How we determine the winningest sports bettors in the USA

Covers looks at the “hold” in a state to determine whose bettors are best. The hold, or win, is determined by the gross revenue earned by sportsbooks as a percentage of the total wagering by their customers.

Go deeper: If there was $100 of betting at New York sportsbooks during January, and operators earned $10 in revenue during the month, then New York's hold was 10%. If sportsbooks in Pennsylvania had a hold of 8% during January, but operators in Ohio had a 10% win rate, then we say Pennsylvania bettors were better. Why? Because the hold for Keystone State books was weaker than their Buckeye State counterparts, suggesting bettors did better during the month.

The bottom line: According to our formula, the worse it is for sportsbooks, the better it is for bettors. We don't include deductions operators may make, such as providing customers bonus bets or other promotional credits. Simply put, we take a state's handle, subtract payouts to winning bettors, and arrive at gross revenue and hold. This approach paints the most transparent picture of how bettors fared in a month or year.

Caveat bettor: All states conduct legal sports betting a bit differently, including how they report data, how they tax operators, and how many sites are available. Some states have only brick-and-mortar sportsbooks, others only have online wagering, and others still have both. That can affect hold, such as forcing bettors to travel to a casino if they want to wager or forcing operators to offer limited betting markets.

Timing: Football season represents the busiest time for sportsbooks, and regionality impacts wagering. If the New York Giants make the Super Bowl, many New Jersey and New York bettors will hammer the local side to win, which could be costly for operators.

Covers will convey the various factors on a month-to-month basis.

February 2026: Super Bowl Blow Out Does in New England

Super Bowl LX featured a surprising matchup between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots, and the top betting state in February was just as surprising.

D.C. featured the sharpest bettors, holding local sportsbooks to a revenue percentage of just 6.9% of the betting handle.

While that may be hard to explain, it's crystal clear why certain states finished at the bottom of the chart. Five of the six states that make up the New England region posted the worst hold percentage. New England bettors were roughed up, just as the Patriots were in a 28-13 loss in the Big Game.

 Rank 🏆 State 📍 Hold %
1⭐ D.C. 6.9%
2 Nevada 7.1%
3 New Jersey 8.0%
4 Arizona 8.2%
T5 Colorado 8.5%
T5 New York 8.5%
7 Illinois 8.8%
T8 Arkansas 8.9%
T8 Wyoming 8.9%
10 Pennsylvania 9.4%
11 Iowa 9.5%
12 Indiana 9.7%
13 Ohio 9.8%
T14 Maryland 9.9%
T14 Virginia 9.9%
16 Connecticut 10.0%
17 Oregon 10.1%
18 North Carolina 10.2%
T19 Kansas 10.3%
T19 Kentucky 10.3%
T19 Michigan 10.3%
22 Missouri 11.1%
23 West Virginia 11.5%
24 Rhode Island 12.0%
25 Massachusetts 12.5%
T26 Louisiana 12.7%
T26 Vermont 12.7%
28 Maine 13.0%
29 New Hampshire 14.1%

January 2026: New Year, Same Story

Bettors kicked off 2026 the same way 2025 closed, with Nevada, Arizona, and Colorado among the sharpest sports bettors in the country.

Nevada again led the way with a 6.9% hold rate. Sportsbooks took in just $39 million in revenue off of $560+ million in bets.

Arizona, home to one of the best college basketball teams in the country, finished second. Books brought in $62 million off of $757 million in action in the Grand Canyon State.

Once again, Louisiana brought up the rear, with the books taking $52 million off of $358 million in bets.

 Rank 🏆 State 📍 Hold %
1⭐ Nevada 6.9%
2 Arizona 8.2%
3 Rhode Island 8.5%
4 Colorado 9.1%
5 Illinois 9.2%
6 Indiana 9.4%
7 Kansas 10.1%
8 New York 10.2%
9 Massachusetts 10.5%
T10 Iowa 10.6%
T10 Kentucky 10.6%
12 Arkansas 10.9%
T13 Connecticut 11.0%
T13 Ohio 11.0%
T15 New Jersey 11.2%
T15 Vermont 11.2%
T17 D.C. 11.5%
T17 Virginia 11.5%
19 Michigan 11.8%
20 West Virginia 12.0%
T21 Maine 12.1%
T21 New Hampshire 12.1%
T21 Wyoming 12.1%
T24 North Carolina 12.2%
T24 Pennsylvania 12.2%
26 Maryland 12.5%
27 Oregon 13.5%
28 Mississippi 14.0%
29 Louisiana 14.4%

2025: Nevada Remains Home of the Sharps

Since the repeal of PASPA in 2018, Nevada continues to be home to the sharpest sports bettors in America.

