Sports Betting
in the United States
The 10 highest-rated US sportsbooks, ranked by our editorial team and filterable by state. Plus full state-by-state coverage of where each operator is licensed, what the tax structure looks like, and which regulator runs the market. 35 states are now fully live.
Top US sportsbooks 2026
The 10 highest-rated US sports betting operators, ranked by our editorial team. Filter by state to see which books are licensed where you bet.
Showing all 10 top operators.
| # | Operator | Rating | Welcome Bonus | Live in | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | FanDuel Flutter Entertainment plc (NYSE: FLUT) | Get $300 Back in Bonus Bets, 10 Days of No-Sweat Bets | 26 states | Read Review → | |
| 02 | DraftKings DraftKings Inc. (NASDAQ: DKNG) | Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets + NCAA Tournament Profit Boost | 30 states | Read Review → | |
| 03 | bet365 Hillside (Gaming) ENC (private) | Bet $10, Get $365 in Bonus Bets (Win or Lose) | 18 states | Read Review → | |
| 04 | BetMGM MGM Resorts International & Entain plc (50/50 JV) | First Bet Offer Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets | 26 states | Read Review → | |
| 05 | Caesars Sportsbook Caesars Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: CZR) | Bet $1, Double Your Winnings Next 10 Bets (up to $25 per token) | 26 states | Read Review → | |
| 06 | Circa Sports Circa Resort & Casino | Varies; Circa focuses on sharp pricing over promos | 4 states | Read Review → | |
| 07 | Hard Rock Bet Seminole Hard Rock Digital (Seminole Tribe of Florida) | Double Your Winnings on Your First 10 Bets | 10 states | Read Review → | |
| 08 | Fanatics Sportsbook Fanatics Betting & Gaming | Bet $5, Get $200 in FanCash Instantly (or up to $1,000 matched) | 21 states | Read Review → | |
| 09 | BetRivers Rush Street Interactive (NYSE: RSI) | 2nd Chance Bet Up to $500 in Bonus Bets | 16 states | Read Review → | |
| 10 | SuperBook Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino | Varies by state | 6 states | Read Review → |
No operators in our top 10 list are licensed in the selected state. Browse all 13 US operators →
Bet on every major US sport
Browse betting guides for every major sport in the US; from the NFL and NBA down to UFC and tennis. Each sport includes all major leagues, and the four major pro leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL) include dedicated pages for every single team.
Recent updates
Legislation, market shifts, and postseason coverage. The full archive lives at /news/ with an RSS feed.
Sports betting industry spent $10M on Georgia legislative races; industry-backed candidates won or advanced in 32 of 34
DraftKings, FanDuel, Fanatics, and bet365 coordinated through the Win for America super PAC to push roughly $10.3 million into 34 Georgia legislative primary and special-electio...
Read →Monday wrap (5/25): Knicks sweep Cavaliers to reach first NBA Finals since 1999, Carolina takes 2-1 in NHL ECF on Svechnikov OT winner
Two Eastern Conference Finals games Monday and both road teams left winners. NBA: New York completed the 4-0 sweep with a 130-93 demolition at Rocket Arena. Karl-Anthony Towns 1...
Read →Sunday wrap (5/24): Vegas one win from Stanley Cup Final after stunning 3-0 comeback, Wembanyama drops 33 to even NBA WCF
Two Western Conference Finals games Sunday and the storylines could not have differed more. NHL: Vegas erased a 3-0 deficit and scored 5 unanswered to beat Colorado 5-3 at T-Mob...
Read →Saturday wrap (5/23): Carolina evens NHL ECF on Ehlers OT winner, Knicks take 3-0 lead on Cavaliers with 10th straight win
Two Eastern Conference Final games Saturday and the home/away storylines flipped from Thursday. NHL: Carolina answered Game 1 with a 3-2 overtime win at Lenovo Center. Nikolaj E...
Read →All 50 states + DC
Every US state, ordered by status. Click into any state for the full guide: which operators are live, the regulator, tax structure, and launch timeline. Several states also have dedicated sister sites linked from the state page.
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
★ Dedicated siteArkansas
★ Dedicated siteCalifornia
Colorado
★ Dedicated siteConnecticut
★ Dedicated siteDelaware
Florida
★ Dedicated siteGeorgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
★ Dedicated siteIndiana
★ Dedicated siteIowa
★ Dedicated siteKansas
★ Dedicated siteKentucky
★ Dedicated siteLouisiana
★ Dedicated siteMaine
★ Dedicated siteMaryland
★ Dedicated siteMassachusetts
★ Dedicated siteMichigan
★ Dedicated siteMinnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
★ Dedicated siteMontana
★ Dedicated siteNebraska
★ Dedicated siteNevada
★ Dedicated siteNew Hampshire
★ Dedicated siteNew Jersey
★ Dedicated siteNew Mexico
★ Dedicated siteNew York
★ Dedicated siteNorth Carolina
★ Dedicated siteNorth Dakota
★ Dedicated siteOhio
★ Dedicated siteOklahoma
Oregon
★ Dedicated sitePennsylvania
★ Dedicated siteRhode Island
★ Dedicated siteSouth Carolina
South Dakota
★ Dedicated siteTennessee
★ Dedicated siteTexas
Utah
Vermont
★ Dedicated siteVirginia
Washington
Washington DC
★ Dedicated siteWest Virginia
Wisconsin
★ Dedicated siteWyoming
★ Dedicated siteThe US sports betting landscape
Since the Supreme Court struck down PASPA in May 2018, 38 states plus Washington DC have legalized some form of sports betting. Wisconsin became the 33rd state with full online betting on April 9, 2026, when Governor Tony Evers signed AB 601 into law. The United States is now the world's largest regulated sports betting market, with total annual handle exceeding $150 billion and more than $2 billion in tax revenue collected annually.
