Legal Betting States
Following the repeal of PASPA in 2018, each state in the USA was granted the ability to decide their own fate when choosing whether they allow for legal domestic sports betting. Once a state has made that decision, they then need to then determine which venues they’ll allow for, be it online, in-person, or both, and what the minimum sports betting age will be to participate.
- States That Allow Online Betting
- Legal Online Sports Betting States
- Legal Sports Betting States
- Legal Gambling States
- Sports Betting Legal States
This minimum sports betting age by state guide has been designed to not only outline what states allow for legal sportsbooks and whether 18-year-olds can take part, but also details the states where under-21 patrons can bet on sports with offshore betting sites located outside of the USA.
Sports betting became legal in the United States on May 14, 2018, when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned PASPA. Since then, 25 states have passed their own legislation to authorize sports wagering, and experts believe that several more states will legalize sports wagering in 2021. State By State Legal US Gambling Guide For 2021. We've compiled this legal online betting guide for US players arranged by state, to provide accurate and up to date information on the legal online gambling status and gaming options available within each US state. Sports betting is legal in the state of Oregon, but the options are limited. The State Lottery, who also regulates the industry, launched its sports wagering app called Scoreboard in 2019. Alternatively, you can place in-person wagers at the Chinook Winds casino. As it stands, eight American states, including Nevada, offer legal online sports betting. Seven other states have recently passed legislation to legalize it and are on the verge of officially. State By State Legal US Gambling Guide For 2021. We've compiled this legal online betting guide for US players arranged by state, to provide accurate and up to date information on the legal online gambling status and gaming options available within each US state. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive state gambling.
Sports Betting Options In The United States
Domestic In-Person – The most common, traditional variety of sportsbook in the USA are physical, brick-and-more sports betting locations that customers can visit. A majority of states that feature domestic sportsbook locations that can be visited include a minimum age of 21 to bet on sports, but some allow for 18+ customers. Even states that have a legal betting age of 18 are subject to casinos or other sportsbook locations that only allow entry for 21+ patrons because they serve alcohol.
Domestic Online – Mobile sports betting apps and state-licensed online sports betting options are becoming more prevalent in the United States, and some regions allow for eighteen and over bettors to become members. The onset of COVID-19 has caused for many states to open their first sportsbooks online, so look for that trend to continue.
International Online – Because offshore sportsbooks are located outside of the jurisdiction of the United States, they are able to take bets over the web from 18+ gamblers in the US without breaking any laws. CT and WA have specific laws that forbid all online gambling, but the online 18+ sportsbooks we recommend on this page accept members from both of those states. There are, however, states that each sportsbook site does not allow members from, so be sure to check before signing up.
Minimum USA Legal Sports Betting Age By State
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W
Alabama
- Domestic In-Person: N/A
- Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
- International Online: Yes – 18+
Alaska
- Domestic In-Person: N/A
- Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
- International Online: Yes – 18+
Arizona
- Domestic In-Person: N/A
- Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
- International Online: Yes – 18+
Arkansas
- Domestic In-Person: Yes – 21+
- Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
- International Online: Yes – 18+
California
- Domestic In-Person: N/A
- Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
- International Online: Yes – 18+
Colorado
- Domestic In-Person: Yes – 21+
- Domestic Online/Mobile: Yes – 21+
- International Online: Yes – 18+
Connecticut
- Domestic In-Person: N/A
- Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
- International Online: N/A
Delaware
- Domestic In-Person: N/A
- Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
- International Online: Yes – 18+
Florida
- Domestic In-Person: N/A
- Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
- International Online: Yes – 18+
Georgia
- Domestic In-Person: N/A
- Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
- International Online: Yes – 18+
Hawaii
- Domestic In-Person: N/A
- Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
- International Online: Yes – 18+
Idaho
- Domestic In-Person: N/A
- Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
- International Online: Yes – 18+
Illinois
- Domestic In-Person: Yes – 21+
