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Online Sports Betting

Nick Chappell Fri 11/22 7:40am PT

In May 2018 the U.S. Supreme Court officially struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). The landmark decision restored the right for each state to individually pursue sports betting by creating their own set of rules and regulations. Over the years many states have exercised that right, creating a diverse, flourishing sports betting industry in the United States.

On this page, we’ll break down all of the states that now have legal, regulated sports betting, and the online operators where you can place wagers. If you have general questions about online sports betting in the U.S., we’ve got your answers.

States With Legal Online Sports Betting

In the post-PASPA world, each state is responsible for creating its own set of sports betting rules. While there are some similarities, the states have varied significantly in their approach to sports betting. Some only permit retail sports betting, while some include online wagering too, and one state (for now) only allows online betting. Here’s our breakdown of every state that now has some form of legal online sports betting.

StateSports Betting StatusOnline or RetailLaunch
New JerseyLegal + LiveBothJune 2018
West VirginiaLegal + LiveBothAugust 2018
MississippiLegal + LiveRetail Only (online on premises)August 2018
PennsylvaniaLegal + LiveBothNovember 2018
Rhode IslandLegal + LiveBothNovember 2018
IowaLegal + LiveBothAugust 2019
OregonLegal + LiveBothAugust 2019
IndianaLegal + LiveBothSeptember 2019
New HampshireLegal + LiveBothDecember 2019
IllinoisLegal + LiveBoth, though in-person registration is required for online bettingMarch 2020
MichiganLegal + LiveBoth (though online isn't live yet)March 2020
ColoradoLegal + LiveBothMay 2020
TennesseeLegal + LiveOnline OnlyNovember 2020
VirginiaLegal + LiveBoth (though retail isn't live yet)January 2021
MontanaLegal + LiveRetail - Online is available on-site at a limited number of bars and restaurants in the stateMarch 2020
NevadaLegal + LiveBoth (registration must be done in-person)May 2018
MissouriLegal (Not Live Yet)Both (once live)December 2025

New Jersey

New Jersey led the push for online sports betting in the U.S. Retail wagering began in June 2018, just a month after PASPA fell. Online sites went live in August of the same year. All of Atlantic City’s major casinos now offer luxurious retail sports betting experiences, and online bettors can join the action from anywhere in the state with over a dozen (and counting!) to choose from. Many bettors from New York travel to NJ to place bets while they wait for their home state to enter the online market.

West Virginia

West Virginia officially opened its sports betting market on August 30, 2018. It took nearly a full year for online wagering to arrive in a permanent capacity, with both FanDuel and DraftKings accepting their first online bets in August 2019. Each of the state’s five brick-and-mortar casinos now has a retail sports betting facility, and can host up to three online skins on its license… so there’s a lot of growth potential in the Mountain State.

Mississippi

Mississippi is a little tricky. Retail sports betting is alive and well at more than twenty locations around the state. Online wagering is *technically* legal, though there’s a pretty harsh restriction that requires bettors to be on premises at a retail casino. With some states accepting more than 80% of wagers online, full fledged state-wide mobile is a big miss in the Magnolia state.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania actually passed online sports betting legislation in 2017 while PASPA was still in play. However, despite the head start, its rollout was slower than expected. The first retail books opened in November 2018, but online bettors had to wait until May of 2019. A massive iGaming state due to its population, PA bettors can now choose from a host of top online operators including BetRivers, FanDuel, DraftKings, and FOX Bet.

Rhode Island

Since November 2018 both of Rhode Island’s casinos have offered retail sports betting. Caesars Sportsbook (formerly Will Hill) has partnered with the state lottery to run online operations, which began in September 2019. Notably, Rhode Island is one of the few states that set the age bar at just 18.

Iowa

Iowa was the first state to legalize both online and retail sports betting simultaneously. While a handful of retail sportsbooks opened their doors on Day 1 – Aug. 15 – William Hill (now Caesars Sportsbook) ended up being the first active online bookmaker, going live later in 2019. All of the state’s casinos can hold valid sports betting licenses and can host two online skins each. While there are some smaller, more local online options like Elite Sportsbook and Q Sportsbook, Iowa bettors also have access to major industry players like PointsBet, DraftKings and Hard Rock.

