Sports Betting Goes Legal in the USA: The States Where You Can Place Your Bets Now!
Betting on sports has just become legal in the USA, and it’s now possible to place bets on games in states like New Jersey, Mississippi, West Virginia and others. This is great news for American punters who have eagerly awaited the ability to place wagers on a wide range of sporting events.
How Did Sports Betting Become Legal?
In May 2018, the US Supreme Court voted 6 to 3 to end the 1992 Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). This Act had made it illegal for any state to authorize, sponsor, or regulate the kinds of gambling allowed. This ruling opened the door for US states to pass their own legislation and make sports betting available online and in Nevada-style sportsbooks.
States That Have Legalised Sports Betting
Since the court ruling, several states have taken the plunge and legalised sports betting. The following states have all made it legal for residents to place wagers at sportsbooks:
- New Jersey: Sports betting has been legal in New Jersey since June 2018 and a number of sportsbooks are now open in the state. Players can register online or at a physical sportsbook and place bets in person or online.
- Delaware: Delaware was one of the first states to launch sports betting after the Supreme Court ruling, and it is now legal to bet on sports in the state of Delaware. Players can wager online or at the three racinos.
- Mississippi: Mississippi was one of the first states to legalize sports betting and now several sportsbooks are open in the state. Players can make wagers in person or through mobile betting portals.
- West Virginia: Sports betting has been legal in West Virginia since August 2018. Players can make wagers at any of the state’s five licensed sportsbooks or through a mobile betting portal.
- Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania was one of the first states to launch sports betting in November 2018. Players can bet in person or through the seven sportsbooks operating in the state.
- New Mexico: Sports betting became legal in New Mexico in March 2019 and there are now two sportsbooks in operation in the state. Players can register online or in person and place bets at the Santa Ana Star Casino.
Where Else is Sports Betting Legal?
Sports betting is also legal in the states of Nevada, Rhode Island, Montana and Oregon. Each of these states has its own regulations regarding sports betting and players from those states can place bets within the regulations of the specific states.
Conclusion
Sports betting has just become legal in the USA, and several states have taken the plunge with others sure to follow. This is great news for American punters who can now take advantage of the legal sportsbooks in the states mentioned above and place wagers on a wide range of sporting events. So if you’re from one of these states, why not give it a try!
What states allow legal sports betting in the USA?
As of April 2021, legal sports betting is available in Colorado, Delaware, Indiana, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C. States such as Michigan, Illinois, and New York are expected to launch sports betting in 2021.
What types of sports betting are legal in the USA?
Legal sports betting in the US is dependent on state laws. Currently, betting is generally only legal in Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Rhode Island, Mississippi, Delaware, and New Mexico. These states allow legal betting on sports and other events through licensed sportsbooks and online platforms. Some states also allow some forms of limited sports betting, like pari-mutuel betting.
What states in the USA have legalized sports betting?
As of November 2020, the states that have legalized sports betting are Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Washington D.C., Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. Arizona, California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin are considering legalizing sports betting in 2021.