This article explains how we rank sports betting by state using official regulator reports and the American Gaming Association as a national baseline. It clarifies the key metrics used, describes the data sources and methodology, and explains why mobile share and per-capita adjustments change how states compare. Readers will find practical steps for extracting comparable figures from state dashboards, short profiles of representative states, and a checklist for choosing the right ranking for their purpose. The goal is reproducible, regulator-backed analysis rather than conjecture.

Large, mobile-enabled states like New York lead absolute handle and revenue rankings.

Per-capita measures using Census 2025 data can reorder which states appear most active per person.

Always prioritize state regulator reports and the AGA baseline when compiling cross-state rankings.

What we mean by state sports betting: definitions and scope

Key terms: handle, gross gaming revenue, net win, mobile share

When we compare sports betting by state, we rely on a small set of standard metrics so readers know we are comparing like with like. Handle is the total amount wagered, reported by regulators as the gross sum of bets placed. Gross gaming revenue, sometimes called operator net win, is the amount retained by operators after paying winning tickets and before taxes and fees. Mobile share describes the percentage of betting activity that happens on online channels rather than at retail locations, which matters because a market with high mobile share will show different behaviour than a retail-heavy market.

State reporting language is not identical everywhere. Some regulators label operator net receipts differently, and a few jurisdictions separate parlay adjustments or promotional credits. For cross-state comparisons we follow regulator terminology where it is used and note any differences in definitions so readers can make direct comparisons.

Comparing sports betting by state helps fans and analysts understand where market activity concentrates, which in turn affects sponsorships, local advertising, and regulatory priorities. Policymakers use comparable metrics to assess tax yield and to weigh responsible gaming measures (Tax Foundation sports betting tax revenue). To avoid misleading conclusions, this article prioritizes official regulator reports and the American Gaming Association as primary baselines for national context, because those sources compile and harmonize disparate state reporting conventions American Gaming Association State of the States 2025.

Separating channels is essential: online-only states or online-first markets show mobile-dominated activity while hybrid markets retain some retail volume. Noting channel mix up front helps explain why absolute handle and per-capita results sometimes tell different stories.

How we ranked states: data sources, metrics and methodology

Primary data sources and why we prioritized regulator dashboards and AGA

Our ranking follows a clear hierarchy of evidence. First, we used state regulator dashboards and monthly reports for each jurisdiction because those are the primary legal records of handle and revenue. Second, we used the American Gaming Association summary as an authoritative national baseline to check totals and trends American Gaming Association State of the States 2025. Industry compilations were used as cross checks where regulator timing or format made direct comparison difficult.

Consult the AGA report and state regulator dashboards

Consult the AGA State of the States and your state regulator dashboards to verify specific monthly totals and channel splits before drawing conclusions.

View AGA State of the States

Metrics used: total handle, gross gaming revenue, per-capita measures, mobile share

We ranked states on three complementary metrics. Total handle and gross gaming revenue represent absolute market size and operator scale. Per-capita measures divide those totals by the U.S. Census 2025 state population estimates to show activity relative to population. Mobile share shows how much of the total comes from online channels, which influences both absolute and per-capita comparisons. When we report per-capita results we use the Census 2025 estimates to ensure comparability across states and over time U.S. Census Bureau 2025 state population estimates.

Cross checks and handling methodological differences

States publish figures on different schedules and occasionally change line items. We aligned monthly and annual reporting windows by converting monthly regulator releases into consistent calendar-year totals where needed, and we prioritized official state totals when industry compilations diverged. For handle and revenue rankings we relied on regulator definitions and used industry sources only to track trends over time Legal Sports Report state revenue tracker.

For transparency, every time we cite an absolute or comparative fact in the article we anchor it to a regulator dashboard or to the AGA baseline. That way readers can reproduce the ranking or substitute alternate timeframes if required.

Top states by total handle and revenue: what the official numbers show

Why New York appears at the top in industry tracking

New York consistently leads the nation in total handle and gross gaming revenue, a position reflected across regulator summaries and industry trackers. Large population and early, high-volume online access have combined to make New York the largest US market by most absolute measures in 2024 and into 2025, which is why it appears at the top of handle and revenue lists in industry compilations and regulator tallies Legal Sports Report state revenue tracker.

Absolute rankings like this favour populous states because total handle scales with the number of potential bettors. That makes New York’s lead informative about market scale, but not necessarily about per-person intensity of play.

