Can I Bet College Football In My State At Sportsbooks?
Since the start of last college football season, the legal sports betting community welcomed new states to the fold – some with major betting power. Although the legality of sports betting in your state is a black-and-white matter, whether you can access the best college football betting sites and odds can vary, even in states with regulated professional sports betting. Let’s find out whether your state offers legal college football betting.
Maryland, Nebraska, North Carolina, and Ohio launched their sports betting operations since last August and all feature major college football programs. The Buckeye State vaulted themselves into one of the most active and profitable betting states in just months. Kentucky also legalized sports betting, but it’s expected to launch in 2024. This coming season, residents of 33 states can bet on college football odds.
Scroll to the bottom of the article for a table with a complete rundown of college sports betting. Plus, subscribe for free to TheLines.com college football podcast with co-hosts Brett Gibbons and Kelley Ford.
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Can I Bet On College Football In My State?
For the sweeping majority of legal betting states, the answer is yes, in some respect. Oregon is the lone state to legalize sports betting completely ban betting on college sports. New Mexico and North Dakota leave the legality of it up to their respective Native tribes, some of whom ban the practice. But if you’re in those states and determined to bet on college football this year, you can find a retail shop to do so.
Illinois takes it a step further – you must bet college sports in person at retail shops if you want to bet on in-state teams. Online betting on college football is not yet allowed on Illinois, Northwestern, etc.
Fourteen more states place restrictions on betting on in-state universities or collegiate events played within state borders. Nebraska, Washington, and Wisconsin ban betting on in-state schools and feature major national players in the FBS. South Dakota also bans it, meaning South Dakotans cannot wager on the defending FCS National Champion Jackrabbits for now. New York and Virginia have Power Five programs and also ban in-state college betting.
Connecticut and Massachusetts ban betting on in-state teams unless those teams are playing in a tournament. For the former, that’s a safeguard against the UConn Huskies playing in the NCAA Tournament in basketball, but UConn football backers are out of luck.
The remaining 17 states with FBS schools allow betting on all college football games.
College Football Betting Is Legal In My State… Where’s The Props?
Betting on college player props is a contentious topic. Many of the states that allow wagering on all college sports ban prop betting. Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia all outlaw betting on college props. Ten other states match the guidance of banning in-state school prop betting. Virginia allows betting on in-state schools, but not props on in-state players.
The remaining 11 states allow wagering on college props, including on in-state teams.
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Where Betting On College Football Is, Isn’t Legal
| State | Legal Sports Betting? | Bet On College Sports? | Bet On College Props? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No | ||
| Alaska | No | ||
| Arizona | Yes | Yes | No |
| Arkansas | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| California | No | ||
| Colorado | Yes | Yes | No |
| Connecticut | Yes | Yes, no in-state* | Yes, no in-state* |
| Delaware | Yes, Retail only | Yes, no in-state | Yes, no in-state |
| Florida | No | ||
| Georgia | No | ||
| Hawaii | No | ||
| Idaho | No | ||
| Illinois | Yes | Yes, in-person on in-state teams | Yes, no in-state |
| Indiana | Yes | Yes | Yes, no live props |
| Iowa | Yes | Yes | Yes, no in-state |
| Kansas | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Kentucky | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Louisiana | Yes, by parish | Yes | No |
| Maine | Legal, not yet live | ||
| Maryland | Yes | Yes | No |
| Massachusetts | Yes | Yes, no in-state* | No |
| Michigan | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Minnesota | No | ||
| Mississippi | Yes, retail | Yes | Yes |
| Missouri | No | ||
| Montana | Yes, retail | Yes | Yes |
| Nebraska | Yes, retail | Yes, no in-state | No |
| Nevada | Yes, retail | Yes | Yes |
| New Hampshire | Yes | Yes, no in-state^ | Yes, no in-state^ |
| New Jersey | Yes | Yes, no in-state^ | Yes, no in-state^ |
| New Mexico | Yes, retail | Varies | Varies |
| New York | Yes | Yes, no in-state | No |
| North Carolina | Yes, retail | Yes | Yes |
| North Dakota | Yes, retail | Varies | Varies |
| Ohio | Yes | Yes | No |
| Oklahoma | No | ||
| Oregon | Yes | No | No |
| Pennsylvania | Yes | Yes | No |
| Rhode Island | Yes | Yes, no in-state^ | Yes, no in-state^ |
| South Carolina | No | ||
| South Dakota | Yes, retail | Yes, no in-state | No |
| Tennessee | Yes | Yes | No |
| Texas | No | ||
| Utah | No | ||
| Vermont | Yes | Yes | No |
| Virginia | Yes | Yes, no in-state | No |
| Washington | Yes, retail | Yes, no in-state | Yes, no in-state |
| Washington, DC | Yes | Yes, no in-state^ | Yes, no in-state^ |
| West Virginia | Yes | Yes | No |
| Wisconsin | Yes, retail | Yes, no in-state | Yes, no in-state |
| Wyoming | Yes | Yes | Yes |
*No in-state betting on teams or props except when those teams are playing in tournaments.
^No betting on in-state teams OR games taking place inside the state.
Best Sportsbook Promos In Your State
Get started betting college football with the best sportsbook promo codes in your state:
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