Sports Betting
Depending on which state you live in, sports betting is either legal or illegal. While most states don’t allow gambling, Nevada is home to some of the best sportsbooks in the nation. Several other states have launched sports betting products and are cutting into Nevada’s market share. In fact, New Jersey has become the biggest sports betting market in the United States.
In 2021, the state of Arizona will begin to offer sports betting. This move follows the decision by the United States Supreme Court to overturn the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). This federal ruling gave individual states the ability to regulate sports betting. Several states are currently pursuing legislation. The situation is not completely resolved yet, however, and it could continue into 2023.
Alabama is one of the few states that has not approved legal sports betting. Alabama voters have generally been against gambling, and the state does not have its own lottery. However, the state does allow bets on licensed horse tracks, and a limited number of casinos accept sports bets.
What States Allow Sports Betting
Mississippi was the third state to legalize sports betting. In 2022, sportsbooks will be located at licensed tribal casinos. These sportsbooks will allow bettors to place bets on most professional and college sports. However, the state will not allow wagers on minor league and interscholastic sports. It will also not allow collegiate proposition bets.
The state of Minnesota came close to legalizing sports betting in 2022. The state legislature was considering a bill, but the bill never reached the Senate. The bill was amended to include more control over sports teams and racetracks, but the Senate never approved the proposal. There were also proposals to include video lottery terminals at gas stations. However, these were abandoned due to disagreements between the state government and the Native American entities.
The state of Hawaii is also considered a no-gambling state. There is no way to place sports bets here, and there are no gambling establishments. However, the Northern Arapaho Tribe could launch a retail betting location in the future. If the Legislature does pass a bill to legalize sports betting, it could also include a rule that online sports betting is not gambling.
Maryland has been awaiting legal sports betting for several months. There have been talks about launching a sports betting program, but the state has yet to determine when the first online sportsbooks will open and which state licenses will be issued. The state has a study that will be completed before official rules are established. In November 2020, the state will vote on a mobile betting bill.
Vermont is the only contiguous state in the United States that does not allow gambling. However, the state’s Native American tribes can work with commercial operators to offer online sports betting. There are no retail betting locations in Vermont, however. The state is also not allowing mobile sports betting, but it is possible that the situation could change in the next few years.