Official betting involves placing wagers on the outcome of a sporting event. These bets can be placed through a sports book, at a casino or online. There are many different ways to place these bets, including spreads, money lines and parlays.

State-by-State Legalized Betting

There are currently thirty-two states that offer some form of official betting. In addition to Nevada, which is primarily known for its in-person sports wagering, there are also options in other states like Arizona and Maryland.

Arizona:

When the US Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, states began to consider their own options for legalized sports betting. As a result, many states have passed sports betting legislation.

Kentucky:

While sports betting isn’t legal in Kentucky yet, there are efforts underway to bring it into the fold. Governor Mike Dunleavy has expressed his support for the legislation, but so far no success has been seen.

New Hampshire:

While no commercial casinos are available in New Hampshire, there are several mobile and online sportsbooks. These include Caesars Sportsbook, FanDuel, DraftKings and BetMGM.

Ohio:

While Ohio does not have a commercial casino, it has approved sports betting. This will be a big draw for fans of both college and professional sports.

Illinois:

While the law isn’t fully legalized in IL, it is expected to be rolled out in 2020. There are a variety of sites to choose from, including DraftKings, BetMGM and PointsBet.