State that wishes can now offer legalized sports betting. Here is an update on where all 50 states (and Washington, D.C.) stand. Where Is Sports Betting Considered Legal In The United States? Before May 2018, only one state had full-service state-regulated sports betting options, that state being Nevada. At this moment in time, the number of states offering legal domestic sports betting is 19.

September 2020 produced record-breaking numbers for combined legal sports betting handle in the US. The nation’s 18 legal sports betting jurisdictions (17 states plus Washington D.C.) saw nearly $3 billion in wagers come in for September.

The return of NFL and NCAA football bolstered the surging US sports betting industry to its biggest month yet. Since the overturn of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in May 2018, legal sports betting in the US shows an upward trend with seemingly no sign of a slowdown in sight.

Six US states brought in more than $200 million in betting handle for Septemeber:

September 2020 Sports Betting Handle

1. New Jersey ($748,588,349)

Powered by the biggest mobile sports betting market in the nation, New Jersey has topped the overall sports betting handle list every month for 2020. Since introducing sports betting shortly after the fall of PASPA, New Jersey has overtaken Nevada as the sports wagering capital of the US.

December 2019 marks the last time Nevada topped the list in monthly sports betting handle among US states, New Jersey brought in nearly $750 million in bets in September, breaking its own record for US states set just one month earlier.

Online sportsbooks in the Garden State took in 91% of all bets for the month, as the appeal of mobile sports betting continues to result in record-breaking handle and revenue numbers. The trend toward mobile wagering will likely continue for the foreseeable future, even after Atlantic City casinos are allowed to operate at full capacity.

2. Nevada ($575,069,930)

Once the undisputed epicenter of sports betting in the US, Nevada has ceded that title to New Jersey in 2020. The home of the Las Vegas Strip still took in more than $575 million in sports bets for September, however.

Mobile wagering accounted for 55% of overall bets, the lowest percentage of any state on this list. The appeal of betting in person at a Las Vegas sportsbook clearly still offers massive viability for the Nevada sports betting market.

Like the other states on this list, mobile betting in Nevada can be conducted from anywhere within state borders. Nevada operates with an in-person registration requirement, however.

3. Pennsylvania ($462,787,394)

Pennsylvania continues to emerge as a contender for the No. 2 sports betting state in the US. The launch of Barstool Sportsbook in Pennsylvania took the Keystone State to new heights in September, with a state record $462.7 million in betting handle coming in for the month.

Like New Jersey, Pennsylvania’s wagering handle is dominated by online betting. Mobile betting produced 89% of that $462.7 million figure in September.

Barstool Sportsbook joins one of the most competitive markets in the US with the Pennsylvania launch. FanDuel Sportsbook enjoys status as the No. 1 mobile sportsbook in the state, but Barstool will likely contend for that spot soon.

4. Illinois ($285,240,209)

Just four months into its journey as a legal online sports betting state, Illinois leapfrogged Indiana and into the No. 4 spot on the US sports betting handle rankings.

September proved the biggest month yet by far for the fastest-growing sports betting market in the US. Revenue reports from the Illinois Gaming Board showed over $285 million in overall handle for the month.

Of that figure, 93% of overall handle comes from mobile sports betting. FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetRivers run close as the top handle-producing mobile sportsbooks in the state.

Ilinois law requires in-person registration for an online sports betting account, but that mandate is currently waived through Dec. 12.

5. Colorado ($207,655,942)

Colorado and Indiana are neck-and-neck for the No. 5 spot in the US. Colorado’s mobile sportsbooks take in more than 98% of total bets.

With retail sportsbooks restricted to three small mountain towns in the Centennial State, online betting will likely continue to power Colorado’s booming sports betting industry. The state’s online sports betting license holders include DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, FOX Bet, BetRivers, and several other big brands in the sports wagering industry.

6. Indiana ($207,450,106)

Can Indiana surpass the surging sports betting markets in Illinois and Colorado? The sports wagering business is big in the Hoosier State, as September’s $207.4 million betting handle figure set a new record for the state.

DraftKings and FanDuel dominate the Indiana market share. Mobile wagering accounted for 81% of overall bets in September for Indiana.

ATLANTA (AP) — A bill that would legalize sports betting in Georgia and give tax revenue to the state lottery is in advancing in the state House, despite questions about whether a state constitutional amendment would be required to do so.

The House Economic Development and Tourism Committee voted 20-6 Tuesday to approve House Bill 86, sending it to the full House for more debate.

The measure would mandate that the Georgia Lottery Corp. give at least six licenses to companies that want to offer sports betting in Georgia. After the companies pay out bettors’ winnings, the state would tax the remaining proceeds at a 14% rate. Committee Chair Ron Stephens, a Savannah Republican, estimates that at even a 10% tax rate, that would bring in $42 million to increase funds available for HOPE college scholarships and state subsidies for prekindergarten classes and child care.

In addition, each operator would have to pay a $900,000-a-year license fee.

Atlanta’s four major league professional sports teams are seeking the bill. Stephens cited their “massive economic power,” saying teams that haven’t been able to fill stadiums.

“It’s for fan participation,” Stephens told the committee. “As I said earlier, the stands are empty. ... They believe that fan engagement is what sports betting is all about.”

Stephens, citing an American Gaming Association study, said millions of Georgians place billions of dollars of sports bets each year illegally.

“We can legitimize it, if you will, through the lottery,” Stephens said. “If you’re going to do it offshore, why don’t we collect the revenue here in Georgia?”

Stephens expressed confidence that lawmakers could authorize the Georgia Lottery Corporation to offer sports betting. Voters authorized the lottery by state constitutional amendment in 1992. Others, including some state government lawyers, have questioned whether that would be legal, suggesting another constitutional amendment would be needed. Any such measure would require the approval of two thirds of each house of the General Assembly, followed by majority approval of Georgia’s voters.

The bill proposes allowing people 21 and older to bet. It would not allow betting on college or high school sports, and would prohibit betting on certain events such as injuries.

Opponents, though, say state-sponsored gambling encourages addiction and other social harms. They also don’t want to open the door beyond Georgia’s already massive lottery, saying they’re trying to avoid legislative support for a constitutional amendment allowing casinos.

“They should think this is terrible because it’s going to accentuate everything that’s negative about predatory gambling,” said Mike Griffin of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, which lobbies for the state’s largest Christian denomination.

Griffin said he’s particularly worried about provisions that would allow betting on electronic sports.

“All this is going to do is prime children to get ready to gamble one day,” Griffin said.

People can currently bet on sports in 21 states and the District of Columbia, with five more states having moved to legalize gambling but not yet taking bets. Not all of those states allow online betting, as is envisioned in the Georgia proposal, with some requiring gamblers to physically go to casinos, horse racing tracks or other places. Among Georgia’s neighboring states, Tennessee allows online betting, while North Carolina is moving toward allowing in-person betting at two Cherokee-operated casinos.

The committee voted without allowing testimony from interested parties and without considering amendments, although a number of members expressed interest in amendments. Stephens said he anticipated a House-Senate conference committee if the bill moves forward and would consider possible changes sought by members while negotiating with senators.

Sports Betting States Map

Stephens said state Sen. Jeff Mullis, a Chickamauga Republican, is expected to carry a bill in the Senate that would propose a 10% tax rate and could allow wagering on collegiate sports. That legislation has not yet been filed. Stephens had originally proposed a 16% tax rate before lowering his plan to 14%. However, he characterized a 10% tax rate as too low.