Montana has become the first US state to legalize sports betting this year.
It will be the 9th state offering legalized betting having just managed to pip Tennessee, Iowa, and Indiana.
States already offering legal sports wagering are Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Delaware, Mississippi, and New Mexico.
Sports betting has never been banned in Nevada, but since the PASPA law was passed in 1992, it has been outlawed elsewhere
In May 2018, New Jersey successfully led the Supreme Court battle to overturn PASPA. A month later it became the first previously banned state to launch a legal sportsbook industry. Today it has 14 sportsbooks and is reeling in Nevada as the sportsbook capital of the US.
In the meantime, Montana became 2019’ first betting state when Governor Steve Bullock signed the relevant bill on Friday.
The bill will allow the Montana State Lottery to oversee sports wagering via betting windows and online wagering. It is effective immediately and the goal is to see betting become available before the start of the NFL season.
Punters won’t be allowed to make mobile bets from anywhere within the Montana state borders as in other states. For the time being, it’ll only be legal in licensed bars and restaurants.
State officials estimate sports betting will generate tax of $3.7m in the first year and rise to $5.4m by 2023.