Daily fantasy sports has made a lot of legislative progress over the course of 2016 and 2017. With the recent additions of Pennsylvania and Connecticut, 18 states have expressly legalized DFS.
Interestingly, the new additions – Pennsylvania and Connecticut – are two of the four states that have pre-authorized sports betting, should New Jersey triumph in its sports betting appeal.
The case will be heard by the Supreme Court of the United States next month, with a decision expected in the spring of 2018.
Here’s DFS Report’s monthly look at the latest DFS and sports betting legislative efforts across the United States.
DFS legislation update
And then there were 18
Within the past two weeks, two more states have legalized DFS.
- After several years of debate, Pennsylvania passed a sweeping gaming reform bill that legalized DFS in the Keystone State. The specifics of the bill can be found here.
- Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy signed legislation legalizing DFS, but before it can become official, the bill will need the blessing of the state’s two gaming tribes: Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot. More information on the Connecticut bill can be found here.
The DFS bill tally
The list of states that have passed DFS legislation now stands at 18:
- Arkansas
- Connecticut (pending tribal approval)
- Colorado
- Delaware
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Vermont
- Virginia
| 2017 DFS Legislation Tracker | |||
| State | Bill introduced | Legislation passed | DFS legalized pre-2017 |
| Alabama | X | ||
| Alaska | |||
| Arizona | |||
| Arkansas | X | X | |
| California | |||
| Colorado | X | ||
| Connecticut | X | X | |
| Delaware | X | X | |
| Florida | X | ||
| Georgia | X | ||
| Hawaii | X | ||
| Idaho | |||
| Illinois | X | ||
| Indiana | X | ||
| Iowa | X | ||
| Kansas | X | ||
| Kentucky | X | ||
| Louisiana | |||
| Maine | X | X | |
| Maryland | X | ||
| Massachusetts | X | ||
| Michigan | X | ||
| Minnesota | X | ||
| Mississippi | X | ||
| Missouri | X | ||
| Montana | X | ||
| Nebraska | X | ||
| Nevada | |||
| New Hampshire | X | X | |
| New Jersey | X | X | |
| New Mexico | |||
| New York | X | ||
| North Carolina | X | ||
| North Dakota | |||
| Ohio | X | ||
| Oklahoma | |||
| Oregon | X | ||
| Pennsylvania | X | X | |
| Rhode Island | X | ||
| South Carolina | |||
| South Dakota | |||
| Tennessee | X | ||
| Texas | X | ||
| Utah | |||
| Vermont | X | X | |
| Virginia | X | ||
| Washington | X | ||
| West Virginia | |||
| Wisconsin | X | ||
| Wyoming | |||
| Total | 26 | 8 | 10 |
Legal Sports Report’s legislative tracker has information and up-to-the-minute updates on all DFS legislation.
Sports betting legalization update
Legal sports betting efforts received a boost when Pennsylvania preauthorized sports betting should New Jersey win its years-long court battle. The sports betting language was part of the comprehensive gaming reform package mentioned above.
Connecticut is the third state to pass legislation legalizing sports betting this year. However, all three laws are contingent upon New Jersey.
You can find a deeper dive into the particulars of Pennsylvania’s sports betting law here.
Sports betting bill tally
The list of states that have passed sports betting legislation now stands at 4:
- Connecticut
- Mississippi
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
| Sports Betting Legislation Tracker | |||
| State | Bill introduced | Legislation passed | PASPA Exemption |
| Alabama | |||
| Alaska | |||
| Arizona | |||
| Arkansas | |||
| California | X | ||
| Colorado | |||
| Connecticut | X | X | |
| Delaware | Parlay betting is legal | ||
| Florida | |||
| Georgia | |||
| Hawaii | X | ||
| Idaho | |||
| Illinois | |||
| Indiana | |||
| Iowa | |||
| Kansas | |||
| Kentucky | X | ||
| Louisiana | |||
| Maine | |||
| Maryland | X | ||
| Massachusetts | |||
| Michigan | X | ||
| Minnesota | |||
| Mississippi | X | X | |
| Missouri | |||
| Montana | Sports pools are legal | ||
| Nebraska | |||
| Nevada | Sports betting is legal | ||
| New Hampshire | |||
| New Jersey | X | X | |
| New Mexico | |||
| New York | X | ||
| North Carolina | |||
| North Dakota | |||
| Ohio | |||
| Oklahoma | X | ||
| Oregon | Parlay cards are legal | ||
| Pennsylvania | X | X | |
| Rhode Island | |||
| South Carolina | X | ||
| South Dakota | |||
| Tennessee | |||
| Texas | |||
| Utah | |||
| Vermont | |||
| Virginia | |||
| Washington | |||
| West Virginia | X | ||
| Wisconsin | |||
| Wyoming | |||
| Total | 13 | 4 | 4 |
