If you’re a sports bettor, chances are that you’d like to know just how much Americans really bet on sports.
However, this information isn’t readily available without going down a rabbit hole of online searches, reports, and data charts.
To make things easy, we’ve compiled a comprehensive report on sports betting by state, along with other interesting information that accurately paints a picture of how much Americans spend on sports bets.
Table of Contents
- How Big is the US Sports Betting Market?
- How Many Americans Bet on Sports?
- How Much Money Is Bet on Sports Per Year?
- How Much Money Do Americans Bet on Off-Shore Sportsbooks Per Year?
- How Much Do Americans Bet on Sports: By State
- Which State Spends the Most on Sports Betting?
- How Has the Coronavirus Affected How Much Bettors Spend on Sports Betting?
- Introducing Zensports: The Best Way to Place Bets Online
How Big Is the US Sports Betting Market?
Once only legally considered a pastime in Nevada, sports betting has become a popular hobby throughout the country as more and more states are legalizing sports betting.
In 2018, the Supreme Court overturned PASPA (Professional and Ameteur Sports Protection Act), which lifted the ban on other states besides Nevada from being able to establish their own sports wagering industries.
As of 2021, 19 states, along with Washington DC, currently have legalized sports betting.
In 2020…
- Washington
- South Dakota
- Louisiana
- North Carolina
- Virginia
- And Maryland
… All passed bills to legalize sports betting.
All remaining states have introduced bills to legalize sports betting except for Wisconsin, Idaho, and Utah.
How Many Americans Bet on Sports?
In a 2021 survey, 74% of Americans identified as sports fans. However, all sports fans do not place bets.
What we do know is that decades of surveys on sports gambling behavior show that sports betting is a common form of betting.
For example, a national survey of 2,630 adults reported that 20% of participants had bet on sports within 12 months.
When it comes to determining the exact amount of Americans that bet on sports, these studies are far from perfect. But they do help paint a picture in regards to sports betting behaviors in the United States.
How Much Money Is Bet on Sports Per Year?
As more revenue reports are released over time as sports betting in the US continues, the easier it becomes to accurately analyze the true scope of the US sports betting market.
As of now, gambling industry analysts estimate that the annual betting handle (the amount of money in wagers accepted) is somewhere between $200 and $400 billion.
How Much Money Do Americans Bet on Off-Shore Sportsbooks Per Year?
According to the American Gaming Organization, 52% of Americans participate in off-shore sports betting.
Since only data for domestic and land-based sports betting that falls under US jurisdiction is tracked and tabulated, there’s no definitive answer to this question.
How Much Do Americans Bet on Sports: Sports Betting By State
Let’s take an in-depth look at the status and amount of money spent on sports betting by state. For data on state revenue, click here.
Alabama
There is currently no data available for this state.
Sports betting in Alabama is currently under consideration by legislation after a bill was introduced in March 2020.
Alaska
There is currently no data available for this state.
In early 2020, The Alaska Lottery Corporation Act was introduced in attempts to legalize forms of gambling, including sports betting. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Alaska state legislature ended their session early and the bill expired in May 2020.
Arizona
There is currently no data available for this state.
In April 2021, Arizona passed an online sports betting bill that will allow state-wide mobile sports wagering and in-stadium sportsbooks. This bill is awaiting further action/approval from regulators before sports betting is fully launched in the state.
Arkansas
Since the beginning of its legality, sports bettors have spent $111,628,918 on sports wagers in Arkansas. Let’s take a look at the yearly data below.
2021
Year-to-date, sports bettors in Arkansas have spent $11,656,636 on sports bets. Below, you can view the monthly amount spent on sports bets in 2021.
| Arkansas | Handle |
| Feb 2021 | $4,469,442 |
| Jan 2021 | $7,187,194 |
2020
In 2020, sports bettors in Arkansas spent a collective amount of $20,179,113 on sports bets. Check out the table below to view the monthly amount spent on sports bets in 2020.
| Arkansas | Handle |
| Dec 2020 | $6,415,446 |
| Nov 2020 | $6,288,249 |
| Oct 2020 | $6,559,859 |
| Sep 2020 | $3,958,748 |
| Aug 2020 | $1,008,992 |
| Jul 2020 | $179,315 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,189 |
| May 2020 | $509 |
| April 2020 | $0 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,588,403 |
| Feb 2020 | $4,294,366 |
| Jan 2020 | $2,587,732 |
2019
In 2019, sports bettors in Arkansas spent $11,275,015 on sports wagering. Below, you can view the monthly amount bettors spent on sports bets in 2019.
| Arkansas | Handle |
| Dec 2019 | $2,633,806 |
| Nov 2019 | $2,978,235 |
| Oct 2019 | $2,216,369 |
| Sep 2019 | $2,252,196 |
| Aug 2019 | $778,249 |
| Jul 2019 | $416,160 |
Since PASPA Repeal
Since the PASPA repeal in 2018, Arkansas sports bettors have spent $55,814,459 on sports betting.
| Arkansas | Handle |
| Since PASPA Repeal | $55,814,459 |
| Year-To-Date | $11,656,636 |
How Does the Most Recent Year Compare to Historical Betting?
The amount of money spent on sports betting in Arkansas in 2021 is expected to sky-rocket. In the first two months of 2021, Arkansas’s sports bettors have spent more than half of the amount spent in 2020.
California
There is currently no data available for this state.