Other large markets to watch: Ohio, Pennsylvania, Colorado

Close up regulator dashboard screenshot mockup showing labeled Handle and Mobile Share columns in a Funded Plays dark minimal UI with clear numeric values and data bars sports betting by state

Ohio has joined the list of large markets since launching regulated activity in 2023, and its official monthly reports show sustained large-scale volumes that place it among the top states by handle and revenue in 2024-2025 Ohio Casino Control Commission sports gaming revenue reports.

These states illustrate how different launch timing and channel mix create similar absolute totals: a state that delayed launch can still reach large annual volumes quickly if mobile access is broad and the population base is large.

Per-capita rankings and the role of mobile wagering

Using Census 2025 population estimates for per-capita comparisons

Per-capita comparisons use the U.S. Census 2025 population estimates as denominators to standardize totals across states. This approach highlights intensity of betting relative to the size of the state population rather than raw market scale, which is useful for researchers and local policymakers who want to compare participation levels or tax yield on a per-person basis U.S. Census Bureau 2025 state population estimates.

Because per-capita measures can reorder rankings, a populous state with high total handle may not rank as highly when adjusted for population. Conversely, small states with strong online penetration can climb the per-capita list.

Which states have the most sports betting and how should those rankings be interpreted?

States with large populations and broad online access tend to lead in total handle and revenue, while per-capita comparisons using Census 2025 data show which states have the highest activity relative to population; mobile share further explains channel-driven differences.

Which states show high per-capita activity and why mobile matters

Mobile-first and online-only markets tend to register higher per-capita figures because mobile removes geographic friction and makes wagering available to a larger share of the adult population. Virginia, for example, operates effectively as an online-first market where nearly all betting activity passes through mobile channels, so its per-capita handle and revenue reflect near-total online share rather than significant retail contributions Virginia Lottery sports wagering activity reports.

Comparing per-capita by handle and per-capita by revenue yields different insights: per-capita handle shows volume of wagering activity, while per-capita revenue measures operator net receipts per person, which is influenced by payout rates and bet mix.

Reading regulator reports: practical tips for comparing handle, revenue and channel mix

Common differences in state reporting conventions

Regulator reports vary in presentation. Some publish consolidated monthly spreadsheets with clear channel splits, while others release narrative summaries and separate PDF tables. Common differences include whether states report promotional credits gross or net, how they treat parlay payouts, and whether they separate mobile from retail in the headline tables. These line-item differences can change the apparent size of certain product categories if not accounted for.

To avoid misinterpretation, read the definitions section of each regulator report and look for notes on adjustments. If a state uses a different convention for gross receipts, document that difference and, when possible, align the numbers to a consistent definition before ranking.

How to align monthly and annual figures and interpret channel splits

Simple checks help align figures: reconcile a regulator's sum of monthly handles with its published annual total, and confirm that mobile plus retail shares equal the reported total handle. When regulators lag in updates, use the most recent calendar-year totals and note any partial months. Cross checking annual regulator totals with the AGA baseline helps identify reporting timing issues American Gaming Association State of the States 2025.

If the channel split is important for your comparison, extract the mobile share column from the regulator dashboard and calculate the percentage of total handle attributable to online channels. Doing so reveals how much of a state's market growth is driven by mobile access rather than retail expansion.

How to choose which state ranking matters to you: decision criteria

Match the metric to your goal: market size, per-capita interest, or mobile exposure

Decide what you want to measure before running a ranking (see our blog). Advertisers and rights holders generally care about market size and total handle because those metrics indicate audience scale. Researchers concerned with population exposure prefer per-capita measures. Analysts looking at product trends and operator strategies should focus on mobile share to understand channel-driven growth.

Data quality and update frequency are useful tie breakers. If you need the most current month-to-month view, prioritize regulator dashboards with monthly releases. If you need consistent cross-state annual totals, use regulator year-to-date reports verified against the AGA summary American Gaming Association State of the States 2025.

Funded Plays Challenges

View AGA State of the States

Data quality, update frequency and regulatory definitions as tie breakers

When two states appear similar on headline metrics, check definitions and update cadence: a state that reports monthly with detailed channel splits offers a cleaner comparison than a state that publishes only quarterly summaries. Also verify whether a state includes promotional adjustments in gross gaming revenue to avoid double counting. Document the chosen definitions when you publish or share your ranking.

