More than 30 US states plus Washington D.C. have live, regulated online sportsbooks where you can legally bet the spread right now. If you're in one of those states, you're one licensed app away from placing your first wager.
Which States Are Legal and Live for Spread Betting?
The Supreme Court's 2018 ruling in Murphy v. NCAA struck down PASPA and let each state decide its own sports betting fate. Dozens moved quickly. Below is a snapshot of the states covered in the research material.
| State | Status | Regulator | Minimum Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | Legal & live | NJ Division of Gaming Enforcement | 21 |
| Pennsylvania | Legal & live | Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board | 21 |
| Michigan | Legal & live | Michigan Gaming Control Board | 21 |
| New York | Legal & live (mobile since Jan 2022) | NY State Gaming Commission | 21 |
| Illinois | Legal & live | Illinois Gaming Board | 21 |
| Colorado | Legal & live | Colorado Division of Gaming | 21 |
| Arizona | Legal & live | Arizona Department of Gaming | 21 |
| Tennessee | Legal & live (online only) | TN Sports Wagering Advisory Council | 21 |
The full picture across all 30+ legal states is tracked by the American Gaming Association's state gaming map. A few states, like Wyoming and New Hampshire, set the minimum age at 18 rather than 21 — always confirm the rule in your state before registering.
Where Is Spread Betting Still Blocked?
Not every state has moved. California, Texas, Utah, and Hawaii remain off the table. Utah bans sports betting by state law. Hawaii has no legal market at all. California's Propositions 26 and 27 both failed at the November 2022 ballot, and renewed efforts are ongoing. Texas has repeatedly stalled in the legislature; the next opening is the 2025 session. For a deeper look at the holdout states, see where spread betting is still illegal.
How Do I Know Which Operators Are Licensed in My State?
FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars, and ESPN Bet are live across most legal states. Each holds state-specific licenses through casino or lottery partnerships — they can't legally take your bet unless they're approved in your state. The apps use geolocation to confirm you're physically inside a legal state when you bet. VPNs trigger account suspension and can cost you your funds.
Before depositing, cross-check the operator against your state regulator's licensed-operator list. It takes two minutes and removes all doubt. For side-by-side comparisons of the top books and their spread lines, the top-rated sportsbooks for betting the spread in 2026 page breaks it all down.
What About the Northeast — New York and New Jersey Specifically?
Both are among the highest-handle markets in the country. New York launched mobile betting in January 2022 and quickly became one of the largest sports betting markets by volume. New Jersey has been live since 2018 and remains a benchmark for regulation. For the full detail on regulators, age rules, and which apps operate in each state, check the guide on betting the spread in NY and NJ.
Does Legality Affect How Spread Bets Work?
The mechanics don't change based on state. A -6.5 favorite still needs to win by 7 or more. The standard price is still -110. A push still refunds your stake. What changes is which apps you can access and which regulator handles complaints. For a refresher on the core mechanics, the plain-English point spread explainer covers the basics, and how -110 odds work explains the vig built into every line.
One thing that doesn't change regardless of state: spread bet winnings are federally taxable as ordinary income. A W-2G is issued for qualifying wins. See how taxes on spread bet winnings work before your first cash-out. Must be 21+ in most states (18+ in a few). Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Ready to Explore State-by-State Details?
The legal map keeps expanding. Check the full state guides for legal spread betting by jurisdiction for individual breakdowns as new markets open. New states routinely launch mid-year, so it's worth a quick look even if your state wasn't live the last time you checked.