US gambling licensing: online casino and sports betting by state
There is no federal US gambling license. Each state licenses operators, suppliers and vendors separately. Online casino is live in seven states, with Maine authorized; sports betting is legal in 39 states plus DC, online in 31 of them.
- Best for
- Suppliers entering US regulated states
- Who can be licensed
- B2C operators and B2B suppliers
- Markets it serves
- United States
There is no federal US gambling license: each state licenses operators, suppliers and vendors separately under its own gaming law. Online casino is live in seven states (New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Delaware, Connecticut and Rhode Island), with Maine authorized; sports betting is legal in 39 states plus DC, online in 31 of them. Operators usually need a land-based or tribal partner. Plan for 6–18 months per state.
- Status
- Licensing open
- Regulator
- State regulators
- Legal basis
- State gaming laws
- Status checked
- October 16, 2026
How US licensing works
Every state is its own market with its own regulator, license classes, testing rules and tax. You license state by state.
Operator licenses
Online casino and sportsbook operators are licensed by each state, in most states through a “skin” tethered to a land-based casino, racetrack, tribe or lottery.
Supplier licenses
Platforms, game studios, RGS and live studios need a supplier license in each state where their products are offered.
Vendor registrations
Payment, geolocation, KYC and data providers, and in many states affiliates, register or are licensed as vendors.
Key persons
Owners and executives file personal history disclosures and go through background investigations in each state.
States with legal online casino
| State | Regulator | Live since | Market notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) | 2013 | Largest market; operators tethered to Atlantic City casinos; supplier approvals often start here |
| Delaware | Delaware Lottery | 2013 | Lottery-run through the state’s three casinos, with one platform vendor |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) | 2019 | More than 20 operators under casino licenses |
| West Virginia | West Virginia Lottery Commission | 2020 | Operators tethered to the state’s casinos |
| Michigan | Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) | 2021 | Commercial and tribal casino partners; about 15 operators |
| Connecticut | Department of Consumer Protection, Gaming Division | 2021 | Two tribal operators and the lottery; closed market |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island Lottery | 2024 | Single operator through the state’s casinos |
| Maine | Gambling Control Unit | Authorized 2026; launch expected late 2026 or 2027 | Four tribal licenses, each with one operator partner |
| Nevada | Nevada Gaming Control Board | 2013 | Online poker only; no online casino games |
States with legal online sports betting
| State | Regulator | Live since | Market model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | Department of Gaming | 2021 | Licenses tied to tribes and pro sports teams |
| Arkansas | Racing Commission | 2022 | Tethered to the state’s casinos |
| Colorado | Division of Gaming | 2020 | Open; tethered to casinos |
| Connecticut | DCP Gaming Division | 2021 | Two tribes and the lottery |
| Delaware | Delaware Lottery | 2023 (online) | Single lottery-run platform |
| District of Columbia | Office of Lottery and Gaming | 2020 | Lottery app plus venue-based licenses |
| Florida | Florida Gaming Control Commission (tribal compact) | 2023 | Seminole Tribe (Hard Rock Bet) only |
| Illinois | Illinois Gaming Board | 2020 | Open; online and retail licenses |
| Indiana | Indiana Gaming Commission | 2019 | Open; tethered to casinos |
| Iowa | Racing and Gaming Commission | 2019 | Open; tethered to casinos |
| Kansas | Kansas Lottery and Racing and Gaming Commission | 2022 | Tethered to state-owned casinos |
| Kentucky | Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation | 2023 | Tethered to racetracks |
| Louisiana | Gaming Control Board | 2022 | In approving parishes only |
| Maine | Gambling Control Unit | 2023 | Tribal operators |
| Maryland | Lottery and Gaming Control Agency | 2022 | Open; online and retail licenses |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts Gaming Commission | 2023 | Limited online licenses |
| Michigan | Michigan Gaming Control Board | 2021 | Commercial and tribal partners |
| Missouri | Missouri Gaming Commission | 2025 | Online and retail licenses; launched December 1, 2025 |
| Nevada | Nevada Gaming Control Board | 2010 | Mobile apps of licensed casinos; in-person registration |
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire Lottery | 2020 | Single operator under lottery contract |
| New Jersey | Division of Gaming Enforcement | 2018 | Open; tethered to casinos and racetracks |
| New York | New York State Gaming Commission | 2022 | Limited online licenses; high tax |
| North Carolina | North Carolina Lottery Commission | 2024 | Limited online licenses |
| Ohio | Ohio Casino Control Commission | 2023 | Open; online and retail licenses |
| Oregon | Oregon Lottery | 2019 | Single operator under lottery contract |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board | 2019 | Tethered to casino licenses |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island Lottery | 2019 | Lottery-run single platform |
| Tennessee | Sports Wagering Council | 2020 | Online only; no retail sportsbooks |
| Vermont | Department of Liquor and Lottery | 2024 | Limited operators under contract |
| Virginia | Virginia Lottery | 2021 | Open; online licenses |
| West Virginia | West Virginia Lottery Commission | 2019 | Tethered to casinos |
| Wyoming | Wyoming Gaming Commission | 2021 | Online only |
Retail-only states and states without legal sports betting
| Status | States |
|---|---|
| Retail sports betting only | Mississippi, Montana (lottery-run), Nebraska, New Mexico (tribal), North Dakota (tribal), South Dakota (Deadwood), Washington (tribal), Wisconsin (tribal; online betting legalized April 2026, not yet live) |
| No legal sports betting | Alabama, Alaska, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Minnesota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah |
What US regulators expect
Entity disclosures
Corporate structure, ownership to the individuals, financial statements and litigation history.
Personal history
Personal history disclosure forms, fingerprints and background investigations for owners and key executives, repeated per state.
Game certification
Games and platforms tested by approved labs (such as GLI or BMM) against each state’s technical standards.
Geolocation
Certified geolocation that confines play to the state’s borders.
AML and responsible gaming
Bank Secrecy Act AML compliance, KYC and the state’s responsible gaming rules.
Market access partner
For operators: an agreement with a land-based, tribal or lottery license holder where the state requires it.
How the application runs
Each state runs its own investigation. Transactional waivers or temporary licenses let suppliers start in some states while the full investigation runs; plan for 6–18 months per state.
- 1Market selectionWhich states, which products, which partners.
- 2ApplicationsSupplier, vendor or operator applications per state.
- 3InvestigationBackground checks on the company and key persons.
- 4CertificationGames and systems tested for each state.
- 5LaunchGo-live with operators in each state.
Ongoing obligations
- Separate compliance in every state
- Renewals and change reporting per state
- Geolocation and responsible gaming requirements
- State taxes and fees on gaming revenue
- Reporting of new key persons and ownership changes in each state
Operator access in most states runs through land-based, tribal or lottery license holders, so suppliers often enter first. Status as of October 2026; state laws change often.
Ask about your caseFrequently asked questions
Is there a single US gambling license?
No. Each state licenses operators, suppliers and vendors separately.
Which states allow online casino?
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Delaware, Connecticut and Rhode Island are live; Maine is authorized, with launch expected late 2026 or 2027. Nevada allows online poker only.
How many states allow online sports betting?
31 states plus DC. Eight more allow only retail sports betting, and eleven have no legal sports betting.
Where should a supplier start?
Usually New Jersey, then Pennsylvania and Michigan. Approvals in those states are well understood by other regulators.
Can an offshore-licensed operator serve US players?
No. US players may only be served under the relevant state’s license. Offshore regulators such as Kahnawake require licensees not to target the US.
Do affiliates need a license?
In many states, yes: affiliates register or are licensed as vendors, with rules that differ between revenue-share and flat-fee models.
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