2025 will not be remembered fondly by sportsbook legalization advocates.
For the first time since the Supreme Court struck down the federal wagering ban in 2018, no state passed a sportsbook legalization bill or approved a ballot measure that would allow sports betting. This year was bound to happen – there are only 50 states – but it is still a difficult stretch for bettors, especially with many high-population states still without legal wagering options.
California and Texas, the two most populated states in the country and a combined 25% of its population, were never going to approve sports betting in 2025. Even if they had, both states require ballot measures, neither of which would come before the 2026 elections.
Alabama and (likely) Georgia are also facing a ballot measure requirement, which is stifling 2025 efforts before they gain much traction. Political realities mean holdouts including Utah, South Carolina, Idaho, and Alaska may never have legal sports betting.
