So, you are thinking of getting into sports betting, but you are not sure of the legality of doing so. Well, in terms of the US, it’s not as clear-cut as it is in other locations, so frankly, there isn’t a simple answer to this question.
Slowly but surely, more and more US states are passing the relevant legislation making sports betting legal, both in terms of online gambling and brick-and-mortar establishments. The speed with which the sports betting landscape is changing in America has, however, left many wondering if it’s legal to enjoy this pastime in their particular region.
The legal status of sports betting in the U.S. is, therefore, something of a moving feast; here are the states where online activities are 100% legal.
Online Sports Betting is Legal In:
Arizona
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Louisiana
Maryland
Michigan
Mississippi
Montana
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
Ohio
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Tennessee
Virginia
Washington DC
Washington
West Virginia
Wyoming
Of these states, Connecticut, Delaware, Louisiana, Maryland, New York, Ohio allow online sports betting but aren’t live, but in the coming weeks and months, this will be rectified as the relevant providers receive the licence required to operate in the specific state.
There are currently 23 states where no legal sports betting, online or offline, is allowed, but this is a rapidly evolving situation. Florida is one state that is pretty far down the road to legalization, and if a state of that size passes the relevant laws, then it’s likely others will follow.
It should be noted that the states where online sports betting is allowed are only applicable to those who are within the state’s borders. It’s common for bettors to travel across state lines to enjoy sports betting and this kind of makes a mockery of the legislation.
Indeed this practice, which saw upwards of 75% of Connecticut’s activity coming from residents of New York state who crossed the border, is usually what then prompts a state to push on with their own legalization efforts as they see the possibility of a large revenue stream leaving for a neighboring state.
When it comes to milestone states, New York is certainly one of the largest, if not the largest, to get in on the act. The state is expected to make upwards of $1 billion in annual gross gaming revenue, with a number of the big players opening up their markets, including Caesars, DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM.
In the matter of a year or two, it’s likely that most of the US will have folded to pressure and allowed sports betting, and then more and more of the population will be able to make their own mind up about whether they’d like to get involved instead of being prevented from making such a decision of their own.
Similarly, the world of online casino gaming will begin to open up for further users, pretty much in line with the rate at which sports betting is legalized.
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