Nevada

Nevada was offering legal sports betting both online and in retail form long before the Supreme Court overturned PASPA. While the variety of sportsbooks offered is impressive, there are certain gambling restrictions in NV that bettors need to keep in mind.

There aren't many limitations regarding what you can bet on in Nevada, and betting on college sports, including in-state colleges like UNLV, is available. Not only are there plenty of mobile betting apps available in NV, but in-person wagering is, of course, even more widely available thanks to almost 200 retail sportsbook sites within the state's borders.

The two things that cannot be wagered on in NV are politics and entertainment events like award shows. Betting on eSports is allowed, as Nevada was the first state to form a commission specifically for betting on that specific market.

Daily fantasy sports and horse race wagering are a bit more tricky subjects, especially when speaking on mobile and online availability. Both are fully legal in Nevada, but as the state considers them to be gambling, all operators offering these types of wagering services must hold a proper license to do so. This is why none of the online racebooks or DFS sites aren't available for local sports or horse racing fans. However, in-person wagering on horse races is widely available on multiple NV retail sportsbooks and casinos.

Betting on celebrity impersonator competitions: A uniquely Vegas wager

​Las Vegas has always boasted a vibrant entertainment scene, hosting numerous celebrity impersonator competitions, such as the Annual Celebrity Impersonators Convention and the Vegas Elvis Fest. These events showcase performers emulating iconic figures, drawing significant audiences.​

Introducing wagering on these competitions presents both opportunities and challenges. While Nevada's gambling laws are comprehensive, extending them to cover betting on events such as impersonator contests would require careful legal maneuvering. Key factors include ensuring the competitions are judged fairly and also ensuring the integrity of the performers. Additionally, distinguishing between games of skill and chance is vital, as this classification impacts the legality of wagering activities.

Implementing betting on such events could diversify Las Vegas's already vast gambling offerings, attracting a broader audience. However, it requires establishing clear regulatory frameworks to address potential legal and ethical concerns, which may not be something the state's gaming board wants to tackle.

Online sports betting in The Silver State

With sports betting being around for as long as it has in Nevada, countless changes have occurred to the legislation. Since sports betting was legalized in 1949 in Nevada, there have been plenty of topics the state has needed to adjust to or make rules about as technology and the sports betting industry as a whole has grown.

Online betting has existed in Nevada since 2010, which is much longer than it has been around in any other state. Currently, there are 14 mobile betting apps, and most of them are specific to Nevada. While operators like BetMGM and Caesars have mobile apps in NV, operators like DraftKings, FanDuel, and ESPN Bet are not available in the state.

All available mobile betting apps in Nevada have at least one partnered retail facility, but many have far more than just one. One of the most significant differences between online betting in Nevada and most other states is that all these mobile apps require in-person registration. This calls for anyone trying to create a mobile betting account on an app to go in person to a partnered retail facility and complete the registration process.

This registration process requires a legal ID from any state, along with your name, date of birth, address, and social security or tax ID number. After completing this process, the state’s sports betting legislation mandates that bettors make their initial deposit onto the app in person, and the minimum deposit for each sportsbook may differ.

Some sportsbooks require in-person deposits and withdrawals even after the first deposit, while others allow customers to complete the process remotely. Big-name operators have made it clear that they oppose this in-person registration requirement. Still, many big players in the Nevada gaming industry support the law, so it will likely remain this way for now.

All legal NV sports betting apps in 2025:

Recently closed NV online sportsbooks

Sports betting & gambling legislation in NV

Like most states, Nevada's legal gambling age is 21. While the state offers an impressive variety of retail and mobile sportsbooks, bettors traveling to Nevada must be mindful of one significant restriction: the previously mentioned inability to register remotely. The Nevada Gaming Control Board and the Nevada Gaming Commission enforce all rules and regulations.

For bettors in the state and the many bettors who are just passing through, the tax rate must also be kept in mind. Currently, all gambling winnings are subject to a tax rate of 6.75% on the state level, in addition to federal taxes.

The buck does not stop at sports betting in Nevada, which should go without saying with Las Vegas. Outside of sports betting in both retail and mobile formats, the state also offers social casinos, online poker, and even a state lottery. However, real-money online casinos are still unavailable in the Silver State.

