After the Supreme Court struck down a federal ban on sports betting, state governments set their own rules. In most legal states, bettors have the option to wager on both professional and collegiate sports.

Betting on college football games is particularly popular during fall and winter, but college basketball is also a top wagering market as well. Other popular sports to bet on include MLB and NBA action, NCAA football bowls and playoffs, and boxing fights that appear on pay-per-view.

In a sport like baseball, there are several restrictions on betting that have been put in place to protect the integrity of the game. One of the most important is Rule 21, which bans any player, umpire, or club or league official or employee from attempting to fix a match. Individuals who violate this code are permanently banned from Major League Baseball and cannot be considered for the Baseball Hall of Fame.

New York began offering sports betting in 2019 through retail wagering at commercial and tribal casinos. New York’s online sports betting launch took place in January 2022, with DraftKings, Caesars, FanDuel, BetRivers, and BetMGM launching apps to offer bettors a variety of options.

Colorado legalized sports betting in September 2021 with retail and online sportsbooks. The state’s gambling compact with the state’s tribes allowed for sports betting. BetRivers, FanDuel, and PlaySugarhouse were the first sportsbooks to offer bets in Colorado.

After a long battle, Ohio lawmakers passed a bill to allow sports betting in December 2021 and Gov. Mike DeWine signed it into law soon after. Ohio’s online sportsbooks launched on Jan. 1, 2023 with as many as 25 sites permitted at maturity.