Which U.S. States Allow Betting On College Football?

September 22, 2021 by Staff

Sports betting became possible for millions more Americans in late 2018 when the Supreme Court struck out PASPA, a 1990s-era law that banned the practice in all but a few states. Today, like with many other things in the US, the rules are set by the states rather than the federal government, meaning what you can bet on and how you do it changes depending on where you are.

For fans of college football, this means that you have fewer options when compared to professional sports. Here are the states that currently allow college football betting.

New Jersey
New Jersey has created some of the most liberal betting rules in the country. Not only does it allow sports betting on professional and collegiate games, but it also allows online casinos and online poker sites to operate in the state. Unlike other parts of the country, there are also no limits on how many companies can operate, meaning there is a lot of competition in the market.

This competition is great for bettors as it means brands have to offer a lot of added value to try and build and maintain a market share. For those that enjoy poker and casino games, this means plenty of information on how to play with comprehensive guides on topics like Texas Hold’em rules and strategy.

For those that bet on sports, sportsbooks often offer odds boosts on select wagers, picks and insights from expert handicappers, and even live scores and updates of games to try and provide the best service to customers.

Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania also has some of the most liberal betting rules in the country. It allows most forms of wagering, including poker and casinos. Taxes are higher, however, and there are more limits on the number of companies allowed to operate.

However, there’s still a good selection of sportsbooks, most of which offer a range of college football markets.

Iowa
Sports betting in Iowa began in May 2019 and has a good selection of sportsbooks, however, casino games and poker aren’t permitted online. Wagering is allowed on college games, which is important since college football is big in the state thanks to its high-ranking teams.

However, in-play wagers aren’t permitted on in-state college teams.

West Virginia
West Virginia’s first sportsbooks launched in August 2019 with more following in the next few years, though there are still only a few options for bettors. However, despite the limited options, most offer a wide selection of college football betting options, including on local D1 FCS and D2 teams.

Colorado
Colorado’s sports betting began in 2020 and has proved incredibly popular. The state has made very favorable laws for sportsbook brands, so there’s a lot of competition in the market.

It has few restrictions on what you can bet on with college sports wagering allowed with no restrictions for in-state teams.

Tennessee
Unlike most states that have legalized sports betting, Tennessee doesn’t allow in-person wagering. However, there are around half a dozen sportsbooks operating in the state, including a locally-owned brand.

Betting on college games is permitted with few restrictions, though live betting isn’t allowed.

Michigan
Michigan is one of the most recent states to make sports betting legal, with the first wagers being made in January 2021. However, it quickly established itself as a leader thanks to some of the most liberal rules and a large selection of options for punters to choose from.

Bets can be placed on most collegiate competitions, including college football, which is a great thing for the state as it has one of the best college sports programs in the country.