The future of sports betting in California may be restricted to tribal casinos, as California tribes are close to finalizing a 2022 ballot measure that would legalize sportsbooks on tribal grounds.
Sports wagering in tribal casinos could be launched as early as 2023, but mobile sports betting would not be permitted.
Colorado
The sports betting industry is booming in Colorado. In September 2020, Colorado joined Nevada, Indiana, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania in accumulating over $200,000,000 in betting handle in one month.
2020
In 2020, Colorado accepted its first mobile and retail sports wagers. Colorado sports bettors spent a total of $1,185,754,618 on sports betting. Below is a month-to-month breakdown of this total.
| Colorado | Handle |
| Dec 2020 | $284,551,472 |
| Nov 2020 | $231,238,842 |
| Oct 2020 | $210,719,821 |
| Sep 2020 | $207,655,943 |
| Aug 2020 | $128,646,209 |
| Jul 2020 | $59,183,620 |
| Jun 2020 | $38,136,949 |
| May 2020 | $25,621,762 |
Since PASPA Repeal
Since the PASPA repeal in 2018, Colorado sports bettors have spent $1,185,754,618 on sports betting.
| Colorado | Handle |
| Since PASPA Repeal | $1,185,754,618 |
| Year-To-Date | $0 |
How Does the Most Recent Year Compare to Historical Betting?
The monthly handles for bets placed in Colorado are not yet available. However, by comparing the month-over-month increase in money spent on sports wagers in Colorado in 2020, we can assume that the numbers will only continue to increase.
Connecticut
There is currently no data available for this state.
Sports betting in Connecticut is currently under review of legislation. Since the Supreme Court overturned PASPA, lawmakers have supported legalizing sports betting, but have not been able to work out a deal that appeases all of Connecticut’s powerful gaming interests.
Delaware
Since Delaware legalized sports betting in 2018, sports bettors have spent $15,649,254 on sports wagers in the state. Let’s take a look at some of the yearly data below.
2021
In January of 2021, sports bettors spent $15,649,254 placing sports bets within the state.
| Delaware | Handle |
| Jan 2021 | $15,649,254 |
2020
In 2020, sports bettors in Delaware spent $72,239,150 on sports bets. Below, you can see the historical month-to-month data.
| Delaware | Handle |
| Dec 2020 | $15,696,681 |
| Nov 2020 | $19,510,093 |
| Oct 2020 | $17,086,034 |
| Sep 2020 | $12,439,302 |
| Aug 2020 | $2,957,634 |
| Jul 2020 | $209,282 |
| Jun 2020 | $0 |
| May 2020 | $0 |
| April 2020 | $0 |
| Mar 2020 | $3,877,068 |
| Feb 2020 | $7,031,079 |
| Jan 2020 | $9,128,658 |
2019
In the year 2019, Delaware sports bettors spent $89,355,374 on sports bets. Below, you can view the month-to-month data.
| Delaware | Handle |
| Dec 2019 | $13,283,636 |
| Nov 2019 | $10,308,159 |
| Oct 2019 | $9,621,404 |
| Sep 2019 | $11,839,818 |
| Aug 2019 | $4,419,488 |
| Jul 2019 | $3,920,974 |
| Jun 2019 | $6,325,464 |
| May 2019 | $5,920,766 |
| April 2019 | $6,088,183 |
| Mar 2019 | $10,483,128 |
| Feb 2019 | $8,487,867 |
| Jan 2019 | $11,940,123 |
2018
Within the first year of legality, sports bettors spent $86,981,107 on sports betting. Check out the historical month-to-month data below.
| Delaware | Handle |
| Dec 2018 | $16,079,670 |
| Nov 2018 | $16,392,863 |
| Oct 2018 | $14,738,223 |
| Sep 2018 | $16,830,010 |
| Aug 2018 | $7,721,851 |
| Jul 2018 | $8,214,765 |
| Jun 2018 | $7,003,725 |
Since PASPA Repeal
Since the PASPA repeal and legalization of sports betting in Delaware, sports bettors have spent $293,205,202 on sports betting.
| Delaware | Handle |
| Since PASPA Repeal | $293,205,202 |
| Year-To-Date | $15,649,254 |
How Does the Most Recent Year Compare to Historical Betting?
With only one month of data for 2021, it’s too soon to tell how sports bettors’ spending will compare from years past. However, with the Coronavirus pandemic easing up, gambling analysts are hopeful that the amount of money spent on sports betting will increase.
Florida
There is currently no data available for this state.
Florida politicians have long favored legalizing sports betting in the state, but have faced a host of stumbling blocks that have defeated legislature efforts.
Georgia
There is currently no data available for this state.
The legality of sports betting in Georgia is currently under consideration by legislation, with the majority of voters in favor of legalizing sports betting.
Legality is expected to be a large hurdle, as the state currently does not allow gambling of any kind.
Hawaii
There is currently no data available for this state.
Like Georgia, Hawaii does not have legalization for any type of gambling.
However, Hawaii may be making some headway in legalizing sports betting. SB 595 proposes the creation of a sports gambling task force, which would examine the economic feasibility of legalizing sports bets in Hawaii during the sessions of 2022 and 2023.
Idaho
There is currently no data available for this state.
Idaho is one of the few states with little political appetite for sports betting or any type of gambling, except for horse racing. There is currently no legislation in progress to legalize sports betting in the state of Idaho.
