Gambling laws in the US have always been complicated. What doesn’t help matters is that each individual state gets to decide its own laws. Therefore, what’s completely legal in one state may be totally illegal in the next. In the last few years, many states have formally legalised a key area of gambling and that is sports betting.

What’s Been Happening So Far?

Of the fifty states, nearly half of them have legalised sports betting. If you’re in one of these states, there’s nothing stopping you from placing bets on sporting events - whether you do so at a betting shop or online - and getting paid should your bet win. It all started in 2018 when the Supreme Court overturned a ban on sports betting and decided that states would be allowed to decide whether to legalise betting or not. The reason so many states have since permitted sports betting is simple: doing so opens up a new and potentially lucrative revenue stream.

What’s Happened in 2021?

Throughout 2021, a number of states have been moving closer to legalising sports betting. Here’s a summary of what’s going on with regard to sports betting in some states:

• New York. Placing bets on sporting events at brick-and-mortar betting shops has been legal since July 2019. Governor Andrew Cuomo has confirmed plans to make online betting legal too. At first, it seemed there was going to be a single operator allowed to offer sports betting, though now there seem to be two operators instead. It’s believed that online sports betting will be legal in New York State before next year’s Super Bowl
• Florida. With Florida being the third most populous state, not to mention one of the country’s top tourism destinations, it should come as no surprise that many are keen to legalise sports betting. Doing so could help the state generate a significant amount of money. Though the ball has started rolling, a lawsuit that’s set to be heard in November could disrupt things; in all likeliness, there’s a very good chance sports betting could be legalised in Florida at some point next year
• Maryland. A bill formally permitting sports betting was signed in May 2021 and since then, officials have been working to get betting launched and running before the 2022 NFL playoffs. The state will reportedly hand out two types of licences: ten Class A and thirty Class B. The Class A ones will be handed out to the state’s existing casinos and racecourses; the Class B ones will be offered to other locations that can bid for them
• Louisiana. A public vote approved sports betting in November 2020 and a bill confirming it was formally signed by the state’s governor in June 2021. The way things are going at the minute, sports betting could start in Louisiana by the end of this year or the very beginning of next year

In a few years’ time, there’s a good chance that the vast majority of states will have legalised it.

Betting at Online Casinos

A lot of online casinos are able to offer sports betting to people in various US states now. If you’re thinking of doing some betting online, sign up to a well-rated online casino and sportsbook. Before doing so, check out the promotions to see what special offers are running. From free spins on Casumo slots to free sports bets and enhanced odds, there are all sorts of bonuses you can claim to get your gambling off to a good start.