Sports betting has come a long way since the Supreme Court struck down PASPA in May 2018.
There were many states in 2022 that legalized sports betting, and in 2023 we have also seen new markets open up to the world of iGaming, with many bookmakers obtaining licences in new parts of the United States.
Not so long ago, Nevada was the only state that offered legal sports betting. But from the repeal of PASPA, more than half of the country has started the process of legalizing US sports betting sites.
Currently, 35 states and Washington DC offer some form of legalized sports betting, with new states set to launch legal sports betting soon. According to a report by Statista, revenue in the U.S. sports betting market is forecast to reach US$7.62 billion in 2023 and earnings are expected to expand to US$23.8 billion by 2026.
Which states are the last to have legalized sports betting?
Some of the last states to legalize sports betting were Wyoming, Massachusetts, Ohio, Kansas and Maryland.
In May 2021, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan signed a bill that would allow land-based and online casino operators to offer sports betting. In addition, the state also allows the Maryland Lottery to offer sports betting online.
On the other hand, Massachusetts legalized online gambling in March of this year, although in-person gambling was already been up and running since January.
Kansas, in turn, has some of the best betting sites in the country, such as BetMGM, Fanduel and Caesars, operating in the market.
Arizona legalized sports betting shortly before all these states, in September 2021. There are now 17 active online sportsbooks in the state, including DraftKings, Caesars, BetRivers, FanDuel, Betfred and BetMGM. These are the best bookmakers in the country, according to Miscasasdeapuestas.com/us.
With all these states entering the game in 2022 brought the total number of states in which sports betting is legal to 35. We expect this number to grow even further in 2023. But the success of sports betting means there are only 15 states left on the board to conquer. Who will be next?
Which states will join in 2023 and 2024?
The next confirmed states to legalize sports betting are Kentucky, North Carolina and Vermont. Rhode Island will legalize online casinos only.
This will make a total of 38 states to legalize sports betting
North Carolina:
North Carolina has already legalized in-person sports betting and is now looking to expand into online betting. Although little has changed, the national landscape may tip the balance towards mobile legalization in 2023.
This is where the rest of the action is across the United States. North Carolina became the 27th US state to allow online sports betting when Governor Roy Cooper signed House Bill 347 into law on Wednesday.
Kentucky
Sports betting in Kentucky is already legal, although it is not yet available. The Kentucky
legislature passed House Bill 551, legalizing in-person and online sports betting across the state. This was signed by Governor Andy Beshear on March 31, and by law, sportsbooks must launch in Kentucky by December 28, 2023.
It is expected that the bookmakers Fanduel and Draftkings, two of the most popular in the country, will be available in the state, among others.
Vermont
Governor Phil Scott officially signed the legislation into law on June 14, making sports betting legal in Vermont. The status is expected to launch sometime in late 2023 or early 2024. The Department of Lotteries is working to secure contracts with up to six online sportsbooks.
Vermont is the second-smallest state by population in the United States after Wyoming, so the projections are not very high. Online gambling is expected to bring the first year about $2 million in benefits for the state.
Rhode Island (Casino)
Next year, online casinos, including slots and table games, will finally come to the state of Rhode Island. Governor Dan McKee has signed into law Senate Bill 948. With the signing of this bill in June 2023, online casinos will launch in April 2024.
For now, sports betting is not expected to be legalized. Rhode Island is one of the smallest states in the country.
What states are still up in the air?
Although only a few remaining states have not yet approved sports betting, they represent a significant portion of the population, including the two most populous states with the highest GDP: California and Texas.
There are some states that are in the crosshairs and have been clearly targeted as they have previously put efforts into legalizing gambling:
Missouri: Postponed
Missouri is another state that was planning to legalize sports betting in 2023. In May 2021, Governor Mike Parson signed a bill that allows land-based and online casino operators to offer sports betting. In the 2023 legislative session, everything seemed to be going smoothly when the House gave the green light to the sports betting bill. However, in an unexpected twist, the Senate blocked it, so legalization efforts should restart in 2024.
Despite setbacks to sports betting bills in Missouri in previous years, there is strong interest from legislators, citizens, and prominent industry players in legalizing online sports betting in the state.
What about Florida?
Florida is another state that plans to legalize sports betting in 2023. In April 2021, Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill that allows tribal casino operators to offer sports betting online and in person. However, the state still must negotiate terms with the tribes before sports betting can begin.
Missouri is another state that plans to legalize sports betting in 2023. In May 2021, Governor Mike Parson signed a bill that allows land-based and online casino operators to offer sports betting. However, the state has yet to establish a regulatory framework before sports betting can begin.