Illinois
Illinois launched retail sports betting in March 2020 and online mobile sports betting in June 2020. Let’s take a look at some of the data on how much Illinois residents spend on sports betting below.
2021
There is no current data for how much sports bettors in Illinois have spent on sports betting in 2021 at this time.
2020
In 2020, sports bettors in Illinois spent a total of $941,403,906 on sports bets. The table below shows the monthly amount of money spent on sports betting in 2020.
| Illinois | Handle |
| Oct 2020 | $434,310,957 |
| Sep 2020 | $305,222,938 |
| Aug 2020 | $140,065,649 |
| Jul 2020 | $52,524,820 |
| Jun 2020 | $8,281,803 |
| May 2020 | $0 |
| April 2020 | $0 |
| Mar 2020 | $997,739 |
Since PASPA Repeal
Since sports betting was legalized in Illinois in 2020, sports bettors have spent $941.403.906 on sports wagers.
| Illinois | Handle |
| Since PASPA Repeal | $941,403,906 |
| Year-To-Date | $0 |
How Does the Most Recent Year Compare to Historical Betting?
Currently, there is no 2021 data available to compare.
Indiana
Sports betting in Indiana was officially launched in September 2019. Let’s take a look at how much sports bettors have spent on sports betting in Indiana below.
2021
There is no current data for how much sports bettors in Indiana have spent on sports betting in 2021 at this time.
2020
In 2020, sports bettors in Indiana spent $1,455,982,046 in sports betting. Below, you can view the monthly data on how much sports bettors spent on placing bets each month.
| Indiana | Handle |
| Dec 2020 | $313,112,474 |
| Nov 2020 | $251,403,994 |
| Oct 2020 | $230,932,251 |
| Sep 2020 | $207,450,106 |
| Aug 2020 | $169,018,238 |
| Jul 2020 | $70,876,622 |
| Jun 2020 | $29,783,580 |
| May 2020 | $37,394,940 |
| April 2020 | $26,304,128 |
| Mar 2020 | $74,818,801 |
| Feb 2020 | $187,186,223 |
| Jan 2020 | $170,813,163 |
2019
Within the first year of legalization, sports bettors spent $435,998,649 placing sports bets. Check out the monthly data below.
| Indiana | Indiana |
| Dec 2019 | $161,808,925 |
| Nov 2019 | $147,276,915 |
| Oct 2019 | $91,697,393 |
| Sep 2019 | $35,215,416 |
Since PASPA Repeal
Since the legalization of sports betting within the state of Indiana, sports bettors have spent a total of $2,205,093,169 in sports bets.
| Indiana | Handle |
| Since PASPA Repeal | $2,205,093,169 |
| Year-To-Date | $0 |
How Does the Most Recent Year Compare to Historical Betting?
Currently, there is no 2021 data available to compare to Indiana’s historical betting.
Iowa
Since August 2019, Iowa has accepted sports bets. Let’s take a look at the historical data for the state’s handle below.
2020
In 2020, Iowa sports bettors spent a total of $575,209,746 on sports bets. In the table below, you can view the amount sports bettors spent on sports wagers each month.
| Iowa | Handle |
| Dec 2020 | $104,815,630 |
| Nov 2020 | $87,169,919 |
| Oct 2020 | $81,902,416 |
| Sep 2020 | $72,397,241 |
| Aug 2020 | $50,313,674 |
| Jul 2020 | $22,859,622 |
| Jun 2020 | $12,711,201 |
| May 2020 | $6,976,637 |
| Apr 2020 | $1,568,497 |
| Mar 2020 | $19,546,985 |
| Feb 2020 | $56,920,783 |
| Jan 2020 | $58,027,141 |
2019
In 2019, sports fans in Iowa spent $212,295,220 in sports bets. View the table below to see how much Iowa sports bettors spent on sports betting each month.
| Iowa | Handle |
| Dec 2019 | $59,344,805 |
| Nov 2019 | $59,344,805 |
| Oct 2019 | $46,500,443 |
| Sep 2019 | $38,528,921 |
| Aug 2019 | $8,576,246 |
Since PASPA Repeal
Since the legalization of sports betting in Iowa, sports bettors have spent $787,418,999 on sports bets.
| Iowa | Handle |
| Since PASPA Repeal | $787,418,999 |
| Year-To-Date | $0 |
How Does the Most Recent Year Compare to Historical Betting?
Currently, there is no 2021 data available to compare to Iowa’s historical betting.
Kansas
There is currently no data available for this state.
Bills to legalize sports betting were introduced in 2020, but due to an early-ended session as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the proposals expired.
Lawmakers will have to introduce a new bill in 2021 and resolve regulatory issues before sports betting can be legalized within the state.
Kentucky
There is currently no data available for this state.
A bill was proposed to legalize sports betting in 2020, but was shot down due to the deep anti-gambling sentiment in the state.
Politicians are gearing up to propose another bill in 2021, which will need a 60% vote to pass, as Kentucky requires all bills to meet this requirement in odd years.
Louisiana
There is currently no data available for this state.
Voter’s within 55 of the 64 parishes in the state supported the legalization of sports betting, including all of those surrounding Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Lafayette.
Sports betting is expected to launch in 2021 or 2022 as lawmakers still need to establish key regulatory details.
Louisiana is the first state to approve sports betting at a county or parish level.
Maine
There is currently no data available for this state.
