When the Supreme Court struck down PASPA in 2018, it opened the door for every state in the country to legalize betting on sports— if the state wanted to. Some states were quick to act, others were not so quick, and a few have no interest at all.

• Sports Betting Legalization By States
• Legal Sports Betting By State
• Sports Betting Revenue By State

But since 2018, 25 states have legalized some form of sports betting, either in-person, online, or both; sports betting has gone live in 20. Last year, Washington D.C. and five states took their first legal bets.

Three states had voters give their government the green light to move forward with legalizing sports. Whether that is online or in-person remains to be seen. But if states want to maximize their revenue potential, online and mobile betting is the wave of the future.

Online Sports Betting In 2021

So far, only 15 states have launched online sports betting. Michigan became the latest when it launched on January 22, 2021, with ten sportsbooks going online.

Virginia launched online betting the day before. FanDuel was the first to launch but has already been followed by DraftKings, BetMGM and BetRivers.

Sports betting is legal in the state of Oregon, but the options are limited. The State Lottery, who also regulates the industry, launched its sports wagering app called Scoreboard in 2019. Alternatively, you can place in-person wagers at the Chinook Winds casino.

States classified as “Legal – Not Yet Operational” have authorized sports betting, but have yet to launch. “Active or Pre-Filed Legislation” denotes jurisdictions where bills to legalize single-game sports betting have been pre-filed/introduced in the state legislature or where a voter referendum is scheduled. Legal Washington sports betting options. There are no sportsbooks open in Washington yet as Gov. Jay Inslee only signed the bill into law in March. While an emergency clause in the bill made sports betting legal immediately, the tribes still need to add sports betting into their compacts with the state. 1 day ago  Nevada-based Maverick Gaming is pushing for the expansion of sports betting outside of Washington state tribal casinos through Senate Bill 5212. Last March, Gov. Jay Inslee signed into law. Currently, 25 states and the District of Columbia have legalized sports betting in some form (not all are operational) and several more states are in the process of doing so. The result of the game matters as states generally do not tax the handle, but instead tax the adjusted revenue, which is revenue after winnings are paid out.

Prior to Virginia and Michigan, the last state to launch online betting was Tennessee in November 2020.

As for who is next, the obvious candidates are the five states that have voted to legalize sports betting but have yet to launch: Washington, North Carolina, Louisiana, Maryland, and South Dakota.

But Maryland is the only one of the five to approve of both online and in-person betting. However, legislation still needs to be passed and a regulatory framework established.

Maryland sounds like the most promising state to launch online betting next. Technically, Washington could beat them to the punch. But in Washington, mobile betting will only be allowed while physically on the premises of one of the state’s tribal casinos.

Future US Sports Betting States

Of the states where sports betting is legal but has yet to launch online, it is hard to say if any of them will make a move this year (if ever):

• It has been discussed in Arkansas, but there is no reason to think anything will change.
• Delaware was the first to legalize sports betting following the Supreme Court’s decision in 2018 but has shown no interest in allowing online betting.
• New Mexico is not licensing online sportsbooks, but that could change if the Gaming Recovery Act proposed last year becomes law.

Technically, Mississippi and Montana have mobile betting, but only while bettors are present at a retail location.

Sports Betting Legalization By States

With the outlook for online betting looking dim in many of the states where sports betting is legal, there is a good chance the next state(s) to launch online may be one that has yet to approve legislation. There are currently 12 states with legislation under consideration.

But many are only considering sports betting at retail locations. As for online betting, some of the more promising states include:

• Connecticut: It has been under discussion for some time with several bills on the table. The hold-up seems to be the inability of the state and tribal groups to figure out how to do it. DraftKings’ recent partnership with the Foxwoods Resort and Casino may speed things along.
• Massachusetts: The Bay State is another state where the problem does not seem to be whether they should legalize sports betting, but how. Last year, lawmakers tried to tie in a sports betting bill with Coronavirus relief. But other lawmakers favored making a separate bill altogether to approve sports betting. The interest seems to be there; it is just a matter of making it happen.
• Kansas: A bill made it through the Kansas Senate last February but stalled when the pandemic hit. Whether it is revived or not, there does seem to be substantial interest in legalizing betting online and at retail locations.

There has also been renewed interest in New York since Governor Cuomo decided to reverse course and support online sports betting.

DOVER — Are you ready for some football, Delaware?

If the Chiefs hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy again tonight, that’s good news for the First State’s coffers.

The state of Delaware gains $104,000 for its General Fund with a Kansas City Super Bowl LV win and loses $15,100 with a Tampa Bay upset.

That’s based on futures bets — wagering on a team to win the Super Bowl at ever-changing odds throughout the year.

In the futures wagering, favorite Kansas City’s odds began at 4-1 in September and dropped to 9-5 in December, meaning there was less risk to the state if bettors cashed in.

The Buccaneers were a longer shot to win (12-1 at the season’s opening kickoff and throughout the year), meaning the payoff would be higher for bettors.

Whether Tampa’s Tom Brady is a champion again or the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes repeats as No. 1, the First State will add millions of dollars to its coffers overall.

Heading into the final week, the Delaware Sports Lottery held on to $22.4 million of $61.1 million wagered on NFL and NCAA games.

The ultimate overall outcome wasn’t certain, due to ongoing bets right up to the big game today.

Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

The state figures to make out pretty well this year on professional and college sports bets placed at Delaware’s three casinos and at retailers throughout the state.

After paying off the state’s three casino sportsbooks in Dover, Harrington and Wilmington, along with vendors and retailers, the Delaware Sports Lottery will deposit the remaining profits into the General Fund, state Lottery Director Vernon Kirk said. That amounted to $9 million as the Super Bowl approached, with several days of wagering remaining.

Mr. Kirk called the football numbers “outstanding” and attributed much of the state’s success to the uncertainty that COVID-19 brought to the season.

Gauging team’s potential performances was perhaps more challenging due to uncertain player availability and scheduling upheavals that marked many games played in the 2020-21 season, according to Mr. Kirk.

“We were very lucky in that regard,” he said.

Delawareans’ ongoing preference to parlay cards continued to pay off, as well, Mr. Kirk said. Where single-game bets require just one team to come through, the only way to win a parlay is to correctly pick at least three outcomes, albeit at higher payoffs if successful.

Since their inception in 2009, the state has always marketed parlay cards as a more recreational experience, Mr. Kirk said, “and people got used to it.

Legal Sports Betting By State

“It was promoted more of a fun, casual venture to have fun with, not something that’s seen as making an investment (in an attempt to make serious money).”

The final parlay card to this season includes propositions such as:

• Coin toss heads or tails.

• Team with the shortest made field goal in the game.

• First team to commit an accepted penalty.

• Team with last possession of the game.

• Passing yards by Mr. Mahomes, even or odd number.

• Passing yards by Mr. Brady, even or odd number.

• Total points by Chiefs, even or odd number.

• Total points by Buccaneers, even or odd number.

Going 3-for-3 on selections would earn $6.50 for every dollar bet. Payoffs increase from there, topped by 10-for-10 earning $800 per dollar. Minimum wagers are $2.

At Cheswold News & Tobacco, a steady stream of would-be bettors entered the doors last week for the final parlay card of the gridiron season.

“They’re taking cards, and I’m sure they’re going to make some interesting bets,” owner Dave Hollen said. “If it’s football season, (then) people are going to come in and play. We’re probably up in parlays compared to last year.

“It may have been a bit slower to start the season due to coronavirus, but once people got used to the hours, the distancing, the masks, it was pretty much the same it’s always been.”

At Mike’s Food Market in Milford, however, owner Mike Patel wasn’t feeling so fortunate.

“The parlays have been down during the coronavirus. Maybe people don’t have a lot of money,” he said. “(It’s not as exciting), but there’s nothing we can do about it.”

Sports Betting Revenue By State

There are still single bets available today at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, Harrington Casino & Raceway and Delaware Park sportsbooks, starting with the spread that listed the Chiefs as a three-point favorite.

Money to Delaware

The First State’s General Fund has received approximately $13 million from all sports wagering (football, baseball, basketball, etc.) from July 1, 2020, to Jan. 31, 2021.

Pro football futures wagering dropped from approximately $327,000 out of $67.7 million overall last year to $217,600 out of $66.1 million this year, Mr. Kirk said.

College football wagering also dropped, due to games canceled by the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Kirk said, but the NFL was less affected due to being able to play all scheduled games, even if delayed.

The 2020 numbers through the start of last week included:

• College football (straight bets) — $7.9 million.

• Professional football (straight bets) — $22.3 million.

• College and professional football (parlay bets) — $35.9 million.

The overall 2019 numbers included:

• College football (straight bets) — $10.6 million.

• Professional football (straight bets) — $22 million.

• College and professional football (parlay bets) — $35.1 million.

The sportsbooks receive 40% of money not returned to bettors, while the state’s General Fund receives 50% (less administrative expenses). The other 10% goes to supplement purses through the Delaware Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association and the Delaware Standardbred Owners Association.

Retailers receive a commission of 5% of parlay sales, while money also goes to winning players and vendors. Delaware takes 90% of the handle (minus administrative costs) for the General Fund, while 10% goes to supplement purses offered at DTHA and DSOA tracks.

Across the country

According to American Gaming Association research, 23.2 million Americans nationally plan to bet a total of $4.3 billion on this year’s Super Bowl. There’s been a huge uptick in online sportsbook wagering, where the AGA said a record 7.6 million persons will take part, a 63% increase from the year before.

“This year’s Super Bowl is expected to generate the largest single-event legal handle in American sports-betting history,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. “With a robust legal market, Americans are abandoning illegal bookies and taking their action into the regulated marketplace in record numbers.”

Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Montana, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington, D.C., have added legal sports-betting opportunities since last year’s Super Bowl. That means another 36 million adults can place wagers in their home state, the AGA said.

According to the AGA, key findings from its research (conducted by Morning Consult) indicate shifting betting patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic:

• 1.4 million Americans plan to bet in person at a sportsbook, down 61% from 2020.

• 1.8 million bettors plan to place a bet with a bookie, down 21%.

• 4.5 million Americans plan to place a pool, squares or similar bet, down 19%.

• 11.9 million Americans plan to bet casually with friends, down 18%.

• 56% of bettors plan to bet on the Chiefs, while 44% plan to bet on the Buccaneers.

Reach staff writer Craig Anderson at canderson@newszap.com