• Twin Spires Legal Betting States
• Online Betting Legal States
• Online Betting Legal States
• Legal Mobile Sports Betting States

1. Rhode Island was the last of the “first wave” of states to offer legal sports betting in the US, and you can wager at either of Little Rhody’s two casino venues right now.
2. That led to sports betting being deemed legal and states across America now have land based and online sportsbooks. Prior to that, Nevada was the only state with a full slate of legal sports betting.
3. While state laws apply to the individual states and their residents, federal laws apply to the entire nation. If any state laws that conflict with federal laws then the latter will typically prevail. Presently, a combination of federal laws and state laws determine whether or not online gambling is legal. Repeal of PASPA.
4. As of 2019, October 24th, there are 13 U.S. States with legal, regulated sports betting industries (either retail, mobile or both), as follows: Nevada, Delaware, New Jersey, Mississippi, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Arkansas, New York, Iowa, Indiana, Oregon and New Mexico.

In the United States, gambling is restricted almost everywhere, except in Las Vegas and in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Following the repeal of PASPA in 2018, each state in the USA was granted the ability to decide their own fate when choosing whether they allow for legal domestic sports betting. Once a state has made that decision, they then need to then determine which venues they’ll allow for, be it online, in-person, or both, and what the minimum sports betting age will be to participate.

This minimum sports betting age by state guide has been designed to not only outline what states allow for legal sportsbooks and whether 18-year-olds can take part, but also details the states where under-21 patrons can bet on sports with offshore betting sites located outside of the USA.

Sports Betting Options In The United States

Domestic In-Person – The most common, traditional variety of sportsbook in the USA are physical, brick-and-more sports betting locations that customers can visit. A majority of states that feature domestic sportsbook locations that can be visited include a minimum age of 21 to bet on sports, but some allow for 18+ customers. Even states that have a legal betting age of 18 are subject to casinos or other sportsbook locations that only allow entry for 21+ patrons because they serve alcohol.

Domestic Online – Mobile sports betting apps and state-licensed online sports betting options are becoming more prevalent in the United States, and some regions allow for eighteen and over bettors to become members. The onset of COVID-19 has caused for many states to open their first sportsbooks online, so look for that trend to continue.

International Online – Because offshore sportsbooks are located outside of the jurisdiction of the United States, they are able to take bets over the web from 18+ gamblers in the US without breaking any laws. CT and WA have specific laws that forbid all online gambling, but the online 18+ sportsbooks we recommend on this page accept members from both of those states. There are, however, states that each sportsbook site does not allow members from, so be sure to check before signing up.

Minimum USA Legal Sports Betting Age By State

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W

Alabama

• Domestic In-Person: N/A
• Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
• International Online: Yes – 18+

Alaska

Twin Spires Legal Betting States

• Domestic In-Person: N/A
• Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
• International Online: Yes – 18+

Arizona

• Domestic In-Person: N/A
• Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
• International Online: Yes – 18+

Arkansas

• Domestic In-Person: Yes – 21+
• Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
• International Online: Yes – 18+

California

• Domestic In-Person: N/A
• Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
• International Online: Yes – 18+

Colorado

• Domestic In-Person: Yes – 21+
• Domestic Online/Mobile: Yes – 21+
• International Online: Yes – 18+

Connecticut

• Domestic In-Person: N/A
• Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
• International Online: N/A

Delaware

• Domestic In-Person: N/A
• Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
• International Online: Yes – 18+

Florida

• Domestic In-Person: N/A
• Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
• International Online: Yes – 18+

Georgia

• Domestic In-Person: N/A
• Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
• International Online: Yes – 18+

Hawaii

• Domestic In-Person: N/A
• Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
• International Online: Yes – 18+

Idaho

• Domestic In-Person: N/A
• Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
• International Online: Yes – 18+

Illinois

• Domestic In-Person: Yes – 21+
• Domestic Online/Mobile: Yes – 21+
• International Online: Yes – 18+

Indiana

• Domestic In-Person: Yes – 21+
• Domestic Online/Mobile: Yes – 21+
• International Online: Yes – 18+

Iowa

• Domestic In-Person: Yes – 21+
• Domestic Online/Mobile: Yes – 21+
• International Online: Yes – 18+

Kansas

• Domestic In-Person: N/A
• Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
• International Online: Yes – 18+

Kentucky

• Domestic In-Person: N/A
• Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
• International Online: Yes – 18+

Louisiana

• Domestic In-Person: N/A
• Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
• International Online: Yes – 18+

Maine

• Domestic In-Person: N/A
• Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
• International Online: Yes – 18+

Maryland

• Domestic In-Person: N/A
• Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
• International Online: Yes – 18+

Massachusetts

• Domestic In-Person: N/A
• Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
• International Online: Yes – 18+

Michigan

• Domestic In-Person: Yes – 21+
• Domestic Online/Mobile: Will Debut Soon – 21+
• International Online: Yes – 18+

