In today’s digital world, you no longer need to be physically present in a casino, at the poker table, or at the racetrack to place a bet. In many states, you can now place those bets online or even play daily fantasy sports directly from your mobile device.
In May 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, a federal law that had previously prohibited sports betting. Since then, half of the states have legalized or are in the process of legalizing sports betting. According to the American Gaming Organization, sports betting revenue in 3Q 2020 totaled $352.3 million[1] .
Online gambling includes online casinos, online poker sites, daily fantasy sports (DFS), and sports betting. Sports betting, in turn, includes online and mobile “sportsbooks.” To place an online sports bet, you need an online account. Most states that permit online sports betting allow you to do this on your mobile device, but in certain states, like Nevada, you need to create your account while physically at the casino (and often to make a deposit or withdrawal as well).
As of November 10, 2020, retail and/or online sports betting is permitted in: AR, CO, DC, DE, IA, IL, IN, MI, MS, NV, NH, NM, NJ, NY, MT, OR, PA, RI, and WV. Sports betting is legal, but not operational in the following states: LA, MD, NC, SD, VA, and WA. Pending legislation exists in OR and MA. Sports betting is prohibited in the following states: ID, ND, OK, SC, TX, UT, and WI[2].