State laws regarding online gambling differ dramatically, making state legislation an important consideration when selecting markets to serve. We’ve put together an interactive map which details which states allow sports betting and which still don’t, along with where casino play may soon become legalized and when this might become available.
Arkansas – As an emerging state, Arkansas has experimented with various forms of gambling over time but still has not found its ideal legal gambling options for residents. Current laws do not specifically address online gaming but do prohibit credit card usage for wagering purposes; there are three tribal casinos offering sports betting while online casino gaming remains unfeasible for residents of this state.
Colorado was one of the first states to legalize sports betting, following voter approval during an election cycle. Since then, they have transitioned into full-scale betting industry, setting records for handle in 2021. New Jersey brought the case of sports gambling before the Supreme Court and has become one of the most regulated iGaming markets – leading the nation in sportsbook handle and also testing innovative exchange models like Prophet.
Tennessee – In November 2020, Tennessee made headlines when FanDuel, DraftKings and BetMGM all established online-only frameworks with FanDuel being FanDuel; DraftKings and BetMGM offering sportsbooks to residents. Tennessee is known for being a conservative state which views gambling illegal except lottery, charitable bingo/raffles/DFS. Regardless of this lawful stance on gambling however residents still access offshore gambling websites regularly.
Mississippi – Mississippi’s laws do not address online gambling specifically; however, its constitution makes clear that all forms of gambling are forbidden. As such, an iGaming industry could find itself limited within Mississippi; however it may become available if laws change to increase legal sports betting opportunities in future.
Montana – Montana stands alone as the only state that specifically bans online gambling and is traditionally conservative when it comes to expanding any form of gambling. Still, three tribal casinos provide sports betting but do not provide casino-like gaming experiences.
Iowa may have its fair share of scandals, but its residents generally support gaming. With numerous casinos to choose from accepting various forms of payment and being one of few states without an online gambling monopoly (there are a few offshore sites accepting players from Iowa; more operators may emerge in time). Iowa also attracts sports bettors; major events take place here and local options exist for people looking to place bets locally.