Betting online is no longer against federal law in the US, meaning individual states now have permission to set their own rules on gambling. After the decision by the Supreme Court to strike down PASPA in 2018, states across the US have been introducing new gambling laws aimed at legalizing and regulating sports betting or online casino gaming. As a result, there are now a growing number of places where you can bet online, although it still remains illegal in many places.
If you’d like to start betting online, you’ll need to be at least 21 first of all. Secondly, you’ll also need to be within the borders of a state with legal and regulated betting sites. We’ve created a full list of legal states below. Remember that you don’t actually have to live in any of these states. You can still sign up and play for real cash if you’re just visiting.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is another state with legal online casinos, sportsbooks, and poker sites. The state legalized all forms of online gambling back in 2019, and several top brands have now launched in the state. Players can sign up to sites such as BetRivers, DraftKings, FanDuel, Hollywood Casino, and many more.
New Jersey
New Jersey was one of the first states to allow online gambling, and players now have a wide range of NJ gambling sites to choose from. The state has legalized all forms of online gambling, including casinos, sportsbooks, and poker sites, so no matter how you prefer to bet, you have plenty of options. It’s the largest market in terms of regulated online gambling, with a value of $225 million a year. Over a dozen betting sites are available for players to sign up to, including Golden Nugget, FanDuel, DraftKings, 888Poker, and many more.
Illinois
In Illinois, only sports betting is currently legal online. Both online casinos and online poker are still against the law, but online sportsbooks and retail sportsbooks can operate in the state. Both residents and visitors to the state have been able to register and place bets online at sites such as William Hill and Bet Rivers since 2020.
Michigan
Since 2019, online and in-person sports betting, as well as online casinos and poker, have all been permitted in Michigan. The first retail sportsbook started accepting bets not long after and the first online betting sites launched in 2021. MI players can access sites such as Golden Nugget, BetMGM and WynnBet.
Virginia
In Virginia, legal online sportsbooks first launched in January 2021. Currently, there aren’t any plans by the government to allow online casinos or poker sites, but this could change in the future. Virginia bettors can use FanDuel as well as several other sites to place sports bets but can only place bets online, with retail sports betting not permitted.
Colorado
Colorado is another state that only allows sports betting online, with no other forms of online gambling allowed at the moment. In November 2019, a voter referendum in Colorado legalized sports betting. The new law, which allows the state’s land-based casinos to operate both online and retail sportsbooks, was narrowly passed. BetMGM and BetRivers have both established themselves so far, with more sites expected to follow.
Tennessee
Tennessee is one of the few US states that allow online betting but not in-person betting. The state voted to legalize and regulate online sports betting in 2019, with the first sites going live a year later. DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM are all operating in the state, as is the locally owned site ActionNetwork.
West Virginia
West Virginia has legalized all forms of online betting, including sportsbooks, casinos, and poker sites. The first online sportsbooks launched back in 2018, while online casinos first went live in the summer of 2020. Meanwhile, no poker sites have opened up just yet, but several have applied for a license and are expected to arrive in 2021.
Indiana
Indiana lawmakers agreed to legalize and regulate online sports betting in October 2019. The state offers several sportsbooks, including Unibet, DraftKings, and BetRivers, but online casinos and poker sites are still not allowed.
Iowa
Online sports betting launched in Iowa in 2019, and the state now has five sportsbooks available. However, online casino gambling and poker sites are still unregulated by the state, with no current plans to legalize them.
Other states where betting online is permitted include:
- New Hampshire
- Nevada
- Delaware
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- Montana