For the second year in a row, Nevada, Colorado, and Rhode Island make up the top three states. Rhode Island climbed from third to second. Colorado dropped from a share of second with Iowa to third.

Nevada and Colorado are perennially at the top of this list. 

Bettors in the Rockies and Rhode Island also capitalized on strong seasons from their local pro football teams.

The national hold rate climbed in 2025, from 9.2% to 10.4%.

Rank 🏆 State 📍 Hold %
1⭐ Nevada 7.4%
2 Rhode Island 9.1%
3 Colorado 9.2%
4 Arizona 9.3%
5 Illinois 9.4%
6 Arkansas 9.5%
T7 New York 9.6%
T7 New Jersey 9.6%
T7 Iowa 9.6%
T10 Indiana 10.2%
T10 Massachusetts 10.2%
T10 North Carolina 10.2%
T10 Pennsylvania 10.2%
14 Kansas 10.3%
15 Ohio 10.4%
16 Vermont 10.6%
T17 D.C. 11.1%
T17 Maryland 11.1%
T17 Virginia 11.1%
T20 Kentucky 11.3%
T20 Connecticut 11.3%
22 New Hampshire 11.6%
23 Wyoming 11.8%
24 Maine 12.3%
25 Michigan 12.4%
26 Oregon 12.5%
27 West Virginia 12.8%
28 Louisiana 13.1%
29 Missouri 19.2%
  • Missouri data begins in December 2025

December 2025: Welcome, Missouri

December was a banner month for sportsbooks. Only two states kept operators to a hold percentage in the single digits. Nationwide, sportsbooks took in $2.6 billion in revenue and recorded a combined hold rate of 17%.

Nevada bettors held up their end of the bargain, holding the books to a 7.8% hold rate.

Colorado and Arizona again ranked in the top three. The Denver Broncos went 3-1 this month and clinched the AFC West for the first time in nine years, a boon for bettors.

Illinois finished just behind them, in a state where the Chicago Bears ran their record to 11-5 and won their first NFC North title since 2018.

Also of note is Missouri debuted legal sports betting in December and finished at the bottom of the chart after sportsbooks took in $104 million in gross revenue in its first month. 

 Rank 🏆 State 📍 Hold %
1⭐ Nevada 7.8%
2 Colorado 9.5%
3 Arizona 10.3%
4 Illinois 10.5%
5 Iowa 10.7%
6 New York 10.9%
7 New Jersey 11.0%
8 Arkansas 11.4%
9 Maine 11.5%
10 Virginia 11.8%
11 Vermont 12.0%
12 Massachusetts 12.1%
T13 Indiana 12.2%
T13 New Hampshire 12.2%
15 Rhode Island 12.3%
16 Oregon 12.5%
T17 Maryland 12.6%
T17 North Carolina 12.6%
19 Kansas 12.7%
20 Pennsylvania 13.0%
21 Connecticut 13.4%
22 Kentucky 13.6%
23 D.C. 14.0%
24 Ohio 14.7%
25 Wyoming 14.8%
26 West Virginia 15.4%
27 Louisiana 15.9%
28 Michigan 16.3%
29 Missouri 19.2%

November 2025: Win Streaks Continue

November was a much better month for sportsbook operators, as only six states produced a hold percentage in the single digits.

Nevada was once again at the top of the list, as bettors there held sportsbooks to a hold of just 7.1%.

Arizona and Colorado tied for second place and weren't far behind the Silver State. While the Arizona Cardinals lost every game in November, Arizona and Arizona State went a combined 8-1 in the college ranks. That one loss was a head-to-head matchup.

In Colorado, the Denver Broncos ran their win streak to nine games, with four of those victories coming in November.

These are prime examples of how the performance of the local sports (football) team impacts the bottom line for bettors and sportsbooks.