For readers interested in testing forecasting approaches without wagering, platforms that provide skill-based prediction challenges can be useful for practice and strategy development. FundedPlays is an example of a funded sports simulation platform that structures evaluation challenges using virtual bankrolls for skill-focused testing.

Common mistakes and data pitfalls to avoid

Mixing timeframes or raw and adjusted figures

A common error is combining a recent partial-month regulator snapshot with a last-year annual total. Mixing timeframes produces misleading rankings. Always align to a consistent calendar window, and when using monthly snapshots, note whether the month is complete.

Avoid substituting raw handle for participation. Handle measures dollars wagered, not the number of unique bettors. Population-adjusted metrics are necessary to estimate exposure per person rather than raw market scale.

Ignoring mobile versus retail splits and per-capita distortions

Failing to account for mobile share can distort conclusions. Two states with similar total handle may have very different market dynamics if one is nearly all mobile and the other relies on retail. For per-capita comparisons, small population states can appear disproportionately active if they have strong online penetration, so interpret per-capita spikes with an understanding of channel mix Colorado Division of Gaming sports betting reports.

As a final check, corroborate state regulator totals against the AGA baseline and use industry compilations only as context rather than the primary source for authoritative totals.

Practical examples and state profiles: New York, Ohio and a mobile-first state

Profile: New York and why it leads total handle

New York’s position at the top of national handle and revenue rankings illustrates how population and broad online access compound to produce large absolute totals. Industry trackers and regulator releases both reflect New York as the largest market by handle and revenue through 2024 and into 2025, making it the primary example of an absolute market leader Legal Sports Report state revenue tracker.

For comparisons that seek to identify where the largest pools of wagering dollars are placed, New York is the natural focal point because its totals dominate national aggregates.

quick steps to verify state regulator totals

Regulator site
Reporting period
Channel split

Use regulator reports first

Profile: Ohio’s launch and sustained volumes

Ohio’s regulated market launched in 2023 and government reports show substantial handle and revenue since launch, which places it among the larger U.S. markets in recent tracking. Official monthly reports from the Ohio regulator provide the primary evidence for assessing the state’s scale and trajectory Ohio Casino Control Commission sports gaming revenue reports.

Ohio is an instructive case for analysts studying how a newly regulated, mobile-enabled state can scale quickly when the product offer and distribution support broad participation.

Profile: Virginia or Colorado as examples of mobile first activity

Virginia, operating as an online-first market, and Colorado, with a dominant online share, both demonstrate how mobile access drives per-capita intensity and channel concentration. Virginia’s regulator shows an effective online-only pattern while Colorado reports a small retail share relative to mobile, illustrating two flavors of a mobile-first market Virginia Lottery sports wagering activity reports.

These profiles help readers see how the combination of population, launch timing, and mobile distribution determine whether a state ranks high by total handle, per-capita measures, or both.

Conclusion: how to use these rankings responsibly

Key takeaways and how to cite findings

The main takeaway is simple: large, mobile-friendly, populous states tend to top absolute handle and revenue lists, while per-capita comparisons can reorder the standings by showing intensity of play relative to population. When reporting rankings, cite the primary regulator sources and the AGA baseline, and document the definitions you used for handle and gross gaming revenue American Gaming Association State of the States 2025. See our evaluation overview: https://www.fundedplays.com/blogs/how-fundedplays-evaluations-work

Using both per-capita and mobile share alongside absolute totals gives a fuller picture than relying on a single metric. That disciplined approach helps avoid overstatement and supports clear, reproducible analysis.

How do you measure which states have the most sports betting?

Measure by total handle or gross gaming revenue for market size, and use per-capita and mobile share to compare intensity and channel exposure.

Why use Census 2025 data for per-capita comparisons?

Census 2025 state population estimates provide consistent denominators that match the 2026 timeframe and standardize comparisons across states.

Where can I find official state totals?

Use each state regulator's sports wagering reports and dashboards and verify totals against national summaries like the AGA State of the States.

Use the rankings as a starting point for deeper state-level analysis rather than as definitive measures of participation. Cite the regulator source and the AGA when reporting totals, and pair absolute and per-capita metrics with channel breakdowns to provide context. If you need a structured place to practice forecasting or to test strategies with simulated bankrolls, consider skill-focused challenge platforms that let you refine approaches without traditional wagering risks.