In November 2018, the residents of Arkansas approved expanding casino gaming in the state through voting on the midterm election ballot making it as the eighth state to legalize sports betting. The constitutional amendment does not approve statewide online and mobile sports betting. 54% of voters agree for casino gaming licenses. Properties were requested to submit sports betting applications by summer 2019. The first sportsbook to open in Arkansas was Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs which started operations on July 1.
Since the Supreme Court decision in 2018, Delaware was the first state to legally approve sports betting. In 2009, the state issued a law that approve the lottery to offer expanded forms of parlay before the federal ban. The state was able to roll out sportsbooks so fast because it was grandfathered to allow parlay betting during the federal ban. Sportsbooks were established within casinos to prepare for the day they start legal. There were three casinos started taking wager on June 5, 2018.
Illinois
Illinois’ state legislature passed a decision to legalize physical sportsbooks and online sports wagering in June 2019. Online betting won’t operate within the first 18 months in order to give casinos a head start on taking wagers. Sportsbooks are pending a launching date in Illinois.
Indiana
Indiana approved legal sports betting on May 8, 2019, including mobile betting, which was originally eliminated from the bill during the early process. It also bans betting on esports and amateur athletes under 18 years old. There were 13 locations have been approved to take wager starting from September 1, when sports betting legalized 10 of the locations are casinos, while three of which are off-track betting sites.
Iowa
Iowa approved legal sports betting in May 2019. Under the law, people age 21 and older can gamble. Casinos that are approved for sportsbooks must be able to protect accounts information and prohibit problem gamblers. There were 18 casinos granted a license.
Mobile betting is also legalised under the law, but a person must first travel to a land-based casino to prove age and identity, as well as set up an account. In-person registration is essential until Jan. 1, 2021. Iowa founded a number of online and physical sportsbooks on August 15.