Federal Framework
Each state sets its own sports betting laws. Federal oversight is limited to interstate commerce (Wire Act), money laundering (Bank Secrecy Act), and certain taxation rules. The IRS taxes all gambling winnings as ordinary income.
State Regulation
Most states have a Gaming Commission or Lottery Commission that regulates sportsbooks. Tax rates range from 6.75% (Nevada, Iowa) to 51% (New York, New Hampshire). License fees and structure vary widely.
Mobile Dominance
Online and mobile sports betting accounts for over 95% of total US handle in 2026. The top operators (DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, Fanatics) are live in most legal states.
College Restrictions
Many states restrict or prohibit betting on in-state college teams. Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Virginia, and others have specific college carve-outs. High school sports betting is universally prohibited.
Tribal Compacts
Several states (Florida, Connecticut, Maine, Washington, New Mexico) operate under tribal gaming compacts that limit or exclude commercial operators. These vary significantly in structure.
Taxation
Bettors pay federal income tax on winnings (24% withholding on large wins). Most states also tax winnings as ordinary income. Some states allow deducting losses against winnings when itemizing.
How to bet on sports in the US
Check Your State
Sports betting is only legal in some states. Verify that your state allows online betting and you meet the minimum age (usually 21, sometimes 18). You must be physically present in a legal state to place a bet.
Choose a Licensed Operator
Only use state-licensed sportsbooks. Major national operators include DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, and Fanatics. Each state has its own list of approved operators.
Create and Verify
Sign up with your legal name, date of birth, and SSN (for identity verification). You must verify your identity and age before placing any bets. This is a federal requirement.
Deposit and Bet
Fund your account using accepted payment methods (ACH, debit card, PayPal, etc.). Some states like Massachusetts prohibit credit card deposits. Place your wagers and always bet responsibly.
US sports betting laws
PASPA (1992-2018)
The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act banned sports betting in all states except Nevada, Delaware, Montana, and Oregon. PASPA was struck down by the Supreme Court on May 14, 2018 in Murphy v. NCAA, opening the door for state-by-state legalization.
Murphy v. NCAA (2018)
New Jersey challenged PASPA, arguing it violated the 10th Amendment's anti-commandeering principle. The Supreme Court agreed 7-2, returning authority over sports betting to individual states and creating the modern legal landscape.
Wire Act
The 1961 Wire Act prohibits interstate sports betting transmissions. It remains a federal law that limits how sportsbooks can operate across state lines: each state operation must be fully contained within that state.
UIGEA
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 prohibits processing financial transactions for illegal online gambling. It does not criminalize bettors but restricts unlicensed operators from accessing US banking.
IRS Form W-2G
Sportsbooks must issue a W-2G for winnings of $600 or more when the payout is 300x the wager. Winnings over $5,000 are subject to 24% federal withholding. All gambling income must be reported on Form 1040.
BSA Requirements
Under the Bank Secrecy Act, sportsbooks must file Currency Transaction Reports (CTRs) for cash transactions over $10,000 and Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) when appropriate. All players must verify identity.
Common questions
Is sports betting legal in the United States?
Sports betting legality varies by state. As of April 2026, 38 states plus Washington DC have legalized some form of sports betting; 33 with full online betting (Wisconsin became the 33rd on April 9, 2026), 5 with retail-only. 12 states still prohibit sports betting entirely. Federal law (PASPA) previously banned sports betting nationwide until the Supreme Court struck it down in May 2018, returning authority to individual states.
How old do I need to be to bet on sports in the US?
The minimum age varies by state. Most legal states require bettors to be 21 or older, but 5 states (Kentucky, Montana, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Washington DC, Wyoming) allow 18+. You must be physically located in a legal state to place a wager, regardless of residency.
Which state has the largest sports betting market?
New York is the largest sports betting market in the United States by handle. Despite its 51% tax rate (tied for highest in the nation), New York regularly processes over $2 billion in monthly wagers. New Jersey, Illinois, and Massachusetts round out the top tier of mature markets.
Can I use the same sportsbook account in different states?
Most major sportsbook apps like DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Caesars use a single account that works across all legal states. However, each state has its own specific promotions, and some operators have separate apps in certain markets. You must be physically located in a legal state to place a bet.
What is the highest-taxed state for sports betting?
New York and New Hampshire tie for the highest at 51% of gross gaming revenue. Pennsylvania (36%), Illinois (20-40% tiered plus per-bet fees), Massachusetts (20%), Ohio (20%), and New Jersey (19.75% online, raised in July 2025) also have elevated rates. Nevada and Iowa have the lowest at 6.75%, making them the most operator-friendly markets.
Which states do not allow online sports betting?
As of April 2026, 5 states have retail-only sports betting: Mississippi, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota (limited), South Dakota, and Washington. Wisconsin signed online betting into law on April 9, 2026 via AB 601 but online launch is not expected until 2027 or later pending tribal compact negotiations. Additionally, 12 states prohibit sports betting entirely: Alabama, Alaska, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Minnesota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, and Vermont.
Can I bet on college sports in the US?
Most states allow college sports betting, but many restrict betting on in-state college teams. Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Oregon are among states with in-state college restrictions. Michigan, Colorado, and Nevada allow unrestricted college betting. High school sports betting is prohibited nationwide.
What is PASPA and how did it change?
The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was a 1992 federal law that banned sports betting in all states except Nevada, Delaware, Montana, and Oregon (which had grandfathered protections). In May 2018, the Supreme Court struck down PASPA in Murphy v. NCAA, ruling it unconstitutional and allowing each state to decide its own sports betting laws.