MN AL IA WI IL MO AR LA TX OK KS NE SD ND MS TN KY GA FL SC NC VA IN OH MI WV NM CO AZ WY UT MT ID NV CA OR AK HI PA NY ME DC MD DE NJ CT MA RI VT NH

The State of Sports Betting

Tracking gambling news and legalization in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Here's the Supreme Court decision, explained.

Legal

Bill passed

Bill introduced

No bill

BAlabama

HB 315 was introduced on April 2, 2019 and would create the Alabama Sports Wagering Commission and provide it with rule-making authority. The Commission would issue up to seven licenses to operate sports wagering. The license would cost $100,000 and be good for five years, with renewal an option at the end of five years. The state would collect a 10% tax on adjusted gross sports wagering receipts. It would allow for betting at brick-and-mortar facilities and via "mobile application or other digital platforms."

Click for more

AAlaska

The state prohibits gambling, and no legislation has been introduced specific to sports betting legalization.

DArizona

In February 2019, State Senator Sonny Borrelli enacted language in SB 1163 that would legalize sports betting in Arizona by giving exclusivity to the state’s Indian tribes. It includes a prohibition of sports betting in Maricopa (Phoenix) and Pinal counties.

Click for more

ECalifornia

2 state legislators introduced ACA 16, a 2020 ballot initiative that would amend the Constitution to allow for the regulation of sports betting. It would require 2/3 support from the legislature. Previous public and private initiatives have failed to garner sufficient support to go on the ballot.

Click for more

FColorado

On April 18, 2019, rep Alec Garnett introduced legislation that would place a proposition on the November ballot to get voter approval on a 10% flat tax on net sports betting proceeds. The legislation was approved and signed by the governor, putting it on the ballot in November 2019.

Click for more

GConnecticut

Compromise legislation has been created in the form of the Connecticut Jobs and Revenue Act. With it, the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes would be required to spend a minimum of $100 million on an entertainment and gambling facility in Hartford. In exchange, the tribes would be authorized to conduct sports wagering at Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun, as well as through mobile and online betting. Sports wagering would be taxed at 8% while internet gambling would be taxed at 10%.

Click for more

yDistrict of Columbia

The DC City Council passed the Sports Wagering Lottery Amendment Act of 2018 on Dec 18, 2018. Mayor Muriel Bowser signed it into law on Jan 23, 2019 and it is now before Congress for 30 days as part of the Home Rule Act. The bill is expected to tax sports betting operators 10 percent of their gross revenue every month. It will include mobile betting run byb DC Lottery and they will also issue brick-and-mortar licenses. The brick-and-mortar will have a tiered pricing structure between Tier A ($250,000 for 5 years -- retail sportsbooks at Capital One Arena, Audi Field, Nationals Park, St. Elizabeths East Entertainment and Sports Arena), Tier B ($50,000 for limited five years or $5,000 for a more limited two-year license)

Click for more

IFlorida

State voters passed Amendment 3, which requires any implementation of further casino gaming in the state will require it pass via the citizen initiative process. This will require 60 percent approval of any measure on the ballot, whereas previous, the legislature had control over such implementation with a simple majority vote. This makes sports gaming more difficult to implement.

Click for more

JGeorgia

HR 380 proposes a constitutional amendment to legalize GA sports betting, via ballot referendum. It states that "the revenues and proceeds derived from the licensing, regulation, and taxation of sports betting at licensed betting facilities in this state shall be used for educational programs and purposes" and "shall be used to supplement, not supplant, nonsports betting resources for such educational purposes."

Click for more

KHawaii

HB 1107 introduced on Jan 23, 2019 and would create a state-owned entity, the Hawaii Sports Wagering Corporation" that would offer sports betting. The bill would prohibit private operators in the market. The Corporation would be overseen by a 7-member board of directors. Within 180 days of the passage of HB1107, the Corporation would be responsible for developing sports betting regulations and "commence a competitive process for the selection of a qualified and suitable sports wagering provider." The bill was amended on Feb 7th to "create an online gaming task force to examine and recommend policy issues on the benefits and harms of online gaming."

