Sports Betting
There are currently eight sports betting states, but more are on the way. New Jersey is the most progressive and has legalized sports betting in the state. Other new sports betting states include Colorado, Montana, and Tennessee. As more states permit sports betting, existing markets will continue to grow, including Nevada. In addition, states like Connecticut and Oregon have passed legislation to allow sports betting. In addition to Nevada, Delaware and South Dakota are also mulling legalizing sports betting.
A new bill has been introduced in Maryland, Iowa, and Wisconsin. These states are waiting on regulatory approval before they can legally offer sports betting. If the bill passes, all three could be taking bets by 2021. Meanwhile, the legislature in Maine has passed a bill to legalize online sports betting, but the governor has vetoed it. Pennsylvania was the first state to legalize sports betting, and since then, additional licenses have been issued. The state is also allowing mobile wagering, which is a good sign for future growth.
In North Dakota, lawmakers have rejected a bill to legalize sports betting, but they plan to bring it up again in 2020. In Ohio, a sports gambling bill is pending. It would amend the state’s constitution and require the approval of two-thirds of the legislature. Despite the fact that Ohio did not need to pass a bill to legalize sports betting, it did not become a legal state until August 2019. In Pennsylvania, the first legal sports bet was placed in August 2018 and the state has added four more licenses since the Supreme Court reversal. In the summer of 2018, mobile wagering became available in the state.
Sports Betting States
Although sports betting is legal in only 24 states, more states are considering the legislation. This will only increase as the number of legal sports betting states continues to grow. There are still many hurdles to overcome, but it’s possible for Kansas to become one of the first. And the state legislature is working to find a solution. It must remain politically acceptable and have a clear regulatory structure before it can make the decision to legalize sports gambling.
In the past, Minnesota lawmakers have considered bills to legalize sports betting. Native American tribes would be able to accept the money. However, they are unlikely to approve the legislation until other issues are addressed. While most states support increased gambling, they don’t have the legal framework to legalize the sport. Moreover, it is not yet clear which of these sports betting states will be the first to legalize sports wagering. They could be the first to legalize the activity in the United States.
Mississippi has enacted a sports betting law in August 2018. The state legislature has also introduced several bills this year, but they are stalled at the state level. The state lottery has approved a sports gambling bill in Missouri, but the process of legalizing the practice isn’t likely to go smoothly. While these are the latest developments in sports betting legislation, some states haven’t even been able to approve sports gambling yet.