An online sports betting bill was vetoed in 2020 by Maine’s governor, who felt the proposal lacked protection for problem gambling.
The veto was challenged, but the override fell a few votes too short. Another bill is expected to be introduced in 2021.
Maryland
There is currently no data available for this state.
Amid the 2020 election, Maryland legalized sports betting. In 2021, legislation was finalized for 60 online options and 30 retail options.
Before sports betting can be officially launched in the state of Maryland, regulators must still establish rules, including which retail establishments will get licensing and how mobile betting will play out.
Massachusetts
There is currently no data available for this state.
Legalized sports betting is expected to occur in Massachusetts in approximately two years.
Though sports betting is backed by elected officials from both Republican and Democratic parties, a consensus has not been reached on key issues like whether sports betting should include wagers for college sports teams.
Michigan
There is currently no data available for this state.
In 2019, Michigan legalized sports betting and launched land-based operations in 2020. Despite having to shut down due to COVID-19 restrictions in the spring of 2020, sports bettors in Michigan still managed to place $130.8 million in sports bets.
Minnesota
There is currently no data available for this state.
Although legalizing sports betting has been considered in recent years, the state could not come to resolutions on how sports betting would work and which entities would be licensed.
In January 2021, a bill was proposed to legalize retail sports betting within the first year, followed by mobile sports betting with in-person registration after the first year.
Mississippi
In-person mobile betting was launched in Mississippi in August 2018. Let’s take a look at the yearly amounts Mississippi sports bettors spend on sports betting.
2021
In 2021, Mississippi sports bettors spent $115,515,202 placing sports wagers. The table below shows the currently available data for the amount spent in February and January of 2021.
| Mississippi | Handle |
| Feb 2021 | $47,807,574 |
| Jan 2021 | $67,707,628 |
2020
In 2020, sports bettors spent a total of $363,775,649 in sports bets. Take a look at the monthly data in the table below.
| Mississippi | Handle |
| Dec 2020 | $55,298,807 |
| Nov 2020 | $54,443,370 |
| Oct 2020 | $61,192,425 |
| Sep 2020 | $52,220,289 |
| Aug 2020 | $40,489,135 |
| Jul 2020 | $7,916,665 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,575,859 |
| May 2020 | $236,503 |
| April 2020 | $0 |
| Mar 2020 | $10,749,403 |
| Feb 2020 | $34,462,822 |
| Jan 2020 | $45,190,371 |
2019
In 2019, sports bettors in Mississippi spent $369,173,563 in placing sports bets. Below is a breakdown of the amount spent on sports bets monthly in Mississippi.
| Mississippi | Handle |
| Dec 2019 | $49,076,413 |
| Nov 2019 | $56,369,036 |
| Oct 2019 | $48,019,481 |
| Sep 2019 | $37,870,989 |
| Aug 2019 | $19,876,370 |
| Jul 2019 | $13,383,383 |
| Jun 2019 | $15,190,666 |
| May 2019 | $17,438,291 |
| April 2019 | $19,188,763 |
| Mar 2019 | $32,421,264 |
| Feb 2019 | $25,148,134 |
| Jan 2019 | $35,190,773 |
2018
In the first year of legalization for in-person mobile betting, Mississippi sports bettors spent a total of $157,139,660 in sports bets. Check out the monthly data in the table below.
| Mississippi | Handle |
| Dec 2018 | $41,762,048 |
| Nov 2018 | $44,499,883 |
| Oct 2018 | $32,837,333 |
| Sep 2018 | $31,770,269 |
| Aug 2018 | $6,270,127 |
Since PASPA Repeal
Since the legalization of sports betting in Mississippi, sports bettors have spent $1,005,604,074 on sports wagering.
| Mississippi | Handle |
| Since PASPA Repeal | $1,005,604,074 |
| Year-To-Date | $115,515,202 |
How Does the Most Recent Year Compare to Historical Betting?
Based on the data, the amount of money sports bettors place on sports bets is on track to increase in 2021. In the first two months of 2021, sports bettors have almost spent a third of the total amount spent in 2020.
Missouri
There is currently no data available for this state.
The potential legalization of sports betting in Missouri is another victim of the Coronavirus pandemic. In 2020, multiple bills were proposed to legalize sports betting in the state, but they were effectively dropped when the session ended early due to the pandemic.
Currently, there are three bills under consideration by the legislature for the legalization of sports betting in Missouri.
Montana
There is currently no data available for this state.
In March 2020, Montana officially started allowing sports bets to be placed on a mobile sports betting app run by the same company that runs the state lottery. This government-run monopoly only works in licensed gaming properties and prevents other sportsbooks from competing in the market.
Nebraska
There is currently no data available for this state.
A proposal to legalize sports betting is currently under consideration by legislation. If passed, brick and mortar facilities could start launching sports betting as early as 2021 or 2022.
Nevada
Nevada, the mecca of sports betting, was the first state to legalize sports betting. Let’s take a look at the yearly and month-to-month data showing how much Nevada sports bettors spend on sports wagering.
