The online sports betting rules in the U.S. change from one state to the next, and offshore sportsbooks and casinos sit outside all of them. This hub gives you one plain-English map: what “offshore” means, what it risks, and a link to the Daily Wager Zone guide for each of 26 states, with the current sports betting and online casino status next to it.
Disclosure: this page has no affiliate links. Daily Wager Zone earns commissions from some offshore brands that we feature on other pages. That has no effect on the status notes below, which come from the named sources in the Trust box.
The Quick Version
- Offshore means licensed outside the U.S. No U.S. state regulator licenses these sites or handles your complaints.
- Of the 26 states below, 14 have statewide online sports apps live, 4 allow only in-person or on-site betting, and 8 do not allow regulated sports betting. Count based on Action Network and CBS Sports, checked Oct. 15, 2026.
- Online casinos are rarer. Only 4 of the 26 states have regulated online casinos live, according to CBS Sports: Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.
- Our take: if your state has a regulated app, start there and compare it with any offshore option. If it does not, read your state guide before you deposit anywhere, and read the risk section on this page first.
What Does Offshore Mean for Betting?
Offshore means the company is licensed and based outside the United States. Offshore sportsbooks and casinos take U.S. players over the internet, but no U.S. state regulator licenses them, audits them or steps in when something goes wrong. A regulated U.S. app, by contrast, must follow its state’s rules.
That gap matters in a few simple ways. If an offshore site delays a payout, changes its terms or closes your account, you have no state gaming commission to complain to. Your deposit is not backed by a state-run player protection system. Taxes on winnings are a separate issue, and our guide to sports betting tax rates by state covers how they work.
Is it legal for you to use one? The answer depends on your state and is not always clear. Some states say little about players. Others have broad rules about gambling information sent over the internet. Washington is a clear example. RCW 9.46.240 says that anyone who “knowingly transmits or receives gambling information” by the internet or similar means commits a class C felony, with an exception for activities the chapter authorizes, including sports wagering under Washington’s own rules. We are not lawyers, and this is not legal advice. Read that statute and our state guide, and ask a licensed attorney if you are unsure.
For the full list of risks, see our guide to the real risks of offshore sportsbooks. If gambling stops being fun, call 1-800-MY-RESET.
Which States Allow Online Betting and Casinos in 2026?
Here is the status of online sports betting and online casinos in the 26 states where Daily Wager Zone has a published guide. “Status” means regulated, state-approved betting. It does not describe offshore sites.
| State | DWZ guide | Online sports betting | Online casino |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Alabama guide | Not legal | Not legal |
| Alaska | Alaska guide | Not legal | Not legal |
| California | California guide | Not legal | Not legal |
| Florida | Florida guide | Online live (one operator) | Not legal |
| Georgia | Georgia guide | Not legal | Not legal |
| Illinois | Illinois guide | Online apps live | Not legal |
| Kentucky | Kentucky guide | Online apps live | Not legal |
| Maine | Maine guide | Online live (two operators) | Legal, not launched yet |
| Maryland | Maryland guide | Online apps live | Not legal |
| Michigan | Michigan guide | Online apps live | Legal |
| Minnesota | Minnesota guide | Not legal | Not legal |
| Mississippi | Mississippi guide | Retail and on-site mobile only | Not legal |
| Nebraska | Nebraska guide | Retail only | Not legal |
| Nevada | Nevada guide | Online live (sign-up in person) | Online poker only |
| New Jersey | New Jersey guide | Online apps live | Legal |
| New York | New York guide | Online apps live | Not legal |
| North Carolina | North Carolina guide | Online apps live | Not legal |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma guide | Not legal | Not legal |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania guide | Online apps live | Legal |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island guide | Online live (one operator) | Legal (one operator) |
| South Carolina | South Carolina guide | Not legal | Not legal |
| South Dakota | South Dakota guide | Deadwood and tribal retail only | Not legal |
| Tennessee | Tennessee guide | Online apps live | Not legal |
| Texas | Texas guide and Texas offshore sportsbooks page | Not legal | Not legal |
| Virginia | Virginia guide | Online apps live | Not legal |
| Washington | Washington guide | Tribal retail and on-site mobile only | Not legal |
Sports betting status: Action Network and CBS Sports agree on every row above, checked Oct. 15, 2026. Online casino status: CBS Sports, October 2026. Both sites are media trackers, not regulators. Always confirm with your state gaming agency before you deposit anywhere.
How Many of These States Have Online Casinos?
Far fewer than have sports betting. Here is the count for the same 26 states, according to CBS Sports: four have legal online casinos running (Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island), one has authorized them but has not launched (Maine), one allows online poker only (Nevada), and 20 do not allow them. That means players in most of these states have no regulated local option for online casino games, which makes the risks above matter even more.
How Do You Use This Hub?
- Find your state in the table. Open the DWZ guide for the details, including laws, taxes and what changed this year.
- Check the status columns. If your state has regulated apps, compare their offers and protections with any offshore site before you pick one.
- Read the terms before you deposit anywhere. Our casino bonus terms guide explains rollover and expiry in plain English.
- Look for your state’s official regulator page. It is the best place to confirm current rules.
Do not see your state? DWZ does not have a published guide for it yet. Our state-by-state gambling news page may still have coverage. Check your state gaming agency for the current rules.
Where Do Current Bonuses and Promos Live?
We keep two pages updated on the first of each month with verified welcome offers from offshore brands: offshore sportsbook bonuses and promos and casino promotions this month. Each lists the check date and where an offer is unclear.
References
- Action Network. “Online sports betting status by state.” Updated Oct. 15, 2026. Checked October 15, 2026.
- CBS Sports. “U.S. sports betting: Where all 50 states stand on legalizing online sports betting sites.” October 2026. Checked October 15, 2026.
- CBS Sports. “U.S. online casinos: Here is where all 50 states currently stand on legalizing internet gambling, casino play.” October 2026. Checked October 15, 2026.
- Washington State Legislature. “RCW 9.46.240, Gambling information, transmitting or receiving.” Checked October 15, 2026.
