There has always been a demand for sports betting in the United States. Sports fans want to back their favorite teams and have the chance to have a wager on the horses, NFL, NHL, MLB, NBA, and MLS games among other sports. Nevada has long dominated the sports betting scene in the US but things are changing thanks to the Supreme Court, who repealed the Federal ban on legal online betting. As a result of the Supreme Courts decision, sports betting is expanding across the US.
The state of New Jersey was at the forefront of the push to end the ban on sports betting outside Nevada. Legal mobile sports betting in the state was introduced quickly when the decision was made to end the ban and online sportsbooks have been available in New Jersey since 2018. By obtaining a license from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, every racetrack and casino in New Jersey can offer sports betting. All online sports betting activity in New Jersey is also overseen by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, giving punters a safe and fair environment to bet on sport.
There are now several big-name online gambling companies offering mobile sports betting in New Jersey, including BetMGM Sports, PointsBet, Caesars, DraftKings, SugarHouse, FanDuel, Borgata Online Sportsbook, WynnBET, bet365, and Unibet. These companies have been pouring millions into advertising to raise awareness of sports betting in the state, and spending shows no signs of slowing down. Other US states have been following in the footsteps of New Jersey and sports betting is quickly moving across the country.
Pennsylvania and Indiana did not waste much time following the end to the ban on legal online betting. Online sports wagering was introduced in 2019 and at the time of writing there are over 12 online sports betting companies in the Keystone State, including BetMGM Sports, Unibet, DraftKings, FanDuel, and Betway. Residents of Indiana can use BetMGM Sports, PointsBet, BetRivers, DraftKings, Betway, and Fox Bet among others to have a wager on sporting events taking place around the world.
Mississippi was another of the states to lead the way following the repeal of PASPA. BetMGM was the first mobile operator to become available in Mississippi but bets must be placed inside an MGM casino. The Mississippi Gaming Commission decided bettors must place sports wagers in brick-and-mortar casinos that have an official license. There is no remote betting currently allowed in the state but you can use mobile apps to sign up and then place bets inside the licensed venues. Some of the Mississippi casinos and sports betting partners include Grand Sierra and William Hill, Golden Moon and PRR Sports, and Secret Pearl and DraftKings Sportsbook.
It is fair to say New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Mississippi led the way in terms of legalizing sports betting in the United States. However, several states have since made the decision to legalize sports betting. Legalized sports betting is now available in Colorado, Michigan, West Virginia, Illinois, New York, Arizona, and Wyoming.
Arizona is one of the latest states to legalize sports betting and they did so just in time for the start of the 2021/22 NFL season. This was no coincidence and helped the state to launch legal sports betting with a flourish. DraftKings, BetMGM, and FanDuel have all jumped on board in the Grand Canyon State, with the likes of Unibet, BetRivers, and Betway not far behind.
The spread of legal sports betting is showing no sign of slowing down in the US. Delaware, New Mexico, Arkansas, New York, and Montana all allow in-person sports betting, with California, Florida, and Texas expected to be the next big states to legalize the activity.