Online sports betting is legal in the majority of US states as of 2026, following the Supreme Court's 2018 decision that struck down the federal ban on sports betting. Here's what you need to know.
The Current Legal Landscape
Over 35 states plus DC have legalized sports betting in some form. The major states that have launched online/mobile betting include:
Northeast: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, Virginia, Connecticut, Rhode Island
Midwest: Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Colorado (technically Mountain)
South: Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Louisiana, Mississippi (retail only), Arkansas
West: Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, Wyoming, New Mexico
Not yet legal: Several states have bills pending. The trend continues toward more states legalizing.
How Legal Online Betting Works
Geolocation: Sportsbooks use your device's location to verify you're physically inside a legal state when placing bets. This is why you can have a New Jersey sportsbook account but only place bets when you're physically in New Jersey.
Age verification: You must be 21 years or older. Sportsbooks verify identity through ID documents when you create an account.
KYC (Know Your Customer): Sportsbooks are required to verify your identity before allowing withdrawals. This typically requires a government ID and sometimes additional documents.
Offshore vs. Licensed Sportsbooks
Some bettors use offshore sportsbooks that operate outside US jurisdiction. These books don't have the consumer protection of licensed books — if there's a dispute, you have no regulatory recourse. Licensed books are always the safer choice.
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