2021
Year-to-date, Nevada sports bettors have spent an enormous amount of money on sports betting, totaling $1,701,670,854. Below you can see the monthly data for February and January 2021.
| Nevada | Handle |
| Feb 2021 | $742,953,328 |
| Jan 2021 | $958,717,526 |
2020
In 2020, sports bettors in Nevada have spent $3,315,669,413 on sports betting. In the chart below, you can see the month-to-month data for money spent by Nevada sports bettors.
| Nevada | Handle |
| Dec 2020 | $996,300,794 |
| Nov 2020 | $609,376,849 |
| Oct 2020 | $659,899,331 |
| Sep 2020 | $575,144,025 |
| Aug 2020 | $474,948,414 |
| Jul 2020 | $165,552,030 |
| Jun 2020 | $78,152,387 |
| Mar 2020 | $141,108,201 |
| Feb 2020 | $491,593,677 |
| Jan 2020 | 502,233,930 |
2019
In 2019, sports bettors in Nevada spent $5.319.032,956 on sports wagers. Check out the monthly data on how much Nevada sports bettors spend each month.
| Nevada | Handle |
| Dec 2019 | $571,179,245 |
| Nov 2019 | $614,118,812 |
| Oct 2019 | $543,552,781 |
| Sep 2019 | $546,358,867 |
| Aug 2019 | $287,757,296 |
| Jul 2019 | $235,659,955 |
| Jun 2019 | $322,077,670 |
| May 2019 | $317,380,282 |
| April 2019 | $328,121,212 |
| Mar 2019 | $596,752,294 |
| Feb 2019 | $458,591,549 |
| Jan 2019 | $497,482,993 |
2018
Nevada sports bettors spent $3,021,343,532 in the year 2018. In the table below, you can view the monthly data on how much Nevada sports bettors spend each month.
| Nevada | Handle |
| Dec 2018 | $561,859,873 |
| Nov 2018 | $581,070,664 |
| Oct 2018 | $528,568,873 |
| Sep 2018 | $571,034,483 |
| Aug 2018 | $247,622,790 |
| Jul 2018 | $244,638,554 |
| Jun 2018 | $286,548,295 |
Since PASPA Repeal
Since the PASPA repeal, sports bettors have spent $14,736,356,980 on sports betting.
| Nevada | Handle |
| Since PASPA Repeal | $14,736,356,980 |
| Year-To-Date | $1,701,670,854 |
How Does the Most Recent Year Compare to Historical Betting?
In the first two months of 2021, Nevada sports bettors have spent more than a third of the yearly total for 2020. It is expected that 2021 may have the highest handle in Nevada’s history.
New Hampshire
There is currently no data available for this state.
In July 2019, New Hampshire legalized sports betting. Despite DraftKings being the only state-licensed sports betting operator in the state, New Hampshire’s handle sits at over $293 million.
New Jersey
New Jersey, the state that was responsible for the PASPA repeal, is a giant in the sports betting industry. Let’s take a look at some of the yearly and monthly data on how much New Jersey sports bettors spend.
2021
In 2021, New Jersey sports bettors spent a total of $1,701,670,854 on sports betting.
| New Jersey | Revenue |
| Feb 2021 | $742,953,328 |
| Jan 2021 | $958,717,526 |
2020
In 2020, sports bettors in New Jersey spent $6,016,968,399 in sports wagers. Check out the monthly data in the table below.
| New Jersey | Handle |
| Dec 2020 | $996,300,794 |
| Nov 2020 | $931,620,415 |
| Oct 2020 | $803,096,172 |
| Sep 2020 | $748,588,349 |
| Aug 2020 | $667,979,150 |
| Jul 2020 | $315,118,805 |
| Jun 2020 | $165,014,553 |
| May 2020 | $117,821,281 |
| April 2020 | $54,593,092 |
| Mar 2020 | $181,908,529 |
| Feb 2020 | $494,813,807 |
| Jan 2020 | $540,113,452 |
2019
In 2019, sports bettors in New Jersey spent a total of $4,582,898,150 on sports bets. In the table below, you can see the amount sports bettors spent every month in 2019.
| New Jersey | Handle |
| Dec 2019 | $557,786,161 |
| Nov 2019 | $562,675,543 |
| Oct 2019 | $487,924,504 |
| Sep 2019 | $445,563,503 |
| Aug 2019 | $293,594,862 |
| Jul 2019 | $251,371,272 |
| Jun 2019 | $273,222,975 |
| May 2019 | $318,940,677 |
| April 2019 | $313,719,562 |
| Mar 2019 | $372,451,342 |
| Feb 2019 | $320,368,087 |
| Jan 2019 | $385,279,662 |
2018
In the first year of legalization, sports bettors spent $1, 247,307,720 on sports bets in New Jersey, from June to December.
| New Jersey | Handle |
| Dec 2018 | $319,173,548 |
| Nov 2018 | $330,748,563 |
| Oct 2018 | $260,711,301 |
| Sep 2018 | $183,948,404 |
| Aug 2018 | $95,634,048 |
| Jul 2018 | $40,682,237 |
| Jun 2018 | $16,409,619 |
Since PASPA Repeal
Since the PASPA repeal, New Jersey sports bettors have dropped some serious cash on sports betting, with a total of $13,548,845,123.
| New Jersey | Handle |
| Since PASPA Repeal | $13,548,845,123 |
| Year-To-Date | $1,701,670,854 |
How Does the Most Recent Year Compare to Historical Betting?
The small amount of data from 2021 is not enough to paint an accurate picture yet, but if sports bettors follow the trend of yearly handle increases, 2021 should produce the largest handle for the state of New Jersey yet.
New Mexico
There is currently no data available for this state.