 Rank 🏆 State 📍 Hold %
1⭐ Nevada 7.1%
T2 Arizona 8.4%
T2 Colorado 8.4%
4 Arkansas 8.5%
5 Illinois 9.6%
6 Iowa 9.8%
7 Massachusetts 10.6%
T8 New York 10.7%
T8 Indiana 10.7%
T10 New Jersey 11.6%
T10 Wyoming 11.6%
12 North Carolina 11.8%
13 Rhode Island 11.9%
14 Ohio 12.0%
15 Connecticut 12.2%
16 Virginia 12.4%
17 Pennsylvania 12.6%
18 D.C. 13.1%
T19 Kansas 13.2%
T19 Maine 13.2%
21 Maryland 13.5%
22 Michigan 13.8%
23 Kentucky 14.0%
24 Vermont 14.2%
25 New Hampshire 14.4%
26 West Virginia 14.5%
27 Louisiana 14.7%
28 Oregon 16.5%

October 2025: Root, Root, Root for the Home Team

Football season – both the collegiate and professional ranks – were in full swing in October.

Though sportsbooks rebounded slightly after being tackled by sports bettors in September, there were a number of states in which the betting public fared as well as their favorite teams.

Rhode Island was the state with the sharpest sports bettors in October. Operators in The Ocean State had a win rate of just 6.9%. It's no coincidence that bettors won handsomely and the NFL's New England Patriots went 4-0 in October.

Nevada is traditionally home to the sharpest bettors, and they kept the books to a hold percentage of 7.7% in October.

Next were Indiana and Illinois at 7.9%. The Indianapolis Colts and Indiana Hoosiers also went undefeated that month. Any local betting on the home team likely came out ahead. And in Illinois, the Chicago Bears went 2-1.

It was a good month for anyone who bet with their hearts in these states.

 Rank 🏆 State 📍 Hold %
1⭐ Rhode Island 6.9%
2 Nevada 7.7%
T3 Indiana 7.9%
T3 Illinois 7.9%
T5 Vermont 8.1%
T5 Kansas 8.1%
T7 Kentucky 8.2%
T7 Massachusetts 8.2%
9 Arizona 8.5%
T10 D.C. 8.8%
T10 Iowa 8.8%
T12 Arkansas 9.0%
T12 New York 9.0%
14 Colorado 9.1%
T15 New Jersey 9.2%
T15 Ohio 9.2%
17 Pennsylvania 9.4%
T18 Virginia 9.6%
T18 West Virginia 9.6%
20 Maryland 9.8%
21 North Carolina 10.1%
22 Connecticut 10.4%
T23 Oregon 10.7%
T23 New Hampshire 10.7%
25 Maine 10.8%
26 Louisiana 11.4%
27 Wyoming 11.5%
28 Michigan 12.1%

September 2025: Vegas Knows Football

It's football season, and bettors are back to raking in the dough.

Operators' hold percentages dropped again in September, and in Nevada, the number dipped from 8.7% in August to 6.1% in September. 

Arizona sports bettors came in second place in September. The NFL's Arizona Cardinals sprung out to a 2-0 start, and lost their next two games to NFC heavyweights by a combined four points. The moneyline and spread victories likely helped Zona bettors get off to such a strong start.

Bettors in Massachusetts kept sportsbooks to a 6.8% hold rate. The New England Patriots also began the season 2-2, exceeding early expectations.

 Rank 🏆 State 📍 Hold %
1⭐ Nevada 6.1%
2 Arizona 6.4%
3 Massachusetts 6.8%
T4 Oregon 6.9%
T4 Rhode Island 6.9%
T6 Illinois 7.1%
T6 Indiana 7.1%
8 Vermont 7.5%
T9 Colorado 7.6%
T9 Iowa 7.6%
11 Maine 7.9%
12 Pennsylvania 8.2%
13 Michigan 8.3%
T14 New Jersey 8.4%
T14 Kansas 8.4%
T16 New York 8.5%
T16 Wyoming 8.5%
T18 Connecticut 8.7%
T18 Ohio 8.7%
T20 Kentucky 9.0%
T20 New Hampshire 9.0%
22 Arkansas 9.1%
23 Virginia 9.4%
24 D.C. 9.5%
25 North Carolina 10.3%
26 Maryland 11.1%
27 Louisiana 12.3%
28 West Virginia 13.8%

August 2025: New York State of Mind

The return of pro football is on the horizon, and with that comes a bump in handle and revenue.

New York crossed the $2-billion handle mark again in August, yet operator revenue increased only slightly. As a result, sportsbooks in the Empire State only accrued an 8.7% hold percentage. Sports bettors made out handsomely in the Big Apple.

Bettors in Nevada and New Hampshire placed second and third, respectively. They limited sportsbooks to hold rates of just 9.2% and 9.5%, respectively, in August. 

Delaware and Arizona rounded out the top five.

