US States by Region: Casino Legality Index

Browse online casino legality by geographic region. Quickly find your state and see legal status at a glance.

Legal Status Legend

Legal Fully Legal
Restricted Gray Area / Restricted
Illegal Illegal / Banned

Northeast States

Connecticut

Pop: 3.6M • Age 21+

CT
Sweepstakes Illegal
Crypto Restricted
Sportsbooks Legal
Mystery Illegal

Sports betting legal since 2021

Maine

Pop: 1.4M • Age 21+

ME
Sweepstakes Legal
Crypto Restricted
Sportsbooks Legal
Mystery Legal

Sports betting legal since 2026

New Jersey

Pop: 9.3M • Age 21+

NJ
Sweepstakes Illegal
Crypto Restricted
Sportsbooks Legal
Mystery Illegal

Sports betting legal since 2013

New York

Pop: 19.5M • Age 21+

NY
Sweepstakes Illegal
Crypto Restricted
Sportsbooks Legal
Mystery Illegal

Sports betting legal since 2022

Vermont

Pop: 0.7M • Age 21+

VT
Sweepstakes Legal
Crypto Restricted
Sportsbooks Legal
Mystery Legal

Sports betting legal since 2026

Southeast States

Arkansas

Pop: 3.1M • Age 21+

AR
Sweepstakes Legal
Crypto Restricted
Sportsbooks Legal
Mystery Legal

Sports betting legal since 2022

Delaware

Pop: 1.0M • Age 21+

DE
Sweepstakes Legal
Crypto Restricted
Sportsbooks Legal
Mystery Legal

Sports betting legal since 2013

Florida

Pop: 23.0M • Age 18+

FL
Sweepstakes Legal
Crypto Restricted
Sportsbooks Legal
Mystery Legal

Sports betting legal since 2021

Kentucky

Pop: 4.5M • Age 21+

KY
Sweepstakes Legal
Crypto Restricted
Sportsbooks Legal
Mystery Legal

Sports betting legal since 2023

Louisiana

Pop: 4.6M • Age 21+

LA
Sweepstakes Restricted
Crypto Restricted
Sportsbooks Legal
Mystery Restricted

Sports betting legal since 2021

Maryland

Pop: 6.2M • Age 21+

MD
Sweepstakes Legal
Crypto Restricted
Sportsbooks Legal
Mystery Legal

Sports betting legal since 2021

Mississippi

Pop: 2.9M • Age 21+

MS
Sweepstakes Restricted
Crypto Restricted
Sportsbooks Legal
Mystery Restricted

Sports betting legal since 2018

Tennessee

Pop: 7.1M • Age 21+

TN
Sweepstakes Legal
Crypto Restricted
Sportsbooks Legal
Mystery Legal

Sports betting legal since 2020

Virginia

Pop: 8.7M • Age 21+

VA
Sweepstakes Legal
Crypto Restricted
Sportsbooks Legal
Mystery Legal

Sports betting legal since 2021

West Virginia

Pop: 1.8M • Age 21+

WV
Sweepstakes Restricted
Crypto Restricted
Sportsbooks Legal
Mystery Restricted

Sports betting legal since 2019

Midwest States

Illinois

Pop: 12.5M • Age 21+

IL
Sweepstakes Legal
Crypto Restricted
Sportsbooks Legal
Mystery Legal

Sports betting legal since 2020

Indiana

Pop: 6.9M • Age 21+

IN
Sweepstakes Legal
Crypto Restricted
Sportsbooks Legal
Mystery Legal

Sports betting legal since 2019

Iowa

Pop: 3.2M • Age 21+

IA
Sweepstakes Legal
Crypto Restricted
Sportsbooks Legal
Mystery Legal

Sports betting legal since 2019

Kansas

Pop: 3.0M • Age 21+

KS
Sweepstakes Legal
Crypto Restricted
Sportsbooks Legal
Mystery Legal

Sports betting legal since 2022

Michigan

Pop: 10.0M • Age 18+

MI
Sweepstakes Illegal
Crypto Restricted
Sportsbooks Legal
Mystery Illegal

Sports betting legal since 2021

Missouri

Pop: 6.2M • Age 21+

MO
Sweepstakes Legal
Crypto Restricted
Sportsbooks Legal
Mystery Legal

Sports betting legal since 2026

Nebraska

Pop: 2.0M • Age 21+

NE
Sweepstakes Legal
Crypto Restricted
Sportsbooks Legal
Mystery Legal

Sports betting legal since 2021

Ohio

