{"id":903634,"date":"2026-05-05T08:13:40","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T13:13:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/05\/sports-betting-states-where-its-legal-in-the-us-2026-full-list\/"},"modified":"2026-05-05T08:13:40","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T13:13:40","slug":"sports-betting-states-where-its-legal-in-the-us-2026-full-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/05\/sports-betting-states-where-its-legal-in-the-us-2026-full-list\/","title":{"rendered":"Sports Betting States Where It\u2019s Legal in the US 2026 (Full List)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Sports betting is legal in 39 states and Washington DC as of May 2026, with 30 states offering legal online sports betting through licensed apps. The remaining states either limit betting to retail sportsbooks, operate under tribal-only markets, or do not allow sports betting at all.<\/p>\n

The landscape changed after the Supreme Court overturned PASPA in 2018, allowing each state to legalize and regulate sports betting independently. Since then, new states have launched nearly every year, with more expected to consider legalization in 2026.<\/p>\n

This page breaks down every sports betting state, including where online betting is available and which states still restrict or prohibit wagering.<\/p>\n

Below is a complete guide to sports betting legality in all 50 states, including online availability, launch dates, college betting restrictions, and licensed sportsbooks.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Sports Betting Legal States: 2026 Quick Reference<\/h2>\n

The table below shows the current status of sports betting in all 50 states and Washington DC.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
State<\/td>\nOnline<\/td>\nRetail<\/td>\nStatus<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Alabama<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nNot legal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Alaska<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nNot legal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Arizona<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nLegal since Sept 2021<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Arkansas<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nLegal since 2019<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
California<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nNot legal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Colorado<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nLegal since May 2020<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Connecticut<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nLegal since Oct 2021<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Delaware<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nLegal since 2018<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Florida<\/td>\nYes (limited)<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nHard Rock Bet only<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Georgia<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nNot legal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hawaii<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nNot legal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Idaho<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nNot legal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Illinois<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nLegal since June 2020<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Indiana<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nLegal since Sept 2019<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Iowa<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nLegal since Aug 2019<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kansas<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nLegal since Sept 2022<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kentucky<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nLegal since Sept 2023<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Louisiana<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nLegal since Jan 2022<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Maine<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nOnline only since Nov 2023<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Maryland<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nLegal since Nov 2022<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Massachusetts<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nLegal since Mar 2023<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Michigan<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nLegal since Jan 2021<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Minnesota<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nNot legal (bills pending)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mississippi<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nRetail only<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Missouri<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nLegal since Dec 2025<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Montana<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nLottery terminals only<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nebraska<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nRetail only<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nevada<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nLegal since 1949<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
New Hampshire<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nOnline only since Jan 2020<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
New Jersey<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nLegal since June 2018<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
New Mexico<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nTribal retail only<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
New York<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nLegal since Jan 2022<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
North Carolina<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nLegal since Mar 2024<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
North Dakota<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nTribal retail only<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ohio<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nLegal since Jan 2023<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Oklahoma<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nNot legal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Oregon<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nLegal since Aug 2019<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pennsylvania<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nLegal since 2018<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Rhode Island<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nLegal since Sept 2019<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
South Carolina<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nNot legal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
South Dakota<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nDeadwood retail only<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tennessee<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nOnline only since Nov 2021<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Texas<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nNot legal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Utah<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nNot legal (constitution prohibits all gambling)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vermont<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nOnline only since Jan 2024<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Virginia<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nLegal since Jan 2021<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Washington<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nTribal only<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Washington DC<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nLegal since 2020<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
West Virginia<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nLegal since Aug 2018<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wisconsin<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nOnline legalized Apr 2026 (launch pending)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wyoming<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nOnline only since Sept 2021<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

How Sports Betting Became Legal Across the US<\/h2>\n

Sports betting was effectively illegal at the federal level under the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) from 1992 until 2018.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The law barred states from authorizing sports gambling, with limited exceptions for Nevada and a few other jurisdictions with existing frameworks.<\/p>\n

In May 2018, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association that PASPA was unconstitutional, returning the decision to individual states.\u00a0<\/p>\n

New Jersey launched the first legal online sportsbook outside Nevada that August.\u00a0<\/p>\n

More than 30 states have since followed.<\/p>\n

For the latest welcome offers in legal states, visit our\u00a0sportsbook promos<\/u><\/a> page.<\/p>\n

Sports Betting by State: Current Status, History, and Available Sportsbooks<\/h2>\n

The sections below cover every US state alphabetically. Each entry includes current legal status, online and retail availability, college betting restrictions, and licensed sportsbooks where available.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Is Sports Betting Legal in Alabama?<\/h2>\n