Is Offshore Sports Betting Legal in the United States? (2025 Sate-By-State Guide Update)
Offshore sportsbooks operate outside U.S. jurisdiction — usually licensed in places like Curaçao, Antigua, or Malta — and they often accept American players. However, no U.S. state formally recognizes a foreign gambling license. In practice, that means offshore sportsbooks are not legal under state or federal law, even if many Americans still use them.
The legality question revolves around two layers: state-level gaming laws and federal restrictions like the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). Most states only authorize betting through locally licensed operators. Offshore sites are not part of that regulatory system, which means no consumer protection or dispute resolution if something goes wrong.
That doesn’t automatically make playing at offshore sites a criminal act for the bettor — enforcement focuses on unlicensed operators, not individual players — but it does mean you’re on your own if you have a payout issue or bonus dispute. For peace of mind, regulators recommend sticking to locally licensed sportsbooks whenever possible. The table below summarizes every U.S. state’s current stance.
Offshore Sportsbook Legality by State (2025)
| State | Are offshore books legal? | Legal local options today | Where complaints go | Key notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No | No legal sports betting | N/A | Lawmakers have floated bills, but nothing has passed. Offshore sites aren’t recognized under Alabama law and offer no state‑level recourse. |
| Alaska | No | No legal sports betting | N/A | Still early‑stage talk in Juneau from time to time, but no regulated framework. Offshore operators remain outside state protection. |
| Arizona | No | Licensed mobile and retail sportsbooks | Arizona Department of Gaming | Use state‑licensed apps for protections like payout investigations and responsible‑gambling tools; offshore sites are illegal here. |
| Arkansas | No | Licensed retail and mobile sportsbooks | Arkansas Racing Commission | Convenient in‑state mobile options exist. Regulators recommend avoiding unlicensed offshore brands for safety and recourse. |
| California | No | No statewide legal sports betting | N/A | Ballot efforts failed; tribes and commercial interests remain at odds. Offshore betting isn’t a legal substitute. |
| Colorado | No | Licensed online apps and retail books | Colorado Division of Gaming | The state routinely warns about copycat sites. Only Colorado licensees offer dispute help and clear KYC rules. |
| Connecticut | No | Authorized mobile sportsbooks via state partners | CT Department of Consumer Protection & CT Lottery | Officials call offshore sites unregulated and risky; the state can’t help with payout issues on foreign books. |
| Delaware | No | Retail sportsbooks at casinos; online pending/restricted | Delaware Lottery | Legal wagering exists but is limited online. Any Curaçao/Malta licence has no standing in Delaware. |
| Florida | No | Seminole Tribe’s Hard Rock Bet (mobile) + retail | Florida Gaming Control Commission | Other brands remain unlicensed. Federally tinged litigation pops up, but offshore sites aren’t legal for Floridians. |
| Georgia | No | No legal sports betting | N/A | Bills surface, then stall. Offshore betting violates state statutes and offers zero Georgia consumer protection. |
| Hawaii | No | No legal gambling | N/A | One of the strictest states. Offshore wagering is still gambling and not recognized under Hawaii law. |
| Idaho | No | No legal sports betting | N/A | Constitutional hurdles and little momentum. Offshore books operate outside any Idaho oversight. |
| Illinois | No | Licensed mobile apps and retail books | Illinois Gaming Board | Plenty of legal options; the board only handles disputes with licensees, not offshore brands. |
| Indiana | No | Licensed mobile and retail sportsbooks | Indiana Gaming Commission | The IGC has warned residents about unlicensed sites. Stick to Hoosier State operators for protections. |
| Iowa | No | Licensed mobile and retail sportsbooks | Iowa Racing & Gaming Commission | Legal apps are widely available. If you use an offshore site, Iowa regulators can’t help recover funds. |
| Kansas | No | Licensed online and retail sportsbooks | Kansas Lottery | New market, active options. Offshore sites sit outside Kansas consumer and RG protections. |
| Kentucky | No | Licensed mobile sportsbooks statewide | Kentucky Horse Racing Commission | Launched in 2023. Only state‑licensed apps are covered by KY dispute mechanisms and audits. |
| Louisiana | No | Mobile and retail sportsbooks (parish approved) | Louisiana Gaming Control Board | Mobile is live where approved; foreign sites remain unregulated and risky for recoveries. |
| Maine | No | Mobile sportsbooks via tribal operators | Maine Gambling Control Unit | New, tightly controlled market. Offshore brands remain unlicensed in Maine. |
| Maryland | No | Licensed mobile and retail sportsbooks | Maryland Lottery & Gaming Control Agency | MLGCA issues frequent warnings; only Maryland licensees qualify for state assistance. |
| Massachusetts | No | Licensed mobile and retail sportsbooks | Massachusetts Gaming Commission | Consumer‑first approach: the MGC can only act on licensed operators, not offshore books. |
| Michigan | No | Licensed online sportsbooks and online casinos | Michigan Gaming Control Board | MGCB has sent cease‑and‑desist letters to offshore brands. Use legal MI operators for recourse. |
| Minnesota | No | No legal sports betting | N/A | Tribal negotiations continue; until law passes, offshore betting sits outside state protection. |