 Rank 🏆 State 📍 Hold %
1⭐ New York 8.7%
2 Nevada 9.2%
3 New Hampshire 9.5%
4 Delaware 9.7%
5 Arizona 9.8%
T6 Kansas 10.1%
T6 New Jersey 10.1%
T8 Arkansas 10.5%
T8 Massachusetts 10.5%
10 Illinois 10.6%
T11 D.C. 10.9%
T11 Rhode Island 10.9%
13 Ohio 11.0%
T14 Colorado 11.3%
T14 Connecticut 11.3%
T14 North Carolina 11.3%
17 Maine 11.5%
18 Kentucky 11.7%
19 Oregon 11.8%
20 Maryland 12.1%
T21 Iowa 12.2%
T21 Virginia 12.2%
23 Indiana 12.6%
24 Louisiana 12.7%
25 Vermont 12.8%
26 Pennsylvania 12.9%
27 Michigan 14.6%
28 Wyoming 16.4%
29 Mississippi 17.4%
30 Montana 17.5%
31 West Virginia 17.6%
32 South Dakota 22.7%

July 2025: Tar Heel State at the Top

A surprise state produced the top win rate in July.

North Carolina bettors were the best in the country, with a 6.1% hold rate in the late summer month. With fewer sports on the docket, only $340 million was wagered in July, but operators turned that into just $22 million in revenue.

Bettors in Kansas and Rhode Island also had a strong month, with win rates of 7.5% and 8.2%, respectively. Those numbers stand out as the hold rate across the country was an average of 11%.

Mississippi bettors took it on the chin, with a hold rate of 17.5%.

(* = estimated)

 Rank 🏆 State 📍 Hold %
1⭐ North Carolina 6.1%
2 Kansas 7.5%
3 Rhode Island 8.2%
4 Nevada 9.0%
5 Vermont 9.4%
6 D.C. 9.8%
7 Maine 10.0%
T8 Colorado 10.1%
T8 Massachusetts 10.1%
10 Illinois 10.5%
T11 Kentucky 11.0%
T11 Florida* 11.0%
T13 New York 11.1%
T13 Wyoming 11.1%
15 New Hampshire 11.2%
T16 New Jersey 11.3%
T16 Ohio 11.3%
18 Virginia 11.5%
19 Arkansas 11.6%
T20 Arizona 11.7%
T20 Oregon 11.7%
T22 Indiana 12.1%
T22 South Dakota 12.1%
T24 Michigan 12.2%
T24 Maryland 12.2%
26 Iowa 12.3%
27 Pennsylvania 12.6%
28 Connecticut 12.8%
T29 Tennessee* 13.9%
T29 West Virginia* 13.9%
31 Louisiana 14.0%
32 Delaware 14.3%
33 Montana 16.6%
34 Mississippi 17.5%

June 2025: Operators Set National Hold Record

June was a record month for sportsbook operators.

As Brad Senkiw breaks down, the national hold rate reached 12.4% in June, the highest mark since the repeal of PASPA in 2018. That number jumps to 12.5% with the inclusion of Arizona.

Using New York as an example, its 12.5% hold rate resulted in more than $200 million in gross revenue for the state's sportsbooks. Nevada was the only state to post a single-digit hold.

What's the reason for the bloodbath? Sportsbooks like FanDuel pointed to "operator-friendly results" in the second quarter of the financial year. That includes the Oklahoma City Thunder cruising to an NBA title.

(* = estimated)

 Rank 🏆 State 📍 Hold %
T1⭐ Nevada 8.5%
2 Colorado 10.7%
3 Vermont 10.9%
4 Iowa 11.4%
5 New Jersey 11.6%
T6 Rhode Island 11.6%
T6 Kansas 11.7%
T6 Illinois 11.8%
9 Massachusetts 11.9%
10 South Dakota 12.4%
11 Arizona 12.5%
12 Florida* 12.5%
13 New York 12.5%
T14 Virginia 12.7%
T14 Connecticut 12.7%
T16 Ohio 12.8%
T16 Kentucky 13.0%
T16 Arkansas 13.0%
19 Maine 13.2%
T20 Louisiana 13.2%
T20 Indiana 13.4%
22 D.C. 13.4%
23 North Carolina 13.4%
24 New Hampshire 13.6%
25 Pennsylvania 13.8%
26 Wyoming 14.1%
T27 Maryland 14.1%
T27 Michigan 14.6%
T27 West Virginia* 14.9%
30 Oregon 15.0%
31 Mississippi 15.1%
32 Tennessee* 15.3%
33 Delaware 16.5%
34 Montana 25.9%

May 2025: Books Punch Back

Bettors may have come out ahead in March, but the books began punching back in April and landed a heavy blow in May.

