Where is Sport Betting Legal
Where Is Sports Betting Legal in the US?
In 2018, the US Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA), deeming it unconstitutional. This resulted in each American state being able to decide its gambling laws. In 2025, a total of 38 states will have adopted legalized sports betting, and that number is expected to climb. If you want to know where online sports betting is legal, this guide breaks down the states that offer regulated sports betting and how you can bet with Fanatics in those states.
States Where Online Sports Betting Is Legal
Aside from going to Nevada, which legalized online sports betting in 2010, Americans didn’t have a lot of great options for legally betting on sports before 2018. Things quickly changed when PASPA was turfed.
Following the PASPA reversal, several states didn’t take long to legalize online sports betting and create their regulatory bodies. It started with New Jersey and West Virginia before expanding into Pennsylvania, Iowa, Rhode Island, and Indiana. Today, the list of states with legal and regulated online sports betting has grown to 38.
Out of those 38 states, Fanatics Sportsbook is currently available online in 22 different states. These include Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming. Yet, you can also find retail Fanatics Sportsbook locations in Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, New Jersey, and Ohio.
Whether it’s on your smartphone or in person, you can bet on your favorite sports with Fanatics Sportsbook all over the US. Let’s take a closer look at some of these states and find out how sports betting works.
Arizona
Arizona passed HB 2772 on April 12, 2021. This bill legalized online sports betting in the Grand Canyon State. As of June 2025, the Arizona Department of Gaming has licensed 14 online sportsbooks, giving Arizona sports fans a decent range of options, including college sports. Bettors can also wager on a full range of sports and other competitions at any of the 16 retail sportsbooks in the state, including Fanatics Sportsbook at Mazatzal Casino in Payson.
Colorado
Colorado was one of the first states to adopt legal online sports betting when it passed HB 19-1327 in November 2019. The Colorado Division of Gaming issued its first licenses, and online sports betting officially launched in May 2020. Colorado offers online and retail sports betting. Bettors in the Centennial State have 13 online sportsbooks and nine retail betting locations. Sports betting revenues reached an impressive $325 million in 2024.
Connecticut
It took a few tries, but Connecticut finally legalized sports betting on October 19, 2021. Legalizing sports betting required lawmakers' support and an agreement between the state’s Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes. The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection is the state’s regulator. Residents and visitors can choose from three online sportsbooks, including Fanatics. Each operator also offers retail betting. These three betting platforms generate about $120 million in wagers each month.
Fanatics Sportsbook retail locations in Connecticut include:
- Bobby V’s (Stamford and Bradley)
- Sports Haven (New Haven)
- Winners (Hartford, Manchester, Milford, New Britain and Waterbury)
- The XL Center (Hartford)
- Total Mortgage Arena (Bridgeport)
Iowa
Iowa was the fourth state to legalize sports betting after the historic PASPA reversal. Bettors placed the first legal wagers on August 15, 2019. To date, the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission has issued no fewer than two dozen licenses to some of the biggest sports betting brands, including Fanatics. Bettors can also find action at the state’s 17 retail outlets. This includes the retail Fanatics Sportsbook at Catfish Bend Casino in Burlington.
Illinois
The Prairie State also quickly implemented legalized sports betting following the PASPA decision. The first bookmakers went live in March 2020 following the passing of the Illinois Sports Wagering Act in June 2019. The Illinois Gaming Board regulates sports betting in the state and has issued about 20 online sports betting licenses.
The state is also home to 15 retail sports betting venues, including Fanatics Sportsbook locations at Hawthorne Race Course (Cicero), Crazy Pour Sports Bar (Villa Park), Club Hawthorne (Crestwood), and Players Pub & Grill (Prospect Heights). Over $14 billion in sports bets were placed in Illinois in 2024.
Indiana
Indiana legalized sports betting with the passing of HB 1015 in May 2019. Not long after, on September 1, the state’s first sports betting sites launched. The Indiana Gaming Commission is in charge of regulating the industry in the Hoosier State. As of 2025, 11 online bookmakers have received licenses, while residents and visitors can also place bets at 15 retail locations. Indiana raked in a little over $168 million in revenues in 2024.
Kansas
Senate Bill 84 passed in May 2022, officially ushering in legalized sports betting. The first online platforms and betting apps went live on September 1, 2022. The Kansas Racing & Gaming Commission regulates six licensed online bookmakers in 2025. Five retail sports betting outlets are located in the state’s five casinos. Since sports betting went live in the Sunflower State, punters have placed a little over $6.5 billion in bets, which have generated $32.9 million in taxes.