Iowa elected to require in-person registration during the market’s first year but that is now a thing of the past. As of January 1, 2021, remote registration for all legal and live online sportsbooks is available. This means you can sign up anywhere there is an internet connection via your computer or mobile device.

Oregon

Oregon kicked off its sports betting industry in August 2019 with the opening of its first retail sportsbook. There’s just one online sports betting option, Scoreboard, which is run by the Oregon lottery and began accepting wagers in October 2019.

Indiana

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb placed the state’s ceremonial first bet on September 1, 2019. Within a month more than 10 Indiana brick-and-mortar casinos were operating retail sportsbooks. An efficient online rollout was completed just a month later, with BetRivers and DraftKings taking the state’s first online bets on October 3rd.

New Hampshire

New Hampshire launched state-wide online sports betting in the final days of 2019. After agreeing to a generous, near-even revenue split with the state, DraftKings was chosen to be the sole online sports betting operator. The first retail sportsbook opened in the state in September 2020.

Illinois

Illinois is a significant state for online sports betting because of its large population base. The first regulated sports bets were placed on March 9, 2020, at the Rivers Casino Des Plaines. Online wagering kicked off on June 18, 2020 when BetRivers took the first online wager.

In-person registration is currently required for online sports betting in the state of Illinois. This means that before you can bet online, you must first visit your chosen sportsbook’s retail partner and set up the account in-person. For example, before you can bet online with FanDuel you must visit the FanDuel Sportsbook and Horse Racing venue in Collinsville, IL and register there.

Michigan

Michigan managed to push through legislation for online sports betting, casino and DFS in December 2019. The MGM Grand and the Greektown Casino became the first brick-and-mortar sportsbooks to open, accepting the state’s first bets on March 11, 2020. Online sports betting and casino gaming launched together on January 22, 2021.

Colorado

Colorado voters narrowly approved the state’s sports betting referendum in late 2019, with the market officially launching on May 1, 2020. With 33 casinos, all of which are now allowed to offer retail betting and establish online partners, the Colorado online market is already getting crowded. All the biggest names in sports betting are already in Colorado, and a lesser-known niche operator like PlayUp.

Tennessee

Tennessee bucked convention by approving an online-only sports betting bill in 2019. After a long roll-out, Tennessee finally accepted its first legal bets on November 1, 2020. Five operators are currently live in the state, with more expected to join them in 2021.

Virginia

To the surprise of many, Virginia approved legal sports betting in March 2020. Governor Ralph Northam’s signature set the gears in motion towards launch. The first online sportsbooks in VA went live on January 21, 2021. Retail sportsbooks are coming too, but will need a few years to get off the ground.

Montana

Montana was one of the four states where sports betting was technically legal pre-PASPA. There were no active games, but the state was able to authorize sports betting after PASPA was struck down without the drawn-out process that has happened in other states. That said, sports betting in the Treasure state is run by the lottery and is very limited. There is only one operator and online and in-person betting are both limited to licensed retail establishments throughout the state. In an unusual move, the licensed establishments are geo-fenced, so you can’t bet online outside of the licensed bars and restaurants. So if you’re at Red’s Bar in Missoula, for example, you can bet at a kiosk next to the video poker terminal or you can pull up the Sports Bet Montana app on your phone and bet while you’re sipping your Moose Drool. But if you walk outside to head down to Stockman’s, you can’t bet on your phone or when you get there because it is not a licensed establishment.

Nevada

The first state in the country to legalize sports betting, Nevada thrived for years under PASPA as the nation’s sports betting capital. It’s no longer the only game in town, but Nevada, and Las Vegas specifically, are still king. Online wagering is now available throughout Nevada using a number of different apps. MGM, Caesars, Golden Nugget, Wynn, and plenty of other leading casino brands now offer online sportsbooks and betting apps.

States With Sports Betting Coming Soon!