| Mississippi | No | Retail sportsbooks; limited on‑premises mobile | Mississippi Gaming Commission | State law does not permit statewide online wagering. Offshore sites offer no MGC protections. |
| Missouri | No | No legal sports betting | N/A | Repeated legislative stops and starts. Offshore betting remains illegal and unprotected. |
| Montana | No | Retail kiosks + limited lottery app | Montana Lottery | The lottery product is the lone legal route. Offshore books are unlicensed in Montana. |
| Nebraska | No | Retail sportsbooks rolling out; no statewide mobile | Nebraska Racing & Gaming Commission | Online remains pending. Foreign licences carry no weight in Nebraska. |
| Nevada | No | Retail + mobile apps tethered to casinos | Nevada Gaming Control Board | Pinnacle of regulation, but only for licensees. Offshore books conflict with state and federal law. |
| New Hampshire | No | DraftKings via state lottery | New Hampshire Lottery Commission | Single‑operator model; anything else is unlicensed. Offshore wins aren’t enforceable through NH channels. |
| New Jersey | No | Broad roster of licensed mobile + retail | NJ Division of Gaming Enforcement | DGE is proactive; robust recourse if you use legal apps, none if you choose an offshore brand. |
| New Mexico | No | Tribal retail sportsbooks (select) | N/A | No statewide framework; tribal compacts only. Offshore sites remain outside NM law. |
| New York | No | Licensed mobile and retail sportsbooks | New York State Gaming Commission | High standards, high taxes; offshore sites are explicitly prohibited for NY bettors. |
| North Carolina | No | Mobile + retail sportsbooks (2024 launch) | NC State Lottery Commission | Legal, competitive market. Offshore operators remain illegal and unprotected. |
| North Dakota | No | Tribal retail sportsbooks | N/A | No commercial online market. Offshore brands have no state oversight here. |
| Ohio | No | Licensed online and retail sportsbooks | Ohio Casino Control Commission | The OCCC frequently flags illegal operators; only Ohio licensees get dispute attention. |
| Oklahoma | No | No legal sports betting | N/A | Tribal talks continue; offshore betting isn’t a legal workaround. |
| Oregon | No | DraftKings via state lottery | Oregon Lottery | Private books aren’t licensed statewide. Offshore licences don’t apply in Oregon. |
| Pennsylvania | No | Multiple licensed mobile + retail books | Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board | PGCB can’t intervene with offshore disputes; residents are urged to use licensed options. |
| Rhode Island | No | State lottery mobile + retail | Rhode Island Lottery | Small but regulated market; offshore betting is illegal under RI statute. |
| South Carolina | No | No legal sports betting | N/A | Legislation appears now and then, but nothing passed. Offshore sites are illegal here. |
| South Dakota | No | Retail sportsbooks in Deadwood | South Dakota Commission on Gaming | No statewide online. Offshore options have zero SD consumer remedies. |
| Tennessee | No | Licensed online sportsbooks only | Tennessee Sports Wagering Council | Mobile‑only model. Offshore operators aren’t licensed and carry risk. |
| Texas | No | No legal sports betting | N/A | Large market, but legalization has stalled. Offshore betting violates state law. |
| Utah | No | No legal gambling | N/A | Constitutional prohibitions make offshore betting clearly illegal and unprotected. |
| Vermont | No | Mobile sportsbooks (2024 launch) | Vermont Dept. of Liquor & Lottery | Young market; regulators remind residents to avoid unlicensed offshore sites. |
| Virginia | No | Licensed online sportsbooks | Virginia Lottery | Strong consumer warnings against unlicensed sites; stick with VA‑approved books. |
| Washington | No | Tribal retail; limited on‑prem mobile | Washington State Gambling Commission | State law blocks most online wagering. Offshore brands are illegal here. |
| West Virginia | No | Licensed mobile and retail sportsbooks | West Virginia Lottery | Legal choices abound; foreign‑licensed sites are not recognized in WV. |
| Wisconsin | No | Tribal retail sportsbooks | N/A | Some on‑property mobile at tribal sites; offshore options are outside state law. |
| Wyoming | No | Licensed statewide mobile sportsbooks | Wyoming Gaming Commission | First crypto‑friendly U.S. state market, but only for licensees. Offshore books remain illegal. |
| District of Columbia | No | GambetDC + arena‑based private apps | DC Office of Lottery & Gaming | Geo‑fenced and quirky, but legal. Offshore options are unlicensed in DC. |
Important: No U.S. state recognizes a foreign license as authorization to operate locally. A Curaçao or Malta license has no bearing on legality in any U.S. jurisdiction. Regulators uniformly advise residents to use state-approved operators for dispute protection.
Conclusion
In short, offshore sportsbooks remain outside the legal framework of all 50 U.S. states. Players who choose to use them do so without the backing of state consumer protections or regulatory recourse. Every state that allows sports betting offers safer, licensed alternatives with transparent dispute channels and oversight by gaming commissions.
If you decide to bet offshore, verify that the site uses secure encryption, clear withdrawal terms, and responsible gambling tools. But for guaranteed protection, the safest route is always to wager through licensed U.S. operators. You can explore regulated sportsbook options in your state through our guides and bonus comparison pages.
Andy Nelson is a seasoned sports betting analyst and journalist with over 7 years of experience reviewing offshore sportsbooks, US-friendly betting sites, and crypto betting platforms. He provides in-depth guides, bonus breakdowns, and expert insights to help players navigate online sportsbooks safely and make informed betting decisions.