Which state was the first to legalize sports betting after the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act?

The answer is Delaware, as it became the first state to legalize sports betting following the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) by the U.S. Supreme Court in May 2018. PASPA had effectively prohibited states from allowing sports betting, but once it was overturned, states were given the freedom to regulate sports betting as they saw fit.

Delaware had been preparing for this opportunity, as it had a sports betting framework in place even before the repeal, due to its previous limited sports betting operations established under PASPA’s exceptions. They swiftly moved to implement full-scale sports betting at their casinos, making them the first to take action after PASPA was lifted. This rapid implementation showcased Delaware's proactive approach to capitalizing on the new legal landscape surrounding sports wagering.