The hold rate, or the percentage at which sportsbooks won in the month, ballooned to 11.3% nationwide. 

South Dakota bettors were the outliers. They made $611,000 in sports bets in May and sportsbooks actually came out in the red, losing $477 for the month.

But that was the exception. Only seven other states posted single-digit hold rates. 

(* = estimated)

 Rank 🏆 State 📍 Hold %
T1⭐ South Dakota -0.1%
2 Nevada 8.1%
3 Rhode Island 9.3%
4 Illinois 9.5%
5 Indiana 9.7%
T6 Arkansas 9.9%
T6 Iowa 9.9%
T6 Colorado 9.9%
9 New Jersey 10.1%
10 Arizona 10.6%
11 D.C. 10.7%
12 Delaware 11.1%
13 New York 11.3%
T14 Kansas 11.5%
T14 Florida* 11.5%
T16 Pennsylvania 11.6%
T16 Vermont 11.6%
T16 North Carolina 11.6%
19 Ohio 12.0%
T20 Connecticut 12.2%
T20 Virginia 12.2%
22 Kentucky 12.5%
23 Massachusetts 12.6%
24 Oregon 12.8%
25 Tennessee* 12.9%
26 Michigan 13.0%
T27 Maine 13.1%
T27 Maryland 13.1%
T27 New Hampshire 13.1%
30 Wyoming 13.8%
31 West Virginia* 14.6%
32 Mississippi 15.1%
33 Montana 15.3%
34 Louisiana 15.8%

April 2025: Operators Bounce Back in April

Hold rates hovered at 6.4% in March, and ballooned to 9.3% nationwide in April.

Nevada was again home to the sharpest bettors this month, with Rhode Island standing close by. However, after just two states posted double-digit hold rates in March, half of the states with legal sports betting fell in that category in April.

Mississippi was at the back of the pack with a 14.9% hold rate.

(* = estimated)

 Rank 🏆 State 📍 Hold %
T1⭐ Nevada 6.9%
2 Rhode Island 7.4%
3 North Carolina 8.1%
4 South Dakota 8.2%
5 Illinois 8.4%
T6 Pennsylvania 8.7%
T6 Iowa 8.7%
8 Arizona 8.8%
9 New York 8.9%
T10 New Jersey 9.1%
T10 Ohio 9.1%
T12 Arkansas 9.3%
T12 Colorado 9.3%
T14 Indiana 9.5%
T14 Florida* 9.5%
T16 Kansas 9.8%
T16 Massachusetts 9.8%
18 Michigan 10.1%
T19 Connecticut 10.2%
T19 Vermont 10.2%
21 Virginia 10.3%
22 Kentucky 10.8%
23 Tennessee* 10.9%
T24 West Virginia* 11.1%
T24 New Hampshire 11.1%
26 Delaware 11.2%
27 Wyoming 11.3%
28 Maryland 11.5%
29 D.C. 11.6%
30 Louisiana 11.8%
T31 Oregon 12.2%
T31 Montana 12.2%
33 Maine 12.3%
34 Mississippi 14.8%

March 2025: Sharp March Madness Bettors

Operator hold rate dropped from the double digits to 6.4% in March. Bettors often fare well during the March Madness tournament and this year was no different.

Nevada and Arkansas shared the top mark for the month, with a 2.6% hold rate. Arkansas surprised as a No. 10 seed and made it to the Sweet 16 in the men's college basketball tournament.

All but two states recorded single-digit hold percentages in March.

(* = estimated)

 Rank 🏆 State 📍 Hold %
T1⭐ Nevada 2.6%
T1⭐ Arkansas 2.6%
3 Rhode Island 5.1%
4 West Virginia* 5.2%
5 Wyoming 5.4%
T6 Mississippi 5.5%
T6 Iowa 5.5%
8 North Carolina 5.6%
9 Arizona 5.7%
10 Pennsylvania 5.8%
11 Colorado 5.9%
12 Kansas 6.2%
13 Indiana 6.3%
T14 New Jersey 6.4%
T14 Illinois 6.4%
T16 Vermont 6.5%
T16 Florida* 6.5%
18 New York 6.6%
19 Ohio 6.7%
T20 Michigan 6.9%
T20 Kentucky 6.9%
22 Massachusetts 7.0%
23 Delaware 7.1%
24 D.C. 7.2%
25 Virginia 7.3%
26 Tennessee* 7.5%
27 Connecticut 7.9%
28 Maryland 8.1%
29 Louisiana 8.2%
30 Maine 8.6%
31 New Hampshire 8.8%
32 South Dakota 9.7%
33 Oregon 10.8%
34 Montana 11.0%

February 2025: South Dakota Does it Again

Once again, bettors in South Dakota cashed in during the Super Bowl month. The state posted a -5.5 hold percentage last February, and was home to the sharpest bettors again this February.

