Which state has the best chance to legalize sports betting before the end of 2024?

In the U.S., 38 states including Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico have some form of legalized sports betting. Since the Supreme Court overturned the PASPA Act in 2018, several states across the country have seen firsthand just how profitable sports betting can be. Legalized markets make millions in revenue in a year, some even hitting hundreds of millions. So far in 2024, no state has been able to legalize sports betting. However, Missouri hopes to change that. With the help of Winning for Missouri Education, sports betting is expected to be on the November ballot in the Show Me State. Missouri sports betting has the backing of several professional sports teams in the area. This would allow for sports betting in the state to help benefit their educational initiatives.

Despite the optimism in Missouri, a recent lawsuit could challenge sports betting trying to make it on the November ballot. The lawsuit questions the validity of the over 300,000 signatures that Winning for Missouri Education was able to collect. This suggests that the Secretary of State’s office inaccurately allowed sports betting to be on the November ballot. If this lawsuit is successful, sports betting could be taken off the November ballot and it would not have a chance to be legalized until 2026. Even if sports betting does make it on the November ballot, there is no guarantee it will pass. Top U.S. sportsbooks like DraftKings and FanDuel have donated over $10 million to help Missouri get sports betting legalized. Industry stakeholders will monitor the lawsuit in the coming weeks to see how this all unfolds.

After Missouri, what states have the best chance to legalize sports betting?

In all reality, Missouri is the only state with any chance to legalize sports betting in 2024. A few states have tried to get the ball rolling but their government could not agree. States like Minnesota, Georgia, California, Texas, and South Carolina have a chance to legalize sports betting in 2025. California and Texas are the two markets that industry operators want a piece of. Both states have substantial populations that would undoubtedly take place in the sports wagering market. In California, previous efforts have failed as legislators have learned they need tribal support to have legal sports betting. It may be harder for Texas to get sports betting legalized as their legislative session meets every other year, They will meet in 2025, but sports betting has seen a backlash in the Lone Star State.