Topic Cluster 9 states Updated 2026-04-30

By BettingInUnitedStates Editorial Team Reviewed April 30, 2026

Sports Betting in the Southeastern United States

A regional snapshot of sports-betting law and market structure across the Southeast; Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, Kentucky, and others.

Editorial Angle

Why This Group Of States Matters

The Southeast is the most regionally fragmented US sports-betting cluster: monopoly markets (FL), aggressive multi-operator markets (VA, NC, TN), and entirely-illegal holdouts (GA, SC, AL) all coexist. State-line proximity creates real bettor-arbitrage between markets.

9 States

States In This Category

Virginia VA

Operators 13 operators Tracked operators 12 Regulator Virginia Lottery

Virginia launched sports betting in January 2021 with a 15% tax rate. Operators can deduct promotional credits from taxable revenue.

Full Virginia guide → Welcome bonuses →

North Carolina NC

Operators 7 operators Tracked operators 7 Regulator North Carolina State Lottery Commission

North Carolina launched online sports betting in March 2024. After Underdog Sports closed in December 2025, NC has 7 active licensed operators. ESPN BET rebranded to theScore Bet in December 2025. The…

Full North Carolina guide → Welcome bonuses →

Florida FL

Operators 1 operators Tracked operators 1 Regulator Florida Gaming Control Commission

Florida has a unique monopoly model. Hard Rock Bet is the only legal sportsbook, operated by the Seminole Tribe under a compact running through 2051.

Full Florida guide → Welcome bonuses →

Kentucky KY

Operators 9 operators Tracked operators 8 Regulator Kentucky Horse Racing Commission

Kentucky launched sports betting in September 2023. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission regulates the industry with 9.75% online / 14.25% retail tax. Prime Sports became the ninth online operator in …

Full Kentucky guide → Welcome bonuses →

Tennessee TN

Operators 10 operators Tracked operators 9 Regulator Tennessee Sports Wagering Council

Tennessee pioneered the mobile-only model as the first US state to launch sports betting with no retail sportsbooks (Nov 2020). It is also the only state to tax operators on handle (1.85%) rather than…

Full Tennessee guide → Welcome bonuses →

West Virginia WV

Operators 8 operators Tracked operators 8 Regulator West Virginia Lottery

West Virginia was an early mover, launching retail betting in August 2018 and online in December 2018, and it is one of the few states with legal online casino gaming alongside sports betting. The mar…

Full West Virginia guide → Welcome bonuses →

Mississippi MS

Operators 0 operators Tracked operators 5 Regulator Mississippi Gaming Commission

Mississippi has legal retail sports betting at casinos since 2018, but mobile betting is only permitted when physically on-site. A statewide mobile bill, HB 4074, passed the House 100-11 in the 2026 s…

Full Mississippi guide → Welcome bonuses →

Arkansas AR

Operators 3 operators Tracked operators 4 Regulator Arkansas Racing Commission

Arkansas has a unique 51% revenue-share rule that kept major operators out until 2026. DraftKings and FanDuel launched in March 2026, but took over the Southland and Oaklawn casino apps (replacing Bet…

Full Arkansas guide → Welcome bonuses →

Louisiana LA

Operators 8 operators Tracked operators 8 Regulator Louisiana Gaming Control Board

Louisiana has a parish-by-parish approval system. 55 of 64 parishes allow sports betting. The online tax was raised to 21.5% in 2025.

Full Louisiana guide → Welcome bonuses →

Common Questions

What states are in this category?

9 states currently fall in this category: Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana. The list updates whenever a state's market structure changes (operator count, tax rate, or legal status).

Why does this category matter for bettors?

How were these states selected?

States are grouped by US Census Bureau geographic region.

Where can I see the underlying data?

Each state has a dedicated guide page (/states/[slug]/) with the full operator list, tax history, regulator information, and timeline. For aggregate fiscal data across all 38 legal jurisdictions, see our /research/sports-betting-tax-revenue/ analysis.