As is customary, the state that houses the Super Bowl-winning team does well in February, and Pennsylvania ranked third this month with a 4.5% hold rate. Pennsylvania sportsbooks lost $6.5 million on the Super Bowl after the underdog Eagles hoisted the Lombardi Trophy.

Sportsbooks in Kansas were relieved. The legal sports betting state closest to the Super Bowl-losing Kansas City Chiefs finished dead last in hold rate.

(* = estimated)

 Rank 🏆 State 📍 Hold %
1⭐ South Dakota -2.5%
2 Mississippi 4.2%
3 Pennsylvania 4.5%
4 Montana 4.9%
5 Delaware 6.7%
6 Nevada 6.8%
7 New Jersey 7.4%
8 Rhode Island 8.5%
T9 New York 9.3%
T9 Colorado 9.3%
11 Arizona 9.4%
12 Arkansas 9.5%
13 Iowa 9.8%
14 Ohio 9.9%
15 Florida* 10.0%
16 North Carolina 10.2%
17 Massachusetts 10.7%
18 Indiana 10.9%
19 Illinois 11.0%
20 West Virginia* 11.1%
21 Vermont 11.2%
22 Virginia 12.0%
T23 Michigan 12.1%
T23 Connecticut 12.1%
25 D.C. 12.4%
T26 Tennessee* 12.5%
T26 Wyoming 12.5%
T28 New Hampshire 12.6%
T28 Maryland 12.6%
30 Maine 12.9%
31 Kentucky 13.3%
32 Louisiana 14.1%
T32 Oregon 14.2%
34 Kansas 16.2%

2024: Nevada Bettors Still the Standard

Nevada sports bettors proved to be the sharpest in America for the sixth year running. The hold percentage in the Silver State was a low 6.1%. 

Sports betting generated $7.8 billion in handle in Nevada in 2024 and operators netted $482 million in revenue.

Colorado placed second on this list for the third straight year. It's also the fourth time in the last five years that the Centennial State has finished behind Nevada.

Iowa also finished in the top five for the fourth straight year.

Legal sports betting debuted in North Carolina in March.

Rank 🏆 State 📍 Hold %
1⭐ Nevada 6.1%
2 Colorado 7.7%
T3 Iowa 7.9%
T3 Rhode Island 7.9%
5 South Dakota 8.4%
T6 Kansas 8.5%
T6 Michigan 8.5%
T8 New Jersey 8.6%
T8 Illinois 8.6%
10 Arkansas 8.7%
11 Arizona 8.9%
12 New York 9.0%
13 Massachusetts 9.1%
T14 Mississippi 9.2%
T14 Pennsylvania 9.2%
T14 Florida* 9.2%
17 Indiana 9.3%
T18 New Hampshire 9.9%
T18 Virginia 9.9%
20 Ohio 10.2%
21 Connecticut 10.3%
22 Kentucky 10.6%
T23 Montana 10.7%
T23 Maryland 10.7%
T25 North Carolina 10.8%
T25 Maine 10.8%
T27 Wyoming 10.9%
T27 Tennessee* 10.9%
T27 Oregon 10.9%
30 Vermont 11.0%
31 West Virginia* 11.1%
32 Delaware 11.4%
33 D.C. 11.7%
34 Louisiana 12.6%
  • North Carolina data begins in March 2024

2023: Five-Peat for Nevada

For the fifth consecutive year, Nevada was home to the sharpest bettors in America. It should come as no surprise, as Las Vegas has long been known as the gambling mecca in the U.S.

The gap between the Silver State and the second-best state on the list - Colorado - was pretty vast. Nonetheless, Colorado bettors showed well, placing second for the third time in four years.

Florida, Kentucky, and Maine began offering online sports betting in 2023.

And, once again, Delaware posted the worst hold rate in America at 22.3%. Delaware has ranked last on this list every year since 2019.

