Football is king for bettors and bookmakers in the United States, and the NFL Draft is proof.
It's been more than two months since the confetti fell on the Super Bowl champs, the Philadelphia Eagles. Somehow, though, bets are still pouring in on the NFL, and the reason for that is the draft.
People are hooked on all things NFL, including the raft of prospects teams are evaluating and preparing to select starting on Thursday in Green Bay. As a result, NFL Draft odds are now a staple for sportsbooks.
Who will go first? Who will go last (a.k.a "Mr. Irrelevant")? Who will be the first wide receiver taken? Will Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders go in the first round? These are the types of betting markets available at state-regulated sportsbooks.
But the key word here is "state-regulated," because sportsbooks such as DraftKings and FanDuel can only offer wagering on what local regulators permit. In some states, draft betting is fine, in others it is restricted in certain ways, and in others still it is forbidden.
So, with the NFL Draft set to kickoff in Wisconsin on Thursday night, bettors should be aware of where they can and cannot make legal picks at NFL draft betting sites. Here's our annual guide to get you up to speed on the state-by-state rules.
Alabama
No, you can't bet on the draft in Alabama. 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. Arizona's rules also state that "[a]ll betting markets should close prior to the start of the earliest affected round." In other words, when the draft starts on Thursday, most (if not all) betting must have already stopped. However, based on the wording of the rules, there could be some markets that reemerge after the end 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 for draft wagering. The state does have restrictions on that wagering, though. Bets on so-called "pre-draft offerings" (i.e. who will be the first pick, the second pick, etc.) must be made and accepted before NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announces the first selection on Thursday. Meanwhile, bets and betting on "round specific offerings" (i.e. whether a player get drafted in the second round) have to be offered and accepted before the start of that round.
Furthermore, "in-draft" betting is only allowed in the first three rounds and all wagers must be made and accepted at least two picks before the selection at issue. As an example, someone who bets on a player or position to be taken 37th overall would need to make that pick before the 35th pick.
Connecticut
No, Connecticut sports betting rules do not allow for wagering on the NFL Draft.
Delaware
Yes, you can now bet on the NFL Draft in Delaware using BetRivers, which fully launched online gambling in the First State at the start of 2024.
Florida
Yes, you can now bet on the NFL Draft in the Sunshine State using Hard Rock Bet, the only legal sportsbook there.
Georgia
No. Georgia has not legalized sports betting.
Hawaii
No. There are no legal sportsbooks yet in Hawaii.
Idaho
No, because 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, 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. So, if you're going to bet the draft in Iowa, you might want to hurry.
Kansas
Yes, Kansas sports betting includes wagering on the draft.
Kentucky
No. While Kentucky now has legal sports betting, it does not include wagering on the draft.
Louisiana
Yes, Louisiana sportsbooks can take wagers on the NFL Draft.
Maine
Yes, Maine allows betting on the NFL Draft via Caesars Sportsbook and DraftKings.
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 league drafts. That said, there are rules 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 (i.e. how many players from Georgia will be drafted).
Round-specific wagers must be placed before the round starts (or, if it involves multiple rounds, before the first of those rounds starts), and pick-specific bets must be made before the selection announcement for the two picks prior. For example, wagers on who will be selected seventh must be placed before the fifth pick is announced.
Michigan
Yes, but the rules for Michigan sports betting when it comes to the draft 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, because Missouri sports betting has yet to launch. However, given that Show-Me State voters approved sports betting at the ballot box in 2024, it's possible that wagering on the 2026 NFL Draft will be available.
Montana
Yes, you can bet on the NFL Draft in Montana.
Nebraska
Yes, you can bet on the NFL Draft in Nebraska, but only at a casino, such as the Warhorse Casino Lincoln or Omaha.
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 is shut down before the start of the round that could affect that betting market.
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 are doing so.
New York
No, you can’t bet on the NFL Draft at New York sportsbooks.
North Carolina
Yes, you can bet on the NFL Draft in North Carolina. However, the state uses the same rules as Massachusetts and Michigan. See above.
North Dakota
TBD.
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, Michigan, and North Carolina. See above.
Texas
There is no legal sports betting in Texas.
Utah
No.
Vermont
No. Although sports betting in Vermont is legal, there is no draft wagering.
Virginia
No, you can’t bet on the draft in Virginia.
Washington
No.
Washington, D.C.
Yes, you can wager on the draft in Washington, D.C.
West Virginia
Yes, West Virginia sports betting includes 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, such as the locations owned by the Oneida.
Wyoming
Yes, online sports betting rules for Wyoming permit wagering on the draft.
