U.S. Sports Betting: Where All 50 States Stand on Online Sportsbooks Ahead of the Big Game

As the Big Game draws near, the rush to place legal bets is exposing how fragmented the U.S. online sports betting market really is. Since the Supreme Court overturned the federal ban on sports wagering in 2018, states have charted their own paths: some rolled out fully mobile sportsbooks, others confined betting to physical locations, and a remaining bloc continues to resist legalization altogether. For fans hoping to place a wager from the couch, the answer to “can I bet online?” depends entirely on their ZIP code. Below is a state-by-state look at how online sports betting stands across the country as the nation gears up for its biggest sporting event.

Online sports betting across 50 states: where mobile wagering stands before the Big Game

The approach to online sports betting can now be grouped into several broad categories. A growing share of states has embraced fully regulated mobile wagering, typically in partnership with existing casinos, racetracks, or tribal operators. In these jurisdictions, bettors can use licensed apps and websites statewide, while regulators focus on curbing misleading promotions, improving bonus transparency, and strengthening responsible gambling standards—especially during high-volume periods like the NFL playoffs and the Big Game.

At the same time, a core group of states still restrict sports betting to in-person sportsbooks, tribal casinos, or limited mobile products, often citing worries about addiction, game integrity, or conflicts with tribal exclusivity agreements. Others have not legalized sports betting at all, leaving residents to stick with social sportsbooks, fantasy sports contests, informal office pools, or travel to neighboring legal states.

As legislative sessions kick off in early 2025, the overall legal landscape remains fluid. Some states are revisiting tax structures, exploring additional operator “skins,” and deciding whether to broaden college betting markets, while others are still debating whether to legalize mobile wagering in any form. For would‑be bettors, the key question is straightforward: Is my state live, about to launch, or still on the sidelines?

• Fully legal online betting: A majority of states now have live, regulated sports betting apps available statewide.
• Limited or retail-only markets: Certain states only permit bets at brick‑and‑mortar locations or tribal venues, with no true remote sign‑up.
• Pending or in flux: Several legislatures are considering bills or ballot initiatives that could authorize mobile sports betting before the next season kicks off.
• Prohibited: A diminishing group still enforces statutory or constitutional barriers that keep online sportsbooks out entirely.

Recent industry estimates show how quickly the market has grown despite this patchwork. Legal U.S. sportsbooks handled tens of billions of dollars in wagers in 2024 alone, with a sizable percentage concentrated around marquee events like the Big Game, March college basketball tournaments, and major fight nights. Yet even with that momentum, large population centers remain locked out of mobile betting, underscoring how much room is left for expansion.

States reshaping the map: key battlegrounds as mobile betting and regulation evolve

A handful of high-profile states will strongly influence how the next phase of online sports betting unfolds. Their decisions on tax structures, market access, and tribal or commercial control could shift the balance of power nationwide.

California is still the biggest open market in the country and the prime target for operators, but political gridlock has stalled progress. After competing ballot initiatives backed by tribal interests and commercial sportsbooks both failed in 2022, negotiations have cooled. Tribal leaders remain protective of their existing gaming compacts, while national brands seek broader online access, leaving the state in a stalemate heading into the next election cycle.

In Texas, major professional teams and ownership groups are pushing to bring mobile wagering to one of the largest fan bases in the U.S. A coalition of pro franchises has lobbied aggressively, arguing that regulated sports betting could keep residents from driving across state lines or using offshore sites. However, opposition in the state Senate and a long-standing reluctance toward gambling expansion continue to delay any clear timeline.

Georgia and Oklahoma illustrate another route: using sports betting proposals as a targeted revenue measure without opening the door to full-scale casino expansion. In these states, governors and legislative leaders are weighing how far they can go in authorizing mobile wagers while maintaining control over tribal agreements and avoiding broader gambling battles. Influential local teams and media partners see an opportunity to capture fan engagement through mobile betting before future playoff runs, but entrenched interests expect a say in how any market is structured.

While those states focus on whether and how to launch, another crop of jurisdictions is already wrestling with the next wave of regulatory questions, including:

• Tax rates: Whether high tax models maximize state revenue or risk driving high‑value bettors and operators toward lower‑tax alternatives, including offshore options.
• Market structure: Decisions between tribal exclusivity, state lottery-run monopolies, or open commercial markets with multiple competing brands.
• Advertising and responsible gaming rules: Limits on ad volume, celebrity endorsements, and bonus language, alongside mandates for responsible gambling messaging.
• Approval mechanisms: Whether legalization requires a statewide ballot measure or can be accomplished via the legislature, affecting both the speed and stability of launches.

New York and Illinois are prime examples of mature markets reconsidering their financial frameworks. New York, which uses one of the highest effective tax rates on mobile sports betting revenue, has quickly become a national handle leader but is now facing calls from operators to ease the burden to sustain promotions and competitive pricing. Illinois has explored its own tax increases, raising questions about how much operators can absorb before scaling back marketing and offers.

Florida stands out for its ongoing legal battles around the Seminole Tribe’s compact. A mobile betting model centered on tribal exclusivity has survived some court challenges but continues to face scrutiny over whether similar arrangements could be replicated elsewhere and how far the tribe’s reach can extend beyond physical reservation land.