Click for more

MIdaho

State deputy attorney general Brian Kane has not heard a word on legalizing sports betting. It would require amending the state constitution to allow anything other than horse racing, and Kane does not see it happening anytime soon.The state has gone so far as to bar residents from taking part in services like FanDuel and DraftKings. In 2016, the companies agreed to clear all accounts connected with an Idaho address.

Click for more

NIllinois

Governor J.B. Pritzker signed a bill to legalize sports betting. The bill creates 6 licensing categories, and will provide for brick-and-mortar wagering at casinos, racetracks, and other facilities (could include Wrigley Field, among others). The master sports wagering license is the top tier with a fee of 5% on gross gaming revenue from the previous year, up to a maximum of $10 million. It provides for mobile wagering, but notably, DraftKings and FanDuel are required to partner with an existing casino for the first 18 months after the bill is signed.

Click for more

PKansas

A 70-page piece of legislation has been written up but not yet filed. State Rep. John Barker is taking the lead and brought together legislations, state Lottery officials, and various casino, business and sports league lobbyists to discuss the potential legislation

Click for more

QKentucky

HB 175 introduced on Feb 5, 2019 and was endorsed at the committee level on Feb 20. It will likely require 60 votes in the 100-seat House because it would raise and spend money in the existing budget. THe bill would allow for sports betting at one of the state’s horse racing tracks or the Kentucky Speedway, and mobile betting would require downloading the app at one of the tracks. It would tax in-person revenue at 10.25% and mobile revenue at 14.25%

Click for more

RLouisiana

SB 153 was introduced on Mar 27, 2019 and passed the Senate on Apri 30. It will go to House next. If passed, it would require approval from Louisiana voters in local parish voting on Oct 12, 2019. If a parish approves it, a Riverboat, Track, or Land-Based Casino can apply to the Gaming Control Board for a license on Jan 1, 2020. It would provide for mobile betting, but specifies they "shall be placed only in the gaming area of the riverboat, eligible facility, or official gaming establishment as determined by the board." Language on taxes and fees has yet to be determined.

Click for more

UMaine

The state Senate and House passed LD 553, which would allow individuals 21 or older to gamble on professional and most collegiate sports in the state. The governor refused to sign the bill due to concerns about expanding gambling. Maine law allows the bill to be held over to the next legislative session. The governor would then have three days to sign or veto the bill. If she does neither, it would become law. The legislation would tax "brick and mortar" facilities at 10% of revenue and mobile-only platforms at 16% of revenue. 11 entities would be permitted to apply for on-premise sports betting licenses -- Hollywood Casino in Bangor and Oxford Casino; Scarborough Downs racetrack; the four off-track betting locations in Brunswick, Sanford, Lewiston and Waterville; and the state’s four Native American tribes.

Click for more

TMaryland

Maryland voters approved a measure that requires any commercial gambling expansion to go through the ballot referendum process, and the next possible ballot would be in 2020. State legislators are studying a possible exception specific to the state lottery that does not require a referendum. House Bill 1132 has been introduced in the event this can be approved directly by the legislature.

Click for more

SMassachusetts

Six different pieces of legislation have been introduced specific to sports betting. The governor introduced his own version among them that would not require operators be affiliated with a brick-and-mortar casino. This would open the door for places like FanDuel and Boston-based DraftKings to enter the market. The governor's bill does not include an integrity fee, although another bill SD.1110 does include a 0.25% fee to be paid to the leagues on which wagering takes place.

Click for more

VMichigan

HB 4926 passed at the end of 2018, and included language that would have opened the door to developing a regulatory framework around sports betting. However, it was vetoed by the out-going governor and the state is back to square one.

Click for more

WMinnesota

State Rep Pat Garofalo introduced on Feb 18, 2019. It includes a 0.5% tax imposted on each wager (as opposed to gross revenue), but no fee paid to professional sports leagues. Licenses would only be issued to federally recognized Indian tribes or group of tribes located within the state. Mobile wagering would require the device be located within 20 feet of a brick-and-mortar facility. UPDATE: The bill passed the Senate Tax Committee and advances to the Senate state government committee. The big concern is opposition from the state's federally recognized tribes.

