They were ultimately successful, and in 1949, sports betting was made legal in Nevada. On the heels of the Vegas’ success – and following the legalization of gambling in 1931 – an intrepid group of bookmakers petitioned the state of Nevada to let them open sportsbooks in the state. 1949: The First Government-Sanctioned Sportsbook Opens in Las Vegas In Part II of our three-part series, we take you through all the significant legal milestones, starting with the first licensed US sportsbook in 1949 and ending with Congress’ ruling in favor of sportsbooks in 1984.

In our first installation of the history of sports betting legislation in the United States, we outlined the significant events surrounding sports betting, spanning from the American Revolution all the way to the introduction of legalized gambling in Nevada in 1931.