Here are the states where sports betting will soon unfold:

Missouri

In the November 2024 election, Missourians voted to legalize sports betting courtesy of Amendment 2. You can expect the state to complete its full rollout by December 2025.

For more details on sports betting in the Show-Me state, check out our guide!

U.S. Online Sportsbook Operators

Many of the gaming industry’s biggest names, both within the U.S. and abroad, have expanded their operations to include online sports betting. Prominent bookmakers in the regulated U.S. market include:

DraftKings

DraftKings, a name synonymous with massive daily fantasy sports contests, has quickly grown its presence within the regulated sports betting industry. DraftKings Sportsbook was the first online sportsbook to go live in New Jersey, and is expected to have a presence in virtually every legal U.S. market.

FanDuel

Another DFS giant, FanDuel is now one of the biggest online sportsbooks in the business. New Jersey was first on its list, launching online operations on September 7, 2018. Like DraftKings, the FanDuel Sportsbook brand is expected to expand throughout the country.

PointsBet

A relatively new, innovative Aussie-based bookmaker, PointsBet has made serious waves during its short history. New Jersey was up first, followed by Iowa, Indiana, and more. PointsBet’s clean mobile interface and unique offerings make it a stand out option. Look for PointsBet to expand to additional states in 2021.

BetMGM

A blue blood of retail casino gaming in the U.S., BetMGM is now strengthening its online presence. Like many operators, NJ was the first step, with WV, IN, an NV following. It’s likely that every state with an MGM property (looking at you, Maryland) will eventually host a BetMGM online sportsbook.

BetRivers

BetRivers is the online extension of the B+M Rivers Casinos, which operate in Pennsylvania, Illinois, and New York. Online operations for the company first began in New Jersey under the SugarHouse brand, and then expanded to include Pennsylvania when the market launched. BetRivers was first to market in Illinois (live and online) thanks to its retail sportsbook in Des Plaines.

Caesars Sportsbook

Caesars Sportsbook is one of the world’s largest bookmakers having recently absorbed William Hill. Caesars now offers online sports betting in numerous U.S. states, and operates as a retail sportsbook sponsor in several more. New partnerships in both Colorado, Indiana, and Michigan have already been established. It is reasonable to assume that Caesars Sportsbook will eventually have a presence in every state that has a competitive online marketplace.

bet365

Originally founded in the United Kingdom, bet365 is one of the world’s largest online gambling companies with more than 20 years of experience. They arrived in the United States with a premium sports betting product in 2019. The brand is widely known for having a fantastic array of betting options, offering odds on everything from the major U.S. sports to cricket, handball, darts, and more. Garden State bettors also have access to the bet365 online casino.

Borgata

For the moment Borgata online sportsbook is a one hit wonder. The company is one of the top grossing books in the busy New Jersey market thanks to the tie in with its luxurious Atlantic City resort. However, the brand has yet to expand outside of the Garden State.

Caesars

Caesars is one of the most iconic names in the retail casino industry. Opening first in New Jersey and Nevada, the Caesars online sportsbook ties in beautifully with the company’s popular Caesars Rewards program, and offers an excellent sports betting experience to boot. Caesars could soon be coming to additional states where it has a retail presence, including Maryland.

TwinSpires (formerly BetAmerica)

Churchill Downs Inc. (CDI), began its foray into online sports betting using the BetAmerica brand. CDI is shutting down BetAmerica as it pivots to its other brand, TwinSpires. They are now converting BetAmerica properties into TwinSpires properties, both online and at retail locations. So BetAmerica is now TwinSpires, which will be expanding to additional states soon.

Unibet

Unibet is a massive European bookmaker that’s been around since the late 90s. Its first venture into the U.S. market took place in 2019, partnering with Golden Nugget to provide online sports betting in New Jersey. A few months later through an agreement with the Mohegan Sun, the operation spread to Pennsylvania. It is in Indiana as well, with plans to expand.