Love on the Line: How Wedding Chapels Could Reshape Novelty Betting in Nevada

In Las Vegas, love isn't just in the air; it's on the clock. As the self-proclaimed "Wedding Capital of the World," Vegas sees thousands of spontaneous and themed weddings every year. But with betting being the cornerstone of Las Vegas, what if those impromptu "I do’s" could fuel the next big novelty betting market?

Wedding Chapel Prop Bets, where bettors could place micro-wagers on real-time chapel activity across the Strip, could become a revolutionary betting market. Markers could include “How many couples tie the knot on a Saturday?” or “Which theme, Elvis, Gothic, or Star Wars, will be most booked today?” Odds could even be offered on “First vow renewal post-midnight.”

With chapels already offering 24/7 ceremonies that go by quickly and many live-streaming their events, the infrastructure is in place for geofenced, app-based betting tied to verified data. Even if just 0.1% of Nevada’s sports betting handle came from novelty wedding props, it could add over $2 million in annual wagers and $200,000 in tax revenue, all while adding zero risk to traditional betting verticals.

Most recent updates from the NV sports betting scene

• April 15, 2025: As the NFL Draft approaches, the Las Vegas Raiders are (-150) to draft a running back with their first selection, as many believe they will take Ashton Jeanty.

• April 1, 2025: Kalshi, a federally regulated prediction market, sues Nevada officials for overstepping state authority, claiming they're wrongly treating its event-based contracts like illegal sports betting. The company argues only the CFTC has jurisdiction, pushing back against state efforts to regulate its election and sports-related markets.

• March 10, 2025: After trading for quarterback Geno Smith, the Las Vegas Raiders are (+1800) to win the AFC West.

• February 27, 2025: Entering the NFL Draft Combine, the Las Vegas Raiders are (+350) to make the 1st pick in the NFL Draft, which puts them right behind the Titans, who currently own the pick.

• January 31, 2025: Sports betting solutions company Kambi can now enter the Nevada market with newly acquired gaming licenses, enabling it to expand its betting services. The approval follows the Nevada Gaming Control Board's January recommendation.

• January 24, 2025: The Oakland Raiders have hired Pete Carroll to be their new head coach. The Raiders are (+10,000) to win the Super Bowl during the 2025-26 season.

• December 30, 2024: Riding a two-game winning streak, the Las Vegas Raiders will close out their 2024 season as (+5.5) point home favorites against the LA Chargers.

• December 18, 2024: The UNLV Rebels will close out their season on Wednesday night in the LA Bowl as (-3.5) point favorites over Cal.

In-person sports betting sites and locations

Retail sportsbooks in Nevada are some of the most built-up and impressive in the country. Finding a quality in-person betting experience is not difficult in Nevada, especially since there are close to 200 sportsbook locations across the state, most of which are in Las Vegas.

Since gambling has been legal in Nevada since 1949, the state and its operators have had plenty of time to build up their sportsbooks and adapt to today’s market. Westgate Sportsbook is a great example of this, as the shop has been open since 1969 and is still considered one of the country's best and biggest retail sportsbooks.

The black book: How Nevada bans players for life from casinos

In the high-stakes world of Nevada’s casinos, being permanently banned isn’t just a slap on the wrist—it’s a lifetime exile. The notorious "Black Book," officially known as the Nevada Gaming Control Board’s Excluded Person List, holds the names of individuals considered too dangerous, dishonest, or disruptive for Nevada’s casino floors. Once on the list, every licensed casino in the state is legally obligated to turn that bettor away.

But what does it take to land in the Black Book? Most entries consist of cheaters, money launderers, and organized crime figures, many of whom are linked to Vegas’s mob history. However, modern additions include tech-savvy card scammers and individuals caught running illegal gambling operations. Even infamous advantage players who practice legal but highly skilled strategies like card counting have sometimes found themselves under intense scrutiny. Again, the house always has to win, so these strategies are something casinos don’t want on their floor. 

Once banned, there’s almost no way out, as appeals are rarely granted, and even setting foot in a casino after being blacklisted can lead to arrest for trespassing. Although the list is shorter than one may think, it serves as a reminder that Nevada’s gambling industry has adopted strict regulations and a zero-tolerance policy for fraud.