Click for more

XMissouri

HB 119 was advanced out of a House committee and now will go before the entire House for a vote. The bill includes an integrity fee of 0.25% of the handle and includes a 0.6% fee to fund maintenance and upkeep of Missouri sports stadiums. The bill calls for an 8% tax rate and a $10,000 application fee. It will include statewide mobile wagering.

Click for more

cNebraska

The state prohibits gambling, and no legislation has been introduced specific to sports betting legalization.

dNew Hampshire

HB 480 was introduced on Jan 10, 2019. Governor Chris Sununu signed it into law on July 12th. The legislation authorizes the state Lottery Commission to conduct sports betting directly or through an authorized agent via the use of mobile devices and brick-and-mortar sports book establishments at up to 10 retail locations. The legislation prohibits betting on New Hampshire colleges and universities.

Click for more

aNorth Carolina

Senate Bill 154 introduced Feb 17, 2019 and referred to committee on March 14th. Amended bill adopted by Senate, referred to Senate Rules and Operations Committee. A companion House Bill (302) is in the Judiciary Committee awaiting approval. These bills would limit sports betting to tribal casinos and exclude mobile betting. UPDATE: The state House and Senate passed the bill, and Governor Roy Cooper signed it into law. It allows the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to operate retail sportsbooks at two casinos in the Appalachian Mountains.

Click for more

bNorth Dakota

State House passed bill to legalize sports betting. State Senate voted 38-7 to kill the bill without debate.

Click for more

iOhio

SB 111 introduced on March 14, 2019. It includes a $100,000 licensee fee and a 6.25% tax on gross revenue. Licensees will be allowed to partner with operators for retail and online wagering.

Click for more

jOklahoma

Legislation was introduced on Feb 5, 2018 in both the House and Senate to legalize sports betting as part of an expansion of the tribal gaming compact. It would include, "wagering on the outcome of one or more competitive games in which athletes participate, or on one or more performances of such athletes in such games where all bets are placed in a common pool or pot from which all player winnings, prizes and direct costs are paid." No action was taken by the close of the 2018 legislative session.

Click for more

nSouth Carolina

A joint resolution (S57, H3409) was introduced on Jan 8, 2019 to create a ballot referendum to amend the state constitution to allow for various forms of gambling, including on sports.

Click for more

oSouth Dakota

27 lawmakers introduced Senate Joint Resolution 2 to put sports betting on the ballot for voters to approve. It would authorize sports betting within the city limits of Deadwood.

Click for more

pTennessee

The House approved legislation on April 26th to create strictly online sports betting. It would not allow it in any brick-and-mortar facility. The bill was approved by the Senate on April 30th, and Governor Bill Lee announced that he would let the bill pass, but without his signature. A spokesperson said "[the governor] does not believe that the expansion is best, but he recognizes that many in the legislature found this to be an issue they want to explore further." The legislation creates a 20% privilege tax on online gambling. It goes into effect on July 1.

Click for more

qTexas

HB 1275 was introduced on Feb 1, 2019 and has been referred to committee. The bill would authorize mobile and online sports wagering, and feature a $250,000 licensing fee and a 6.25% tax "imposed on each bet placed by a sports bettor." The Democrat-introduced legislation might not be going anywhere as the state GOP platform is specifically opposed to the expansion of legalized gambling.

Click for more

rUtah

No legislation has been introduced, and Article VI, Section 27, of the state Constitution specifically forbids the legislature from, “authorizing any game of chance, lottery or gift enterprise under any pretense or for any purpose.”

tVermont

S. 59 introduced on Jan 29, 2019 to create the Sports Betting Study Committee to prepare a report concerning whether and how to tax and regulate sports betting in Vermont. If the bill is passed, it shall take effect on July 1, 2019.

Click for more

sVirginia

SB 1126 introduced on Dec 28, 2018, signed into law by governor on Mar 21, 2019. Establishes a framework for the Lottery Board to oversee gaming in certain localities that must further approve via voter referendum. Locations would be limited to Danville, Bristol, and Portsmouth, with Richmond and Norfolk as potential sites for the Pamunkey tribe to build a casino.

Click for more

vWisconsin

The state prohibits gambling, and no legislation has been introduced specific to sports betting legalization.

xWyoming

The state prohibits gambling, and no legislation has been introduced specific to sports betting legalization.