Sports betting has become legal in nearly two dozen states, with many states allowing sportsbooks to go live online. Some of these states allow sportsbooks to take bets on mobile devices. Others require bettors to make wagers in person. In some cases, it’s only the operator who is allowed to take bets.
Nevada has been a longtime leader in the sports betting industry. It has several hundred online sportsbooks. But the state has very few retail locations. The state has a small population, and the only legal sportsbooks are run by lottery-run casinos.
Online betting is legal in Maryland and New York. However, the lottery-run sports betting market in Delaware is largely barred from taking bets on the Internet. This market is also very small, and it has only three retail sportsbooks.
Massachusetts and Maine were the first New England states to legalize sports betting. These states are among the most liberal in the country. They have a number of apps and a limited amount of betting options. If these states ever decide to expand their online betting offerings, they could open up a very interesting digital market.
Virginia has a few online sportsbooks, but it is behind its neighboring states in the handle department. The state’s gaming compact with the Indian tribes could be renegotiated to limit the tribe’s monopoly on the sportsbook market.
Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Vermont are the only New England states that don’t currently allow sports betting. These three states are among the top 25 in the country for dollars bet.