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What States Have Legal Sports Betting? Update on where it's allowed, how it's allowed, where it's on its way

Some states are online only, some are in-person only and some allow both.

Experiencing the euphoria of watching your favorite team win is a thrilling feeling, particularly if you have placed money on the outcome. Sports betting is an exciting activity that some people enjoy as a hobby, while others engage themselves in it more intensely. Be careful which state you are betting in, though, as it is only legal in certain places.

Online Only Sports Betting

Some states only allow sports betting in a mobile form and prohibit the activity from happening in person. If you are in these states, you can use guides such as NJGamblingSites.com to help you find trustworthy websites to place your bets. The states that allow online sports betting include:

New Hampshire
Tennessee
Virginia

In-Person Only Sports Betting

If you would rather go to a facility to place your bets in person, you can try visiting a state that allows for in-person betting. The states that have only legalized in-person sports betting are:

Arkansas
Delaware
Montana
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina

Both Online and In-Person

Of course, there are also the states that allow for both online and in-person sports betting, so you can take your pick. These states are:

Colorado
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Michigan
Mississippi (people can bet online as well, but only when they are at a casino)
Nevada
New Jersey
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Washington, D.C. (not a state, but it is a separate jurisdiction)
West Virginia

Current Approvals

Other states have only recently received approval to allow for sports betting:

Arizona

In early 2021, both mobile and in-person sports betting became legalized. The launch in the state is set for the fall of 2021, but that is subject to change.

Connecticut

In May 2021, Connecticut approved both mobile and in-person sports betting. There is an anticipated start date of September 2021 currently in place.

Florida

As of May 2021, officials in Florida approved both mobile and in-person sports betting in the state. Assuming that there are no major hurdles to overcome, the launch should be happening in late 2021.

Louisiana

November 2020 saw the majority vote rule as sports betting in Louisiana became legal. There have been few notable updates since then, and the expected launch date is late 2021 or sometime in 2022.

Maryland

At the end of 2020, Maryland received approval for sports betting. The state will allow both online and in-person betting and has a schedule to begin in late 2021.

Nebraska

All games of chance became legal in Nebraska in November 2020. However, this does not include online sports betting.

South Dakota

In November 2020, sports betting in South Dakota became legal in Deadwood casinos and some tribal facilities. Online betting is tentatively approved as well, but the servers will need to be in Deadwood. The expected launch date is late 2021.

Washington

Betting on sports became legalized in Washington state on March 25, 2020. There have been no bets yet to date, as officials are in negotiations to iron out certain agreements. The plan is for sports betting to officially start in the fall of 2021. For this state, it will be primarily in-person betting. As with Mississippi, people can bet online only when they are at a casino.

Wyoming

On April 5, 2021, the governor of Wyoming approved a bill to allow for mobile sports betting in the state. The start date is tentatively set for late 2021.

Considering Approval

Oklahoma and Maine are two states that have recently seen potential bills to introduce sports betting. Neither state has received approval, and the bill in Maine got vetoed. There is always the possibility of reintroducing the bill in later years. The other states that are considering legalization include: