The start of the 2021 NFL Season has started off with a bang, of course, with much anticipation and the familiar faces of our favorite players. But for some, football season now brings the opportunity to participate in legal online sports betting for the first time.
Since the PASPA ruling in 2018, various states have integrated retail and mobile sports betting into their gambling markets.
Some, like Tennessee and Wyoming, have opted for strictly online wagering. Others, like Mississippi, have gone the more traditional route and implemented only retail betting.
With the NFL betting online kicking into full gear, PlayUSA has created this handy guide to help you navigate uncharted waters. Below, you will find a list of states with mobile sports betting – meaning you can bet from anywhere in state lines that has cell reception – and the number of betting apps in each state, from most to least. If a state doesn’t appear, there is no legal option for statewide online betting.
Don’t be surprised if you see several repetitive names on the list. This is because while the market stretches across the US, it is populated by the same operators.
Colorado sportsbooks: 25
The Centennial State features the most mobile sports betting apps in the US, which is quite impressive considering Colorado online sports betting arrived a full two years after the PASPA ruling.
Since mobile wagering is legal, fans have the ability to bet on their phones while seated inside Empower Field at Mile High, home of the Denver Broncos (NFL).
The state also features a respected college football fan base. The Rocky Mountain Showdown is played annually between the Colorado State Rams (Mountain West) and Colorado Buffaloes (Pac-12). Unfortunately, the game was canceled for the 2020 season due to the pandemic, the first time since 1994. Due to scheduling conflicts, the next time both teams face off against one another will be on Sept. 16, 2023.
Popular sports betting apps include:
DraftKings Sportsbook: one of the well-known apps in the US, DraftKings is a popular choice for those entering the sports betting market.
FanDuel Sportsbook: includes a partnership with the Broncos and recently held its first-ever FanDuel FanFest at the stadium.
Barstool Sportsbook: a relative newcomer to Colorado, Barstool, owned by Penn National Gaming, has quietly become a fan favorite in the sports betting market.
Other notable sportsbooks: Caesars Sportsbook, BetMGM, PointsBet, and WynnBet.
Mobile registration: Yes
New Jersey sportsbooks: 18
Crowned “the hub” of sports betting in the US by some, the Garden State has over a dozen NJ online sportsbooks available at your fingertips. Nobody does online sports betting better than New Jersey. It continues to be the gold standard when referencing sports betting handle, revenue, and consumer protections.
Customers can also place bets inside The Meadowlands stadium while cheering on the New York Jets or New York Giants.
Popular sport betting apps include:
FanDuel Sportsbook: the top-earning sportsbook in the state. FanDuel has a deal with The Meadowlands, home of the New York Jets and New York Giants.
Caesars Sportsbook: one of the largest casino operators in the US, Caesars is a go-to online option in NJ with its land-based affiliate, Caesars Atlantic City.
Golden Nugget Sportsbook: easily the top online casino option in the state, Golden Nugget also has a popular sportsbook app.
Other notable sportsbooks: 888 Sport, Unibet, BetAmerica, SugarHouse
Mobile registration: Yes
Michigan sportsbooks: 14
Much like other states on this list, Michigan sports betting provides several online options for customers to choose from. Additionally, a number of tribal sportsbooks are open near the Indiana border, making the state successful on the retail side of things.
Additionally, since mobile sports betting is legal across the state, fans can place bets inside Ford Field home of the Detroit Lions (NFL).
Popular sports betting apps:
DraftKings Sportsbook: great odds, easy sign-up, and a partnership with the Bay Mills Indian Community.
BetMGM Sportsbook: this is a no-brainer considering the company owns the MGM Grand in downtown Detroit.
FanDuel Sportsbook: if you’re a Detroit Lions fan, then FanDuel is the mobile sportsbook for you.
Other notable sportsbooks: FireKeepers Sportsbook, Barstool Sportsbook, PointsBet
Mobile registration: Yes
Indiana sportsbooks: 13
The Hoosier State is home to many of the top IN sports betting operators in the US. Its betting market relies heavily on NFL betting and College basketball.
This means if you’re catching an Indianapolis Colts (NFL) game at Lucas Oil Stadium, you can place a bet while you have yourself a cold beer.
BetRivers Sportsbook: the product of Rush Street Interactive, BetRivers offers the most “in-depth” loyalty program found in Indiana.
PointsBet Sportsbook: a fan favorite. PointsBet offers several betting promos like “bad beats” and “good karma.”
Barstool Sportsbook: a new addition to Indiana, Barstool uses its media personalities to help create special parlay bets.
Other notable sportsbooks: theScore, BetAmerica, WynnBet
Mobile registration: Yes
Pennsylvania sportsbooks: 13
If you find yourself on a chilly October afternoon at Heinz Field rooting for the Pittsburg Steelers or at Lincoln Financial Field watching the Philadelphia Eagles, you will have the ability to place a bet from inside the stadium.
PA online sports betting has continued to be one of the top five betting markets in the US each month. The reason being, a vast network of sportsbook operators.
Popular sports betting apps:
FOX Bet Sportsbook: available for iOS and Android users, FOX Bet continues to grow in popularity.
BetRivers Sportsbook: as mentioned, BetRivers knows how to do sports betting the right way.
Caesars Sportsbook: an easy-to-use app with excellent odds, promos, and rewards.
Other notable sportsbooks: DraftKings, FanDuel, Barstool, Unibet
Mobile registration: Yes
Nevada sportsbooks: 12
Finally, the NFL has a stake in Las Vegas Although Raiders tickets may be hard to come by, if you find yourself inside Allegiant Stadium (home of the Las Vegas Raiders) you can place bets while soaking in the views.
Even though Nevada online sports betting has been around since 2010, it has been a slow burn. One of the major hurdles is, online sports betting can only function through a mobile app. Sports betting via a laptop or desktop computer is prohibited.
Additionally, you have to physically sign-up for a sports betting account at a licensed casino.
Popular sports betting apps:
BetMGM Sportsbook: with 10 casinos utilizing the BetMGM app, it won’t be hard to find a casino to run into and sign-up for an account.
Caesars Sportsbook: old reliable with over 11 locations to sign up, including Harrah’s Casino Hotel Lake Tahoe.
Circa Sportsbook: the newest addition to the NV sportsbook collection, Circa launched in October 2020.
Other notable sportsbooks: Golden Nugget, STN Sports, Westgate Superbook
Mobile registration: No
Iowa sportsbooks: 12
Unfortunately for NFL fans, there is no professional team located in Iowa. However, the state does have an excellent college football and college basketball fanbase.
The Iowa Hawkeyes (Big 10), located in Iowa City, and the Iowa State Cyclones (Big 12) in Ames are two of the premier teams in the state.
While not the top performer in the pack, the Iowa online sports betting market remains steady.
Popular sports betting apps:
DraftKings Sportsbook: easily the most popular sports betting option in the Hawkeye State.
Caesars Sportsbook: with six retail locations, it’s not hard to find a retail sportsbook to head to if your wifi is down.
PointsBet Sportsbook: having launched in 2019, PointsBet pays close attention to betting lines making it a top selection for seasoned bettors.
Other notable sportsbooks: FanDuel, theScore, Elite Sportsbook
Mobile registration: Yes
Virginia sportsbooks: 8
Virginia sports betting apps are very new, having recently launched in January 2021. The good news, there is mobile sports betting with seven great options to choose from.
But much like Iowa, there is no NFL presence in the state. Luckily, Virginia is a stone’s throw away from FedEx Field, home of the Washington Football Team (NFL), but since the stadium is located in Maryland, you can’t place bets while inside.
Popular sports betting apps:
WynnBET Sportsbook: the app launched in March 2021, so it’s only around five months old. Regardless, WynnBET will continue to be a popular option in Virginia.
Barstool Sportsbook: debuted in August 2021, so to say it’s new is an understatement. With that being said, Barstool’s track record is pretty impressive, so expect big things from the company.
Caesars Sportsbook: the powerhouse of the East Coast also calls Virginia home.
Other notable sportsbooks: DraftKings, FanDuel, BetRivers, Unibet
Mobile registration: Yes
Tennessee sportsbooks: 8
The Volunteer State is unique in that it only has mobile sports betting. This means, once you are inside Nissan Stadium, home of the Tennessee Titans (NFL), you can place bets.
The big-name operators, DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM, were the first to debut in Nov. 2020. Since then, TN sports betting has attracted operators that prefer not to deal with physical locations.
Popular sports betting apps:
DraftKings Sportsbook: as popular in Tennessee as it is in other parts of the US.
FanDuel Sportsbook: the market leader in almost every state.
Caesars Sportsbook: where ever the above-mentioned operators are, rest assured, Caesars isn’t far behind.
Other notable sportsbooks: Action 24/7, WynnBET, BetMGM
Mobile registration: Yes
Arizona sportsbooks: 7
Sports betting in Arizona is the newest market to debut having launched on day one of the NFL season.
Although new, the betting market in Arizona was quick to become a top five performer in the US market. Right now there are seven betting apps to choose from with eight others on the horizon.
Popular sports betting apps:
Barstool Sportsbook: not only will the company host a college bowl game but it also partnered with NASCAR to launch in AZ.
DraftKings Sportsbook: the popular betting option partnered with TPC Scottsdale.
Caesars Sportsbook: has a deal in place with the Arizona Diamondbacks making it available statewide and at Chase Field.
Other notable sportsbooks: FanDuel, WynnBet, BetMGM, Unibet
Mobile registration: Yes
West Virginia sportsbooks: 6
One of the earliest adopters, the West Virginia sports betting market has remained relatively small.
Although West Virginia does have a dedicated fan base for college sports, there is no NFL franchise.
Popular sports betting apps:
PointsBet Sportsbook: weekly and monthly bonuses continue to make this app a fan favorite.
Caesars Sportsbook: the fourth operator to launch in the state, Caesars continues to make a name for itself everywhere it goes.
BetMGM Sportsbook: although it has only been around since January 2021, the company continues to perform well in the betting market.
Other notable sportsbooks: DraftKings, FanDuel, Betly Sportsbook
Mobile registration: Yes
Illinois sportsbooks: 6
The reach of Illinois gambling is quite extensive. The Land of Lincoln has more slot machines than Las Vegas and also has sports betting, horse racing, casinos, and a state lottery.
Online sports betting in Illinois is legal, and thus when inside Soldier Field, you can bet on the Chicago Bears. The downside is before you can begin placing bets inside the stadium, you will have to physically sign-up for your account at a casino.
Popular sports betting apps:
BetRivers Sportsbook: located just outside Chicago, it’s the most convenient for those traveling to the Windy City.
Barstool Sportsbook: with so many Barstool personalities living in Chicago, the parlay offers can get pretty interesting.
DraftKings Sportsbook: unfortunately, signing up for DraftKings means you would have to take the drive to East St. Louis.
Other notable sportsbooks: Caesars Sportsbook, PointsBet, FanDuel
Mobile registration: No
Washington DC sportsbooks: 3
Sports betting in DC is a bit complicated. The state lottery runs online betting, but other operators are allowed to offer mobile wagers in select “buffer zones.”
Yes, DC is home to the Washington Football Team, but they play their games in Maryland, so there is no betting in the stadium.
Popular sports betting apps:
Caesars Sportsbook: located at Capital One Arean, you can only place mobile bets if you are within two blocks of the arena.
GambetDC: if you want unlimited access to mobile sports betting, this is the app. However, the odds are not the best.
BetMGM Sportsbook: it’s nice that it’s located right outside National Park but remember to stay within the two-block radius.
Other notable sportsbooks: none
Mobile registration: Yes
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Wyoming sportsbooks: 2
Wyoming sports betting just narrowly launched in time for the NFL season. While we do expect other operators to populate the state in due time, for now only a pair call it home.
Wyoming does not have an NFL franchise but it’s not too far from Denver Colorado.
Popular sports betting apps:
BetMGM Sportsbook: was quick to launch before football season giving guests and residents a solid betting platform.
DraftKings Sportsbook: once again, DraftKings sets up shop and gets things rolling just in time for football.
Other notable sportsbooks: none
Mobile registration: Yes
Oregon sportsbooks: 1
This one is simple, all sports betting in Oregon is run by a single operator licensed by the state lottery. That operator was The Scoreboard, but now the state switched to DraftKings.
The closest NFL franchise is to the north in Washington, thus making the University of Oregon and Oregon State the popular options.
Popular sports betting apps:
Oregon Scoreboard: the only available option in the state.
Other notable sportsbooks: none
Mobile registration: Yes
New Hampshire sportsbooks: 1
Another DraftKings state, sports betting in New Hampshire is only home to a single operator. Experts anticipate other companies to enter the New Hampshire market, but for now, DraftKings remains king.
Popular sports betting apps:
DraftKings Sportsbook: look no further; DraftKings is the only option in the state.
Other notable sportsbooks: none
Mobile registration: Yes
Rhode Island sportsbooks: 1
The smallest state in the US, Rhode Island sports betting is home to a single operator. But don’t worry, it’s not DraftKings.
Instead, all bets pass through the Rhode Island Lottery and their partner, the Caesars Sportsbook, formally William Hill.
Popular sports betting apps:
Caesars Sportsbook: as mentioned, the only sportsbook in town use to be William Hill. Once Caesars purchased the company, all sportsbooks in the US transformed into Caesars sportsbooks.
Other notable sportsbooks: none
Mobile registration: Yes
Also, we have some Week 1 odds and Chicago Bears futures bets, so don’t forget to check that out.
