Sports Betting
Legalization Tracker

Alabama has repeatedly failed to pass gaming legislation over the past several years. Needs a 3/5 legislative majority for the constitutional amendment, then voter approval. Social conservative opposition is the primary obstacle.

If SB 257 advances this session, earliest voter referendum would be November 2026. If it stalls (as prior bills have), next realistic shot is 2027-28.

Committee hearing pending; no floor vote scheduled.

Two Georgia House measures failed in 2025 without receiving votes before the legislative deadline. The core debate: whether sports betting can proceed under the existing Lottery framework or requires a constitutional amendment to authorize gambling expansion.

HB 910's lottery-based approach avoids the amendment requirement, which improves its odds. If it passes in 2026, launch could follow in late 2026 or 2027.

Georgia legislative session runs through late March 2026; any 2026 passage requires momentum in Q1.

Hawaii is one of only two states (with Utah) that prohibit all forms of gambling. No existing regulated gambling infrastructure. Strong cultural and political opposition.

Even with February 2026 momentum, any 2026 passage is a long shot. 2027-28 is more realistic if current bills survive this session.

All current Minnesota gambling runs through the 11 federally recognized tribes. The tribes want exclusivity; racetrack operators want a carve-out. Neither side has yielded since the 2022 framework passed.

If tribal/racetrack compromise lands in 2026, launch could follow in 6-12 months. Without compromise, the bill stays on the shelf indefinitely.

Tribal negotiations ongoing through 2026 session.

North Dakota allows limited retail sports betting at tribal casinos under federal IGRA compacts. Online expansion would require either a constitutional amendment or a revised tribal compact; neither has gained traction.

Stalled. Next legislative session is 2027.

Oklahoma tribes and commercial interests have disputed who should control the market for years. Governor and legislature also disagree on revenue allocation. Multiple bills have died in the Senate over the past four sessions.

With HB 1047 defeated in April 2026, the 2026 session is effectively done. Next realistic shot is the 2027 session, assuming the tribal/commercial dispute is resolved.

Requires a constitutional amendment with 2/3 approval in both chambers plus voter ratification. The Texas Legislature meets in odd-numbered years. Lt. Governor Dan Patrick has been the key blocker in the Senate; without his sign-off, no Senate vote advances.

No movement possible until the 2027 session starts January 2027. A 2027 passage is achievable if the political landscape shifts, with earliest possible voter referendum November 2027 and launch in 2028.

2027 Texas legislative session begins January 2027.

Propositions 26 (retail tribal) and 27 (online commercial) both failed at the November 2022 ballot by wide margins. Tribal opposition is the main obstacle: the tribal gaming industry must be brought on board or neutralized before any online sports betting campaign can succeed.

Ballot measure possible in November 2026 midterms, but industry observers consider 2028 more realistic. Any legalization requires a constitutional amendment approved by voters, which means another expensive ballot campaign.

No qualified 2026 ballot measure as of April 2026. California is the single largest unopened US sports betting market.

Alaska has no state gaming commission, no regulated gambling framework, and no serious legislation has advanced. The state has a small population and limited tax-revenue incentive to legalize.

No visible path to legalization in the next 2-3 years. Any effort would need a full regulatory apparatus built from scratch.

Idaho has very limited legal gambling (lottery and tribal bingo only). No serious state legislation has advanced and the legislature has shown no appetite for expansion.

No visible path in the next 2-3 years.

South Carolina has strict anti-gambling laws and no regulated gaming outside the state lottery. Legislative appetite has been near-zero.

No visible path in the next 2-3 years.

Utah is one of only two states (with Hawaii) that prohibit all forms of gambling. The ban is written into the Utah Constitution, which makes legalization impossible without a constitutional amendment.

No visible path. Constitutional amendment would require 2/3 legislative approval then voter ratification, neither of which has meaningful political support.