New Jersey, Delaware, and Rhode Island have all preemptively legalized sports betting, but not Nevada. Pennsylvania and North Carolina have legalized sports wagering, and Tennessee has preemptively legalized online/mobile sports betting. The question now is: will any other state follow suit? It’s possible. If Nevada is able to legalize sports betting, it’s not a guarantee. The legality of sports betting is a complicated issue, but the first steps have been taken.
New Jersey, Delaware and Rhode Island have legalized sports betting
The US Supreme Court overturned a federal ban on sports betting last May. Rhode Island has two brick-and-mortar casinos. In early 2019, online sports betting went live. To place your wagers, you must verify your identity at Twin Rivers casino. If you live outside of Rhode Island, you may wager on sports online. New Jersey, Delaware, and Rhode Island have legalized sports betting.
As of November 2019, Nevada has legalized sports betting. The state will allow sports betting in person in casinos. In-person wagering is available at state-run casinos. The state lottery will introduce an alternative to sports betting in 2021. Currently, there are seven Nevada sportsbooks. And in October of next year, online wagering will be available in all state-run casinos. Despite the legal obstacles, Nevada has become one of the most welcoming places to bet on sports.
Pennsylvania preemptively legalized sports wagering
PA casinos aren’t likely to offer sports wagering until the start of the NFL season, but there’s a strong possibility that it will happen soon. In fact, a sports betting bill was passed in Pennsylvania last year, and will likely be signed by the governor before the beginning of the season. While it might take time for other states to follow suit, Pennsylvania will allow temporary sportsbooks until its new law is fully implemented.
The state of Pennsylvania’s sports wagering law enables casino operators to offer wagers on various sporting events and individual performance statistics. PA statute allows sports wagering online and through mobile applications, so the state is already set up for sports betting. In addition to traditional sportsbooks, there are also online sportsbooks that accept PA residents’ sports wagers. There’s no legal age requirement for sports betting in PA, and the sports betting business is expected to grow exponentially.
North Carolina legalized sports betting at two tribal casinos
In July of this year, lawmakers in North Carolina legalized sports betting at two tribal casino locations. Although the legislation does not yet govern online sports betting, the state’s leaders are optimistic that mobile wagering will be available in time for the 2022 football season. The bill passed the Senate in 2021 and is expected to move forward in the House early in the 2022 session. In an early February statement, Gov. Roy Cooper reiterated his support for online sports betting.
While online sports betting is widely available in other states, North Carolina has not yet fully embraced the technology. While the state has two tribal casinos, the only other legal sportsbooks are located offshore. There are no offshore sportsbooks in North Carolina, but there are several land-based sportsbooks in neighboring states. The casinos are tribal-owned, which means that their gaming revenue is tied directly to the casinos. But there are many concerns surrounding North Carolina sports betting.
Tennessee legalized online/mobile-only sports betting
If the state of Tennessee legalizes online/mobile-only sports betting, what can expect from the industry? Tennessee’s sports betting rule is likely to cap payouts at 90%. While this is better than the 15% hold in New Jersey and Nevada, it is still far from ideal. Essentially, Tennessee’s rule will cap payouts at 90%, a lower number than other U.S. states. That means you can’t find the best prices in Tennessee. Regardless of how many sportsbooks apply to operate in Tennessee, expect them to maintain the same pricing and product structure as other states.
After several years of legalized online/mobile-only sports betting, the state government has begun implementing the legislation. In November 2020, the state will launch its first legal sports betting sites. DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM will begin operations in Tennessee. The Tennessee Education Lottery suspends Action 24/7 after an internal investigation, but a federal judge rules that the online sportsbook can operate. The first online sportsbooks in Tennessee are expected to launch on November 1, 2020.