Four States That Might Legalize Sports Betting In 2022

• Massachusetts began a legal sports betting study.
• A sports betting bill has been introduced to Missouri lawmakers.
• An Ohio bill is one Governor signature away from being implemented.

LAS VEGAS - The US saw a handful of states launch their own regulated sports betting markets in 2021 building the expectation for a large 2022 season as well.

Massachusetts lawmakers have gone through over 20 bills featuring text attempting to legalize sports betting in some way, and none of them have paid off yet.

However, residents have remained consistent in their desire for a regulated market, and lawmakers have also been persistent in trying to achieve it. With surrounding states like New York, Connecticut, and even New Hampshire all offering sports betting, the pressure has never been higher for Massachusetts to get the job done.

There is a legal sports betting study in Massachusetts that was ordered by the Gaming Commission to help advise in future proposals and decisions.

"If we could push this study to take a front seat for the team, that would be great,” Vander Linden said. “I will certainly talk to them about this and express that it’s a priority.”

Missouri

Discussions around sports betting in Missouri have been going on for a while already, but only recently have those conversations seemed to transform into some real progress.

Senate Bill 764 was recently introduced by Senator Tony Luetkemeyer pushing for a regulated sports betting market in Missouri.

“We’re increasingly seeing people in the state of Missouri who are leaving and going to those other states to place sportsbook bets, and that means we’re seeing money and tax revenue leave the state, money that would ordinarily go to schools,” Luetkemeyer said.

The bill has so far only been introduced to the Senate, and is in the early stages of its progression. Hopes are high however that this could be the key to unlocking a legal Missouri sports betting market.

Ohio

Of the list, Ohio sports betting is the closest to getting the job done.

Sports betting bill HB 29 has now been passed and is awaiting Governor Mike DeWine's signature. All that's left moving forward is licensing, and launching of the sports wagering industry in Ohio.

It's likely that Ohio residents will have access to a fully launched regulated sports betting market by Q4 2022, or Q1 2023.

Kentucky

Right next door (or rather below) is Kentucky.

Kentucky lawmakers are hopeful that 2022 will be the year that sports betting is finally legalized and regulated in their state... even more so now due to Ohio being on the verge of their own regulated market.

“I wish it would have been passed by now,” said Adam Koenig, a Kentucky Representative. “In northern Kentucky you can drive across the river pretty quickly. If you live in Covington or Newport you can walk across the bridge or halfway across the bridge and probably place your bets in Ohio."

With the pressure of being surrounded by states with legal sports betting like Tennessee, Indiana, and Virginia, Kentucky lawmakers are likely very aware of the potential tax dollars being lost to neighboring states.

2022 Sports Betting States

The demand for regulated sports betting has never been higher, and even notoriously anti-wagering states like California are actively pushing to allow it.

Having seen four states begin accepting sports wagers in 2021, and more than that legalize the hobby, 2022 will almost definitely see even more states open the floodgates to the growing market.