While there is no legalization for sports betting in New Mexico, tribal casinos are able to offer sports betting due to state-existing tribal compacts. Only a handful of tribal casinos offer retail sports betting, as online sports betting will require state congressional action.
Since the revenue and handle of tribal casinos are not required to be released to the public, there is no available data for how much state residents spend on sports betting.
New York
Currently, it is only legal to bet at physical sportsbooks in New York, which has resulted in New York bettors crossing the border into New Jersey to place sports bets. Let’s take a look at the data on how much sports bettors spend in New York on sports wagers.
2021
There is no current data for how much sports bettors in New York have spent on sports betting in 2021 at this time.
2020
In 2020, New York sports bettors spent just $5,890,289. In February 2020, sportsbooks in New York experienced a loss as sports bettors could not visit the physical locations due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
| New York | Handle |
| Oct 2020 | $2,623,464 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,403,543 |
| Mar 2020 | $99,514 |
| Feb 2020 | $-179,593 |
| Jan 2020 | $1,943,361 |
2019
In New York’s first year of sports betting legalization, sports bettors spent $7,783,426 on sports bets.
| New York | Handle |
| Dec 2019 | $780,418 |
| Nov 2019 | $1,308,296 |
| Oct 2019 | $2,233,227 |
| Sep 2019 | $2,283,865 |
| Aug 2019 | $828,152 |
| Jul 2019 | $349,468 |
Since PASPA Repeal
In 2020 and 2019 collectively, sports bettors spent $13,673,715 on sports bets.
| New York | Handle |
| Since PASPA Repeal | $13,673,715 |
| Year-To-Date | $0 |
How Does the Most Recent Year Compare to Historical Betting?
While there is no current sports betting data available for 2021, we can assume that the amount of money that sports bettors spend in 2022 will increase due to the pending launch of mobile sports betting in New York.
North Carolina
There is currently no data available for this state.
Sports betting was legalized for two tribal casinos in the western portion of the state in July 2019. Sports betting at these casinos fully launched in 2021. Since tribal casinos aren’t required to release their handle and revenue to the public, there is no public data on how much Americans in North Carolina spend on sports betting.
The state is expected to consider the legalization of mobile sports betting in 2021.
North Dakota
There is currently no data available for this state.
As of now, there is no political movement for legalizing sports betting in North Dakota. However, tribal states are considering launching retail sports betting, arguing that they are legally able to do so under state-tribal compacts.
This would make North Dakota one of the rare states, like New Mexico, that can place sports bets without an act of legislature.
In 2021, sports betting legalization fell short by a few votes, but backed politicians are hopeful for success in 2022, especially if tribal casinos begin offering sports betting.
Ohio
There is currently no data available for this state.
With many of its midwestern neighbors legalizing sports bets, Ohio may be hopping on the bandwagon.
With bipartisan support in the legislative and executive branches, a bill legalizing sports betting in 2021 is expected to pass.
Oklahoma
There is currently no data available for this state.
Oklahoma is dominated by Native American entities who seem inclined to disagree with sports betting until other key issues are resolved with the state. In 2020, two tribal casinos struck deals for sports betting but were later invalidated due to conflict between gaming interests and the state government.
Oregon
Oregon launched sports betting in October of 2019. Since then, sports bettors have spent $263,518,470 on sports bets. Let’s take a look at some of the yearly and monthly data available.
2021
There is no current data for how much sports bettors in Oregon have spent on sports betting in 2021 at this time.
2020
In 2020, sports fans in Oregon spent a total of $218,246,357 on sports betting. In the table below, you can view the amount of money that sports bettors spent on wagering sports each month.
| Oregon | Handle |
| Dec 2020 | $26,987,303 |
| Nov 2020 | $25,039,884 |
| Oct 2020 | $29,455,228 |
| Sep 2020 | $26,174,303 |
| Aug 2020 | $25,845,403 |
| Jul 2020 | $14,042,425 |
| Jun 2020 | $7,921,864 |
| May 2020 | $7,290,190 |
| April 2020 | $4,430,648 |
| Mar 2020 | $9,007,680 |
| Feb 2020 | $20,899,825 |
| Jan 2020 | $21,151,604 |
2019
In just the three months that sports betting was legalized in Oregon in 2019, sports bettors spent $45,272,113 on sports betting.
| Oregon | Handle |
| Dec 2019 | $22,551,453 |
| Nov 2019 | $17,115,416 |
| Oct 2019 | $5,605,244 |
Since PASPA Repeal
Since the launch of sports betting in Oregon, sports bettors have spent a collective total of $263,518,470 on placing sports bets.
| Oregon | Handle |
| Since PASPA Repeal | $263,518,470 |
| Year-To-Date | $0 |
How Does the Most Recent Year Compare to Historical Betting?
While there is no 2021 data to compare, we can assume that sports bettors will follow the trend of spending more on sports bets with each passing year that sports betting remains legal in the state.
Pennsylvania
Both retail and mobile sports betting are legal in Pennsylvania. Let’s take a look at the data on how much Pennsylvania sports bettors spend on sports wagering.
