It can be challenging to know just where placing bets on the NHL is or isn’t legal in the USA. After the blanket ban was lifted in 2018, each state has made moves to enact special laws for gambling.
Some states only offer legal online or offline betting. Rules and regulations also vary from state to state.
We’re here to sift through the legislation and make clear which states are or aren’t offering legal online betting for NHL. We’ll also detail the rules and regulations in place for each state with partial betting.
Full Mobile Betting on NHL
These are the easiest states to access online NHL betting. There’s no need to go through a lottery, register yourself, or be at a casino to make an NHL wager in these states.
Indiana
Placing bets on mobile devices launched at the beginning of October 2019. Within two months, the state was netting $154.6 million per month from it.
New Hampshire
Previously restricted to running through the lottery, other types of online sports betting can now be accessed via the DraftKings app as well. Online betting only just launched as gambling on sports became legal in July 2019. Physical locations will be available soon.
New Jersey
New Jersey was one of the states that fought for the overturn of the PASPA ban. It’s one of the best states for wagering on sports online. It’s calculated around 80% of all bets in the state are made online. In addition to sports betting, New Jersey is also home to 20 legal online casinos.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania online gambling and sports betting was legalized in May 2019, and sites are now up-and-running as of November 2019.
West Virginia
People could place bets on NHL games in West Virginia since August 2019.
Partial Mobile Betting on NHL
Partial mobile betting comes with specific criteria. Maybe you need to register in person, or perhaps you can only make a bet on NHL from your mobile or tablet when you’re in a casino.
Iowa
The state started accepting bets mid-August 2019. All that’s required is that you register before placing a wager on your mobile, computer, or tablet. This law is in place until 2021.
Mississippi
Mississippi was early to the table, legalizing online sports betting in 2018. However, you’ll need to be in a casino while you make your bets for them to be considered legal.
Nevada
Nevada, the most well-known U.S. gambling state, hasn’t yet mastered the art of online betting. You’ll need to register yourself at a casino to make legal bets online there.
Oregon
Before the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), Oregan was one of the states grandfathered into legal sports betting. As such, they didn’t need to pass a bill to legalize placing bets on hockey matches. The Oregon Lottery handles all online sports betting since it became available in October 2019.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island, the only state where it’s legal for an 18-year-old to bet, also runs its online sports betting through its state lottery.
Only Physical Betting on NHL
These states have legalized gambling on National Hockey League games, but only offer physical betting on the NHL at present:
- Arkansas
- Delaware
- Illinois
- Michigan
- New Mexico
- New York
States that Recently Legalized, but Betting Isn’t Available Yet.
These states have recently legalized gambling, but are still in the process of making online and offline gambling available for the NHL within the next few months/years:
- Washington D.C.
- Tennessee
- North Carolina
- Montana
- Colorado
Conclusion
The face of American gambling sure is changing. More and more states are offering punters the ability to place bets on the NHL games. This is great news for those who would rather stay at home watching the match or indulge in an in-play bet from the comfort of their lounge chair.