Sports betting has become an increasingly popular commodity amongst fans of various high-profile leagues and events within the sector, with multiple US states and destinations now legalizing a multitude of gambling laws across state boarders which can allow players to enjoy all the luxuries and competitiveness that sports betting so often provides ahead of gameday.
There are now multiple sports fans who enjoy partaking in betting-related activities from a number of the top ranked sporting leagues in the world today, with these including the likes of the NFL, NBA, NCAA, MLB, Premier League, NHL, UFC and many others.
In prior years, sports betting was often fully unpermitted or illegalized in almost every major state across the entire nation, with many state laws retaining a firm stance over their view of a variety of gambling outlets which the population are unauthorized to utilize.
However, after the recent success that many gambling outlets have brought to these major sporting events due to their wider player base and involvement, many states have since adjusted or even fully changed their stance on these laws which has allowed the sports betting circuit to flourish under these latest regulations.
Despite these drastic changes, there remains a few specified states that still retain a firm perspective over the laws of sports betting, meaning that punters must remain aware as to which states are fully intertwined with the use of sports betting compared to other states that forbid the use of any gambling activity.
- States that have legalized sports betting:
As of 2023, there are now 33 states that have a full legalization of sports betting, with other states also being likely to alter their laws regarding the matter.
Some of the most prominent states to legalize sports betting includes the likes of New Jersey and New Jersey with fans now being able to wager using a vast number of sportsbooks available in NY.
Nevada has always remained as a popular gambling outlet for obvious reasons with Pennsylvania, Michigan and Indiana also ranking amongst the larger states that allow sports betting services to be undertaken, something that remains especially key for fans in such areasdue to their strong following of numerous sports teams that operate within each providence.
The full listings for all other states includes the following:
Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, Washington D.C., WestVirginia and Wyoming.
There are a number of reasons as to why these states have since changed their illegalization status for such amenities within the sports betting industry, with the core reason being that the sporting sector is a near endless source of income for a number of states and the concept of betting allows a greater income of revenue from fans who continue to express their desires to wager on their favorite sporting leagues.
- Which states prohibit sports betting?
While sports betting is a wealthy and vastly influential market that many states continue to utilize as a means of gaining income, there remains a number of states that aim to prohibit any gambling activity across the entire sporting sector for all residents within their borders.
There are currently 12 states that retain a full illegal ruling on all sports betting endeavors which include the following:
Alabama, Alaska, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Minnesota, Texas and Utah.
- Which states are likely to change their laws on sports betting or have proposals pending?
While these listed states do still retain a number of laws that may limit or restrict certain betting activities, they are very likely to change their stance on sports betting matters in the coming months.
The likes of Kentucky, Maine, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Vermont and Wisconsin are all states that are currently undergoing a proposal to make sports betting legal or have already begun an authorized retail of betting outlets.
Outside of these major states, there are also two other states that do provide regulations surrounding sports betting, yet they have a very specified ruling for such a leisure.
Florida had a previous case that attempted to legalize sports betting, yet thiswas unanimously overturned in June 2023, with another petition being placed for the legalization of sports betting back in August, meaning that currently sports betting is still illegal in Florida yet there remains plans for this law to be adjusted during the latter months of the year.
New Mexico also has its own complications surrounding sports betting as it is currently prohibited yet there are still technically a few casino locations that provide gambling events which include sports.
Despite certain states still possessing a number of setbacks or restrictions that halt any sort of sports betting activity, there is now a greater variety of states that have allowed punters to wager on whatever sport they choose which certainly revs up the already palpable atmosphere ahead of any major matchup.
