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Where Is Sports Betting Legal? Every US State and Canadian Province
Where Is Sports Betting Legal? Every US State and Canadian Province
The short answer: 31 states plus Washington, DC let you bet online from your phone, 8 more only in person, and 11 not at all. Canada is legal coast to coast, with Ontario and Alberta running open markets. Type your state below for the details, or keep scrolling for what changed this year and what is coming next.
United States: state-by-state table
| State ↕ | Status | Online? | Min. age ↕ | Legal since ↕ | Online apps | What to know |
|---|
Counts vary by source: some outlets say 38 states, others 39, depending on whether tribal-only markets in Washington and Wisconsin are counted. "Online apps" is the approximate number of statewide mobile sportsbooks live in September 2026.
What changed in 2025 and 2026
- Dec 1, 2025Missouri launched online and retail betting after the November 2024 ballot measure. 10 apps on day one; 21 operators licensed by September 2026.
- Dec 2025ESPN Bet became theScore Bet in AZ, CO, IL, IN, KS, KY and LA after Penn ended its ESPN partnership.
- Feb 2026Alabama's omnibus gambling bill died without a committee hearing. theScore Bet exited Washington, DC.
- Jul 13, 2026Alberta opened Canada's second competitive market under the iGaming Alberta Act, with 20+ operators live at launch and PlayAlberta continuing alongside them.
- Jul 15, 2026Kentucky raised the minimum betting age from 18 to 21 and closed under-21 accounts.
- Aug 24, 2026Nebraska confirmed statewide online betting for the November 2026 ballot.
- Sep 8, 2026bet365 launched in Washington, DC, the district's sixth app.
What comes next
| Where | What | When | Our read |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | Ballot measure for statewide online betting | Nov 3, 2026 | Strong chance; retail is already legal and the state loses handle to Iowa. |
| Texas | Legislature back in session | Jan 2027 | Long shot; the same Senate leadership that blocked 2023 and 2025 is still there. |
| Georgia | New bill cycle | Jan 2027 | Perennial; needs a constitutional amendment, which requires two-thirds of both chambers. |
| Minnesota | Tribal-racetrack compromise | 2027 | Blocked for years by the same dispute; a deal would pass quickly. |
| Oklahoma | Compact negotiations | 2027 | Governor is for it; the tribes hold the leverage. |
| California | Tribal-led ballot measure | Nov 2028 | Biggest prize in the country; only happens if the tribes and the national operators agree on a model. |
| Mississippi | Statewide mobile bill | 2027 | Passed the House before; the Senate keeps killing it. |
Canada: province by province
Single-event sports betting has been legal across Canada since August 27, 2021 (Bill C-218 amended the Criminal Code). Each province chooses its own model. Ontario (2022) and Alberta (2026) license private sportsbooks; every other province runs a single government-owned sportsbook. Betting on offshore ".com" sites is not a criminal offence for the bettor, but those sites are unregulated and offer no consumer protection.
| Province / territory | Model | Min. age | Government sportsbook | Private operators | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | Open market (AGCO / iGaming Ontario) | 19 | OLG ProLine+ | Yes · 30+ live | Market opened April 4, 2022. Strict ad rules: no public bonus/inducement ads, no athletes or celebrities in ads. |
| Alberta | Open market (AGLC / Alberta iGaming Corp.) | 18 | PlayAlberta | Yes · 20+ live at launch | Launched July 13, 2026 under the iGaming Alberta Act; bet365, FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, theScore Bet and others live. |
| British Columbia | Provincial monopoly | 19 | BCLC PlayNow | No | Single-event betting since Aug 2021. |
| Quebec | Provincial monopoly | 18 | Loto-Québec Mise-o-jeu+ | No | Single-event betting since Aug 2021. |
| Manitoba | Provincial monopoly | 18 | PlayNow (Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries) | No | Uses BCLC's PlayNow platform. |
| Saskatchewan | Provincial monopoly | 19 | PlayNow (SaskGaming / SIGA) | No | PlayNow launched Nov 2022; Sport Select at retail. |
| Nova Scotia | Provincial monopoly | 19 | Atlantic Lottery PROLINE | No | Atlantic Lottery serves all four Atlantic provinces. |
| New Brunswick | Provincial monopoly | 19 | Atlantic Lottery PROLINE | No | |
| Prince Edward Island | Provincial monopoly | 19 | Atlantic Lottery PROLINE | No | |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Provincial monopoly | 19 | Atlantic Lottery PROLINE | No | |
| Yukon | Lottery (WCLC) | 19 | Sport Select (retail) | No | No provincial online sportsbook. |
| Northwest Territories | Lottery (WCLC) | 19 | Sport Select (retail) | No | No provincial online sportsbook. |
| Nunavut | Lottery (WCLC) | 19 | Sport Select (retail) | No | No provincial online sportsbook. |
Minimum age, summarized
- United States: 21 in almost every state. 18 in New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Wyoming, Washington DC, Montana (retail only) and Puerto Rico. Kentucky moved from 18 to 21 in 2026.
- Canada: 19 in most provinces. 18 in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec.
How to tell a legal sportsbook from an offshore one
- It asks for your location. Legal US apps use geolocation and refuse to take a bet if you are outside the state. Offshore sites take bets from anywhere.
- It verifies your identity. A regulated book collects your SSN (last four) or SIN and checks your age before you can deposit.
- It is listed by the regulator. Every state gaming commission, iGaming Ontario and the AGLC publish the list of licensed operators. If the brand is not on it, it is not licensed.
- It does not take crypto (except Wyoming). Almost no regulated US or Canadian book accepts cryptocurrency deposits.
- It has a responsible-gambling page with local resources. Deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion are mandatory for licensed operators.
Why it matters: at a licensed book your balance is protected, disputes go to a regulator, and winnings are paid. At an offshore site, none of that is guaranteed, and it is where most "the book would not pay me" stories come from.
FAQ
Can I bet online if I am visiting a legal state?
Yes. Legal betting depends on where you are physically, not where you live. You can open an account in New Jersey as a New York resident and bet whenever you are inside New Jersey.
Is it illegal to use an offshore sportsbook?
In the US the federal Wire Act and UIGEA target operators and payment processors, not individual bettors; a handful of states (like Washington) do criminalize online gambling for players. In Canada, the bettor is not committing an offence, but the site is operating outside the law and offers no protection. Either way, you have no recourse if you are not paid.
Which states have online betting but no retail sportsbooks?
Tennessee, Vermont, Wyoming and Maine are online-only markets.
Which states let 18-year-olds bet?
New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Wyoming, Washington DC (online) and Montana (retail only). Everywhere else you must be 21.
Can I bet on college sports?
It depends on the state. Oregon bans all college betting; New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and DC restrict bets on in-state teams or college player props. Most other states allow it.
Does Elite Bettings sell picks in states where betting is illegal?
Our picks are analysis and information; they are legal to read anywhere. Placing the bet is your responsibility and must follow the law where you are.
Legal in your state? Now bet with an edge
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See today's picksThis page is general information, not legal advice; laws change and local rules apply. 21+ in most US states (18+ in DC, NH, RI, WY), 19+ in most Canadian provinces (18+ in AB, MB, QC). Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (US) or 1-866-531-2600 (ConnexOntario). Sources: state gaming commissions, iGaming Ontario, AGLC, Legal Sports Report, Sports Handle, Covers; verified September 2026.