Rank 🏆 State 📍 Hold %
1⭐ Nevada 5.8%
2 Colorado 7.0%
3 Iowa 8.2%
4 New Jersey 8.4%
5 Arizona 8.5%
T6 Illinois 8.6%
T6 Kansas 8.6%
8 Rhode Island 8.7%
9 New York 8.8%
10 Pennsylvania 8.9%
11 Michigan 9.0%
12 Arkansas 9.2%
13 Indiana 9.3%
T14 New Hampshire 9.7%
T14 Massachusetts 9.7%
T16 Connecticut 9.9%
T16 West Virginia 9.9%
T18 Virginia 10.0%
T18 Wyoming 10.0%
T18 Florida 10.0%
21 Mississippi 10.8%
22 Tennessee 10.9%
T23 South Dakota 11.1%
T23 Maryland 11.1%
T25 D.C. 11.2%
T25 Oregon 11.2%
T25 Maine 11.2%
28 Ohio 12.2%
T29 Louisiana 12.6%
T29 Kentucky 12.6%
31 Montana 13.6%
32 Delaware 22.3%
  • Florida data begins in December 2023
  • Kentucky data begins in September 2023
  • Maine data begins in November 2023

2022: Four in a row for Nevada

In a shocking twist, bettors in Nevada, the state that has long had legal sports betting and is home to some of the country’s sharpest gamblers, fared the best in 2022. OK, maybe it’s not all that shocking. But it happened, and the reasons above help explain why. 

2022 was a busy year for sports betting across the U.S. Online New York sports betting officially launched, turning the state into the biggest legal sports betting market in the country. Louisiana sportsbooks also launched online in 2022, as did Maryland sports betting in the latter half of the year. Moreover, the groundwork was laid for the January 1, 2023, launch of sports betting in Ohio, which became another significant market overnight.

And, yes, Delaware bettors had a rough year, as the state posted a hold of 21%, the highest in the country. This is what happens when a state loves its parlay cards.

Rank 🏆 State 📍 Hold %
1⭐ Nevada 5.1%
2 Colorado 6.8%
3 New Jersey 7.0%
4 Iowa 7.1%
5 New Hampshire 7.5%
6 Arizona 8.0%
T7 Illinois 8.2%
T7 Pennsylvania 8.2%
9 New York 8.4%
T10 Indiana 8.7%
T10 Michigan 8.7%
T12 Connecticut 8.9%
T12 West Virginia 8.9%
T14 Louisiana 9.3%
T14 Rhode Island 9.3%
16 Arkansas 9.6%
T17 Tennessee 9.8%
T17 Virginia 9.8%
19 Oregon 9.9%
20 Wyoming 10.2%
21 Kansas 10.6%
22 Washington, D.C.  10.7%
23 Mississippi 11.4%
24 South Dakota 12.1%
25 Montana 13.6%
26 Maryland 15.2%
27 Delaware 21.0%
  • New York data includes online sports betting and retail wagering at for commercial casinos.
  • Montana data encompasses April 2022 to December 2022 only.

2021: Nevada makes it three straight

How does a state's hold shrink? A lot of sharps making a lot of bets, which happened in Nevada in 2021. Bettors won at the highest clip of anywhere in the U.S. during the year, in which some legal markets were still finding their footing. 

In Maryland, for instance, legal sports betting began in late 2021 at casinos, but there were no authorized online wagering options during the year. Maryland wound up with the second-highest hold in the U.S. for 2021, trailing only Delaware, which, again, loves its parlay cards.

But there's more: There were several other milestones for the legal sports betting industry in 2021, including an online-only launch in Virginia and a more fulsome debut in Arizona.

Rank 🏆 State 📍 Hold %
1⭐ Nevada 5.5%
2 Iowa 6.1%
3 New Hampshire 6.2%
4 Colorado 6.5%
T5 New Jersey 7.5%
T5 Illinois 7.5%
7 Pennsylvania 7.7%
8 Michigan 8.0%
9 Indiana 8.1%
10 Rhode Island 8.5%
11 West Virginia 8.6%
12 Tennessee 8.8%
13 Virginia 8.9%
T14 Oregon 9.2%
T14 Arizona 9.2%
T14 Connecticut 9.2%
17 South Dakota 9.6%
18 Wyoming 9.9%
19 Mississippi 11.2%
20 New York 11.8%
21 Arkansas 12.6%
22 Washington, D.C. 13.2%
23 Louisiana 15.0%
24 Maryland 19.2%
25 Delaware 20.9%
  • Arizona, South Dakota, and Wyoming data begins in September 2021.
  • Connecticut data begins in October 2021. 
  • Louisiana data begins in November 2021. 
  • Maryland data begins in December 2021. 
  • New York data comprises wagering at four commercial casinos from April to December.

