With legislative sessions around the country wrapping up in the coming days, it appears that 2025 will conclude without another state legalizing domestic sports betting.
The states of Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Utah, Hawaii, Alaska, California, Texas, Oklahoma, Minnesota, and Idaho are the only remaining holdouts without any forms of locally regulated sports betting.
Any region that is bordered by legal sports betting states is subject to its citizens crossing into those territories and using their domestic sportsbooks. This is usually enough of a catalyst to begin the legalization process itself, but eleven states are still left out in the cold.
What Will Be The Next Legal Sports Betting State?
Two states where the push seems to be as hard as the resistance to sports betting are Texas and California. Lobbyists and legislators have been incredibly busy since 2018’s PASPA repeal, endeavoring to usher in the debut of local sportsbooks in anticipation of the heaps of cash they will add to the state budgets.
In Texas, it is the Lt. Governor (and also Senate President) who is holding up the proceedings. In CA, failed voter initiatives and tribal gaming influence are to blame for sports betting’s delay.
Georgia also seems poised to pounce on sports betting. Atlanta’s professional sports franchises are on board, but sports betting bills continue to stall without passage.
Minnesota had three sports betting bills circulating this spring, but none traveled further than committee. The same can be said for Georgia, where two bills seemed to have potential early on, only to die without making it to the Senate or House floors.
In South Carolina, Governor Henry McMaster is not a fan of sports betting and new leadership may be required if sports betting is to have a chance in the state.
Another session has passed in Alabama without the regulation of local sportsbooks, but the local Poarch Band of Creek Indians is preparing to ramp up its lobbying efforts for 2026.
Our Prediction For The Next State To Legalize Sports Betting: Georgia – no later than 2027
Movement In Holdout Regions
There have been no sports betting bills introduced in Utah, and it would come as no surprise if the state ended up being the last remaining holdout.
Hawaii has long been an anti-gambling region and has avoided the legalization of any local casinos, sportsbooks, or card rooms. In 2025, the state legislature seriously considered sports betting bills, but didn’t end up passing any before the deadline.
With these recent actions in HI, the state is as likely as any other to legalize local sportsbooks in the coming years.
