It’s draft season, folks.
Yes, the 2023 NFL Draft begins April 27, and sports betting sites are ready to take action on everything from the first pick (NFL Draft odds as of Monday suggest it will be Alabama quarterback Bryce Young) to the last, a.k.a. "Mr. Irrelevant."
“The NFL Draft is upon us and we’re delighted to offer our customers a huge variety of betting markets ahead of Round 1 on Thursday,” a bet365 spokesperson said in a statement. “The draft has a huge following internationally, and with bet365’s global reach, we hope to play a small part in what could be a thrilling week of predictions, picks, trades, and transfers.”
However, whether you can engage in a little legal sports betting on the draft will depend on where you live. The rules can vary from state to state, and some states may not have any authorized wagering at all.
To ensure you know what’s available before Roger Goodell starts reading names, Covers has a rundown of what states allow betting on the draft. Here you go:
Alabama
No, you can't bet on the draft in Alabama because there is no legal sports betting in Alabama.
Alaska
No, you can’t legally wager on sports in Alaska.
Arizona
Yes, Arizona sports betting includes wagering on the NFL Draft. However, the state does not allow "live or "in-play" betting on the draft, and the rules require all betting markets to close before the start of the first round.
Arkansas
Yes, Arkansas sportsbooks can take bets on the draft.
California
No. Sports betting is not legal in California.
Colorado
Yes, Colorado sports betting allows draft wagering.
Connecticut
No, Connecticut sports betting rules do not allow for wagering on the NFL Draft.
Delaware
No.
Florida
No. There are no legal sports betting options in Florida at the moment.
Georgia
No. Georgia has not legalized sports betting.
Hawaii
No. There are no legal sportsbooks yet in Hawaii.
Idaho
Negative. Idaho hasn’t legalized sports betting.
Illinois
Yes, Illinois sportsbooks can take bets on the draft.
Indiana
Yes, Indiana sports betting allows wagering on the draft.
Iowa
Yes, as of July 1, 2022, Iowa sportsbooks can take bets on the draft. However, the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission says all draft markets must shut down 24 hours before the draft begins and can't reopen during the event.
Kansas
Yes, Kansas sports betting includes wagering on the draft.
Kentucky
No. Kentucky is in the process of launching legal sports betting, but it won’t be ready for the draft.
Louisiana
Yes, Louisiana sportsbooks can take wagers on the NFL Draft.
Maine
Maine is implementing its legal sports betting system, but it won’t be ready for the draft.
Maryland
Yes, Maryland sports betting permits wagering on the NFL Draft.
Massachusetts
Yes, the rules for Massachusetts sports betting allow operators to take wagers on drafts. Nevertheless, there are some guidelines bookmakers must follow, including that pre-draft bets connected to the entirety of the draft must be made and accepted before the first pick is announced. Round-specific wagers must be placed before the round starts, and pick-specific bets must be made before the selection announcement for the two picks before. For example, wagers on who will be selected seventh must be made before the fifth pick is announced.
Michigan
Yes. The rules for Michigan sports betting when it comes to drafts are identical to those that Massachusetts uses.
Minnesota
No. Minnesota has not legalized sports betting yet.
Mississippi
Yes, but you can only bet on sports in Mississippi at a casino.
Missouri
No, sports betting isn’t legal in Missouri. A shame since the draft will be in Kansas City this year.
Montana
Yes, you can bet on the NFL Draft in Montana.
Nebraska
No, because legal sports betting hasn’t begun in Nebraska.
Nevada
Yes, Nevada sports betting includes draft action. Wagering involving a specific player, though, must stop 24 hours before the start of the first round. Everything else closes before the start of the round that could affect that wager.
New Hampshire
Yes, New Hampshire sports betting rules allow for draft wagering. The state has just one sportsbook operator, though, which is DraftKings.
New Jersey
Yes, New Jersey sportsbooks can handle wagers on the draft.
New Mexico
The New Mexico Gaming Control Board told Covers that none of the casinos it regulates takes bets involving the NFL Draft. TBD on whether tribal casinos in the state do so.
New York
No, you can’t bet on the NFL draft at New York sportsbooks.
North Carolina
No, you can’t legally bet on the NFL Draft in North Carolina.
North Dakota
TBD. We’re working on an answer.
Ohio
Yes, rules for Ohio sports betting allow for wagering on the NFL Draft.
Oklahoma
No. Oklahoma has no legal sports betting yet.
Oregon
Yes, Oregon sports betting rules allow wagering on the NFL Draft. DraftKings is the only legal online sportsbook in the state.
Pennsylvania
No, the rules for Pennsylvania sports betting do not allow wagering on the draft.
Rhode Island
No. Rhode Island does not permit wagering on the NFL Draft.
South Carolina
No. South Carolina has not legalized sports betting.
South Dakota
No.
Tennessee
Yes, Tennessee sports betting can involve wagering on the NFL Draft. There are timing restrictions similar to those in Massachusetts and Michigan. See above.
Texas
There is no legal sports betting in Texas.
Utah
No.
Vermont
Vermont has not legalized sports betting yet.
Virginia
No, you can’t bet on the draft in Virginia.
Washington
No.
Washington DC
Yes, you can wager on the draft in Washington, D.C.
West Virginia
Yes, West Virginia sports betting allows wagering on the NFL Draft.
Wisconsin
Yes, it is possible for sportsbooks in Wisconsin to legally offer wagering on the NFL Draft. However, there are only a few tribal casinos that legally offer sports betting in the state. That said, the Oneida Casino locations are taking draft wagers.
Wyoming
Yes, online sports betting rules for Wyoming permit wagering on the draft.