Pop: 11.7M • Age 21+

OH
Sweepstakes Legal
Crypto Restricted
Sportsbooks Legal
Mystery Legal

Sports betting legal since 2023

Southwest States

Arizona

Pop: 7.4M • Age 18+

AZ
Sweepstakes Legal
Crypto Restricted
Sportsbooks Legal
Mystery Legal

Sports betting legal since 2021

New Mexico

Pop: 2.1M • Age 21+

NM
Sweepstakes Legal
Crypto Restricted
Sportsbooks Legal
Mystery Legal

Sports betting legal since 2018

West States

Colorado

Pop: 5.9M • Age 21+

CO
Sweepstakes Legal
Crypto Restricted
Sportsbooks Legal
Mystery Legal

Sports betting legal since 2020

Montana

Pop: 1.1M • Age 18+

MT
Sweepstakes Illegal
Crypto Restricted
Sportsbooks Legal
Mystery Illegal

Sports betting legal since 2020

Nevada

Pop: 3.2M • Age 21+

NV
Sweepstakes Illegal
Crypto Restricted
Sportsbooks Legal
Mystery Illegal

Sports betting legal since 2013

Oregon

Pop: 4.3M • Age 21+

OR
Sweepstakes Legal
Crypto Restricted
Sportsbooks Legal
Mystery Legal

Sports betting legal since 2019

Washington

Pop: 7.9M • Age 18+

WA
Sweepstakes Illegal
Crypto Illegal
Sportsbooks Legal
Mystery Illegal

Sports betting legal since 2020

Wyoming

Pop: 0.6M • Age 21+

WY
Sweepstakes Legal
Crypto Restricted
Sportsbooks Legal
Mystery Legal

Sports betting legal since 2021

Regional Gambling Trends

Northeast

The Northeast has been progressive with online gambling. Several states (NJ, PA, CT, RI) have legalized full online casinos (iGaming). Sports betting is legal in most states. Sweepstakes bans in NY, NJ, and CT reflect shift toward regulated iGaming.

Notable: New Jersey pioneered US online casinos in 2013.

Southeast

Mixed landscape. Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Maryland have legalized sports betting. Delaware and West Virginia offer full iGaming. Most states allow sweepstakes casinos, though regulatory scrutiny is increasing.

Notable: North Carolina legalized sports betting in 2026.

Midwest

Varied regulations. Michigan, Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, and Ohio lead with both sports betting and online casinos. Michigan's sweepstakes ban (2026) signals regulatory shift. Conservative states like Kansas and Nebraska remain cautious.

Notable: Michigan generated $1.8B in online casino revenue (2023).

Southwest

Limited expansion. Arizona legalized sports betting in 2021 via tribal partnerships. Texas remains illegal for all forms despite large population. New Mexico allows tribal casinos only. Oklahoma has strict anti-gambling laws.

Notable: Texas bills to legalize sports betting fail annually.

West

Most restrictive region overall. Nevada has full legal casinos but ironically bans sweepstakes. Washington, Idaho, Utah, and Hawaii ban all forms. California banned sweepstakes in 2026 but failed to legalize sports betting. Colorado and Oregon are permissive.

Notable: Washington has the strictest laws (felony penalties).

Future Outlook

Trend: States moving from unregulated sweepstakes to licensed iGaming/sports betting. Major bans (CA, NY, NJ, MI) suggest sweepstakes era ending in favor of regulated models. Expect more states to legalize sports betting by 2028.

Watch: Texas, Georgia, Missouri sports betting bills (2026-2027).

National Statistics (2026)

37
States Allow Sweepstakes
40
States Legal Sports Betting
48
States Gray Area Crypto
10
States Allow Age 18+

Related Resources