Introduction
Sports betting has made a lot of progress ever since the Supreme Court struck down Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in May 2018. The number of legal sports betting states is currently 35. This number will most likely go up in 2023, with more states expected to legalize sports betting. If you’re wondering where is sport betting legal, continue reading the information below.
Possible States that may Legalize Sports Betting
The states that may legalize sports betting in 2023 include Alabama, Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, and Vermont.
Top 5 Contenders with Remarks
Georgia
Georgia’s sports betting initiatives are linked to a bigger gambling expansion package that includes land-based casinos. This does not appear to be changing in 2023. “We lose $100 million in sports gambling every year, and other states and countries like Antigua gain that money from citizens in Georgia,” Rep Ron Stephens told the Georgia Recorder. “Let us regulate, tax, and reinvest the proceeds in Hope and pre-K.” Stephens’ earnings come from various gambling activities, including sports betting, land-based casinos, and horse racing.
What would it take for Georgia to allow more sports betting than the rest of the states? First, the Georgia legislature would have to enact two legislations, one of which would expand gaming through a constitutional change and another to iron out the details. The initiative would then be put to the voters in 2024, with no guarantee of victory. An October survey found that 45.6% of potential voters supported allowing sports betting. Legalization was opposed by 42.6% of respondents, with 11.8% uncertain.
Missouri
Legalized sports betting in Missouri appeared to be a foregone conclusion in 2022. However, the re-emergence of an old foe, Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs), dashed the state’s sports betting dreams. For the 2023 legislative session, the Show-Me State has already submitted three sports betting bills:
SB 1, introduced by State Senator Denny Hoskins, connects sports betting with VLTs.
SB 30, introduced by State Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, is a separate sports betting bill.
Rep. Dan Houx has pre-filed HB 556, which is a separate sports betting bill. HB 556 is projected to be the vehicle for Missouri sports betting.
Sports betting in Missouri is dependent on reaching an agreement with VLT backers.
Kentucky
Kentucky has been toying with the idea of legalizing sports betting and, to a lesser extent, internet casinos, and poker for a few years. So, where will the state be in 2023? Rep. Adam Koenig, a leading proponent of sports betting in Kentucky, was defeated by a primary challenger. The most difficult obstacle is the state’s loud and prominent religious organizations.
North Carolina
North Carolina isn’t on the top list. This is because the Tar Heel state has previously allowed sports betting, but only in-person betting, and is now attempting to expand into internet betting. Little has changed in North Carolina, but with the national scene continuing to tilt in favor of mobile legalization, the results in 2023 may be different. Last year, the state appeared to be on the verge of legalizing mobile gambling, but a late change of heart led the legislation to lose by two votes.
Minnesota
Minnesota was on the verge of allowing sports betting in 2022, but the lawmakers disagreed on extending beyond tribal casinos. The addition of the state’s two commercial racetracks upended Minnesota sports betting since the tribes may make a take-it-or-leave-it offer due to advantageous compacts with the state. Minnesota tribal gaming compacts compel the tribes to pay the state nothing. However, if the tribes continue to miss out on the sports betting potential, they may grow more open to retail betting at racetracks.
California
California will spend 2023 debating mobile betting and attempting to qualify another sports betting measure for the ballot in 2024. However, due to the low bar for placing an initiative on the ballot, the needle California must thread is to prevent a situation in which rival sports betting propositions appear on the ballot in 2024. When competing measures are on the ballot, two negative effects occur:
The positive votes are divided.
Both parties will almost certainly run nasty advertisements against the other bill.
California’s results were disastrous, with Prop 26 obtaining 33% of the vote and Prop 27 earning only 17%.
Florida
Florida allowed sports betting in 2021, and the Seminole Tribe even released a mobile app at the end of the year. A legal challenge knocked the app down, and the lawsuit is currently making its way through the courts. Depending on how the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia determines, the Seminole Hard Rock app might be restored quickly; however, an appeal is possible.
States that will talk about it a lot
Alabama
Similar to South Carolina, some politicians have advocated for legalizing sports betting, but legislation must be passed first. Many politicians’ hunger simply isn’t there, and Alabama isn’t near the top of the list of states expected to authorize extensive sports betting by 2023. Nonetheless, Gov. Kay Ivey is among many who believe sports betting will be allowed in the state soon. The legislative session begins on March 7.
Oklahoma
Like those in other states, Oklahoma lawmakers have repeatedly attempted but failed to approve sports betting legislation. Last Tuesday, Gov. Kevin Stitt tweeted his support for legalizing sports betting, although there have often been debates between Oklahoma tribes and state legislators over the best manner to establish legal sports gambling in the state. Stitt’s tumultuous relationship with the tribes has been well chronicled over the years, and disagreements between the two are one of the reasons wagering hasn’t taken off. Despite the obstacles, lawmakers aim to make progress in 2023. Without that, it’s difficult to trust in this year’s legalization attempts.
South Carolina
Some South Carolina politicians want to legalize sports betting, and House Minority Leader J. Todd Rutherford submitted a bill in December to allow it in the state by 2023. Betting on collegiate sports is prohibited under Rutherford’s bill, which may be a sticking point for some senators because it decreases potential tax income. His bill is one of three on legalized gambling that was introduced prior to the session.
South Carolina faces challenges in implementing sports betting legislation because some legislators have moral objections to gaming. The legislative session runs through May 11, and measures from 2023 can be carried over to 2024, but South Carolina does not appear on the list of legalized sports betting states that are expected to allow mobile sports betting this year.
Texas
Every year, reports emerge about politicians who feel that this year will be different in terms of Texas’ chances of legalizing sports betting. That is still the case in 2023, but politicians’ optimism does not normally influence neutral business analysts. Last November, a slew of lobbyists descended on Texas to lay the groundwork for legalized gambling, including sports betting. Expect Texas to allow online sports betting in 2023, though if politicians keep pushing, they could have a breakthrough year sooner. Moral concerns against gaming continue to be a major impediment to state legislation.
Wish List
Then there are a few outlier states. The business would want to have each of the next four states moved into the legal column, with Texas and its approximately 30 million people being the most valuable prize. However, as intricate as the preceding states were, these ones are considerably more so.
Texas – The Lone Star State must persuade the governor and lieutenant governor to join the sports betting bandwagon. They may be persuaded to accept retail betting as part of casino legalization, but mobile betting looks to be out of the question.
Oklahoma City - Governor Kevin Stitt’s encouraging Twitter remarks are making people enthusiastic about Oklahoma. Nonetheless, the governor has already allowed sports betting once, and his proposed framework is flawed because it doesn’t agree with the state’s powerful gambling tribes.
South Carolina is almost as anti-gambling as you can get, yet some feel the state is open to sports betting.
Vermont is the sole state in New England that has not yet legalized sports betting, but despite a favorable report, there is no rush in the Green Mountain State. The state has a small population and no gaming sector; therefore, sports betting is low on the priority list.
