TL;DR
- The legal status of esports betting varies by state.
- 19 US states have legalized esports betting over the last decade.
- Some states have unclear laws regarding esports betting.
- There are different types of esports betting, and some differ in legality.
- Aspiring bettors may be restricted based on age and other factors.
As of May 2025, 19 US states have legalized esports betting, 13 prohibit it, and 19 states fall into a legal gray area.
Esports betting is legal in many parts of the US, but whether you can participate depends on the laws in the state you call home. Some states have fully regulated esports betting scenes, while the same activity is explicitly illegal in others.
We will walk you through which states allow esports betting and explain what you should know if you plan to place a wager in the future. These are the most up-to-date US gambling laws regarding esports and competitive video games.
Is esports betting legal in the US?
As of May 2025, esports betting is not legal at the federal level in the United States. However, some states have taken it upon themselves to enact legislation legalizing esports wagering via online betting platforms.
So, which US states allow esports betting in 2025?
The lists below detail which states allow legal esports gambling and which don’t, and specify every state with legal gray areas.
US states where esports betting is legal
Esports betting is explicitly legal in 19 US states. The table below details which states have legalized placing wagers on esports competitions, plus details about the legislation.
| State | Legal status in 2025 | Legal age |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | Arizona has legalized esports betting. SB1797 specifically includes esports under its list of what is considered a sports event. Regulated platforms can legally organize esports bets. | 21 |
| Colorado | There are some restrictions for esports betting in Colorado, like a ban on betting for certain high school events. However, many sportsbooks do accept esports bets, and it is currently legal under HB1327. | 21 |
| Connecticut | Esports betting is legal in Connecticut under HB6451, which legalized many types of sports wagering, though with some restrictions. Many collegiate competitions may be excluded from legality if they don’t meet the proper criteria described by HB6451. | 21 |
| Kentucky | The Kentucky Racing Commission has authorized legal betting on various popular esports games. Under KR230.808, betting platforms operating in Kentucky can accept bets on certain electronic sports tournaments if it’s authorized by the Kentucky Racing Commission. | 18 |
| Louisiana | Under the authorization of SB247, bets can be legally placed on competitive video games or esports events. Sportsbooks can provide a legal avenue to bet on certain competitions. | 21 |
| Maine | Esports betting is not prohibited in Maine; the law (LD 585) permits wagering on “virtual sports competition,” suggesting it is legally allowed. | 21 |
| Maryland | Sports wagering has been legal in the state of Maryland for many years, which includes esports gambling. However, SB1033 may make online sports betting illegal again in 2025. | 21 |
| Massachusetts | As long as an esports event is authorized by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, bettors can place wagers on competitive video game tournaments. | 21 |
| Nebraska | LB561 allows for legal sports betting in Nebraska, and electronic sports are included under the definition of acceptable sports as of 2025. | 21 |
| Nevada | SB240 legalized sports betting on a variety of events, which included esports competitions. The Esports Advisory Committee in Nevada has helped establish regulations for esports betting and similar gambling practices. | 21 |
| New Jersey | New Jersey has approved esports betting so long as high school students and minors aren’t involved in the competition. Electronic sports are specifically included within the guidelines. | 21 |
| North Carolina | North Carolina law includes electronic sports under its definition. HB347 is the legislation that legalized esports betting. | 21 |
| Ohio | Ohio has legalized various sports betting activities, including placing wagers on esports events, according to HB29. Betting on participants of a young age is still seemingly restricted. | 21 |
| Tennessee | A bill in 2019 legalized sports betting, which includes esports under its definition. | 21 |
| Vermont | Authorized esports events can be bet on via regulated betting platforms according to the Sports Wagering Procedures in Vermont. | 21 |
| Virginia | SB384 introduced legal sports betting to Virginia, which extends to electronic sports. | 21 |
| Washington State | Washington state has not only legalized sports betting but also specifically described esports as part of its definition. HB2638 authorizes legal sports wagering on events and electronic sports competitions | 18-21 |
| West Virginia | West Virginia legalized placing wagers on esports events via HB4826. | 21 |
| Wyoming | HB133 in Wyoming is clear that sports wagering is a legal activity, and electronic sports fall under the acceptable range of competitions. | 18-21 |
US states where esports betting is illegal