Kentucky
Kentucky lawmakers passed HB 551 on March 31, 2023, marking the beginning of legalized sports betting in the Bluegrass State, and betting officially launched in September of that same year. Kentucky’s eight online sports betting sites and 12 retail bookmakers are licensed and regulated by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. Since its legalization, Kentucky’s retail and online sportsbooks have accepted over $4.5 billion in wagers, contributing $69 million in tax revenues.
Louisiana
The road to legalized sports betting in Louisiana started with 55 of the state’s 64 parishes voting in favor of legalized sports betting in 2020. This was followed by the June 2021 passing of SB 247 and HB 697, which officially legalized it. Sportsbooks and betting apps went live in October 2021. In 2025, bettors in the state can choose from eight of the most notable sports betting operators, including Fanatics. The Louisiana Gaming Control Board has also licensed 12 retail sportsbooks, and more are sure to come.
Massachusetts
It was a tough battle, but Massachusetts sports betting buffs got their wish in 2022 with HB 5164, which legalized sports betting in the state. It was the 33rd state to legalize bookmakers. Massachusetts’ sports betting industry is regulated by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, which has issued licenses to 7 online sports betting operators and three land-based establishments. Since sports betting launched in the Bay State, punters have wagered close to $16 billion, translating into $295 million in state taxes.
Maryland
The issue of legalized sports betting in Maryland went to a referendum in May 2021. It was approved by a wide margin, marking the birth of legalized sports betting in the state. The first retail and online betting venues opened for business on November 23, 2022. Maryland bettors can legally wager with 12 online sportsbooks or at any of the state’s 13 retail venues, including Fanatics Sportsbook at Northwest Stadium (home of the Washington Commanders) or Riverboat on the Potomac. There is plenty of room for growth as the Maryland Lottery & Gaming Control Agency allows for 60 online bookmaking licenses and 47 retail licenses.
Michigan
Governor Gretchen Whitmer was very popular with Michigan sports fans when she signed HB 4916 into law in November 2019. The first of what is now Michigan’s 22 retail betting establishments opened its doors in 2020. Regulated online sports betting became available in January 2021. The Michigan Gaming Control Board has issued 14 online sports betting licenses. Michigan bookmakers have accepted nearly $20 billion in betting action since going live, resulting in an infusion of $86 million in tax dollars.
North Carolina
Governor Roy Cooper got the ball rolling when he signed S154 in July 2019. While this only permitted retail betting at Tribal casinos, mobile betting would be tossed into the mix two years later with the passing of HB 347. Mobile betting finally blasted off on March 11, 2024. Eight online bookmakers are now operating with licenses from the North Carolina State Lottery Commission. The Eastern Band of Cherokee also operates retail sports betting operations in three tribal casinos.
New Jersey
Is online betting legal in New Jersey? Yes! New Jersey was set to legalize sports betting back in 2012, but federal laws derailed the plan. That is, until the PASPA decision came down in May 2018. New Jersey became the first state to adopt regulated sports betting post-PASPA. The Garden State launched retail and online sports betting in less than three months. The first bets were submitted on August 1, 2018. It’s worth noting that several New Jersey politicians, including Senator Raymond Lesniak and Governor Chris Christie, played huge roles in PASPA’s demise and the birth of legal sports betting in the United States.
Alongside the online Fanatics Sportsbook, you can also wager at Fanatics’ retail location at Oceans Casino Resort in Atlantic City.
New York
Where is online sports betting legal? Well, it’s legal in New York. The passing of SB 2614 was the catalyst for legal sports betting in the Empire State. The first betting apps and retail sportsbooks went live in January 2022. The New York State Gaming Commission has granted licenses to 9 sportsbook operators. 11 New York retail casinos also house licensed bookmakers like Fanatics. Despite being a tad late to the show, New York’s running betting handle has already surpassed the $70 billion mark and is tops in the nation.
Ohio
Ohio entered the legal sports betting fray when SB 197 was approved in December 2019. However, it would take over two years for the first bookmakers to open for business. It’s a long story, but the upshot is that things finally got rolling on January 1, 2023. Since then, the Ohio Casino Control Commission has licensed 20 online bookmakers and 14 retail outlets, including two Fanatics Sportsbook retail locations at Progressive Field (home of the Cleveland Guardians) and Nationwide Arena (home of the Columbus Blue Jackets). State law allows for up to 46 online and 40 retail betting licenses. So far, Ohio bettors have helped contribute about $375 million to the state’s coffers.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania approved legal sports betting in 2017. This is why the Keystone State was able to launch legal sports betting so quickly after the PASPA ruling in 2018. With the framework already in place, the Keystone State’s first retail sportsbooks opened on November 15, 2018. Online betting went live a few months later on May 28, 2019. No fewer than a dozen online sports betting sites and 17 land-based sportsbooks legally operate under Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board licenses.
