You’re standing on the state line, phone in hand, trying to place a bet on the Sunday night game. One step to the left, and the app works perfectly. One step to the right, and you’re greeted with a "Geo-Location Failed" message that feels like a personal rejection. It’s frustrating.
Honestly, keeping track of the draftkings legal states map is a bit like trying to nail Jell-O to a wall. Laws change during late-night legislative sessions, court rulings flip the script in 48 hours, and what was legal yesterday might be tied up in a lawsuit today.
As of January 2026, DraftKings is basically a three-headed beast. You’ve got the Sportsbook, the Casino, and the Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) side. They don't all live in the same places. Just because you can draft a fantasy team in Florida doesn't mean you can bet on the point spread there.
The Actual DraftKings Legal States Map for Sportsbook Users
If you’re looking to put real money on a game, the map is currently sitting at 26 states plus Washington, D.C. Missouri is the newest member of the club, having finally gone live in late 2025 after a long, drawn-out battle at the ballot box.
Here is the current "Green Light" list for the DraftKings Sportsbook:
- Arizona (Partnered with TPC Scottsdale)
- Colorado (Mardi Gras Casino)
- Connecticut (Foxwoods Resort)
- District of Columbia
- Illinois (Casino Queen)
- Indiana (Ameristar)
- Iowa (Wild Rose)
- Kansas (Boot Hill)
- Kentucky (The Mint)
- Louisiana (Golden Nugget - note that some parishes are still "no-go" zones)
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan (Bay Mills)
- Missouri (New for 2026)
- New Hampshire (NH Lottery)
- New Jersey (Resorts Casino)
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oregon (Via Oregon Lottery)
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
Wait.
You might notice some massive gaps. California and Texas are the "White Whales" for DraftKings. Despite millions of people wanting to bet in those states, the political hurdles are massive. In Texas, constitutional requirements make it a nightmare to pass. In California, the conflict between tribal gaming interests and commercial operators has stalled every single ballot measure since 2022.
If you're in one of those states, don't hold your breath for 2026. Experts like Jordan Bender have already pointed out that this year looks "bearish" for new legislation.
The Retail Loophole (Sorta)
Sometimes the map is deceptive. Take Mississippi or Washington state. You can't sit on your couch in Gulfport or Seattle and use the app. But, if you walk into the Golden Nugget Biloxi or the Tulalip Resort Casino, you can place a bet at a physical DraftKings kiosk. It’s a retail-only deal.
Why the Casino Map is Way Smaller
This is where people get really confused. They see the DraftKings logo and think they can play blackjack. Wrong.
While sports betting has swept across half the country, online casino gaming (iGaming) is a much tougher sell for lawmakers. They worry about addiction and cannibalizing local brick-and-mortar casinos. Currently, you can only use DraftKings Casino in five states: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, and Connecticut.
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Rhode Island and Delaware have legal iGaming, too, but DraftKings isn't the primary operator there. If you’re in New York or Illinois, you can bet on the Bulls or the Giants all day, but as soon as you try to open a digital slot machine, the app will shut you down.
Daily Fantasy Sports: The "Everywhere" Option?
Not quite.
DFS is the grandfather of the DraftKings empire. Because it’s often classified as a "game of skill" rather than "gambling," it’s allowed in about 44 states.
If you live in California, Texas, or Florida, DFS is your only way to play on the platform. However, there are still some "Hard No" states that consider DFS to be illegal gambling. If you are in Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, or Washington state, the draftkings legal states map is completely blank for you.
Nevada is the weirdest one. You can bet on sports in Vegas (obviously), but DraftKings doesn't have a license there because the state requires a specific type of partnership they haven't bothered with yet.
Breaking Down the Age Requirements
Don't assume it's always 21.
While the majority of the US sticks to the 21+ rule, DraftKings operates under the specific laws of each state.
- Kentucky, New Hampshire, Wyoming, and D.C. allow sports betting at 18.
- Everywhere else on the sportsbook map requires you to be 21.
- DFS is generally 18+ in most places, but some states like Nebraska or Alabama might push that to 19.
What’s Coming Next? (The 2026 Outlook)
The "gold rush" of sports betting legalization has slowed to a crawl. In the early 2020s, it felt like three states were joining every month. Now? We're down to the holdouts.
Georgia is the most likely candidate for 2026 or 2027. There is a lot of noise in the Atlanta legislature about the tax revenue they’re losing to neighboring Tennessee and North Carolina. Oklahoma is also in the conversation, but tribal negotiations there are notoriously complex.
If you're looking for a surprise, keep an eye on Minnesota. They’ve been "almost there" for three years. Every time it looks like a deal is struck, it falls apart over a disagreement about "tracks vs. tribes."
Actionable Steps for the Border-Hopper
If you find yourself in a state where DraftKings isn't legal, don't try to use a VPN.
DraftKings uses GeoComply technology. It’s incredibly sophisticated. It doesn't just look at your IP address; it looks at nearby Wi-Fi networks, Bluetooth signals, and GPS data. If you try to spoof your location, you’ll likely get your account flagged and your funds frozen.
Here is what you actually do:
- Check the Parish: If you're in Louisiana, remember that 9 parishes opted out. If you’re near the border of a "dry" parish, move a few miles down the road.
- Update Your App: If you just crossed from a legal state to a restricted one (or vice versa), the app sometimes "sticks" to the old location. Toggle your Airplane Mode or restart the app to force a fresh geo-check.
- Verify the Vertical: Remember the 26-5-44 rule. 26 states for Sports, 5 for Casino, 44 for DFS.
- Retail Options: If the app is a no-go, check if there’s a DraftKings retail partner nearby. States like Wisconsin and Washington allow the "in-person" experience even if the mobile app is blocked.
The map is a living document. While we don't expect a dozen new states this year, the shift toward Missouri and the ongoing debates in the South mean the "gray" areas of the map are slowly, but surely, turning green.
Check your local jurisdiction's latest legislative status before depositing large sums of money, as state regulators (like the Michigan Gaming Control Board or the New York State Gaming Commission) can pause operations with very little notice if compliance issues arise.
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Actionable Insight: Download the DraftKings app even if you're in a "gray" state. Most of the time, the app will allow you to register and deposit money while in a restricted state; you just won't be able to "place the bet" until you physically cross a legal border. This saves you the headache of setting up an account while standing on the side of a highway.