As mobile wagering continues to expand, these states will help determine whether the national market trends toward higher taxes and tighter controls or leans into broader competition and more open licensing.

Choosing a legal online sportsbook: how to stay safe and avoid offshore sites

With more legal sportsbooks promoting Big Game offers, signup bonuses, and odds boosts, bettors need a reliable way to separate legitimate platforms from unregulated or offshore operators. The starting point is always verification: confirm that the site or app is licensed in your state and overseen by a recognized U.S. regulator such as a state gaming commission, racing board, or lottery authority.

A legitimate online sportsbook will:

• Display its state license number and the name of the regulator—usually in the website footer or app information section.
• Use secure “https” connections and modern encryption protocols.
• Require age and identity verification to comply with state and federal rules.
• Offer built‑in responsible gambling tools, including ways to set limits or self‑exclude.

Offshore and unlicensed sites typically operate from foreign jurisdictions, rely on vague claims like “licensed in a respected international gaming authority,” and may lack credible consumer protections. They often rely on aggressive, too‑good‑to‑be‑true offers, limited transparency on bonus rollover requirements, and little recourse if payouts are delayed or denied. Before registering, bettors should cross-check the operator’s brand name with their state regulator’s official list of approved sportsbooks.

Common red flags include:

• Crypto-only or obscure payment processors with high fees or no U.S. financial partners.
• Promotions for “no verification” accounts or anonymous betting.
• No clear terms and conditions, or rules that are buried, overly vague, or frequently changed without notice.
• Missing or generic information on dispute resolution, complaint handling, or regulatory oversight.

In contrast, reputable sportsbooks clearly outline their rules and provide multiple, traceable methods for deposits and withdrawals—such as ACH transfers, major credit and debit cards, reputable digital wallets, or in some cases cash at affiliated retail locations. They also maintain customer support via email, chat, or phone to address issues quickly.

Before you make your first deposit, take a moment to review:

• Regulatory seal: A direct link to the relevant state regulator or gaming control body and a verifiable license ID.
• Payment options: Well-known, secure banking methods rather than only niche or offshore processors.
• Terms & conditions: Straightforward explanations of bonus rollover requirements, withdrawal limits, and account closure policies.
• Data protection: A detailed privacy policy, statement of encryption standards, and clear handling of personal information.

Sticking with licensed operators not only reduces financial and security risks, it also ensures access to dispute processes and consumer protections that offshore sites do not reliably provide.

Taxes, responsible gambling and protections: what every new bettor should know

Before placing a first legal wager, many new bettors underestimate how tax rules and consumer protections affect their experience. In the United States, sports betting winnings are considered taxable income at the federal level. Larger payouts may trigger a W‑2G form from the operator, which is used to report gambling winnings to the IRS. Even smaller or intermittent wins technically belong on your tax return, which means keeping a record of both your wins and losses is important for accurate reporting.

States layer their own rules on top of federal law. Some tax gambling income as part of regular state income tax, others have no personal income tax at all but still take their cut from operators via high gross revenue taxes. Because each jurisdiction sets its own standards and thresholds, bettors who travel or wager in multiple states should be especially mindful of where and how their bets are placed. Understanding your obligations early can help avoid surprise tax bills months after the Big Game has ended.

At the same time, regulators and licensed sportsbooks are investing more heavily in responsible gambling tools as legalization spreads and handle grows. Legal online sportsbooks commonly provide:

• Deposit, wager, and time limits: Configurable caps that help players control how much they spend and how long they stay active on the platform.
• Cooling‑off periods and self‑exclusion: Features that allow users to lock themselves out of their accounts temporarily or for extended periods, sometimes across multiple operators in a state.
• Reality checks: On‑screen notifications that show session lengths, bet histories, or spending summaries at set intervals.
• Access to independent resources: Prominent links to state hotlines, national problem gambling organizations, and local counseling services.

State regulations differ widely in how these protections are mandated and enforced:

Advocacy groups and regulators increasingly emphasize that bonus offers and promo bets should be viewed as marketing tools, not guaranteed profit. Reading the fine print, using deposit limits, and treating betting as entertainment rather than a financial strategy are recurring themes in public‑awareness campaigns.

Future Outlook

The legal map for sports betting in the United States remains a moving target, shaped by court rulings, legislative negotiations, tribal compacts, and economic forecasts. The Big Game functions as both a showcase and a stress test—highlighting how much betting volume regulated markets can handle, how effective integrity safeguards are, and how tax revenues stack up against initial projections.

For now, bettors find themselves in a fragmented environment: some enjoy instant access to multiple regulated sportsbook apps, others must travel to retail locations to place a bet, and millions of potential users are still barred from legal wagering entirely. Yet momentum toward legalization has been steady since 2018, and the combination of public demand, budget pressures, and competition among neighboring states suggests more change is coming.

As the next round of legislative sessions unfolds, states will once again weigh the promise of new revenue and consumer protections against the risks of problem gambling and market saturation. Those choices will determine who can place a legal bet—and under what conditions—by the time the next championship kickoff arrives.