In Which States is Gambling Legal? (2026 Update)
Gambling, in various forms, has often been one of America’s favorite pastimes. Dating as far back as the 1800’s, it has brought along with it much controversy. Over the years, regulations that come with gambling have changed in many ways. What used to be governed at the federal level, has morphed to the local governments calling the shots. If you are not familiar with the laws and regulations as they apply to gambling in your state, it would be to your advantage to do your research.
In the United States, gambling, in some form or fashion, is legal in all states, except in Utah. Regulations are primarily left up to the individual state and, in some cases, to the counties and cities within them. This includes not only specific locations, but also the types of gambling that are allowed in the area.
Because of this, people who participate in these types of activities may have to ensure they have done their due diligence. It is also important to note that some states have or will be filing changes to these guidelines. Since the regulations vary from state to state, it can be challenging if you enjoy gambling and travel around to do so. In light of these varied laws, it is important to understand what they are in the area where you live and/or travel. To learn more about the laws in various regions of the United States, keep reading.
**This blog article was originally published in 2021, but gambling laws are constantly changing so we decided it was time for an update.
Gambling in the South
If you are a gambling fanatic, traveling to the Southern States may not be for you! Majority of these states known for “Southern Hospitality” are rather restrictive when it comes to gambling. For example, states such as Alabama, and Georgia only allow things as dog or horse racing, and some charitable gambling events such as bingo and raffles. Texas allows the same as Alabama and Georgia, but with the added bonus of lotteries being legal.
Previously, Arkansas and Virginia were grouped with these states; however, they recently changed their laws to allow lotteries and commercial gambling, but video lotteries and online gambling still remain prohibited.
Tennessee only allows lotteries and sports betting, while racetrack and horse betting are labeled as illegal. They are also one of the few states to outlaw charitable gambling.
Although most states in the south are highly restrictive when it comes to gambling, there are some that are more permissive and accepting of gambling establishments. Louisiana, and West Virginia are the places to visit, or live, if you consider yourself a gambling aficionado. Although the three states vary on the specifics of allowable types of gaming, they have a more positive view of gambling as a whole.
In Florida commercial gambling is prohibited except for on native lands, which are more abundant than you would think. Otherwise, you can only play the lottery or participate in social/charitable gambling.
There are a few southern states that also added cruise ships and/or riverboats to the list of ways you can legally gamble. Louisiana, Mississippi, and the Carolinas are such states that allow passengers to gamble while on a cruise. While in these states however, you will find yourself restricted to only charitable gambling and state run lotteries.
It shouldn’t be surprising to find that the majority of the southern states are classified as being somewhat restrictive in the laws surrounding gambling. It is also not surprising to learn about some of the states that have a more open policy when it comes to the topic of gambling.
Well-Known Gambling States
For some states, gambling is a common activity. Nevada was one of the first states to legalize gambling establishments, specifically casinos. Nevada is known as the mecca of gambling with little or no restrictions. This means gambling of all sorts is legal. From slot machines to card games, and from skill-required games to games of luck you can find it in this state. Las Vegas, Reno, and Lake Tahoe are the most popular cities for casinos in the state of Nevada. Las Vegas has been known to many tourists as the gambling capital of the United States due to the number of casinos in the city. Just know that if you want to play the lottery, this is one of the few states where it is completely prohibited.
New Jersey is also well known for its legal gambling environment. Atlantic City is a tourist destination for many adults who enjoy visiting casinos. According to the state laws, this is the only place it is considered legal to gamble in the state. In addition, racing, state lottery, and other charitable gambling events are also a part of this state’s culture, legally since 1976.
People from all over the world flock to these destinations yearly to partake in gambling opportunities. While both are widely visited, Las Vegas tends to have more of a tourist attraction with the variety of accommodations and casinos.
Let’s Talk Native American Land
Although the laws of gambling are regulated differently from state to state, there are areas of the United States where gambling is governed differently. Native American tribes are considered to be unique and sovereign in many respects. Gambling establishments are one of the areas where the laws are somewhat different. Close to thirty states in the U.S. have these tribal reservations who choose to run casinos on their land.
As long as these gambling establishments are built within the reservation boundaries, tribes are allowed to own and operate them. There are certain restrictions that come from the IGRA (Indian Gaming Regulatory Act). While tribes must adhere to the regulations within the Act, they still retain their authority to govern and conduct business based on local demand.
Part of the regulations for owning and operating gambling establishments on tribal lands is that the revenues and proceeds have to be used for charitable and governmental purposes. In addition, these revenues are exempt from federal and state taxes unless they are divided and given to individual tribal members. It is interesting to note that the amount of revenue brought in from casinos that are located on Native American reservations is typically more than the casinos of Las Vegas and Atlantic City combined.
Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island are other notable states where all forms of gambling are legal, even if they are not as well known for this fact.
Gambling in Other States
Of course, we didn’t mention all the states here—as there is more to the United States than just the south and Nevada and New Jersey. Here is a quick rundown on the remaining states:
Alaska = Only charitable gambling permitted
Arizona = Charitable, lotteries, and sports betting
Colorado = Everything but online gambling is allowed
Connecticut = Charitable, lotteries, online gambling, and sports betting allowed
Hawaii = Prohibits all gambling
Idaho = Only charitable gambling and lotteries allowed
Kansas = Charitable, lotteries, and sports betting allowed
Kentucky = Strangely allows everything except commercial gambling
Maine = Allows everything except online gambling
Maryland = Allows everything except online gambling
Massachusetts = Allows everything except online gambling
Minnesota = Charitable, lotteries, and racetrack betting allowed
Missouri = Charitable, lotteries, commercial gambling, and sports betting allowed
Nebraska = Everything except online gambling allowed
New Hampshire = Charitable, lotteries, online gambling, and sports betting permitted.
North Dakota = Charitable, lotteries, and commercial gambling allowed
Oklahoma = Charitable, lotteries, video lotteries, and sports betting allowed.
Oregon = Allows everything except commercial and online gambling.
South Dakota = Allows everything except commercial gambling.
Utah = Prohibits all gambling
Vermont = Only charitable and lotteries allowed
Washington = Allows everything except commercial and online gambling
Wisconsin = Allows charitable, lotteries, and sports betting.
Wyoming = Allows charitable, lotteries, commercial gambling, and sports betting.
In conclusion, regulation of legalized gambling within the United States has changed many times over the years. It is important to review the laws before participating in any gambling activity within the state you live in to ensure it is legal. When traveling around the country, it would be to your advantage to know more about the laws and regulations of the state you are visiting or you could find yourself charged with illegal gambling.
