Which US state could be next to legalize sports betting?

The sports betting landscape in the United States has changed significantly in recent years, as 39 states have legalized this form of gambling since 2018.

Before 2018, sports betting was illegal in the United States, but a Supreme Court ruling changed that and a booming industry has since begun.

Seven years ago, it was decided that each state would have the power to legalize sports betting, leading some to quickly embrace the industry, while others still lag behind. The most recent addition was made by Missouri, which became the 39th state to license sports betting operators inbut the question is: who is next, if anyone?

Which states have already legalized sports betting in the United States?

The Show-Me State legalized sports betting in November 2024, with the measure taking effect December 1, 2025, making it the latest to embrace this rapidly growing sector.

Besides Missouri, other states that legalize sports betting include: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington (and Washington DC), West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

What are the positions of other states on sports betting?

According to the American Gaming AssociationNearly three-quarters (74%) of Americans support legal, regulated sports betting in their state, with broad bipartisan approval. And they say the market is worth a huge amount $18.5 billion as an estimatealthough not all state regulators agree with legalizing the industry.

In California, which is one of the most populous states without legal sports betting, many ballot initiatives (the latest in 2022) have been largely defeated. In the state, Native American tribes run most of the gambling, which has sparked some opposition before.

Which state might be most likely to legalize sports betting?

While only a few states have made little or no effort on the topic (like Utah and Idaho), others are moving slowly on their bills or are expected to do so in the future.

Alaska, for example, appears to be (slowly) gaining ground as a state likely to legalize sports betting, but it still has a very long way to go. Bill 145 was introduced earlier this year and would see Mobile sports betting allowed if it were to be adopted.

This involves the regulation of mobile sports betting and the imposition of a tax on this revenue. In March it was returned to Labor & Commerce and is currently up 25%. At the time, Rep. David Nelson shared his sponsor’s statementwho explains why he was pushing for the bill: “Alaska needs more diverse revenue streams. Legalizing sports betting is a simple solution that would capture a market that already exists in the state.”

“Every day in Alaska, people gamble through illegal means, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and generating no tax benefits for the state. »

Although the bill will lead to further discussions on possible regulation of the industry, there has not been an update in some time regarding this attempt, as it did not advance in the 2025 session.

Hawaii and Oklahoma are two equally promising states for sports betting operators. In Hawaii, House Bill 1308 was introduced earlier this year and moved through the ranks, but it stalled when House and Senate negotiators failed to resolve key disagreements.

Again, the bill was not introduced before the legislative deadline, but that doesn’t mean a similar bill could be introduced in the 2026 legislative session.

In Oklahoma, two House bills showed promise, but they did not advance because they failed to get a vote before deadlines. The state appears to have addressed the topic several times over the last year.

With this in mind, Hawaii, Oklahoma, and potentially Alaska could be the next candidates for legalization of sports betting in the United States.

Featured Image: AI-generated via Ideogram

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