No state has offered legal sports betting for longer than Nevada. And despite an archaic in-person registration requirement for mobile-wagering accounts, it would be foolhardy to bet against Nevada continuing its reign as the nation's top destination for gambling of all types.
Disclaimer: For those outside of Nevada, you may face restrictions on the offers you see on this page.
No state has offered legal sports betting – bet it of the retail or mobile variety – for longer than Nevada. In fact, for nearly 70 years, the Silver State had a domestic monopoly on that particular form of gaming.
Since sports betting began spreading to other states in 2018, Nevada has remained a national powerhouse, in large part because of its peerless array of brick-and-mortar sportsbooks and the tourists they attract for major events like the Super Bowl and March Madness. But while the state's sportsbooks handle a very respectable amount of online action, they are undoubtedly hampered by the state's archaic requirement that bettors sign up for mobile-wagering accounts in person.
Despite any shortcomings, it would be foolhardy to bet against Nevada continuing its reign as the nation's top destination for gambling of all types. The house always wins, after all, and no houses have stood intact for longer than Nevada's.
Current Sportsbooks
12It's unlikely that people outside of Nevada will recognize most of the state's mobile betting apps. There are about a dozen of them, and most are local platforms like B-Connected Sports, STN Sports, and Wynn Sports. There are, however, two major national players – BetMGM and Caesars – that offer mobile wagering in a state where both bigwigs boast numerous retail sports betting counters.
The same goes for William Hill, which is fully owned by Caesars but functions as a standalone brand in Nevada. Among the best-known Vegas sportsbooks with betting apps are the Westgate SuperBook and Circa, the latter of which offers mobile wagering in Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, and Nevada.
January, 1949
Nevada becomes the first state to legalize sports wagering, which gets its start in turf clubs that are unaffiliated with casinos.
January, 1959
The Nevada Gaming Commission is established with the passage of Nevada's Gaming Control Act.
January, 1975
Nevada's legislature clears the way for casinos to offer wagering on horse racing and other sports, with race and sportsbooks soon becoming de rigueur in Las Vegas, Reno, and smaller gaming hotbeds around the state.
January, 2010
Nevada gaming officials decide to allow online gambling, albeit with a requirement that anyone wishing to avail themselves of mobile wagering must register for an account with a brick-and-mortar sportsbook that has a mobile app. Later in the year, STN Sports, the online sportsbook of Station Casinos, becomes the first to offer mobile wagering.
January 20, 2022
The Nevada Gaming Commission approves remote registration for online casino accounts but rejects it for sports wagering, meaning sports bettors who want to wager on their phones in Nevada will still have to register in person for an account at a physical sportsbok.
Sports betting has been legal in Nevada since 1949. It was not until 2018 that a key U.S. Supreme Court decision enabled this form of gambling to spread across the country.
Anyone who's 21 years of age or older can wager on sports in Nevada at one of its brick-and-mortar sportsbooks or betting kiosks. In order to place mobile bets in Nevada, bettors must sign up for an account in person at a participating sportsbook.
Sports betting regulation – and the oversight of gaming at large – in Nevada is handled by the Nevada Gaming Commission and the Nevada Gaming Control Board. The two entities are connected, with the NGCB issuing recommendations on licensing and the like to the NGC, which renders decisions on such matters.
This is Nevada. Good luck finding a sport you can't bet on, and if you're uncertain whether you can make a type of exotic wager, odds are you can find a sympathetic sportsbook that will take your action.
Again, this is Nevada. Where there's a will, there's a wager, although it's probably unreasonable to expect to be able to legally bet on third-grade dodgeball games and stuff like that.
Daily fantasy sports contests are legal in Nevada, but since the state requires DFS operators to secure a gambling license, you will not find DraftKings, FanDuel, and most other leading providers in operation there.
It's legal to bet on horse racing in Nevada, where many local sportsbooks feature racebooks, both in person and via mobile app. But Nevada's racing regulations prohibit online account-wagering platforms like TVG and TwinSpires from operating within state boundaries, while live racing only occurs during weekend-long meets at places like White Pine and the Elko County Fairgrounds.
Have other Questions? Email cservice2@drf.com
21+. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.