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The geography of sports betting in the US – Where’s it legal to bet?

The sports betting market in the US is huge, but if you want to stake some money on your favourite team, you can do so only in individual states. There is a big legal battle being fought across the country, and legislators in more regions now look at betting more favourably, for two main reasons.

First, people will do it anyway, and second, there’s a lot of money to be made from taxes.

For example, New Jersey legalised sports betting in 2018. In 2019, the state saw $4.58 billion in total money wagered, as well as almost $300 million in revenue, and $36 million going into the state’s tax coffers.

But what about other states?

States where sports betting is fully legal

Nevada is, of course, home to Las Vegas, which besides being famous for casinos and shopping, is also revered for its culinary scene. And as you may well know, betting bas been legal in the state since 1949.

Oregon, known for its lush vineyards, magnificent natural parks, and of course, a host of baseball and basketball teams, legalised betting in 2019.

New Mexico joined Delaware, Mississippi, New Jersey, Nevada, and West Virginia as a part of the wave of sports betting legalisation in 2018.

Iowa perhaps isn’t known for world-class sports teams, but betting here was legalised at the beginning of 2019 and launched in August of the same year.

Arkansas legalised betting back in 2018, but it was officially launched in 2019.

Mississippi made sports betting legal in 2018, but it’s still quite restrictive as you can only bet within a casino.

Indiana’s betting bill was signed on May 8, 2019, and went into effect on September 1st. New York signed a bill in 2019, but for now, it’s only possible to legally bet in four upstate casinos located hundreds of miles from New York City.

West Virginia’s legalisation process wasn’t a smooth one, but it finally went live in August 2019. Since then, the state takes well over $100 million in bets each month (mobile and offline).

Pennsylvania, which officially launched its sports betting operations in 2019 now also offers full mobile betting.

New Jersey is a paradise for bettors. In 2019 alone, the state brought in more than $4.58 billion in bets, 80% of which were placed online.

Delaware legalised betting in 2018, but you can bet only using physical sportsbooks.

Rhode Island made betting legal in 2018, but mobile betting is only possible through a lottery betting product.

New Hampshire is an excellent state for bettors as it has offered full mobile betting since 2019.

These are all of the states that are currently offering sports betting options.

However, sports betting is on the rise, and states like Colorado, Montana, Illinois, Michigan, Tennessee, North Carolina are all either waiting for the legalisation bill to be passed, or they’ve already set a launch date.

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