Four states — California, Texas, Utah, and Hawaii — have no legal sports betting, online or retail. That means no licensed sportsbook can take your spread bet there, period.
Why Are Some States Still Locked Out?
The Supreme Court's 2018 ruling in Murphy v. NCAA overturned PASPA and gave each state the right to legalize sports betting on its own timeline. Most states moved quickly. Others haven't moved at all, blocked by constitutional language, political opposition, or failed ballot measures.
Browse the full State Guides: Legal Spread Betting by Jurisdiction to see where every state stands, from live markets to pending legislation.
California: Failed Ballots, Stalled Progress
California is the biggest hold-out. Two ballot measures — Propositions 26 and 27 — both failed in November 2022. Prop 26 would have allowed retail betting at tribal casinos and horse tracks. Prop 27 would have opened the door to mobile wagering via tribal-operator partnerships. Both lost badly. Legislative efforts have continued, but no deal has cleared the finish line as of July 2026.
Texas: Session After Session, Nothing Changes
Texas requires a constitutional amendment to legalize sports betting, which means approval from two-thirds of the legislature plus a statewide voter referendum. Efforts have stalled repeatedly. The 2025 legislative session was flagged as the next real opportunity, but no legal market launched.
Utah: A Flat-Out Constitutional Ban
Utah is the strictest case. The state constitution explicitly prohibits all forms of gambling. There is no path to a licensed sportsbook there without a constitutional amendment — a very high bar. No meaningful legislative effort is underway.
Hawaii: No Legal Market, No Momentum
Hawaii has never had commercial gambling of any kind. Bills to legalize sports betting surface occasionally but have not advanced. As of 2026, it remains fully illegal.
Quick State-by-State Status
| State | Legal Status | Key Barrier | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | Illegal | Failed ballot measures (2022) | Ongoing legislative talks; no timeline |
| Texas | Illegal | Requires constitutional amendment | Stalled; 2025 session came and went |
| Utah | Illegal | Constitutional gambling prohibition | No realistic near-term path |
| Hawaii | Illegal | No commercial gambling tradition | Bills introduced; none advanced |
What About Using a VPN or Offshore Site?
Don't. Licensed sportsbooks use geolocation checks — a VPN triggers account suspension and possible forfeiture of funds. Offshore or unlicensed operators carry no regulatory protection; disputes have no legal remedy. Stick to licensed books in states where you're physically present and legally eligible.
If you're in a state where spread betting is live, see which US states have live regulated spread betting right now for a complete rundown of active markets.
Understanding the Legal Spread Betting Landscape
More than 30 states and Washington D.C. have legal, live online sports betting as of 2024, according to the American Gaming Association's State Gaming Map. That's the majority of the country — but the holdouts above are among the most populous states, which is why the national conversation keeps circling back to them.
Once a state goes live, the mechanics of betting the spread are the same everywhere. Learn what the point spread actually means and how -110 odds translate into real dollars so you're ready the moment your state opens up.
Minimum age in every legal state is 21 for online sports betting. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.