Tennessee
While Tennessee offers legal sports betting, it does so differently than most other states. The passing of the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act in 2019 was the linchpin for legalized sports betting in the Volunteer State. Online bookmakers started launching on November 1, 2020. There are now 13 sports betting apps up and running in the state. They operate under licenses from the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council. The thing is, retail sports betting still isn’t legal.
Vermont
It was a long road, but Vermont sports bettors finally reached their destination when legal online sports betting launched in the Green Mountain State on January 1, 2024. This happened just 6 months after HB 127 got approval. Because Vermont is such a small market, some operators have hesitated to enter it. In 2025, just three online bookmakers are operating there. Still, those sportsbooks have taken in over $300 million in bets since going live. Retail sports betting is legal now, but the state has no land-based sportsbooks.
Virginia
Virginia became the 13th state to launch legal sports betting when the market launched on January 21, 2021. The Virginia Lottery has issued betting licenses to 16 online operators, including Fanatics. There are also three retail sports betting venues located in three of the state’s casinos.
West Virginia
West Virginia must have seen the downfall of PASPA coming, as it had already legalized sports betting in March 2018. That was mere weeks before the landmark decision came down. The first online bookmaker went live in December 2018. There are now 10 online sports betting sites in the state, and the West Virginia Lottery Commission licenses them. Bettors can also place bets in person at any of the state’s five brick-and-mortar betting outlets.
Wyoming
Where is online sports betting legal? Since lawmakers approved HB 0133 in April 2021, it’s legal in Wyoming. The bill gave the Wyoming Gaming Commission the green light to issue licenses. These online sportsbooks began launching on September 1, 2021. Five online sportsbooks are available, including Famatics. Retail sports betting isn’t legal, but that may change as the state’s tribes lobby hard to offer sports betting in Tribal casinos.
States Where Online Casinos Are Legal
State governments have not been as keen to legalize online casino gambling as they have been to legalize sports betting. Only seven American states offer regulated online casino gaming (Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia)—a far cry from the 38 that allow sports betting.
As with sports betting, the legality of online casino gaming rests in the hands of each state. As such, online gambling laws differ from state to state. One rule that all states share is that online casino operators can only accept physically located players within that state. For example, someone who’s currently in Wisconsin or Minnesota can’t play at a Michigan site. Only players physically located in Michigan can.
Specifically, Fanatics Casino is currently available online in four US states - Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Let’s take a closer look at these states which have legalized online casino gambling.
Michigan
Michigan legalized online casino gambling in 2021. The Michigan Gaming Control Board is tasked with licensing and regulating operators in the state. Today, virtual casino goers can choose from over a dozen big-name online casinos to complement its 26 land-based venues. Michigan’s online casino revenues hit $2.44 billion in 2024, bringing in much-needed tax dollars to the struggling state.
New Jersey
New Jersey is a trendsetter. It legalized online casino gambling back in 2013. By that time, casino gambling had already been legalized for over 35 years. It was and still is a huge gambling destination for Americans and foreigners alike.
The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement set the regulatory bar by proving that online gambling could be successfully regulated. It continues to work with other state and international regulators to maintain integrity and make the industry safer.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania made its foray into legal and regulated online casino gambling in 2017. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is responsible for licensing and enforcing regulations. Despite the state’s high gambling tax rate and expensive licensing fees, the state is home to 20+ online casinos, which combine to generate close to $200 million in monthly revenues. Those figures don’t include revenues from the 17 retail casinos that operate throughout the state.
West Virginia
West Virginia’s online casino industry has seen steady increases in gambling revenues since the state legalized online casinos in 2019. October 2024 was a record-breaking month with revenues hovering around $23.4 million. In 2025, no fewer than nine online casinos are licensed and regulated by the West Virginia Lottery Commission. That’s a blessing for casino buffs who want access to more gambling options than the state’s five racinos can offer.
FAQs
What’s the difference between online and retail sports betting?
Online sports betting happens when bets are staked and paid over the internet. Retail sports betting places bets and receives payments in person at a land-based venue.
Can I use a sportsbook app when I travel to different states?
Of course. However, you may only use a sports betting app for wagering if you are physically located in the same state where the sportsbook is licensed.
Why is sports betting legal in some states and not others?
Each state has the power to implement its own gambling laws. Simply put, residents and politicians in some states are more open to the idea of online sports betting than those in other regions.
Do I need to be a resident of a state to bet there?
You don’t have to be a resident of a state to bet there. However, you must be physically located within the state to bet there.