After decades of prohibition, the United States is now awash in official betting on sports. The Supreme Court’s repeal of PASPA opened the door for legal sportsbooks to operate at the state level. State regulators oversee the industry and enforce rigorous licensing regimes to protect consumers and ensure game integrity. Bettors must be over the age of 21 and must reside within a state’s borders to place wagers.
Nevada is well-known as a hub for in-person sports betting, with retail options at casinos throughout the state and online betting sites from books like BetMGM and Caesars Sportsbook. However, Nevada’s days as the only US option for legal sports betting may be over: Michigan and Ohio both launched sportsbooks in 2022, and new legislation could bring Pennsylvania into the fold in early 2024.
Connecticut is also in the midst of its debut, with the first retail and online sportsbooks opening this fall. Its online sportsbooks have a robust range of betting markets, with more than 300 lines available on a single NHL game and hundreds more on major soccer matches. Its mobile apps feature a simple, user-friendly interface with plenty of banking options and limits to suit all players.
Michigan’s sports betting launch was a quick one, with retail options open in November 2020 and online options going live a month later. The state has around a dozen online sportsbooks and could allow as many as 30 in total once it’s fully mature. Meanwhile, Virginia approved sports betting in April 2020 and has a handful of licensed sites. The state is also expected to offer daily fantasy sports later this year.