Which States Have Legal Sports Betting?

If you’re interested in betting on sports but are unsure of which states have legal sports betting, look no further! This blog post will give you all the information you need to know.

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Federal Law

Federal law does not explicitly make sports betting illegal. This is because the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) only prohibits states from licensing sports betting operations. However, the law does not stop private individuals from placing bets on sports.

The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act

In order to make sure that betting on amateur and professional sports was not taking place in the United States, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was put into place in 1992. This act made it so that states were not allowed to offer legal betting on sports. There were a few exceptions to this act, including Nevada, Oregon, Montana, and Delaware. However, in 2018, the Supreme Court ruled that this act was unconstitutional. This ruling has led to many states offering legal sports betting.

State Law

In May of 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), which had effectively prohibited sports betting in most states. The ruling opened the door for states to legalize and regulate sports betting if they choose to do so. Since the ruling, several states have legalized sports betting, and more are considering doing so in the near future.

Nevada

In 1949, Nevada became the first state to legalize gaming, and it has been known as the gambling Mecca ever since. In 1931, Nevada legalized casino gambling and bloodless sports betting. In 1975, the state legalized Nevada-style sports books in casinos. These sports books look like Wall Street trading floors, with dozens of TVs broadcasting various sporting events. There are often more than 100 people crowded around these sports books, eager to place their bets.

Major professional sports leagues fought Nevada over legalized sports betting for decades, but in 2018 the US Supreme Court ruled in favor of the state. This opened up the floodgates for other states to legalize sports betting, and now there are more than 20 states with legal sports betting.

Nevada is still the only state with fully legal mobile and online sports betting. You can bet on your favorite teams from anywhere in the state as long as you have a phone or computer with an internet connection.

Delaware

In June 2018, Delaware became the first state outside of Nevada to offer single-game sports betting. The state lottery runs sports betting in Delaware, with bets taken at three casinos in the state. There is also an agreement in place with the professional baseball, football, hockey and soccer teams in Delaware which gives those franchises a portion of the revenue generated by sports betting.

New Jersey

In May 2018, New Jersey won a case that overturned the 1992 federal law known as the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. This law had previously prevented states from legalizing sports betting. After the ruling, New Jersey passed a law to allow sports betting at casinos and racetracks in the state. The first bets were placed in June 2018.

Since then, several other states have legalized sports betting, including Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Rhode Island, Delaware, Arkansas, Mississippi, and New Mexico.

Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, sports betting is legal and currently offered through several online sportsbooks and retail sportsbooks. The regulations for online and retail sports betting are different in Pennsylvania. For example, online bettors must be 21 years of age or older, while the minimum age to bet at a retail sportsbook is 18 years old.

Sports betting was first legalized in Pennsylvania in October 2017 after the state passed a comprehensive gambling expansion bill. The bill not only legalized sports betting, but also authorized the creation of new casinos and lottery games. Pennsylvania became the seventh state to legalize sports betting and the first state to do so through legislation.

Currently, there are nine online sportsbooks and seven retail sportsbooks operating in Pennsylvania. Some of the most popular online sportsbooks include DraftKings Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook, and BetRivers Sportsbook. Retail sportsbooks can be found at several casino properties throughout the state, including SugarHouse Casino, Parx Casino, and Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino & Racetrack.

Rhode Island

Rhode Island was one of the first states to legalize sports betting after the Supreme Court’s ruling in Murphy v. NCAA. The state had been preparing for legalization for some time and when the ruling came down, Rhode Island was ready to go.

The state legislature passed a bill authorizing sports betting in June 2018, and Governor Gina Raimondo signed it into law in July. The law authorizes both mobile and in-person betting, but all bets must be placed through the state lottery.

The first sportsbook in Rhode Island opened its doors on November 26, 2018 at the Twin River Casino in Lincoln. The book is operated by William Hill, and bettors can place wagers on a wide variety of sports, including baseball, basketball, football, golf, hockey, mixed martial arts, racing, soccer, and more.

West Virginia

In West Virginia, sports betting is legal at both retail and online casinos. The state has a few different casino operators servicing the market, all of which are owned by major gaming corporations. All of the state’s casinos offer sports betting, and there are also a few online-only sportsbooks. Sports betting in West Virginia is overseen by the West Virginia Lottery Commission.

Conclusion

As of early 2019, sports betting is legal in eight states: Nevada, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Mississippi, West Virginia and New Mexico.

In May 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a law that had banned sports betting in most states, opening the door for other states to legalize it. More states are expected to follow suit in the coming years.

If you’re interested in betting on sports, check out our guide to the best online sportsbooks.

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