Minnesota

• Domestic In-Person: N/A
• Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
• International Online: Yes – 18+

Mississippi

• Domestic In-Person: Yes – 21+
• Domestic Online/Mobile: Yes – 21+
• International Online: Yes – 18+

Missouri

• Domestic In-Person: N/A
• Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
• International Online: Yes – 18+

Montana

• Domestic In-Person: Yes – 18+
• Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
• International Online: Yes – 18+

Nebraska

• Domestic In-Person: N/A
• Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
• International Online: Yes – 18+

Nevada

• Domestic In-Person: Yes – 21+
• Domestic Online/Mobile: Yes – 21+
• International Online: Yes – 18+

NewHampshire

• Domestic In-Person: N/A
• Domestic Online/Mobile: Yes – 18+
• International Online: Yes – 18+

New Jersey

• Domestic In-Person: N/A
• Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
• International Online: Yes – 18+

Online Betting Legal States

New Mexico

• Domestic In-Person: Yes – 18+
• Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
• International Online: Yes – 18+

New York

• Domestic In-Person: Yes – 21+
• Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
• International Online: Yes – 18+

North Carolina

• Domestic In-Person: Yes – 21+
• Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
• International Online: Yes – 18+

NorthDakota

• Domestic In-Person: N/A
• Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
• International Online: Yes – 18+

Ohio

• Domestic In-Person: N/A
• Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
• International Online: Yes – 18+

Oklahoma

• Domestic In-Person: N/A
• Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
• International Online: Yes – 18+

Oregon

• Domestic In-Person: N/A
• Domestic Online/Mobile: Yes – 21+
• International Online: Yes – 18+

Pennsylvania

• Domestic In-Person: Yes – 21+
• Domestic Online/Mobile: Yes – 21+
• International Online: Yes – 18+

Rhode Island

• Domestic In-Person: Yes – 18+
• Domestic Online/Mobile: Yes – 18+
• International Online: Yes – 18+

South Carolina

• Domestic In-Person: N/A
• Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
• International Online: Yes – 18+

South Dakota

• Domestic In-Person: N/A
• Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
• International Online: Yes – 18+

Tennessee

• Domestic In-Person: N/A
• Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
• International Online: Yes – 18+

Texas

• Domestic In-Person: N/A
• Domestic Online/Mobile: Yes – 21+
• International Online: Yes – 18+

Utah

• Domestic In-Person: N/A
• Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
• International Online: Yes – 18+

Vermont

• Domestic In-Person: N/A
• Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
• International Online: Yes – 18+

Virginia

• Domestic In-Person: N/A
• Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
• International Online: Yes – 18+

Washington

• Domestic In-Person: Yes – 18+
• Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
• International Online: N/A

Washington, D.C.

• Domestic In-Person: Yes – 18+
• Domestic Online/Mobile: Yes – 18+
• International Online: Yes – 18+

West Virginia

• Domestic In-Person: Yes – 21+
• Domestic Online/Mobile: Yes – 21+
• International Online: Yes – 18+

Wisconsin

• Domestic In-Person: N/A
• Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
• International Online: Yes – 18+

Wyoming

• Domestic In-Person: N/A
• Domestic Online/Mobile: N/A
• International Online: Yes – 18+

18+ Domestic Sports Betting Predicaments

Although some states allow for a domestic sports betting age requirement of 18, not all of the sportsbooks in these regions are required to allow for 20 and under bettors to enter and place a wager.

That’s because domestic sportsbooks that serve alcohol have the option of refusing service to those that aren’t of legal drinking age. Unfortunately, this excludes 18, 19, and 20-year-old sports bettors from entering and placing a wager.

Another oddball scenario is that the states of Connecticut and Washington have passed laws that strictly forbid all forms of online gambling. Despite this prohibition, offshore sportsbooks still allow for members from CT and WA to join and place bets on sports over the Internet.

This is largely because state gambling laws, and sports betting laws in general, are written to target illegal providers and not the participants. That’s likely why we’ve yet to hear of any arrests for 18+ online sports betting in Connecticut, Washington, or anywhere else in the United States.

FAQs For Over-18 Sports Betting In The United States

What is the minimum age for betting on sports in the USA?

Each state is allowed to decide on if they will allow for sports betting, and if so, what the minimum age to participate will be. The minimum age for sports betting in most states is 21, but a few allow for 18-and-over bettors to partake. Even in states where 18-year-olds can bet on sports, if the domestic sportsbook serves alcohol, they can opt to refuse entry to anyone under 21.

Can I bet on sports online at 18 years old?

Yes. All of the online sportsbooks that we recommend on this page allow for 18 and over bettors to become members and lay action on their favorite games. These online sportsbooks are available in most states but be sure to check the conditions of membership because some regions are excluded. Some states also allow for 18+ online sports betting via their mobile sportsbook apps or other online options.

Are there any legal sports betting options for 17 or under in the USA?

Until state and federal gambling laws change, there are no options for legal sports betting until the age of 18 has been reached. The same can be said for offshore sportsbooks, as 18 is also the minimum legal age to bet on sports and become a member.