- Domestic Online/Mobile: Yes – 21+
- International Online: Yes – 18+
Indiana
- Domestic In-Person: Yes – 21+
- Domestic Online/Mobile: Yes – 21+
- International Online: Yes – 18+
Iowa
- Domestic In-Person: Yes – 21+
- Domestic Online/Mobile: Yes – 21+
- International Online: Yes – 18+
Kansas
- Domestic In-Person: N/A
- Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
- International Online: Yes – 18+
Kentucky
- Domestic In-Person: N/A
- Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
- International Online: Yes – 18+
Louisiana
- Domestic In-Person: N/A
- Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
- International Online: Yes – 18+
Maine
- Domestic In-Person: N/A
- Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
- International Online: Yes – 18+
Maryland
- Domestic In-Person: N/A
- Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
- International Online: Yes – 18+
Massachusetts
- Domestic In-Person: N/A
- Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
- International Online: Yes – 18+
Michigan
- Domestic In-Person: Yes – 21+
- Domestic Online/Mobile: Will Debut Soon – 21+
- International Online: Yes – 18+
Minnesota
- Domestic In-Person: N/A
- Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
- International Online: Yes – 18+
States That Allow Online Betting
Mississippi
- Domestic In-Person: Yes – 21+
- Domestic Online/Mobile: Yes – 21+
- International Online: Yes – 18+
Missouri
- Domestic In-Person: N/A
- Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
- International Online: Yes – 18+
Montana
- Domestic In-Person: Yes – 18+
- Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
- International Online: Yes – 18+
Nebraska
- Domestic In-Person: N/A
- Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
- International Online: Yes – 18+
Nevada
- Domestic In-Person: Yes – 21+
- Domestic Online/Mobile: Yes – 21+
- International Online: Yes – 18+
NewHampshire
- Domestic In-Person: N/A
- Domestic Online/Mobile: Yes – 18+
- International Online: Yes – 18+
New Jersey
- Domestic In-Person: N/A
- Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
- International Online: Yes – 18+
New Mexico
- Domestic In-Person: Yes – 18+
- Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
- International Online: Yes – 18+
New York
- Domestic In-Person: Yes – 21+
- Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
- International Online: Yes – 18+
North Carolina
- Domestic In-Person: Yes – 21+
- Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
- International Online: Yes – 18+
NorthDakota
- Domestic In-Person: N/A
- Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
- International Online: Yes – 18+
Ohio
- Domestic In-Person: N/A
- Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
- International Online: Yes – 18+
Oklahoma
- Domestic In-Person: N/A
- Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
- International Online: Yes – 18+
Oregon
- Domestic In-Person: N/A
- Domestic Online/Mobile: Yes – 21+
- International Online: Yes – 18+
Pennsylvania
- Domestic In-Person: Yes – 21+
- Domestic Online/Mobile: Yes – 21+
- International Online: Yes – 18+
Rhode Island
- Domestic In-Person: Yes – 18+
- Domestic Online/Mobile: Yes – 18+
- International Online: Yes – 18+
South Carolina
- Domestic In-Person: N/A
- Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
- International Online: Yes – 18+
South Dakota
- Domestic In-Person: N/A
- Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
- International Online: Yes – 18+
Tennessee
- Domestic In-Person: N/A
- Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
- International Online: Yes – 18+
Texas
- Domestic In-Person: N/A
- Domestic Online/Mobile: Yes – 21+
- International Online: Yes – 18+
Utah
- Domestic In-Person: N/A
- Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
- International Online: Yes – 18+
Vermont
- Domestic In-Person: N/A
- Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
- International Online: Yes – 18+
Virginia
- Domestic In-Person: N/A
- Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
- International Online: Yes – 18+
Washington
- Domestic In-Person: Yes – 18+
- Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
- International Online: N/A
Washington, D.C.
- Domestic In-Person: Yes – 18+
- Domestic Online/Mobile: Yes – 18+
- International Online: Yes – 18+
West Virginia
- Domestic In-Person: Yes – 21+
- Domestic Online/Mobile: Yes – 21+
- International Online: Yes – 18+
Wisconsin
- Domestic In-Person: N/A
- Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
- International Online: Yes – 18+
Wyoming
- Domestic In-Person: N/A
- Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
- International Online: Yes – 18+
18+ Domestic Sports Betting Predicaments
Although some states allow for a domestic sports betting age requirement of 18, not all of the sportsbooks in these regions are required to allow for 20 and under bettors to enter and place a wager.
That’s because domestic sportsbooks that serve alcohol have the option of refusing service to those that aren’t of legal drinking age. Unfortunately, this excludes 18, 19, and 20-year-old sports bettors from entering and placing a wager.
