Is sports betting legal in my state?

Is sports betting legal in my state? The quick answer

Sports betting is a state-by-state decision. Before 2018, a federal law called PASPA stopped most states from authorizing it. In Murphy v. NCAA, decided May 14, 2018 by a 6–3 vote, the Supreme Court held that PASPA violated the Constitution's anticommandeering rule and struck the whole statute down. The Supreme Court opinion (opens in a new tab) left legalization to each state.

Since then, states have chosen very different paths: some license several mobile apps, some route betting through the state lottery or tribes, and some still ban it outright. The table below gives each state's recorded status. It's part of our online casino questions series, and the sports betting laws page explains the legal background.

Sports betting legal status in all 50 states and DC

Statuses come from state regulators where available and from industry trackers or news reports where not, as of October 28, 2026. Laws change, so confirm with your state's regulator before placing a bet.

For Alaska, Oklahoma and Rhode Island, the status wasn't confirmed in the sources checked, so don't rely on this table there. The states hub has a page for every state with its regulator and helpline.

Where online sports betting is legal: the mobile states

Most states that legalized went mobile. New York lists nine licensed operators, Tennessee nine on an online-only model, Maryland twelve, and Massachusetts seven, according to their regulators. Recent launches include North Carolina, Vermont and Missouri, which went live at midnight on December 1, 2025.

Some states run it through a single channel. Oregon's Lottery uses DraftKings as its only mobile operator and doesn't take college bets, while New Hampshire's Lottery also partners with DraftKings. Florida's regulator says the only lawful online sportsbook is the Seminole Tribe's Hard Rock Bet. See the Florida sports betting and New York sports betting pages for how those models work.

States with retail-only or tribal sports betting

In nine states you can bet only in person, or the law exists but isn't running yet. Mississippi allows betting at licensed casinos, with mobile wagers only on the premises. Nebraska's commission says online and mobile sports wagering aren't authorized, and a 2026 online wagering initiative has been filed. South Dakota allows Deadwood and tribal casinos; a 2026 amendment to allow online betting died in a House committee.

Washington allows wagering only at authorized tribal casinos under compacts, and New Mexico and North Dakota have tribal retail books. Wisconsin's AB 601, signed April 9, 2026, would let bets be placed statewide on servers located on tribal land, but it needs compact amendments and faces a lawsuit. The tribal gaming page explains how compacts work, and the Wisconsin sports betting page tracks the case.

States where sports betting is not legal

Nine states have no legal sports betting as recorded: Alabama, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Minnesota, South Carolina, Texas and Utah. Utah's constitution bars the legislature from authorizing any game of chance, and Idaho's constitution limits gambling to narrow exceptions that don't include sports. South Carolina law prohibits bookmaking and forwarding bets.

Bills come and go. Trade reports say California's are inactive until 2028 at the earliest, and Georgia's HB 686 sits in subcommittee. The Texas sports betting and California sports betting pages cover the largest states without it.

Federal law: the Wire Act and sports betting across state lines

The Wire Act still matters for sports. It makes it a federal crime for a person in the business of betting to knowingly use wire communications for interstate or foreign sports bets or betting information, with an exemption for transmissions between places where the betting is legal. The First Circuit confirmed in 2021 that its prohibitions apply to sports wagering. The statute text at Cornell (opens in a new tab) shows the exact wording.

UIGEA, the 2006 payments law, also excludes intrastate wagers authorized by state law with age and location verification, which is why licensed books verify where you are and keep bets inside state lines. Congress has also seen the SAFE Bet Act of 2025 (S. 1033 / H.R. 2087), which would add federal standards for state-regulated betting, and several prediction-market bills; the CRS lists no prediction-market bill as enacted. Read what is the Wire Act and the prediction markets page for more.

Offshore sportsbooks: legal in my state or not?

An offshore sportsbook isn't licensed by any US state, even if it takes customers from all of them. Massachusetts' Attorney General sent cease-and-desist letters to BetOnline.ag and Sportsbetting.ag in June 2025, and the state's Gaming Commission warns that offshore operators may refuse to pay winning bets. Michigan's regulator has acted against offshore operators repeatedly.

• No state regulator will hear a dispute or order a payout.
• No state-backed protection of your account balance.
• Terms are set by the operator, including limits and voided bets.
• In legal states, a licensed app is available with state oversight.

See is it illegal to play at offshore casinos for how state law treats players, and the Bovada review for one offshore brand that state regulators have named.

How to check if sports betting is legal in your state

1. Find your state's regulator, often a gaming commission or lottery, on the state regulators list.
2. Look for its official list of licensed or approved sportsbooks; some states, such as Massachusetts, use an official seal.
3. Check the minimum age; Nevada and Iowa set 21 as recorded, and other states set their own.
4. Confirm whether mobile betting is allowed statewide or only at a venue.
5. Download only apps on the official list, and expect age and location verification.
6. Set deposit and time limits in the app before you start.

Sports betting taxes and help

Sports betting winnings are taxable income. Per the IRS W-2G instructions (opens in a new tab), a W-2G applies to sports and other wagering wins that meet the threshold ($2,000 for 2026 payments) and are at least 300 times the stake; 24% withholding applies where winnings minus the wager exceed $5,000. From tax year 2026, the loss deduction is reported to be capped at 90% of losses; check IRS guidance. The W-2G form page has more.

If betting stops being fun, the National Problem Gambling Helpline is 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738), by call, text or chat. The responsible gambling hub lists state programs and blocking tools.

Casino offers for readers, not sportsbook offers

Plainly put, no partner fits a sports betting search: none of our seven partners runs a sportsbook, and all are offshore online casinos. We list three here for readers who also want casino games, with the reminder that no US state licenses them and you should check your state's law. We earn a commission from sign-ups and rank partners commercially.

• SlotoCash Casino: $6,000 Welcome Bonus + 60 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). The casino's terms say 25x (deposit + bonus) wagering and a $20 minimum on its published five-deposit package, with no max cashout. Michigan's regulator named it in an October 8, 2026 cease-and-desist release.
• Decode Casino: $5,000 Welcome Bonus + 50 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). Decode's site shows no bonus terms; third-party reviews report 25x on a 111% code with a $25 minimum, and one reports that it refuses players from Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Washington.
• Silver Oak Casino: $2,500 Welcome Bonus + 50 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). Its offer page says 30x wagering and its terms say 40x on slots, with no max withdrawal on the welcome offer and deposits from $30. It publishes an Anjouan license held by Primrose Media Limited.

Each casino's own site may advertise a different package, and the terms at sign-up apply. Bonuses are slot-focused, table games are often excluded or weighted lower, and the house edge means losses are likely over time. Read the SlotoCash review, Decode review and Silver Oak review first.

21+ (18+ where allowed). Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: responsible gambling tools and free help. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738).