Can I bet online at a sportsbook located in another state?

No. Federal gambling laws prohibit the transfer of funds across state lines for gambling and has been constructed in such a way so that domestic sportsbooks can only accept bets that are in-state. Most states simply require being inside of their borders to use one of their online sportsbooks, but there are a few that only allow online sports betting while inside the premises of the casino or brick-and-mortar sports betting site.

We've compiled this legal online betting guide for US players arranged by state, to provide accurate and up to date information on the legal online gambling status and gaming options available within each US state. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive state gambling directory which will empower players with the information to make informed decisions about online gambling.

This state-specific data will include a look at the state laws governing online gambling opportunities from online casinos, online poker, to online sports betting.

Each individual state is approaching the legalization of online gambling differently, thus it is necessary to detail lawfully available state-licensed options, and sanctioned licensed offshore online gambling opportunities. We also address some of the most commonly asked questions about gambling in each state and provide some helpful resources for players to access. This information can only be covered in depth within each of the state pages we offer, which you can find listed within this guide.

Is Online Gambling Legal In My State?

To avoid confusion, we have marked US states which offer state-regulated gambling options in the table below with a check mark. At this moment in time, eight US states have legalized and regulated online gambling in some form. For example:

Online Poker & Casinos:

• Delaware - Online Poker and Online Casino gambling
• Nevada - Online Poker
• New Jersey - Online Poker, Online Casinos
• Pennsylvania - Online Poker, Online Casinos
• West Virginia - Online Poker, Online Casinos

Online Sports Betting & Fantasy Sports

• Illinois - Legalized Online Sports Betting**
• Indiana - Offers Online Sports Betting
• Iowa - Offers Online Sports Betting
• Massachusetts - Fantasy Sports Allowed
• Mississippi - Online Allowed At Casinos Only
• Montana - Legalized Online Sports Betting**
• Nevada - Online Sportsbooks State-wide
• New Jersey - Online Sportsbooks State-wide
• New York - Allows Fantasy Sports And Domestic Sports Betting
• Oregon - Offers Online Sports Betting
• Pennsylvania - Offers Online and Domestic Sports Betting
• Rhode Island - Offers Online and Domestic Sports Betting
• Tennessee - Offers Online Sports Betting Apps
• West Virginia - Online Sports Betting Allowed State-wide

** Legalized but Pending launch

Online Lottery:

• Georgia - Online Lottery Allowed
• Illinois - Online Lottery Allowed
• Kentucky - Online Lottery Allowed
• Michigan - Online Lottery Allowed
• Minnesota - Online Lottery Allowed
• New Hampshire - Online Lottery Allowed
• Pennsylvania - Online Lottery Allowed

Is Licensed Offshore Gambling Legal In My State?

While the above-mentioned states offer regulated online gambling, they still maintain the option to utilize licensed offshore online options. Nearly all US state residents, except those from Washington or Connecticut, can legally access licensed offshore online gambling platforms to play online casino games, poker, or bet on sports.

This is because no state laws in these other 48 states specifically prohibit or allow it - thus operating in a technical grey area, it is still considered safe to use because it is not likely these states will draft and pass legislation to specifically affect domestic access to licensed offshore gaming.

What Is The Minimum Online Gambling Age in the US?

There is no one minimum gambling age in the US as this is set and regulated by each individual state. The minimum gambling age within each state is affected by various factors such as game selected and licensor. By this, we mean state-regulated online gambling options require domestic players, whether residents or visitors, to abide by the state's minimum gambling age for that form of gambling on land within the state's borders.

However, licensed offshore online platforms which offer casino games, poker, and sports betting can lawfully accept players who are at least 18 years of age or older. These licensed offshore online sites also offer players much more in the way of bonuses and perks and the platforms we recommend are all extremely reputable.

Online Betting Legal States

U.S. States Where You Can Legally Gamble At 18 And Up

Below you can learn more about the minimum legal online gambling age by state in the USA.

Online Gambling Laws in The United States

Gambling laws can be a rather complex topic these days as there are several US federal gambling laws to account for such as the UIGEA, and the Federal Wire Act, as well as, several individual state gambling laws. The reason for this is because the United States DOJ has said that states have the authority to determine their own destiny concerning both land-based and online gambling.

Afterward, several states moved forward with legalizing some forms of online gambling for their region. Multiple other states are currently in discussions amongst themselves regarding the possibility of embracing this virtual gaming platform in their own territories. As discussed earlier and from what can be read from our laws page, US players outside of WA and CT are permitted access to multiple licensed, certified, and regulated online gambling sites hosted outside of the United States. This is a nice alternative for those players not located in a state with its own regulated form of domestic online gambling.

Legal Mobile Sports Betting States

States With Pending Online Gambling Legislation

US States That Offer Domestic Sportsbooks

US States With Passed Sports Betting Legislation (Pending Launch)