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Sports betting laws in the United States vary by state. Some states run legal, regulated online sportsbooks; large states including Texas, California, and Georgia still have none. In states without a legal market, bettors who want to wager use offshore sportsbooks — sites licensed outside the United States that accept U.S. customers and operate online. These state guides explain where sports betting stands, how people bet in each state today, and what to look for in a book.
Sports betting guides by state
- Texas — No legal sportsbooks; how Texans bet now and whether legalization is coming.
- California — No legal market after 2022’s failed ballot measures; the offshore route Californians use.
- Georgia — No legal sportsbooks yet; current status and how Georgians bet.
- Florida — Limited legal access through one operator; why many Floridians still use offshore books.
How bettors wager in states without a legal market
Where there is no state-regulated sportsbook, bettors use offshore books licensed in other countries that accept U.S. customers. They operate online, bank in crypto and traditional methods, and cover the same leagues and markets as regulated books elsewhere — but they are not overseen by a U.S. state authority, so state-level consumer protections do not apply. That trade-off is the same in every no-legal-market state. Bet responsibly; this is editorial information, not legal advice. Start with our independently ranked Best Sportsbooks.