We’ve also compiled a list of states where esports betting is illegal. As of May 2025, esports betting is prohibited in the following 13 states:
| State | Legal status in 2025 |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Sports betting is illegal in Alabama as of 2025. |
| Alaska | Sports betting in general is not legal in Alaska in 2025, which includes esports wagers. |
| California | Sports betting, including esports, is not yet legal in California for bettors of any age. |
| Georgia | Betting on sports or esports is illegal in the state of Georgia. |
| Hawaii | Sports betting is entirely illegal in Hawaii, but future legislation could legalize it. |
| Idaho | Idaho remains a state where all forms of sports betting are illegal, including wagers on electronic sports. |
| Indiana | Esports gambling has not been legally authorized by Indiana in 2025, and past legislation points towards esports gambling being specifically illegal, especially if it involves athletes under 18. |
| Minnesota | Esports betting, along with bets placed on traditional sports events, is illegal and unauthorized under Minnesota law in 2025. However, efforts have been made to try to legalize sports wagers. |
| Oklahoma | Sports and esports betting isn’t legal in Oklahoma as of 2025. |
| Pennsylvania | Esports wagering is not legal in Pennsylvania. |
| South Carolina | Betting on both sports and esports isn’t legal in South Carolina. |
| Texas | Placing bets on sporting and esports events isn’t legal in 2025. |
| Utah | Utah does not allow bettors to place wagers on sports or esports events. |
US states where esports betting legal status is unclear (19 states)
However, the legality of esports betting is unclear in many states. Oftentimes, lawmakers have chosen to legalize sports betting, but haven’t bothered to note whether esports betting is explicitly legal.
| State | Legal status in 2025 |
|---|---|
| Arkansas | Though the sports betting market is a legal form of gambling in Arkansas, esports wagers have not yet been explicitly legalized. |
| Delaware | Esports betting hasn’t been legalized in Delaware, despite regular sports wagers being legal. |
| Florida | Florida hasn’t passed legislation specifically legalizing esports betting. Some forms of traditional sports betting are legal in Florida, though. |
| Illinois | The esports betting industry isn’t explicitly legal in Illinois, though it may be legalized in the future. |
| Iowa | Sports betting is legal in Iowa, but esports don’t fall under the definition of acceptable sports events. |
| Kansas | Though SB84 didn’t specifically include esports betting, the Kansas Racing and Gaming Committee can permit placing bets on competitive video game events. |
| Michigan | Sports wagering is now legal in Michigan, but esports betting hasn’t been singled out as legal yet. |
| Mississippi | Sports betting is legalized in Mississippi, but esports isn’t detailed, so it doesn’t appear legal unless specifically authorized in the future. |
| Missouri | Though sports betting isn’t yet available legally in Missouri, recent legislation may make it legal by 2025. Esports gambling could potentially meet the necessary criteria to become legal. |
| Montana | Esports betting isn’t explicitly legal in Montana in 2025, though the current legalization of regular sports wagers could present an opportunity to include esports down the line. |
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire laws don’t specifically allow for esports betting, but sports betting is currently legal, so it could eventually be available in the state. |
| New Mexico | Sports betting isn’t exactly legalized in New Mexico, though there are some operators who offer relevant bets. As of now, it appears that esports wagering specifically isn’t directly legal and isn’t being offered in the state. |
| New York | Sports betting is authorized in New York, but esports hasn’t been specified yet. As such, the legal status of esports betting in New York is in limbo, as it’s not technically legal. However, sports betting is largely regulated in New York. |
| North Dakota | Esports betting isn’t common in North Dakota. However, tribal casinos do allow bets on sports events, so online esports betting might become legal and regulated in the future. |
| Oregon | Esports betting isn’t specifically regulated in Oregon yet, but sports wagering in general is legalized. |
| Puerto Rico | Puerto Rico has legalized general sports betting, but the legal framework for esports wagering is not clearly defined in 2025, making its status uncertain. |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island has not explicitly declared esports betting legal, but regular sports gambling is authorized. |
| South Dakota | Sports betting is legal in South Dakota, but esports gambling isn’t specifically authorized by the state. |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin does allow for legal sports gambling by certain operators, like tribal nations. The legality of online esports gambling remains unaddressed, so it’s not technically legal. |
Legality by esports type
Typically, esports betting refers to placing wagers on different factors surrounding major tournaments. As such, legalized sports gambling primarily targets typical wagers, though other types of betting exist as well.
