LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 15: Jake Sindberg of Wisconsin makes bets during a viewing party for the NCAA Men's College Basketball Tournament inside the 25,000-square-foot Race & Sports SuperBook at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino which features 4,488-square-feet of HD video screens on March 15, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

It’s been four years since the Supreme Court cleared the way for legal sports betting across the United States. Could North Carolina be one of the next states to legalize sports betting? Several states including NC, are in the process of trying to legalize it. Some have already taken that action and are waiting to implement sports betting.

On Thursday, Kansas became the 31st state to take that step when Gov. Laura Kelly signed a bill that legalized sports betting in Kansas. Betting could begin as soon as September, just in time for football season. The state hopes to use the money raised will be used to hopefully lure professional teams to Kansas. For one, the Kansas City Chiefs, who currently play their home games across the border in Missouri. They also hope to take advantage of betters in Missouri as the state failed to advance sports betting legislation again this year.

The Supreme Court ruling in the case of Murphy vs. NCAA, handed down on May 14, 2018, overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, which had prohibited legal sports betting throughout most of the United States starting in 1992.

Once the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was overturned in 2018, New Jersey was the first to take action. Other states, including Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, soon followed. But almost 5 years later North Carolina hasn’t jumped the gun. That could be poised to change in the coming months, however.

Bookies.com created “hypothetical odds” on when bettors in each of the remaining states will be able to make legal online wagers. Here were their results:

  • Kansas

    Yes: -9000

    No: +9000

    It’s not if it’s when at this point for Kansas. With the Governor signing the bill, now we just wait for the inevitable day residents can make their first bets.

  • Ohio

    Yes: -550

    No: +300

    Sports betting was actually approved and signed into law at the end of 2021. Though there have been delays in setting up the betting infrastructure which means the betting isn’t happening just yet. It’s worth noting that the law dictates that betting must begin by Jan.1, 2023.

  • Maryland

    Yes: +100

    No: -150

    You actually can place in-person wagers in Maryland at brick-and-mortar sites. These include at several casinos. Online sports betting in Maryland won’t arrive until after the start of the NFL season. 

  • North Carolina

    Yes: +135

    No: -110

    Finally, the one you’ve been waiting for. North Carolina. You may already know that in-person sports betting is legal inside casinos on tribal lands in North Carolina. The first step to legalizing it statewide was in a bill passed by the state Senate in April. The North Carolina sports betting bill is expected to also pass in the house when its session resumes on May 18..

  • Minnesota

    Yes: +225

    No: -300

    While both the Massachusetts House and Senate have passed bills legalizing sports betting, they have yet to come to terms on exactly how that will look. There are still a multitude of differences that need to be resolved before they will be placing any bets.

  • Maine

    Yes: +900

    No: –1850

    The state’s House just approved a bill to legalize both in-person and mobile sports betting. However, major differences remain between the House bill and the current proposal that’s in the state Senate. With the legislature’s summer break fast approaching a compromised bill seems unlikely before then.

Sign me up for the Power 98 email newsletter!

Become a Power 98 VIP Member and never miss out on any of the fun! Get exclusive access to contests, music news, tour announcements, and MORE! You don't want to miss out on this!

*
*
By clicking "Subscribe" I agree to the website's terms of Service and Privacy Policy. I understand I can unsubscribe at any time.