The final frontier of Gambling: Space milestone betting in Las Vegas

With billionaires racing to Mars and space tourism becoming a reality, could Las Vegas sportsbooks soon take bets on the next significant space milestone? While traditional sports betting dominates Nevada’s gambling industry, oddsmakers are constantly seeking new and unique markets—and in the words of Buzz Lightyear, this market could take bettors “To Infinity and Beyond.” 

These markets could include placing a bet on which private company will be the first to land humans on Mars, on the opening date of the first space hotel, or on how long it will be before a celebrity broadcasts live from the Moon.

Certainly, space travel is unpredictable, and setting odds on missions that involve billions of dollars in investments and human lives raises immense ethical questions. However, with Vegas’s long history of betting innovation, wagering on the final frontier might not be as far-fetched as it seems.

Sports betting in neighboring states

Nevada has never had trouble attracting bettors, but it certainly helps that three of its neighboring states don’t have legalized sports betting. Oregon and Arizona are the only states surrounding Nevada that offer some form of sports betting.

To find out more about whether sports betting could be coming to California, Idaho, and Utah in the near future, you can click on them down below.

Sports betting revenue impact on Nevada's economy

Nevada's licensing fee is $500, one of the lowest in the country. The Nevada Gaming Commission and Nevada Gaming Control Board oversee all matters regarding licenses and license violations. Retail and online operators must pay a tax rate of 6.75%, which ties them with Iowa for having one of the lowest tax rates in the country.

Since Nevada is known for gambling and sports betting, it's no surprise that the state has consistently averaged around $500+ million monthly in sports betting handle. As of right now, only two states have outdone Nevada in most sports betting revenue-based statistics: New Jersey and New York.

Despite being one of the top states for handle, revenue, and tax income, it would be interesting to see how much Nevada would make if the state allowed remote registration. While it may not make Nevada the top state in the country for sports betting earnings, it could help close the gap between them and NJ/NY.

Even without the option for remote registration, mobile sports bets cover around 65% of all placed real-money wagers in Nevada. So, with remote registration being fully available in the state, including all the country's top sportsbook operators with their betting apps, NV's betting revenue figures should be way higher than currently.

Nevada sports betting record months:

• Sports betting handle: October 2021 ($1,100,712,575)

• Revenue: November 2021 ($71,971,000)

• Tax income: November 2021 ($4,858,043)

Latest NV sports betting revenue report breakdown (February 2025)

• Total betting handle: $604,787,701

  • Mobile betting handle: $396,730,104

  • Retail betting handle: $208,057,597

• Hold: 6.83%

• Total gross revenue: $41,307,000

• Total tax revenue for the state (6.75% on gross revenue): $2,788,223

Reported by the Nevada Gaming Control Board.

What sports did NV bettors wager the most in Feb 2025?

1. Basketball ($332.8m placed bets)

2. Football ($146.6m)

3. Hockey ($28.8m)

4. Baseball ($3.6m)

Recent revenue report data - Compared to the previous year (YoY)

NV sports betting revenue in 2025

As said, Nevada's sports betting revenue history goes back a long way. The table below shows how much revenue, handle, and tax income figures have evolved or declined during the present 2025 year. The bracketed percentage indicates the change compared to the previous month's figure.

2024 revenue data

Yearly revenue totals

Bellagio fountain betting markets: Tourism-driven wagering with big profit potential

In Las Vegas, the Bellagio Fountain show is already one of the drawing attractions of the city. However, with betting being at the center of everything, it could also turn into a novelty betting market to unlock surprising profitability for Nevada's Gaming economy. With an estimated $8 billion in annual sports betting handled statewide, capturing even 0.1% through prop wagers like “Next song played” or “Final show of the night” could generate $8 million in new wagers annually. At Nevada's 6.75% tax rate, that equates to $540,000 in additional tax revenue.

These bets could be placed in a number of ways, including mobile apps, QR codes at resorts, or retail kiosks, adding a unique layer of interactive entertainment for the 40+ million tourists who visit Las Vegas each year. To maximize future profits, Nevada could expand its regulatory framework to include tourism-based novelty betting categories. In a city built on spectacle and chance, song-predicting fountain wagers might just be the most uniquely profitable bet on The Strip.