Another oddball scenario is that the states of Connecticut and Washington have passed laws that strictly forbid all forms of online gambling. Despite this prohibition, offshore sportsbooks still allow for members from CT and WA to join and place bets on sports over the Internet.
This is largely because state gambling laws, and sports betting laws in general, are written to target illegal providers and not the participants. That’s likely why we’ve yet to hear of any arrests for 18+ online sports betting in Connecticut, Washington, or anywhere else in the United States.
FAQs For Over-18 Sports Betting In The United States
Legal Online Sports Betting States
What is the minimum age for betting on sports in the USA?
Each state is allowed to decide on if they will allow for sports betting, and if so, what the minimum age to participate will be. The minimum age for sports betting in most states is 21, but a few allow for 18-and-over bettors to partake. Even in states where 18-year-olds can bet on sports, if the domestic sportsbook serves alcohol, they can opt to refuse entry to anyone under 21.
Can I bet on sports online at 18 years old?
Yes. All of the online sportsbooks that we recommend on this page allow for 18 and over bettors to become members and lay action on their favorite games. These online sportsbooks are available in most states but be sure to check the conditions of membership because some regions are excluded. Some states also allow for 18+ online sports betting via their mobile sportsbook apps or other online options.
Are there any legal sports betting options for 17 or under in the USA?
Until state and federal gambling laws change, there are no options for legal sports betting until the age of 18 has been reached. The same can be said for offshore sportsbooks, as 18 is also the minimum legal age to bet on sports and become a member.
Can I bet online at a sportsbook located in another state?
No. Federal gambling laws prohibit the transfer of funds across state lines for gambling and has been constructed in such a way so that domestic sportsbooks can only accept bets that are in-state. Most states simply require being inside of their borders to use one of their online sportsbooks, but there are a few that only allow online sports betting while inside the premises of the casino or brick-and-mortar sports betting site.
Are you wondering, ‘Where is gambling legal in the United States?’
Many people think of the bright lights of Las Vegas, Nevada when they think of gambling, but that is just one of many places to place a wager in the country.
Finding a place to gamble depends on what you want to bet on and how you want to do it!
Read on to learn where you can gamble in the USA today!
Casino-Style Gambling
Are you looking to play poker and other table games throughout cities in one state?
If so, look no further than Nevada and Louisiana! These states are the only ones in the country that have legalized casino-style gambling statewide.
Las Vegas is known as Sin City because it’s a 4.2-mile long street with dozens of casinos and entertainment options. It’s a popular destination for couples and friends to unwind and have a good time while placing bets. In fact, 74 percent of visitors to the city report they gamble while there!
While cities throughout Louisiana host casino-style gaming, Harrah’s Casino in New Orleans is one of the state’s most popular gambling destinations.
Sports Wagers
If you’re in the mood to place a bet on a sporting event, there are 18 states which give you the opportunity to do it!
In addition to Nevada, other states that make it legal to bet on sports are Delaware, New Jersey, Mississippi, West Virginia, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Arkansas, New York, Iowa, Oregon, Indiana, New Hampshire, Illinois, Michigan, Montana, and Colorado.
In 2018, the State of Delaware began its venture into the sports gambling world by offering single-game bets at three different casinos!
Pari-Mutuel Betting
Some gamblers prefer to skip the table games and sports betting and place bets on live horse racing.
Pari-mutuel betting, as it’s called in the gambling industry, is legal in 43 states! This means some form of horses, greyhounds or jai-lai betting is in these states except for Alaska, Georgia, Hawaii, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Utah.
Horse betting led to one of the country’s biggest traditions, the Triple Crown. The Triple Crown includes three races: The Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes!
Online Gambling
In today’s digital world and with the impact of COVID-19, some gamblers are turning to internet sites to get their fix!
Gambling websites offer players the unique opportunity to play table games and place wagers from the comfort of their homes.
Some gamblers are also encouraged to begin gambling online with No Deposit Bonuses With Slotwise!
Wrapping Up: Where Is Gambling Legal?
Legal Sports Betting States
When you ask, ‘Where is gambling legal?’ the answer depends on the sort of bet you want to make!
Gambling is a fun and exciting form of entertainment enjoyed by people across the world. It’s important to ensure you aren’t gambling more than you can afford to lose. Finding the best places to gamble can make the difference between having a good time or a bad one.
Check out our website for other fun and exciting activities to add to your bucket list!