Legal sports betting apps by state: why the state matters first
Legal sports betting apps by state differ because there is no national license for online sports betting in the United States. Each state decides whether to allow it, which operators may take bets, how they are taxed and who may play. As a result, the same brand can be live in one state, absent from the next, and subject to different rules in each. A welcome offer you see advertised may not be the one offered where you live, or may not be offered at all.
Four kinds of status, and what each one means
The table above sorts every verified state into one of four groups. The labels are short, so it is worth knowing what sits behind each one.
Online betting allowed. The law lets a licensed operator take bets through a website or app. That is not the same as every app being open to you. The regulator decides who gets a license, so the list of apps differs from one state to the next, and a license in one state does not carry over to another. Arizona's statute describes an operator licensed to run mobile event wagering throughout the state, and New York's gaming commission says state law authorizes mobile sports wagering made through electronic means from a location within New York.
In person only. Betting is legal, but only at a physical venue. Nebraska is the example in our table: its racing and gaming commission says online and mobile sports wagering are not currently authorized, and bets are placed in person at a licensed racetrack.
Tribal compacts only. Betting is available only where a federally recognized tribe offers it under an agreement with the state. Wisconsin's department of administration says sports wagering is illegal in the state unless a tribe offers it under a compact.
Not legal. The state has not authorized sports betting. For California the table cites an opinion of the state attorney general, which says California law generally prohibits traditional forms of sports wagering.
Not verified yet. We could not read an official page that states the position clearly, because the page was unreachable, silent on sports betting or too indirect. These states are not guesses in disguise. They are simply open, and the regulator's own site is the place to check.
Where you have to be when you place the bet
Most state rules tie a bet to your location, not to where you live. Massachusetts law lets an operator accept wagers from individuals physically located within the commonwealth, West Virginia's law uses almost the same words for a person physically located within the state, and Indiana's rules bar mobile wagering unless the patron is physically present in Indiana. In practice the app checks your phone's location before it accepts a bet, and a bet is refused if it cannot confirm you are inside the state.
This is why an account does not travel. If you work in one state and live in another, you may need an account in each state where you bet, and you can only bet in each one while you are inside it.
Who regulates it
The body that licenses sports betting has a different name in almost every state. In Illinois it is the Illinois Gaming Board, in Pennsylvania the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, in Iowa the Racing and Gaming Commission, and in New Jersey the Division of Gaming Enforcement. In Delaware, Oregon, Virginia and West Virginia the lottery is involved, and in Massachusetts and New York it is a gaming commission. The table links to each regulator that we could confirm, because its list of approved operators is the authority on which apps are legal in the state.
Why the table can be out of date
Sports betting law keeps changing. States pass new laws, courts rule, ballot measures are put to voters and operators come and go. The table shows what the cited pages said on the date we read them, and the date is at the top. Before you open an account, read the regulator's current page, especially in a state where a change was in the news.
How to check which sports betting apps are available where you live
- Find your state's gaming regulator. It is usually called a gaming commission, a gaming control board or a lottery commission.
- Look for its list of licensed or approved sports wagering operators. The regulator's list is the authority, and it is more reliable than any comparison site, including this one.
- Check the app's own page for its state list and its terms. Operators state where they are live and on what conditions.
- Download the app only from an official app store or from the operator's website.
What can differ between states
- Whether online betting is allowed at all. Some states allow betting only at a physical venue, and some allow none.
- The minimum age. It is 21 in most states and 18 in a few.
- Which operators are licensed. Some markets have many, and some have only a few.
- Which bets are allowed. Some states restrict betting on certain events, such as college teams from the same state, or certain bet types.
- The welcome offer and its terms. Operators set offers by state.
- The responsible gambling rules and tools. Each state sets its own requirements.
Betting across state lines
To find sports betting apps in my state, in yours or in any other, start from the regulator's own list. You must be inside a state where the app is licensed when you place a bet. The app checks your location with your phone's GPS and Wi-Fi data, and refuses a bet when it cannot confirm where you are. An account you open in one state does not travel with you. If you move, or you regularly cross a state line, expect to hold a separate account in each state, and to repeat identity checks.
Taxes and records
Gambling winnings are generally taxable income in the United States, and some states tax them too. Keep a record of your deposits, withdrawals and results. A tax professional or the IRS guidance can tell you what applies to your own case. Our page on how sports betting winnings are taxed sets out what the IRS says.
How this site handles state information
We state a fact about an operator, such as the states it is live in, only when we have read it from the operator or from the regulator, and we show the date. A fact we cannot verify is left out. A table that has gone too long without a check stops being shown, because an old list of licensed apps can do more harm than none. See how we work and the guide to betting on an app for the steps from sign-up to withdrawal.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find legal sports betting apps by state?
Start with the table above to see whether your state allows online betting, then open the regulator's list of licensed operators. Legal sports betting apps by state are the ones on that list, and the checklist for each state we have verified links to it.
Which sports betting apps in my state are available to me?
Only apps licensed by your state regulator are available, and only while you are physically in the state. The regulator's list is the authority on sports betting apps in my state or in any other state, and we do not rank individual apps.
Does every state have online sports betting?
No. Some states allow online betting, some only in person, some only through tribal compacts, and some not at all. The map and table show the status we have verified, and the states we have not verified yet are marked.
Why does the table show a date?
Because the law changes. The date is the day we read the cited official page, so you can tell how old a fact is before you rely on it.
What should I do if my state says not verified yet?
Do not assume it is allowed. Check your state's gaming regulator directly, and only use an app that appears on the regulator's list of licensed operators.
Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.