Which US States Still Don’t Have Regulated Sports Betting?

For many years, only Nevada allowed sports betting since it was legalized at casinos in 1949. Nevada was also the first state that legalized mobile and online sports betting in 2010. This was a breakthrough in the industry, and in May 2018 the Supreme Court ruled that the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (1992) be overturned, which suddenly opened the door for sports betting legalization across the country. 

Delaware was the first state to legalize sports betting a month after the court ruling, and by 2024 there are 38 states that have legalized and regulated sports betting, as well as Puerto Rico and Washington D.C. 

Online sports betting is legal in 30 states, and there are 22 states that allow sports betting through tribal casinos. North Carolina was the most recent state to legalize online sports betting on March 11, 2024. 

So, which of the states don’t have regulated sports betting? As of October 2024, these are:

• Alabama
• Alaska
• California
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Oklahoma
• South Carolina
• Texas
• Utah

So, for example, if you live in South Carolina and you’re looking for SC sports betting you will have to turn to offshore licensed sports betting sites, or visit neighboring North Carolina to access land-based sportsbooks. 

A few of the states have retail-only betting, which means that sports betting is usually restricted to brick-and-mortar establishments. These include:

• Mississippi
• Montana
• Nebraska
• New Mexico
• North and South Dakota
• Washington
• Wisconsin

Interstingly, Mississippi does allow app-based sports betting as long as you’re on-site at a casino. Montana, too, allows in-person betting at lottery terminals and betting on an app as long as you’re at a Sports Bet Montana location.

Thanks to the Supreme Court’s ruling, sports betting has become popular across the country. In 2023, Americans wagered $119.84 billion at sportsbooks (online and land-based), which was a 27.5% increase from 2022. Reportedly, one in five Americans wagered on a sport in 2023, which indicates the country’s strong relationship with sports. 

The fact that Texas and California – the two states accounting for 21% of the US population – continue to ban sports betting means that the country is missing out on significant revenue. 

Most bettors wager on football, especially the Super Bowl. An estimated 68 million adults placed some type of bet on the Super Bowl in 2024, amounting to $23.1 billion. This was up from 50.4 million bettors in 2023. 

Despite the 12 states above not yet legalizing sports betting, there is hope. Punters and senators alike are pushing for legalization in many states. For example, in Missouri, there is a social media campaign called “Let MO Play” that is attempting to rally support for legal sports betting. 

There are also several active sports betting bills being pushed in some states, with a ballot initiative in Missouri where voters will be able to have their say in November, and HB365 in Delaware that will expand the state’s sports betting market.