Which States Don't Have Legal Sports Betting?

Okay so sports betting is legal in almost all states now. How many states is it legal in, which states don't have mobile betting, and which states don't have legal sports betting?

It's just over seven years since the Supremes paved the way for legalized sports betting. In that time, residents of 41 jurisdictions (states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico) are now able to place legal bets on sporting events and 30 of them allow bets to be placed directly from a mobile device.

That distinction is huge. Mobile betting accounted for more than 90% of the $150 billion bet on sports in 2024. In Colorado, it was 95%. In New Jersey, it was 91%, and 90% (by most estimates) in New York.

You didn't ask, but states that allow sports betting only in-person at retail sports books include Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington, and Wisconsin. In Mississippi, mobile apps are allowed, but only within licensed casinos. And in Montana, in-person betting through lottery terminals is available, along with an app that can be used only at authorized Sports Bet Montana locations.

Finally, the states where sports betting is prohibited are Alabama, Alaska, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Minnesota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah.

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VegasVic Aug-20-2025

Wisconsin

You do have to be on site to bet in Wisconsin but they also have apps.  You can just drive to the parking lot, place your bets and drive away.  All of the tribes who offer sports betting work this way.  Personally I'm fine with it, I don't need to be making spur of the moment bets from home.  I'm only 10 minutes from the casino.

Randall Ward Aug-20-2025

that hurts

remember when Oklahoma was going to be one of the first to legalize it?

John Dulley Aug-20-2025

Oklahoma??

Just curious but why would Oklahoma have over 100 casinos and the largest one in the country but not allow sports betting?

Jon Anderson Aug-20-2025

sports betting in texas

texas forbids sports betting, casino gambling, online poker, etc while running a state lottery.  go figure.  there is one native american run casino in eagle pass (barely texas, mostly mexico) allowed to operate.  tsk tsk tsk oh yeah and the state legislators are constantly whining about lack of state funds to pay for all their pet projects. if you go to any of the casinos in louisiana, new mexico and oklahoma (border states to texas) many of the patrons are yep, you guessed it, texans. 
again, go figure.....fin

John Hearn Aug-20-2025

Thank god for MS

That's a familiar saying here in South Carolina. I'm fine with no sports betting here. I've lost nearly every sports bet I've placed in Las Vegas. I know that savvy bettors sometimes do OK, but I will stick with my $.25 VP at the Four Queens and the cheapest table games I can suss out downtown.

Adumb Aug-20-2025

Washington (kind of)

Only allowed in tribal casinos. The closest one from Seattle is 25-30 miles.

Jon Miller Aug-21-2025

Why not California?

I see a bunch of very conservative states like Alabama and South Carolina haven't legalized sports betting.   Why not California?   An economy the size of France?   And they tax everything- wouldn't they bring in a mint on sports betting taxes?   What am I missing?   Can anyone provide a quick overview of the dynamics behind this?  thanks!

Ken Kjelson Sep-01-2025

Arizona

You cannot place a sports bet in a casino or it's hotel in Arizona, but can anywhere else. Go figure.

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