Do you have an idea of who’s going to win tonight’s game? Are you eager to place a bet on the outcome?
Before you do, you want to make sure that you don’t get into any legal troubles when you place your bets!
Sports betting isn’t legal throughout the United States. As such, you want to ensure that if you’re interested in online sports betting that you don’t use any illegal websites.
Here’s what you need to know about legal online sports betting:
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The Changes With Legal Sports Betting
The laws are always subject to change so you want to ensure that you do your due diligence and stay updated.
This guide will focus on the current laws and regulations based on each state. We’ll also provide predictions on what you can expect from different states regarding sports betting.
As of the end of 2021, these are the states with legal sports betting and their respective laws and regulations:
States Without Explicit Laws
The following states don’t currently have any laws that legalize or criminalize sports betting. This doesn’t necessarily mean that sports betting or online gambling is de-facto legal, however:
- Arkansas
- Alabama
- California
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Texas
- Missouri
- Massachusetts
- South Carolina
- Utah
- Vermont
You’ll have to keep an eye out to see whether these states legalize sports betting. In these states, there might not be any discussion of legalizing or criminalizing sports betting.
Or, there could also be debates for both sides of the argument. Often, continuous debates are what slows down progress regarding legislation.
It’s unlikely, at the moment, that Utah will legalize online sports betting. Gambling is forbidden by the state’s constitution and is heavily stigmatized by the conservative culture that defines Utah.
States That Might Legalize Sports Betting
Oklahoma and Maine are working toward legalizing sports betting though no firm decisions have been made so far.
In Oklahoma, Native American tribes have fought to legalize sports betting and have approached Governor Kevin Stitt for approval. As of now, it seems that Oklahoma is awaiting approval from the Federal Government.
However, there’s also strong opposition toward the legalization of sports betting in the state. The state’s conservative social culture might end up fighting for the criminalization of online sports betting.
In Maine, a bill was proposed to legalize sports betting. However, this bill was eventually vetoed by the Governor. However, there’s always the possibility of such a bill getting re-introduced for legislation. For instance, with the increasing popularity of sports betting worldwide, including significant events like the English Premier League, the potential for revenue generation through taxation is substantial. This underscores the importance of revisiting and refining legislative efforts to accommodate evolving societal attitudes towards gambling in general, as there always appears to be a demand for the latest English Premier League betting odds and for other sports too.
States That Have Moved Toward Legalization
In November 2020, Maryland voted to legalize sports betting. The main push for legalizing sports betting was that the tax revenue could increase funds for public education.
In 2021, the law was passed and sports betting went live just before 2022. One can expect more adoption of in-person and online sports betting platforms to get created.
In most parishes of Louisiana, voters overwhelmingly chose to legalize online sports betting. As of now, regulations regarding sports betting are being created.
One can expect more online casinos based in Louisiana to launch throughout the year. Make sure you read up on the regulations before using any of these online casinos for sports betting.
Nebraska has legalized sports betting with a few caveats. Sports betting on college sports has been restricted. There are also stringent regulations proposed around online sports betting.
As such, Nebraska residents should learn about these regulations before getting into sports betting. For many, the hassle of sports betting in Nebraska might not be worth the time.
Florida has made waves with economic liberation and this has extended to legalizing sports betting. One can expect this state to be the ideal place for online sports betting.
States That Have Legal Sports Betting
Now let’s look at the notable states that have had legal sports betting for several years. This isn’t an exhaustive list but rather, a list of the states that have the most freedoms regarding online sports betting.
Before you place your bets through any online sports betting platform based in one of these states, make sure you familiarize yourself with the regulations.
You should also look up reviews of different sports betting platforms based in these states. You shouldn’t consider just any sports betting platform that happens to be legal!
For example, you can read reviews of Bovada to see why it’s one of the preferred sports betting platforms.
Best States For Online Sports Betting
Nevada, of course, is perhaps the best state for online sports betting. There are few restrictions and it’s one of the easiest states for any type of gambling.
New Jersey also has many freedoms for both in-person and online sports betting. The one drawback is that you can’t place bets on collegiate sports or any sporting event that occurs within the state.
New Hampshire boasts one of the freest economies in the country. As such, it’s no surprise that online sports betting is allowed here. The one restriction is that you can’t place bets on games involving in-state colleges.
Pennsylvania also allows in-person and sports betting with no notable restrictions. It’s a great state for online sports betting but one should be aware of the state’s high tax obligations.
Rhode Island is one of the most recent states to allow online sports betting, previously only allowing in-person betting. One can expect more online casinos to offer sports betting in the state. The one major restriction is that you can’t place bets on games involving in-state college teams.
West Virginia offers in-person and online sports betting and doesn’t have any notable restrictions. There are few casinos registered in the state but one can expect more to come about with the state’s economic reforms.
Start Sports Betting Today
Now you can gather your winnings and succeed at sports betting!
When choosing a state for sports betting, you want to choose one with as few restrictions as possible. Keep an eye out on the states that have moved toward legalization. Nevada and New Hampshire are the best options so far with Florida as a great upcoming option.
As of now, there are still several states that seem to be avoiding legalization. You have to keep an eye out for opposition groups and the cultural attitudes toward gambling. It’s likely we won’t see legalization in Utah anytime soon.
You can read more articles about sports betting on our blog!
