LOCALIZE IT: Sports betting is booming and now it’s in the spotlight. Is it legal in your state?
EDITORS/NEWS DIRECTORS:
The stunning indictment that led to the arrest of more than 30 people, including Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and other NBA figures, on charges of illegal sports betting has drawn new scrutiny of the booming business of professional sports gambling across the U.S.
Since widespread legalization, the multibillion-dollar industry has made it easy to place wagers on everything from the outcome of games to that of a single play with just a few taps of a cellphone.
In Thursday’s indictment, federal investigators accused Rozier and other defendants of breaking the law by exploiting private information about players to win bets on NBA games. Rozier’s lawyer, Jim Trusty, said in a statement that his client is “not a gambler” and “looks forward to winning this fight.”
A separate indictment alleges Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and others participated in a conspiracy to fix high-stakes card games. Billups’ attorney, Chris Heywood, issued a statement denying the allegations, calling his client a “man of integrity.”
Regulating sports wagering has proven to be a challenge — and experts warn about the ramifications for gamblers who typically lose money. Professional leagues’ own role in promoting gambling has raised eyebrows.
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READ AP’S LASTEST COVERAGE
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Terry Rozier’s arrest leaves the Miami Heat stunned, and trying to figure out what happens next
Mafia returns to center stage in NBA betting scandal that included rigged poker games
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NBA head coach and player charged in sprawling sports betting and Mafia-backed poker schemes
Who are Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier and Damon Jones? A look at arrested NBA player and coaches
What Americans think about legal sports betting, according to recent polls
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FIND YOUR STATE: SPORTS BETTING LAWS
Sports betting is probably as old as sports itself. But in the U.S., legal gambling really took off in 2018.
That’s when the Supreme Court struck down the Professional Amateur Sports Protection Act, which barred sports betting in most states. Once allowed only in Nevada, sports betting is now permitted online or in retail locations in 38 states and Washington, D.C. Missouri will become the 39th state on Dec. 1.
Each state has its own regulations and tax rates for sports betting. A handful restrict where you can place bets — allowing users to use mobile apps, but only while they’re physically inside a casino or within a certain radius of a stadium, for example. Others limit which betting platforms you can use or what you can bet on.
This map shows which states have legalized sports betting. An embed code can be found at the end of the guide.
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CONSIDER THESE REPORTING THREADS
— If sports betting isn’t legal in your state, have elected officials considered it in the past? What is the legislative history, if any? What do lawmakers think about legalizing sports betting in your state?
— If sports betting is legal in your state, how much revenue does it bring to your state? Are there limits on certain platforms available? Have there been any calls for more expansion or further regulation? Do lawmakers or advocates want to pull back on certain wagers, like prop bets?
— Talk to athletes and coaches at the college and professional level about the boom of sports betting. What are their thoughts? What, if anything, have they noticed about the growth of sports betting?
— Talk to local sports bars and other places where people gather to watch games. Have owners and workers noticed changes in how people watch the games if sports betting is legal in your state? Has it made a difference in revenue?
— Talk to people who have used sports betting apps. What was it like signing up? How often do they used these platforms? What about the apps appeal to them? Have they experienced any personal financial impacts?
— Talk to consumers in your area overall. How do they generally feel about sports betting?
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EMBED THIS MAP
This AP digital embed map shows where sports betting is legal in the U.S. Most states and the District of Columbia allow wagers on sporting events, with Missouri legalizing betting in December. This map is current as of Oct. 23, 2025, and will not update. Source: American Gaming Association.
To embed, insert this code into your CMS:
!– start AP embed —
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Localize It is a resource produced regularly by The Associated Press for its customers’ use. Questions can be directed to the Local News Success team at localizeit@ap.org. View guides published in the last 30 days here.
