Since the Supreme Court struck down PASPA in May 2018, nearly two-thirds of states have legalized sports betting. Some have retail and online sportsbooks, while others offer either or both.
Wyoming bucked the trend with an online-only launch in 2021. Its roster of sportsbook sites includes DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM and Caesars.
Delaware
Delaware is one of the first states to offer sports betting after the Supreme Court struck down PASPA. The state already had a limited form of sports betting in place via the lottery prior to PASPA’s repeal, so it was ready to roll out legal wagering quickly after the Supreme Court decision.
The sportsbooks launched in early June and got off to a great start, generating nearly $1 million in gross revenue in the first three weeks. However, revenues have since leveled off compared to the initial highs.
While sports betting is legal in Delaware, residents can only place bets at land-based sportsbooks. This is in stark contrast to neighboring states like Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania that have mobile sports betting options. This could be a big reason why Delaware has not seen the same growth as its surrounding competitors.
Illinois
After months of uncertainty, Illinois residents can place legal wagers on sports at online sportsbooks in the Prairie State. Illinois is a top destination for sports fans, with many Chicago teams—including the Bears, Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks, and Bulls—making for strong betting markets. Illinois’ new sportsbooks offer the convenience of online registration and a variety of promotions to attract players.
Hometown gambling operator Rush Street Gaming opened the first retail sportsbook in March 2020, followed by BetRivers online in June. Gov. JB Pritzker passed legislation in June 2021 to permit sports betting, including online remote registration, but wagers on games involving in-state college teams are still prohibited. Fortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic allowed the state to temporarily scuttle the in-person registration requirement. http://94.237.65.11/ returned on March 5, 2022. In-state colleges are still off-limits, but wagers on other NCAA contests are fair game.
New Mexico
New Mexico’s sports betting market is largely limited to in-person wagering at tribal casinos. NM residents can bet on sports at the Santa Ana Star Casino & Hotel, Buffalo Thunder Casino and Isleta Resort & Casino.
However, the state hasn’t enacted legislation to legalize retail or mobile sports betting. It’s possible a new Tribal-state compact could eventually change this.
Until then, residents can take advantage of offshore sportsbooks that accept bets from New Mexico. These sites offer a variety of NFL and NBA markets for fans to place bets. They also accept bets on a wide range of other sports leagues and events. NM residents can also try Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS). Unlike regular sports wagering, DFS bets pay out depending on the oddsmakers’ interpretation of underdog and favorite outcomes. This allows a bettors to maximize their payouts.
North Dakota
Currently, North Dakota only offers sports betting on tribal reservations. However, if voters want to see state-regulated and licensed online gambling in the future, they will have to start a ballot initiative. The state Senate voted down House Concurrent Resolution 3002, which would have placed the issue on the next election ballot.
The state’s five federally recognized tribes offer retail sports wagering on their reservation lands. These sportsbooks can accept bets on pro and college games, although player prop bets are not permitted in collegiate contests. In 2018, the state of Connecticut began offering legal sports betting just six months after the Supreme Court’s reversal of PASPA. Likewise, Iowa launched in 2019 with both in-state and mobile sportsbooks, although bets on collegiate games are prohibited. These sites are operated by offshore companies that are not restricted by US gambling laws.
Ohio
The Buckeye State has long been considered one of the country’s most attractive legal sports betting markets. Its enormous population, legions of voracious sports fans, and a number of professional and collegiate teams have made it a target for iGaming operators.
After stumbling a bit late in 2021, it finally became legal to place sports bets online in Ohio. It’s currently home to a handful of licensed sportsbooks, including BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, and FanDuel.
Those sites are powered by a handful of Type A and Type B licenses, which must be attached to casinos, racinos, or pro sports teams. Those entities can also apply for Type C licenses to establish brick-and-mortar sportsbooks. The regulated industry in Ohio has already proven to be a boon for the state, as geolocation data from iGaming analytics firm GeoComply shows a huge uptick in New Year’s Day wagering volume.
Washington
Washington was one of the first states to legalize sports betting following a 2018 Supreme Court decision that allowed state-by-state regulation. However, the Evergreen State’s first casino sportsbooks didn’t open until September 2021.
Currently, the state’s sportsbooks have exclusivity with existing tribal casinos and are only accessible at those locations. This has led to a number of lawsuits, including from card room operator Maverick Gaming, who argues that it’s unfair to exclude other types of gambling interests in the state.
Nonetheless, the Washington sports betting market appears to be on track for growth. This is especially true if the state can find an equitable way to license online sportsbooks. The state already has a partnership with FanDuel, which will bring its top-rated app to the region. In addition, the state’s 35 tribal casinos are expected to launch onsite sportsbooks this year.
Oregon
Oregon’s unique road to legal sports betting has set the Beaver State apart from most others. For starters, Oregon takes a larger cut of wagers than most states. It originally contracted its sports betting with SB Tech, which was later acquired by DraftKings, and now offers an app called Scoreboard that allows anyone 21 and older to place a bet.
Unlike most other states, Oregon was “grandfathered in” to its sports betting industry because of its exemption from PASPA. The federal law was overturned in May 2018, freeing the state to offer sports betting.
Bettors in Oregon can place bets on major league sports like the NFL, NHL, NBA, and MLB. But the state does not allow bets on college sports, which must be placed at a tribal casino. In addition, residents can play daily fantasy sports (DFS) games at sites regulated by the state.
California
After PASPA was tossed out the window in 2018, a handful of states started introducing legal sports betting. Among them, Arizona and Oregon stand out as two of the fastest-growing markets for online sports betting in the US.
A committee backing a proposed California sports betting initiative announced on May 3 that it had gathered 1.6 million signatures to make it onto the November ballot. The signatures were verified in June, and the measure will now be eligible to compete for voters’ support.
While New Hampshire’s liberty-centric mindset made its 2021 entry into the market fairly predictable, other states have taken a more cautious approach to sports betting. In Oklahoma, a bill to introduce sports wagering in March 2022 stalled amid disagreements between state officials and governor Kevin Stitt. A legislative push in Kentucky is expected to take a similar path and could be introduced later this year or early next.
Massachusetts
After a long wait, Massachusetts finally entered the legal sports betting market in 2023. Retail sportsbooks launched on January 31, and online operations followed a month later on March 10. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has been busy regulating the market.
There are several big players already active in the state, including DraftKings and FanDuel. Founded in Boston, it is only natural that DK would be one of the first to start operating in the Bay State.
The only state that is not yet legally available for sports wagering is New Mexico. However, the state’s tribes are seeking to establish sports betting at their own facilities. They are hoping to do so by utilizing their tribal gaming compacts with the state. If the move goes through, New Mexico could be a major player in legal sports betting.
Maryland
Unlike most states, Maryland voters approved sports betting through a referendum. In-person and mobile sports betting launched in 2021, although betting on in-state collegiate games and events and player prop bets are prohibited.
Currently, there are ten sportsbook operators licensed to operate online in the state. The application window for mobile licenses opened on Oct. 27, and the state’s Sports Wagering Application Review Commission will formally publish its regulations in August.
In addition to mobile betting, Maryland residents can place bets at physical sportsbooks, such as those found at the MGM National Harbor and Caesars Palace. These locations offer a variety of payment methods, including credit cards, PayPal, and bank checks. The state taxes sports betting revenue at a rate of 15%. Proceeds are earmarked for the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund. The tax rate is significantly lower than that of New York, where sports betting has been legal for some time.