2021
Within the first two months of 2021, sports bettors in Pennsylvania spent $1,124,842,647.
| Pennsylvania | Handle |
| Feb 2021 | $509,547,820 |
| Jan 2021 | $615,294,827 |
2020
In 2020, sports bettors spent $3,578,249,477 on sports bets in Pennsylvania. The table below shows the month-to-month data of money spent on sports bets.
| Pennsylvania | Handle |
| Dec 2020 | $548,590,065 |
| Nov 2020 | $491,910,713 |
| Oct 2020 | $525,802,524 |
| Sep 2020 | $462,787,392 |
| Aug 2020 | $364,985,422 |
| Jul 2020 | $164,782,229 |
| Jun 2020 | $89,000,563 |
| May 2020 | $74,810,033 |
| April 2020 | $46,102,988 |
| Mar 2020 | $131,330,059 |
| Feb 2020 | $329,765,782 |
| Jan 2020 | $348,381,707 |
2019
In 2019, mobile sports betting was launched in Pennsylvania, motivating sports bettors to spend a total of $1,490,167,113 on sports bets.
| Pennsylvania | Handle |
| Dec 2019 | $342,560,390 |
| Nov 2019 | $316,468,265 |
| Oct 2019 | $241,186,065 |
| Sep 2019 | $194,504,622 |
| Aug 2019 | $109,038,051 |
| Jul 2019 | $59,331,959 |
| Jun 2019 | $46,334,245 |
| May 2019 | $35,934,215 |
| April 2019 | $36,769,146 |
| Mar 2019 | $44,527,574 |
| Feb 2019 | $31,500,743 |
| Jan 2019 | $32,011,838 |
2018
At the end of 2018, sports betting at physical locations was launched, resulting in sports bettors spending $17,587,676 in sports betting.
| Pennsylvania | Handle |
| Dec 2018 | $16,173,089 |
| Nov 2018 | $1,414,587 |
Since PASPA Repeal
Since the legalization of sports betting in Pennsylvania, sports bettors have spent approximately $6,210,846,913 on sports betting.
| Pennsylvania | Handle |
| Since PASPA Repeal | $6,210,846,913 |
| Year-To-Date | $1,124,842,647 |
How Does the Most Recent Year Compare to Historical Betting?
In the span of two months, sports bettors have already spent a third of the entire total of money spent for 2020 in 2021. It is expected that 2021 will produce the largest handle for the state yet.
Rhode Island
Since its legalization in 2018, Rhode Island only has one legal retail and online sportsbook in the state. Let’s take a look at how much sports bettors spend on sports betting in the state of Rhode Island.
2021
In 2021, sports bettors in Rhode Island spent $73,927,431 on sports bets.
| Rhode Island | Handle |
| Feb 2021 | $34,110,104 |
| Jan 2021 | $39,817,327 |
2020
In 2020, sports bettors in Rhode Island spent a total of $222,014,009. Refer to the table below to view the monthly spending of sports bettors in 2020.
| Rhode Island | Handle |
| Dec 2020 | $22,770,472 |
| Nov 2020 | $35,098,445 |
| Oct 2020 | $34,704,413 |
| Sep 2020 | $31,293,150 |
| Aug 2020 | $23,116,965 |
| Jul 2020 | $6,738,626 |
| Jun 2020 | $2,100,736 |
| May 2020 | $1,533,114 |
| April 2020 | $591,377 |
| Mar 202 | $8,949,157 |
| Feb 2020 | $28,177,862 |
| Jan 2020 | $26,939,692 |
2019
In 2019, Rhode Island sports bettors spent $245,811,495 on sports bets. You can view the month-to-month data in the table below.
| Rhode Island | Handle |
| Dec 2019 | $31,670,511 |
| Nov 2019 | $31,465,062 |
| Oct 2019 | $28,281,024 |
| Sep 2019 | $22,195,789 |
| Aug 2019 | $10,060,066 |
| Jul 2019 | $8,321,947 |
| Jun 2019 | $14,736,667 |
| May 2019 | $18,900,152 |
| April 2019 | $16,859,818 |
| Mar 2019 | $23,582,716 |
| Feb 2019 | $20,686,618 |
| Jan 2019 | $19,051,125 |
2018
In the first year of sports betting legalization in Rhode Island, sports bettors spent $13,770,713 on sports betting.
| Rhode Island | Handle |
| Dec 2018 | $13,087,999 |
| Nov 2018 | $682,714 |
Since PASPA Repeal
Since the legalization of sports betting in Rhode Island, sports bettors within the state have spent a total of $555,523,648.
| Rhode Island | Handle |
| Since PASPA Repeal | $555,523,648 |
| Year-To-Date | $73,927,431 |
How Does the Most Recent Year Compare to Historical Betting?
Within the first two months of 2020, Rhode Island sports bettors have already spent a third of the entire year’s total spending of 2020. We can safely assume that 2021 will bring in the highest amount of money spent on sports betting yet.
South Carolina
There is currently no data available for this state.
Several bills have been introduced in South Carolina to legalize sports betting, but to no avail due to the deep gambling opposition from South Carolina’s leading political figures.
South Dakota
There is currently no data available for this state.
In 2020, South Dakota legalized retail-only sports betting for Deadwood casinos and specific tribal gaming facilities.
Per the state constitution, sports wagering can only be permitted within Deadwood and tribal lands. Some policymakers believe that mobile wagering could be legalized if servers operate in Deadwood, but a 2021 proposal received little traction in this effort.
Tennessee
There is currently no data available for this state.
While Tennessee launched sports betting with multiple sportsbooks options in November 2020, some restrictions are hurting the state’s potential to attract a decent amount of sports bettors.