888Sport

Headquartered in Gibraltar, 888 Holdings has maintained a strong presence in the iGaming world since 1997. In the U.S., 888 currently offers online sports betting, casino, and poker in the state of New Jersey. Likely future destinations include Pennsylvania and Michigan, where the company could capitalize on its ability to offer all three products.

Golden Nugget

The Golden Nugget casino has been an icon of old town Vegas since 1946. It waited nearly 60 years to expand east. With an eye on iGaming in New Jersey, Golden Nugget purchased the bankrupt Trump Marina in 2011 and now operates online sportsbooks in both NJ and NV. More recently, Golden Nugget went live in Michigan in early 2021. Look for the company to expand to additional states soon.

Hard Rock

In conjunction with tech provider GiG, Hard Rock’s online sportsbook premiered in New Jersey in 2019. Just a few months later Iowa became its second state of operation. Its a safe bet that any state with legal sports betting and a Hard Rock Casino will also eventually have access to the Hard Rock online sportsbook.

Parx

Philly-based Parx has long been a regional contender, spreading online casino games in both NJ and PA. Sportsbook has remained exclusive to the Pennsylvania market, though expansion to Michigan will be coming through a recently announced agreement with the Gun Lake Casino.

Online Sports Betting and Major U.S. Sports

Just like how sports betting law looks different in each state, the same can be said for each of the United States’ major sports leagues. Some have taken an active, progressive, stance, while others have yet to fully embrace sports betting. In this section we’ll summarize each professional league and its stance on sports betting.

NFL

In the U.S., the NFL is king – and the king has started to come around on sports betting. While not quite all-in – at the very least, years of outright opposition from the NFL are a thing of the past. The Oakland Raiders are now the Las Vegas Raiders, and will play all of their home games in the gambling capital of the country. On the franchise’s first official day in Las Vegas it announced a lucrative partnership with MGM Resorts International.

Elsewhere, NFL owners clearly have sports betting on the mind. The Washington Football Team will be tenants of FedEx Field in Maryland until 2027, however, owner Dan Snyder has made it clear that he wants the team to become a sports betting licensee. This has lead to Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia all aggressively pursuing sports betting legislation in hopes of landing the team. It should be legal in all three jurisdictions soon (Maryland has some catching up to do). Other teams have entered into their own partnerships with sports betting operators in their states/regions. It’s clear that sports betting will only increase in stature with the league over the coming years.

Use our NFL odds comparison tool to compare lines between legal U.S. sportsbooks.

NBA

In recent years the NBA has been, perhaps, the most progressive U.S. sports league when it comes to sports betting. It hasn’t always been that way. The former Commissioner, David Stern, was part of the lobby that led to the creation of PASPA in 1992.

However, since the regime changed in 2014, things have been different. Just months after taking over, new Commissioner Adam Silver published an op-ed piece with the New York Times entitled “Legalize and Regulate Sports Betting” – adamantly advocating for the legalization and regulation of sports betting in the United States.

Today, the NBA has a growing list of authorized sports betting partnerships with major operators including DraftKings, The Stars Group, Unibet, MGM, and FanDuel. The agreements grant the sports betting sites access to the use of NBA trademarks and official league data.

The NBA has been a big proponent of integrity fees, which essentially earns the league a cut of the sports betting profits. It uses these fees to invest in its own league, and ensure the integrity of its games remains intact.

Use our NBA odds comparison tool to compare lines between legal U.S. sportsbooks.

MLB

In the years post-PASPA, the MLB has become far more accepting of sports betting. For one, after seeing a decline in popularity amongst younger fans, it’s a new and exciting way for the league to engage with new demographics. Often criticized for its slow pace, it’s now possible to create excitement through in-game wagering.

Major League Baseball is no stranger to sports betting controversy: the saga of Pete Rose is perhaps the most well-known betting scandal in the history of U.S. sports. One of the league’s all-time greats, Rose was famously banned for life in 1989 after illegally betting on the team he was managing at the time. Arguments for his Hall of Fame candidacy continue more than 30 years later.

