Sports gambling was legal in Nevada and New Jersey as of January 2019. Online sports betting became legal in Nevada in 2013, and the first legal bet was taken at a casino sportsbook in 2018. The online market in Nevada consists of nine licensed sportsbooks. There are also a number of tribal casinos that accept bets. But only two in-state casinos currently offer sports gambling.
Although Alabama has no licensed sportsbooks, mobile or online wagering is accepted at several tribal casinos. However, the state does not have a lottery to run a mobile betting app. This is an enormous deterrent to the potential revenue in the state.
In January 2019, a bill was proposed in the House to regulate sports gambling. It would also allow the state to license up to twelve online sportsbooks. Several similar bills have been introduced in the House over the past decade. Some proponents hope for the bill to become law by 2023.
The November election featured two ballot proposals to legalize sports betting in the United States. Prop 26 was a measure aimed at allowing in-person sports betting at four horse tracks, while Prop 27 was a state-wide bill that would allow legal online sports betting. Both failed, in part due to disagreements between the tribes involved.
As of December 2018, Montana is one of the few states that has not legalized any form of online gambling. However, the state does permit intrastate poker and bingo. Additionally, Montana has a limited number of betting options. And its population is smaller than many other states.
Oklahoma is another state that has not passed any legislation, although it does have some gambling-related entities. Native American tribes dominate the gaming industry in the state. These entities are reluctant to enter into a sports betting agreement until other concerns are resolved.
Washington is another state that has no licensed sportsbooks, but mobile/online wagering is allowed at several tribal casinos. Mobile/online wagering is also accepted in Pennsylvania.
Georgia is also a state that has yet to authorize sports betting. However, the state’s governor, Roy Cooper, is a staunch proponent of legalized sports betting. He says that the legislature has a “deep-seated opposition” to gambling.
Texas is an unlikely contender to legalize sports betting. In fact, a number of outside interests have weighed in on the issue, making it a likely target in 2023.
Iowa is also another state with no licensed sportsbooks, but it has a small population and a lucrative per capita betting market. Moreover, the state’s licensing fees are $45,000 for the first year. Afterwards, the costs are $10,000 each year.
South Carolina is also a state with an uphill climb to legalize betting. While it is popular in the state, there are serious concerns about the state’s anti-gambling sentiment. Despite support in the legislature, no bill has passed.
Other states that are not yet in the sports gambling game include Alaska, Hawaii, and Mississippi. The Mississippi legislature has attempted to pass several online betting bills in the past.