American Sports Betting

A 1992 federal law limited sports betting to Nevada, Oregon, Delaware and Montana. New Jersey announced that it was seeking to legalize betting on the outcomes of football, basketball and other games in fall 2012 and brought a federal case to reverse the federal ban.

In May 2018, the Supreme Court, in a 6-3 ruling, struck down the 1992 ban, clearing the way for all states to authorize sports betting if they so choose.

As of mid-2026, 39 states plus Washington D.C. have active legal sports betting markets in some form, and several additional states, including Georgia, South Carolina, and Texas, continue to consider enabling legislation. Missouri approved sports betting via a November 2024 ballot measure and is expected to launch its mobile market by mid-2026, bringing the active total to 40 states.

In New Mexico, some tribes continue to offer sports betting under existing Class III gaming compacts. In 2024, North Carolina and Vermont launched online sports betting, and California continues to debate legalization.