Skins gambling
Skins gambling allows you to place a bet on esports tournaments by offering a cosmetic item as a stake. Bettors can even gain real money for a successful wager, presenting a tempting situation for many with unused skins.
However, skin betting websites are rarely regulated, so it’s often considered a legal gray area in the United States compared to more common types of esports gambling. Overall, skins gambling can be risky due to malicious websites, and it often presents an unclear legal situation due to lack of regulations.
Fantasy sports betting
Contests for daily fantasy sports (DFS) are generally legal in the United States, though a select few states have banned every major app, like DraftKings.
The list below details which states explicitly don’t allow any type of DFS betting or require extra steps as of May 2025, though a few of these locations are considering its legalization.
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Montana
- Nevada
- Washington
Requirements & responsibilities to place esports bets legally in the US
- Age
- Physical location
- Declaring taxes on successful bets
- Using a legal betting platform
Esports betting is typically performed online via gambling websites and apps. Bettors will need access to an internet connection to participate, but there are also extra requirements you must meet to place a wager legally. Age is one of the core restrictions for gambling in all 50 states.
Another requirement is location, as you must be physically inside a state where esports gambling is legal.
Geolocation tools are often used to track where a bettor is before they can place a wager, so you’ll need to be within a legal state to begin gambling.
Most Americans over 21 meet the requirements to place bets on esports competitions, so long as they’re located in a state where it’s legal.
Conclusion: Esports betting varies by state
Like gambling on traditional sports, the legal status of esports betting varies significantly based on the state in which you live. Certain types of gambling, like skins betting, may be less regulated than typical wagers placed on common factors, like the winner of a tournament.
Bettors should make sure that esports gambling is legal in their state to avoid trouble with the local laws. As the market is constantly growing, the list of states explicitly allowing esports betting might expand.
FAQ
Online esports betting is legal in parts of the US, but only in states that have specifically authorized it.
Yes, bets can be placed on a variety of categories, including eliminations and which team will win. However, you should check your local legislation before choosing a betting platform and placing a bet.
The minimum age for legal sports betting varies between US states. Generally, you must be 18 or 21 to place bets on sports or esports competitions.
Most states either allow esports betting or don’t have specific laws prohibiting it. As of May 2025, 19 US states have legalized esports betting, 13 prohibit it, and 19 states have not specifically addressed esports in their regulations.
Check your state’s official gaming commission or gambling authority website for a list of licensed operators. You can also verify legality by visiting reputable sportsbooks and checking their licenses.
References
- https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/55leg/1r/bills/sb1797p.htm (Azleg)
- https://legiscan.com/CO/bill/HB1327/2019 (LegiScan)
- https://legiscan.com/CT/text/HB06451/id/2408876 (LegiScan)
- https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=54735 (Apps.legislature.ky)
- https://legis.la.gov/legis/BillInfo.aspx?i=241042 (Legis.la)
- https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/sb1033 (Mgaleg Maryland)
- https://massgaming.com/wp-content/uploads/205-CMR-247.00-%E2%80%93-Uniform-Standards-of-Sports-Wagering.pdf (Massgaming)
- https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=44291(Nebraska Legislature)
- https://legiscan.com/NV/text/SB240/2017 (LegiScan)
- https://gaming.nv.gov/about/committees/etac/ (Gaming.nv)
- https://www.nj.gov/oag/ge/docs/SportsBetting/PublishedproposalJan7th2019.pdf (Nj)
- https://lrs.sog.unc.edu/bill-summaries-lookup/H/347/2023-2024%20Session/H347 (Lrs.sog.unc)
- https://www.lsc.ohio.gov/assets/organizations/legislative-service-commission/files/digest-of-2021-enactments-gambling.pdf (Lsc.ohio)
- https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/acts/111/pub/pc0507.pdf (Publications.tnsosfiles)
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- https://legiscan.com/VA/text/SB384/id/2183406 (LegiScan)
- https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2019-20/Pdf/Bills/House%20Passed%20Legislature/2638-S.PL.pdf (Lawfilesext.leg.wa)
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- https://wyoleg.gov/Legislation/2021/HB0133 (Wyoleg)