U.S: the list of states willing to offer legal sports betting begins to expand

As five states had begun passing laws to regulate sports betting some months ago in the belief that United States' highest court was likely to rule in favor of striking down the 1992 federal ban on this type of gambling betting, several other states have now plans to follow them in the coming months or years. A total of 24 states have at least considered getting into business with sportsbook operators.

Here follows a state-by-state breakdown of where things stand:

ALABAMA

A daily fantasy sports bill died in the state Senate in March, and the state did not join New Jersey in its efforts at the Supreme Court. No bills have been introduced for the regulation or legalization of general sports betting.

ALASKA

No bills have been introduced for the legalization of gambling, and any law would have to repeal the state's statutes against sports wagering.

ARIZONA

Gambling remains illegal in the state, but Governor Doug Ducey tweeted Monday that the ruling gives the state "options," and the attorney general, who filed an amicus brief with the court siding with New Jersey, applauded the decision. No bills have been introduced in the legislature.

ARKANSAS

Daily fantasy sports were legalized in 2017. But there's been no legislative efforts on general sports wagering.

CALIFORNIA

A dispute and a looming lawsuit between tribes and the legislature makes a sports betting bill unlikely. Bills to legalize sports betting have been introduced in session since 2015, though they have yet to make significant progress.

COLORADO

Colorado legalized daily fantasy in 2016, with college games an exception. While no legislation has been introduced, Eilers & Krejcik Gaming, an industry group, estimates the state could legalize sports betting within two years.

CONNECTICUT

The legislature passed a law in 2017 to allow for the study of regulations on gambling. While the state lottery said it’s ready to start sports betting, a formal sports betting bill was given little chance by the house speaker.

DELAWARE

Parlay bets on NFL games are already available in Delaware because it was one of the four states with pre-existing laws authorizing sports betting that were not affected by the federal ban. Delaware tried to legalize bets on individual games in 2009, but that ran afoul of the federal law. With the ban lifted, Delaware has the infrastructure in place through its lottery and casinos to quickly begin expanding its wagering options. State finance secretary Rick Geisenberger told The Associated Press on Monday that full-scale sports gambling could be available at Delaware's three casinos by the end of June and Governor John Carney is reportedly working on releasing a plan shortly to offer bets on all professional and college sports.

FLORIDA

A recent deal between the legislature and the Seminole Tribe means that revenue sharing payments will continue, stoking talks of a special session dedicated to gaming. Six counties have held referendums regarding slot machines. A looming vote on a constitutional amendment could give the state less authority over gaming decisions. No formal sports gambling bill has been introduced.

GEORGIA

No bills have been introduced, and daily fantasy is not allowed. There's been little action in the state.

HAWAII

A 2017 bill would have established a commission to analyze the possibility of gaming in the state, but it didn't get to a vote. Daily fantasy was ruled as illegal gambling by the attorney general.

IDAHO

Idaho forced both FanDuel and Draft Kings out of the state, and there have been no bills introduced for general gambling.

ILLINOIS

Illinois has proposed a number of bills for the legalization of gaming statewide. Former NFL linebacker Napoleon Harris—now a state senator—introduced the Sports Wagering Act, offering a 1% "integrity fee" which would pay sports leagues 1% of all wagering. Another bill, introduced by the president pro tempore of the Senate, legalizes sports wagering, but the proposed legislation doesn't say who would regulate it. Top NBA and MLB officials have already testified. Three bills did not pass a May 3 deadline by the Gaming Committee, and the assembly adjourns in June.

INDIANA

The state has introduced a few bills for gambling legalization, and legislators worked with MLB and the NBA for input on one bill. The leagues would receive a 1% integrity fee. The head of the state's casino association said 2019 was the goal. The NCAA, based in Indianapolis, is a roadblock.

IOWA

A sports gambling bill passed a House committee, but an April 17 legislative deadline passed with no further action.

KANSAS

A number of bills have been introduced, and there been been hearings, but the legislative session ended in early May. Two bills didn't get out of committee.

KENTUCKY

A few bills have been introduced, but nothing has passed or gained much traction.

LOUISIANA

A daily fantasy regulation bill passed a House committee, but a pure sports gambling bill was stopped in the Senate. The session closes in early June.

MAINE

The state passed a daily fantasy bill in 2017, but hasn't done much on the legalized gambling front.

MARYLAND

A sports betting bill passed the state house in March, but stalled in the Senate before the legislature adjourned in April. The bill called for a November referendum for voters. Next year is a possibility.

MASSACHUSETTS

The state's gaming commission said in February that companies working within the three state casinos are interested in sports betting. A bill to study the possibility of online sports betting has been introduced. DraftKings is based in Boston. 

MICHIGAN

A bill with a sports betting provision passed a House committee, but language in Michigan’s constitution could make passage tricky. Tribal groups have lobbied against it.

MINNESOTA

Rep. Pat Garofalo, chairman of a jobs committee, has pushed for a sports betting bill, but a separate fantasy sports bill failed in the House in late April. The legislative session ends next week.