2020: Nevada goes back-to-back

Yes, Nevada bettors were the top-performing punters in the U.S. in 2020. See above. And, yes, bettors using Delaware sportsbooks were the worst-performing punters. Again: see above.

Still, some fairly big changes happened during 2020, such as an online-only Tennessee sports betting launch (which had a unique 10% annual hold requirement for operators) and a retail and mobile start for Colorado sportsbooks. Those launches took place as the COVID-19 pandemic buffeted the gaming industry.

Legal Michigan sports betting launched in 2020 as well, although online wagering wouldn't begin until early 2021. Illinois sports betting, of the retail variety, started in March 2020, but a mobile version didn't arrive until June.

Rank 🏆 State 📍 Hold %
1⭐ Nevada 6.0%
2 Colorado 6.4%
3 New Jersey 6.6%
4 Illinois 6.7%
5 West Virginia 6.8%
6 Iowa 7.2%
7 Pennsylvania  7.5%
8 Indiana 7.7%
9 New Hampshire 8.1%
10 Tennessee 8.7%
11 Oregon 9.2%
12 Rhode Island 10.8%
13 Mississippi 12.0%
14 Arkansas 13.1%
15 Michigan 14.0%
16 Washington, D.C. 16.8%
17 Delaware 26.1%
  • Illinois and Michigan data begins in March 2020.
  • Colorado and Washington, D.C. data begins in May 2020. 
  • Tennessee data begins in November 2020. 

2019: Nevada's bettors are sharpest

With legal sports betting merely starting to ramp up its expansion in 2019, Nevada players narrowly edged out their NJ sports betting counterparts for the title of best bettors in the U.S. Meanwhile, parlay-happy Delaware placed last in the nation with a nearly 20% hold.

Rank 🏆 State 📍 Hold %
1⭐ Nevada 6.2%
T2 New Jersey 6.5%
T2 Oregon 6.5%
4 Rhode Island 7.2%
5 Pennsylvania 7.5%
6 West Virginia 8.5%
7 Iowa 9.1%
8 Indiana 9.5%
9 Arkansas 11.8%
10 Mississippi 12.0%
11 New Hampshire 12.4%
12 Delaware 19.5%
  • Arkansas data begins in July 2019. 
  • Iowa data begins in August 2019. 
  • Indiana data begins in September 2019. 
  • Oregon data begins in October 2019. 
  • New Hampshire data is December 2019 only. 
  • West Virginia numbers are a projection using the state's weekly data reporting.

Quick facts: States with the winningest sports bettors

State with best sports bettors 2024 Nevada⭐
Lowest hold percentage 2024 1.8% in December
The busiest time for sportsbooks Super Bowl⭐
Average hold percentage 2018 (6.7%) - 2022 (8.1%)
States with legal sports betting 38 plus DC ✅
Legal and pending states 1
State with the highest tax rate New York (51%)
Legal age for betting 21; 18 (MT, NH, RI, WY)

Which states are included in our analysis?

In 2025, legal sports betting transpires in 38 states, plus D.C.. Several of those states factor prominently into our analysis of the states with the winningest sports bettors.

Additional markets including Nebraska, Minnesota, and Missouri, have active sports betting legislation on the table. 

State Launch date
September 2021
July 2019
May 2020
September 2021
December 2023
March 2020
September 2019
August 2019
September 2022
September 2023
January 2022
Maryland November 2022
Massachusetts March 2023
Maine November 2023
January 2021
March 2024
July 2019
June 2018
January 2022
January 2023
October 2019
November 2018
November 2020
January 2024
January 2021
August 2018
September 2021

States closing in on legal sports betting

Monitor and track the legislative progress of states moving toward legal sports betting in 2025:

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With over 30 states and the District of Columbia now authorizing legal sports betting, individuals interested in the sports betting industry can refer to the following informative websites:

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Michael McClymont - Senior News Editor at Covers.com
Senior News Editor

Michael has been involved in sports journalism since 2002, when he had his first article published in a newspaper (remember those?). In the time since, he's had numerous roles as a reporter and editor, including stints at theScore as a copy editor and NFL news editor, and Sportsbook Review as a publishing editor. He's been featured on CBC's network of radio stations, providing analysis on the NFL and the sports betting industry.