Tennessee is the only state that forces operators to return a 10% hold, which is the percentage of bets taken that sportsbooks hold onto. While most states only hold onto 5-7%, the extra 3% imposed by Tennessee means that sports bettors within the state will receive worse odds than those betting outside of Tennessee.
Texas
There is currently no data available for this state.
With a long-standing gambling opposition, Texas has a tall mountain to climb before sports betting could be potentially legalized in the state. However, proposals are currently under consideration by the legislature.
Utah
There is currently no data available for this state.
As the only state without any legal form of gambling, Utah may never see legalized sports betting.
Vermont
There is currently no data available for this state.
Vermont is one of few remaining states that does not have any operating casinos.
However, proposals for legal online sports betting to compete with the growing New England market are currently being considered by legislation.
Virginia
There is currently no data available for this state.
In January 2021, Virginia took its first online sports bet. Though there is a cap on the number of skins, major sportsbooks have legally entered the market, with more than a dozen options expected to be available by the end of 2021.
Washington D.C
There is currently no data available for this state.
Technically, Washington D.C. is a sole-source operator jurisdiction. GameBet, the only legal district-wide sports betting app, is run by the state lottery and is geofenced out of any federal properties.
Very few retail-only sportsbooks have been permitted in the district, which hasn’t generated much revenue or spending from sports bettors due to unfair pricing.
West Virginia
Mobile sports betting has been fully live since 2019, motivating sports bettors to spend a total of $776,232,516. Let’s take a look at the yearly and monthly data.
2021
In 2021, sports bettors in West Virginia spent $88,913,258 on sports wagers.
| West Virginia | Handle |
| Dec 2021 | $38,212,775 |
| Nov 2021 | $50,700,483 |
2020
In 2020, sports bettors in West Virginia spent a total of $414,855,265. Check out the month-to-month data in the chart below.
| West Virginia | Handle |
| Dec 2020 | $70,134,202 |
| Nov 2020 | $48,532,442 |
| Oct 2020 | $44,633,016 |
| Sep 2020 | $76,951,429 |
| Aug 2020 | $45,897,001 |
| Jul 2020 | $15,853,463 |
| Jun 2020 | $6,338,618 |
| May 2020 | $6,035,532 |
| Apr 2020 | $1,901,698 |
| Mar 2020 | $14,705,300 |
| Feb 2020 | $48,474,168 |
| Jan 2020 | $35,398,396 |
2019
In 2019, sports bettors spent $226,028,131 on sports bets. In the table below, you can view how much money sports bettors spend on sports betting each month.
| West Virginia | Handle |
| Dec 2019 | $30,343,333 |
| Nov 2019 | $32,968,352 |
| Oct 2019 | $37,022,626 |
| Sep 2019 | $25,620,077 |
| Aug 2019 | $10,743,386 |
| Jul 2019 | $7,764,843 |
| Jun 2019 | $7,634,979 |
| May 2019 | $10,704,030 |
| Apr 2019 | $10,334,722 |
| Mar 2019 | $13,850,999 |
| Feb 2019 | $16,609,597 |
| Jan 2019 | $22,431,187 |
2018
In 2018, West Virginia sports bettors spent $46,435,863 in sports bets.
| West Virginia | Handle |
| Dec 2018 | $13,332,131 |
| Nov 2018 | $13,020,483 |
| Oct 2018 | $12,760,994 |
| Sep 2018 | $7,322,255 |
Since PASPA Repeal
Since the launch of mobile sports betting in 2018, sports bettors have spent $776,232,516 on sports betting in West Virginia.
| West Virginia | Handle |
| Since PASPA Repeal | $776,232,516 |
| Year-To-Date | $88,913,258 |
How Does the Most Recent Year Compare to Historical Betting?
As of now, the data for 2021 does not paint an accurate enough picture to estimate how the year will compare to the amount of money spent on sports betting in 2020. However, if West Virginia follows the same trend as other states, 2021 could produce the biggest handle for the state yet.
Wisconsin
There is currently no data available for this state.
Wisconsin has seen little movement in the possible legalization of sports betting by the state legislature or tribal stakeholders.
If sports betting does make its way into the Wisconsin market, it will most likely be through tribal casinos.
Wyoming
There is currently no data available for this state.
In 2020, lawmakers approved state-wide mobile wagering, which is currently awaiting regulation before its expected launch in 2021.
Under the authority of existing tribal compacts, the Northern Arapaho Tribe may also be adding retail sports betting to their casinos.
Which State Residents Spend the Most on Sports Betting?
Nevada, where sports betting was first legalized, still holds the top position for the state in which sports bettors spend the most on sports wagering. New Jersey, the state that challenged PASPA, falls in a close second.
Take a look at the chart below to see where each state stands in terms of how much sports bettors within the states are spending.
| State | Total State Handle Since Legalization |
| Nevada | $14,736,356,980 |
| New Jersey | $13,548,845,123 |
| Pennsylvania | $6,210,846,913 |
| Indiana | $2,205,093,169 |
| Colorado | $1,185,754,618 |
| Mississippi | $1,005,604,074 |
| Illinois | $941,403,906 |
| Iowa | $787,418,999 |
| West Virginia | $776,232,516 |
| Rhode Island | $555,523,648 |
| Delaware | $293,205,202 |
| Oregon | $263,518,470 |
| Arkansas | $55,814,459 |
| New York | $13,673,715 |
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