MISSISSIPPI

A bill authorizing sports betting at the state's casinos was approved last year. Mississippi Gaming and Hospitality Association deputy director Michael Bruffey said Monday that the state's 28 casinos could welcome bettors by the time football season begins. Bruffey said casinos have been in talks with state regulators about draft rules allowing sports betting, and that regulators could vote quickly.

MISSOURI

There are a number of bills up for consideration, but one of the bill's authors said passage will be tough, and that Kansas would pass a bill first.

MONTANA

Montana already has a form of sports betting legalized, focusing on a fantasy-style pool for football and auto racing. Daily fantasy, though, is currently illegal.

NEBRASKA

No bills have been introduced, but the state signed an amicus brief in support of New Jersey's efforts at the court.

NEVADA

Nevada is the only state that currently allows wagers on individual games.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

New Hampshire has a daily fantasy law on the books, but no larger legislative effort.

NEW JERSEY

The Garden State spent years fighting the sports betting ban in court, culminating in its victory on Monday. The legislature has twice passed laws legalizing sports betting, and operators of the Monmouth Park horse racing track said Monday they'd start taking bets within two weeks "unless someone stops us." The track has the capability of taking bets almost immediately, but lawmakers and Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy would prefer to pass a bill to regulate sports betting before any sports books open. Deputy Assembly Speaker John Burzichelli said it will probably be several weeks before a revised bill is enacted.

NEW MEXICO

No laws have been introduced, and a report by Eilers & Krejick estimated that New Mexico could take up to a decade to offer betting legislation.

NEW YORK

Voters in 2013 approved a constitutional amendment authorizing commercial casinos, and that amendment authorized the casinos to open sports books if the ban were lifted. However, further legislation is needed before any bets can be taken, and the legislature is considering several bills that would shape the sports gambling industry in the state. Major League Baseball, the NBA and casino interests have done intense lobbying in Albany in recent months.

NORTH CAROLINA

No legislation has been introduced, and there's been little chatter of attempts to do so.

NORTH DAKOTA

North Dakota signed an amicus brief in support of New Jersey, but no legislation is in motion.

OHIO

Ohio passed a fantasy sports bill late last year, but nothing has been introduced on the larger gambling front.

OKLAHOMA

An Oklahoma law that initially had sports betting language in it was passed in April, but the final bill excluded sports betting, and instead permitted an expansion of casino games.

OREGON

Sports gambling in Oregon is already legal, but betting on pro football was nixed in 2005 to allow for the NCAA tournament in Portland.

PENNSYLVANIA

Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf signed a bill last year that authorized sports books at the state's casinos along with mobile and online sports betting. But gambling industry leaders are skeptical that sports books will flourish in Pennsylvania because of the bill's tax provisions: a 36 percent tax on gambling revenue and a $10 million licensing fee for sportsbook operators.

RHODE ISLAND

A bill to authorize sports wagering—except on state college teams—has been introduced but hasn't moved past committee. The state included revenue of $23.5 million from sports gambling in the budget for the fiscal year starting in July. In the proposal, betting would be available at two casinos. A spokesman for the governor told reporters that the state is looking at vendors to help launch betting by the fall.

SOUTH CAROLINA

A bill has been introduced, but legislators have said nothing will happen in an election year.

SOUTH DAKOTA

No bills have been introduced, but the state's revenue department has recommended the state begin to take steps to prepare for gambling. A change in the state constitution would be needed.

TENNESSEE

No bill has been introduced, and little action has taken place. 

TEXAS

In 2015, Gov. Greg Abbott asked state officials to stop collecting information about sports betting, and was against an expansion. Lt. Governor Dan Patrick agreed with Abbott's position.

UTAH

Of all states, Utah might be the least likely to allow sports betting. Anti-gambling is written into the state constitution, and the state doesn't even have a lottery.

VERMONT

No bills have been introduced, but Eiljers & Krejick predicted Vermont could offer gambling within five years.

WASHINGTON

No legislation has been introduced, and a few weeks ago, the state arrested four people in connection with an illegal gambling network. The state does authorize, however, the playing of squares‚ similar to those at a Super Bowl party. The state restricts the configuration of those boards.

WEST VIRGINIA

Lawmakers this year approved sports betting at the state's five casinos and on approved mobile apps in the event of a Supreme Court decision repealing the ban. Republican Gov. Jim Justice allowed the bill to become law without his signature and later announced that he'd reached a deal for casinos to pay a fee to professional sports leagues to help them protect the integrity of their games. Casino operators, however, said the meeting with Justice ended without a deal and that casinos continue to oppose the fee. The leagues had lobbied unsuccessfully for such language to be part of the law.

WISCONSIN

No bills have been introduced, but the state did join New Jersey in an amicus brief.

WYOMING

No bills have been introduced, but the state did sign the amicus brief.

• The Supreme Court's full decision on the case can be found here.