Thirty-nine states now have some form of legal sports betting, and thirty have mobile wagering. The expansion wave that swept the country post-PASPA has slowed considerably, and analysts are pessimistic about 2026 bringing any new markets. But a few states still have a shot.

The Quick Hit

• What happened: Missouri launched in late 2025, becoming state #39
• The damage: Analysts predict ZERO new states in 2026
• Why you should care: If you're in a holdout state, relief isn't coming soon
• The move: Know which states actually have a chance

The Analyst View: Bearish

Citizens Equity Research analyst Jordan Bender dropped a bombshell in a recent client report: "We have taken a bearish view as we model no new states legalizing sports betting or iGaming."

That's brutal for the roughly 60 million Americans in states without legal mobile sports betting. But it's also probably accurate. The easy states—the ones with political will and industry support—have already legalized.

What's left are the tough cases.

Hawaii: The Best Bet

Status: Both House and Senate passed versions of HB 1308 in 2025 Obstacle: Tax rate and licensing fee disagreements killed final passage 2026 Outlook: Favorable

Hawaii came closest to legalizing in 2025. Rep. Daniel Holt's bill passed both chambers—a significant achievement in a state with a long anti-gambling stance. The problem? The House wanted one tax rate and the Senate wanted another.

Rather than compromise, legislators punted to 2026. That's actually good news. The framework exists, both chambers support legalization in principle, and 2026 gives them time to work out the numbers.

If any state legalizes this year, Hawaii is the favorite.

Wisconsin: The Tribal Complication

Status: AB 601 gained serious momentum before being pulled Obstacle: Tribal gaming compacts require careful navigation 2026 Outlook: Possible but complicated

Wisconsin's bill would legalize mobile sports betting through tribes using a "hub-and-spoke" model. Assembly Majority Leader Tyler August's bill had early bipartisan support but was pulled from a scheduled vote in November.

August confirmed discussions will continue in 2026. The challenge is satisfying both tribal interests (who currently have exclusive gaming rights) and commercial operators (who want a piece of the market).

Wisconsin has 29 tribal casinos. Getting buy-in from all stakeholders is a diplomatic nightmare.

Georgia: The Fifth Time's the Charm?

Status: Failed in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 Obstacle: Constitutional amendment requirement (in some interpretations) 2026 Outlook: Long shot

Georgia has tried and failed to legalize sports betting five consecutive years. The latest push with HB 910 is already underway, but optimism is muted.

Here's the thing: FanDuel has a 68,000 square-foot tech facility in Atlanta. As part of a $2.25 million state grant, they agreed to employ 900 people by 2027. Sources indicate FanDuel may consider closing that facility if sports betting doesn't pass this year.

That's either brilliant leverage or an empty threat. Either way, Georgia legislators have heard it before.

The States That Won't Legalize in 2026

Texas: The legislature meets every two years. They failed in 2025, so the next opportunity is 2027.

California: Voters rejected both ballot propositions in 2022. The earliest realistic timing is 2028, and even that's optimistic.

Florida: The Seminole Tribe's exclusive compact was challenged but upheld. Mobile betting exists but only through the tribe's platform.

Minnesota: Tribal interests, horse racing tracks, and professional sports teams all want different things. Compromise has proven impossible.

Federal Legislation Watch

The SAFE Bet Act, introduced by Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), would create federal standards for sports betting including:

• Advertising restrictions
• Affordability checks
• Ban on college player props

This bill has essentially zero chance of passing, but it signals continued federal interest in the industry. If sports betting scandals continue mounting (and they have), federal intervention becomes more likely.

The Bottom Line

The sports betting gold rush is over. The states that wanted to legalize have largely done so. What remains are states with constitutional barriers, tribal complications, or political opposition that runs deep.

If you're in Hawaii, there's real hope for 2026. Wisconsin is possible but requires threading a needle. Georgia keeps trying and keeps failing.

Everyone else? You're probably waiting until at least 2027, if not longer.

The good news: with 39 states already legal, most Americans have access to sports betting. The bad news: if you don't, relief isn't coming as quickly as you'd like.

Welcome to the slow grind of state-by-state legalization.