MLB, like the NBA, has been a big advocate for integrity fees – seeking to promote a healthy sports betting atmosphere while avoiding any Rose-like scandals. The league now has numerous sports betting partners, including FanDuel, MGM, and FOX Bet.

Use our MLB odds comparison tool to compare lines between legal U.S. sportsbooks.

NHL

The NHL surprised many in the sports betting world by awarding the gambling mecca, Las Vegas, with its first professional sports franchise in 2017. In their inaugural season the Las Vegas Golden Knights had roughly 10-15x more action placed on them than any other NHL team.

Since PASPA was overturned in 2018, the NHL, like the NBA and MLB, has also engaged in exclusive agreements with sports betting operators. Caesars Sportsbook, FanDuel, and MGM are among the league’s current partners. These operators have the right to use the official league data and other intellectual property.

Use our NHL odds comparison tool to compare lines between legal U.S. sportsbooks.

NCAA sports

It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, but the NCAA is strongly opposed to sports betting. That doesn’t mean they aren’t popular events to bet on. For example, opening rounds of the NCAAB March Madness typically rank amongst the busiest days of the year for sportsbooks.

While still seeking to protect amateur athletes at all cost, the NCAA has come around a little bit. After originally banning championship games from taking place in states with legal betting, in 2019 they performed an about-face as more and more states pursued it. It’s now possible that we’ll see NCAAF bowl games at the new Raiders Stadium in Las Vegas, or the NCAA tournament hosted at neighboring T-Mobile Arena.

Collegiate sports remain one of the most common restrictions for states to specify when legalizing sports betting. Many have elected to exclude sportsbooks in their state from offering action on in-state college teams, college props, or even college events taking place within the state.

Use our NCAAB odds and NCAAF odds comparison tool to compare lines between legal U.S. sportsbooks.

PASPA

So why is sports betting taking hold around the country now? It all has to do PASPA, a 30-year-old, now overturned law. Originally passed in 1992, PASPA sought to protect the integrity of both professional and amateur sports by prohibiting states from legalizing sports betting, which, in essence, banned the practice. Nevada, having already legalized sports wagering, was exempt – and flourished as the nation’s sports betting capital under PASPA.

However, other state’s wanted a piece of the pie. New Jersey was pivotal in the fight to overturn PASPA. After years of efforts, Governor Chris Christie finally succeeded in getting a case in front of the Supreme Court in 2017. In May 2018 the court reached its verdict, declaring the law unconstitutional by a 6-3 vote. The Supreme Court decided that PASPA took too much power away from the states, and was subsequently struck down. Post-PASPA, all states were legally allowed to pursue and regulate sports betting as they saw fit.

New Jersey became the first new state to offer sports betting in decades, launching its industry in June 2018, just a month after PASPA was repealed. Now, sports betting has become more and more common throughout the U.S. with the number of legal states growing with each legislative session.

Online Sports Betting FAQ

Is online sports betting legal?

Yes it is, but not everywhere. Since PASPA was overturned in 2018 all U.S. states have been able to pursue and legislate sports betting. Since then a growing number of states have established safe, regulated sports betting markets.

What states offer legal online sports betting?

As of early 2021, online sports betting is legal in Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Michigan, Colorado, Tennessee, Virginia, Oregon and Montana. There are a few other states where it is legal but not available online. The list of states that have legal online sports betting is constantly growing!

Is there an age limit for sports betting in the United States?

Yes there is. Generally speaking its 21 and up, but the states are allowed to specify this. For example, New Hampshire elected to set its legal betting age at just 18.

Do legal online sportsbooks have to have my Social Security Number?

Legally, they do. Online sportsbooks and casinos will use the last 4 digits of your SSN to confirm your identity. It’s used to verify that all of the information you’ve provided is accurate.

Is it legal to bet on offshore sites like Bovada or BetOnline?

Unfortunately not. These sites are not licensed sports betting operators in the U.S.

What are my options if sports betting is not yet legal in my state?

We have the perfect option for you, it’s a DFS (O/U) betting platform named PrizePicks. Click the link to our page to learn more about how you can get three months of SAO Premium and a $100 Deposit Match!

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