize sports betting in California, and both fell way short — historically short, in fact. One was backed by DraftKings and FanDuel to legalize online betting, and the state's tribes lobbied hard against it.

Quite successfully, it turns out. In January of , proponents of California sports betting initiatives called off their efforts. Legal sports betting will have to wait until at the earliest, in all likelihood, and potentially several years beyond that.

DraftKings CEO Jason Robins even said in March of this doesn't seem like a path forward, because the tribes will just outspend the operators no matter what. That relationship requires mending, and it may not be tenable for a few more years. The tribes getting their way doesn't mean it will be in-person sports betting only in California — last year, a group of tribes proposed online and retail sports betting , but it didn't qualify for the ballot.

There are restrictions involving in-state college games: Betting on game outcomes is allowed, but player prop bets in collegiate games are prohibited. In the election, Colorado expanded both the number and type of casino games it is able to offer. The state also eliminated some wagering limits.

Delaware launched legal sports betting in less than a month after the Supreme Court's decision. Online sports betting is legal, although there are no in-state online sportsbooks. All betting on in-state collegiate teams is prohibited. Florida : It's complicated. Sports betting in Florida was legalized for only three weeks in before a judge ruled that an agreement between the Seminole Tribe and the state of Florida was illegal.

In June , a D. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the decision that had blocked regulated sports betting in the state. After a series of hearings, the tribe was allowed to continue and announced a limited "test" of Hard Rock Bet in early-November to Florida customers. Since then, an urgent request has been filed to shut down mobile sports betting in the state. How long customers will be allowed to bet legally in the state is uncertain.

Georgia : Not legal. A group of Georgia lawmakers filed bills in January that would have legalized Georgia sports betting in the Peach State and wouldn't have needed to be voted on by Georgia residents. But on March 6, , the Georgia Senate voted down multiple bills that would legalize sports betting in Georgia and the House failed to get legislation of their own voted on before the deadline for new bills passed.

A bill was proposed in January of that would've allowed for the regulation of sports gambling through a newly-established corporation, but the bill was denied. Legislation was passed in June to allow sports gambling, though in-state collegiate games will be off-limits under the new law.

It will make gambling lawful in a variety of locations both in-person including at Wrigley Field and online. Bets were allowed in the state as of March 9, Bets on collegiate games can only be placed in person, not online. Betting on in-state collegiate game outcomes is allowed, but player prop bets are prohibited.

Wagering on pro and college sports became legal in September of with both mobile and in-person betting permitted at multiple locations. Betting on collegiate game outcomes is allowed, but player prop bets in collegiate games are prohibited. Iowa legalized sports gambling in , with multiple sites beginning to take bets at the end of that summer.

State law allows for betting on both pro and college sports. Betting on in-state collegiate game outcomes is allowed, but player prop bets in collegiate games are prohibited. Kentucky : Legal. Kentucky voted to legalize in March and the first online sports betting sites launched on Sep.

Retail sports betting launched in October in many parishes. Mobile sports betting launched in January Sports betting went live in the state on November 3, , with DraftKings and Caesars Sportsbook being the only two online sportsbooks licensed in Maine. Four online licenses have been granted, one to each of the Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, Micmac, and Maliseet tribes, meaning two more legal sportsbooks will come to the state soon.

Maryland approved sports betting following the election, with in-person sportsbooks launching in the Baltimore area in December Maryland online sportsbooks officially launched in November Massachusetts sports betting launched on January 31, at three in-person locations.

Online sports betting through six mobile betting apps launched March 10, Massachusetts online sports betting is expected to launch in March Legislation to legalize Minnesota sports betting passed in August , but a launch date has not been set yet. The first sports bets in Mississippi were placed on August 1, The state enacted a law in that allowed for sports betting.

Missouri had several sports betting bills introduced in recent years but the state hasn't taken action on them yet. They have been stalled at the state legislature level. Legal sports betting arrived in the state as of March Sportsbooks are regulated through the state lottery.

The lottery director can decide which sports can be bet on and what kinds of wagers can be placed. Governor Pete Ricketts legalized sports betting and put it into law on May 25, , although there is only in-person betting. All betting on in-state collegiate games and events, including player prop bets, is prohibited.

New Hampshire joined the list of states with legalized sports betting on the second day of The state agreed to a six-year contract with DraftKings, so mobile sportsbooks can be utilized throughout the state. New Jersey long advocated for legalized sports gambling and was responsible for the case that led to the federal reversal from the Supreme Court.

As such, they wasted no time in legalizing sports gambling after the decision, opening the state's first sportsbooks on June 14, Atlantic City and the MetLife Stadium, among other locations, now offer legalized sports wagering. Under the current state laws, sports betting isn't explicitly prohibited, nor is it a prohibited Class III game in the gaming compacts shared between tribes and the state.

This has allowed the Pueblo of Santa Ana tribe to open their own not-outright-legal-but-also-not-technically-illegal sportsbook at its in-state casino. New York passed a bill in that made sports gambling legal at the state level, but the state didn't open its first official sportsbook until July Mobile sports betting launched on January 8, , and there are now nine live online sportsbooks in the Empire State.

However, all betting on in-state collegiate games and events, including player prop bets, is prohibited. North Carolina : Legal. Gambling in North Carolina used to be run exclusively through the Cherokee tribe, and the state passed a bill in July that permitted sports gambling including horse racing to be part of that monopoly.

In-person sports betting launched on March 18, , in three designated locations. North Carolina sports betting expanded when an online sports betting bill was signed into law on June 14, , which also opened the market to new sportsbooks.