Gambling legality in the United States
In the US, each state is permitted to define its own legal gambling laws, be it game categories, licensing rules, and eligibility requirements. Sports betting was not permitted until after the repeal of PASPA (2018). States are now in control over sports betting and other gambling expansions.
Some states favour other types of gambling over others. For instance, a state may permit sports betting but prohibit online casinos or poker. Some states also only allow land-based gaming at brick-and-mortar casinos, while others restrict gambling to tribal gaming.
Explore Gambling Options by State Type
Compliance disclaimer
Gambling availability varies by state and depends on licensing, regulatory approvals, and local restrictions. The information provided here reflects state-level rules and should not be taken as legal advice. Ensure you check current state regulations and operator licensing status before participating in gambling of any kind.
Online gambling status by state
Real-money online casinos (iCasino)
Real-money online casinos are state-licensed casinos (iCasinos) that are licensed to offer slots, blackjack, roulette and table games.
These are available in eight states in total:
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- Michigan
- West Virginia
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Rhode Island
- Maine
Although all these states allow online gaming, not all online casinos are permitted to operate in each state due to their particular regulation.
Each legal state operates its own licensing and tax framework and regulation determines which operators may launch game certification rules and responsible gaming standards.
Online Sports Betting (Retail vs Mobile)
Retail sports betting means placing wagers at a physical casino, sportsbook counter or dedicated kiosk. These are often at land-based casinos or dedicated sportsbook desks at sports stadiums.
Mobile/online sports betting differs because it can be done through mobile applications or online websites. Real-money online casinos frequently have sportsbooks as well as slots and table games.
Both retail and mobile sportsbooks are subject to state regulation. Odds may differ depending on regulation, too.
Sports betting is the most widely available form of gambling and is legal in 38 states as well (plus DC), though mobile is only legal in 20 states (plus DC).
Here is a complete list of states where sports betting is available as of January 2026:
Availability by state
Online and retail gambling availability differs by jurisdiction and may include location-based or on-site
restrictions. The overview below reflects general availability and should not be treated as legal advice.
Always confirm current state regulations before participating.
Online & retail available
Online / mobile only
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Virginia
- Washington, D.C.
- Washington (State)
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Maine
- Puerto Rico
- Tennessee (online only)
- Vermont
- Wyoming
Retail only or limited mobile access
- Mississippi (mobile on-site at casinos only)
- Montana (mobile only at authorized locations)
- Nebraska (retail only)
- New Mexico (retail only)
- North Dakota (retail only)
- South Dakota (retail only)
Sweepstakes and social casinos (legal alternatives)
Sweepstakes casinos are a different type of casino that operates under sweepstakes-contest law rather than gambling regulation. At these platforms, users can play casino-style games using virtual coins redeemable for prizes. They don't award monetary prizes so don't technically count as gambling.
Social casinos are like sweepstakes casinos except there's no prize potential - you pay for the virtual currency and play just for fun.
Plenty of sweepstakes and social casinos have similar casino-style games that you'll find on real-money casinos, but these games are created by different developers to real-money casinos. Well known licensed games like Gonzo's Quest or Starburst aren't available on sweepstakes casinos, for example.
You'll find social/sweepstakes casino-specific games there, like fish table games, fish shooting games and arcade-style crash games.
Many restrictive states (e.g., Alabama) permit sweepstakes/social casinos as their primary online option.
| Category | Sweepstakes Casinos | Social Casinos |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | Play for fun with real prize potential | Play for fun only, no real prize potential |
| Currencies Used | Dual currency (Gold Coins and Sweepstakes / Virtual Coins) | Single currency (Virtual Coins only) |
| Legality | Operate under U.S. sweepstakes laws by offering free alternative methods of entry; available in most U.S. states | Fully legal as standard entertainment apps; coins have no real-world value |
| Game Types | Slots, table games, fish games, and casino-style games structured under sweepstakes rules | Slots and casino-style games played purely for entertainment, with social features and progression systems |
Is gambling legal in all US states?
Gambling is legal in one form or another in every state except Utah and Hawaii, which prohibit all forms of gambling. However, online casinos are legal in only a small number of states, and sports betting varies widely.
Stats of gambling legislation in the US
Here are some quick stats on gambling legislation in the US:
- 27 states have 486 commercial casinos.
- 29 states have 525 tribal casinos.
- Sports betting is legal in 38 states + DC.
- Mobile sports betting is legal in 20 states + DC.
- Legal iGaming (online casinos) available in 8 states.
- 47 states have some form of legal casino gaming.
- Total 1,011 casino gaming locations nationwide.
- Card rooms or other locations
Gambling laws are far from straightforward, as you have probably guessed already. States with retail or tribal casinos may not have legalized online casinos or online sportsbooks, and states with online casinos often have online sports betting options. We break it down more below.
Online and land-based gambling legality
Land-based casinos may operate even in states that prohibit online casinos and vice versa. Online gambling, however, can come up against more stringent political resistance due to its quick availability. Online gambling also requires a separate legislative and licensing framework.
Land-based gambling legislation may only allow the following:
- Tribal casinos only
- Commercial casinos only
- Sports betting but not iGaming
- Lotteries while banning all casinos
Land-based and online gambling laws rarely align perfectly.
Legal gambling age by state
Legal gambling age varies widely depending on the gambling format. The vast majority of comercial or land-based casinos require a minimum age of 21.
Some formats like lottery and bingo or raffles generally allow 18 as the minimum age.
Online sports and casino betting is generally restricted to 21 but a few states like Montana, New Hampshire and Rhode Island allow online betting at 18.
Explore state-by-state legal gambling ages at our Legal Gambling Age by State guide.
Which states have legalized sports betting?
Online gambling available
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Tennessee (online only)
- Vermont (online only)
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wyoming (online only)
- Puerto Rico (online only)
Retail-only or limited availability
- Arkansas
- Florida
- Mississippi (retail; mobile on-site only)
- Montana (retail; limited app use at authorized locations)
- Nebraska (retail only)
- Nevada
- New Mexico (retail via tribal compacts)
- North Dakota (retail via tribal compacts)
- Oregon
- South Dakota (retail only)
- Washington, D.C.
- Washington (State)
- Wisconsin (retail via tribal compacts)
Sources and References
1. AGA State of the States 2024 Report
2. State gaming map
3. Supreme Court on PASPA
Last updated:
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where can I legally gamble online in the US?
- Is gambling legal in all US states?
- What happens if you move to a different state with different gambling laws?
- Do payment methods affect legality or approval of gambling transactions by state?
- How often do U.S. gambling laws change at the state level?
- What forms of gambling are legal by state?
- Why do some states allow online sports betting but ban online casino games?
- Can you legally play at offshore online casinos from U.S. states where online gambling isn’t regulated?
- Are tribal casinos governed by the same gambling laws as commercial casinos?
- Do states tax gambling winnings differently for online vs. land-based gambling?
