State of US Sports Betting Markets

In the past several years, a number of states in the United States have launched the process of regulating sports betting, either online or at traditional sportsbooks located in brick-and-mortar locations.

The shift in policy is the result of several changes in laws that had previously made it illegal for operators headquartered in the United States to function.

The Professional & Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 is the principal legislation that is being challenged here (PASPA). Since the passage of PASPA, residents of the United States who are interested in gambling on sports have had two choices.

The very first choice available was to actually travel into one of the states whose legal systems had been in place prior to PASPA and hence qualified for grandfathering. 

The second choice available was to go to a website that offered offshore online sports betting. The United States Supreme Court handed down a ruling in May 2018 that fundamentally altered everything.

Online Sportsbook Legality in the US

Where you live in the United States determines whether or not it is legal for you to participate in online sports betting. At the end of the year 2021, certain states will have legalized online sports betting.

In-person sports betting is authorized in a number of other states, including New York and Washington, but internet sports betting is not permitted in any of these jurisdictions. When it comes to the legal state of online sports betting sites in the US, there are around 16 states where the future is still uncertain.

A judgment made by the Supreme Court in 2018 that overturned a federal statute that prohibited sports gambling made it possible for a relatively new trend to emerge in the United States: the proliferation of sports betting.

Mobile Sports Betting

The easiest and most addictive way to bet on sports is through mobile apps. These apps entice customers with introductory deals such as "First bet up to $200 free" and the like, offer customized bets that traditional brick-and-mortar sportsbooks are not able to provide, and save users' financial information for quick money transfers.

Experts are in agreement that mobile app betting is the simplest and most addicting way to bet on sports Sixty percent of all wagers are placed via mobile devices in the state of New Jersey, which was a driving force behind the repeal of PASPA and is in a constant battle with Nevada and New York for the title of highest-grossing state in terms of money earned from sports betting. 

According to Nower, in the majority of other states where mobile betting is allowed without restrictions, mobile bets account for between 70 and 90 % of all wagers, and between 50 and 85 percent of those mobile bets result in losses. The average lifespan of those who bet on sports has been a central topic in discussions around mobile betting.

The Rise of Betting and the Way New Fans Engage with Sports

One more factor that leads us to believe that betting on sports, and mobile gambling, in particular, will continue to grow in popularity is the extent to which gambling on sports has been integrated and participatory in the society of American sports. When you add this potentially addictive activity on top of your loyalty, it isn't going to be easy to shake.

This impulsivity is being driven by the proliferation of live, in-game gambling that is made possible by smartphone apps. Betting lines nowadays are able to remain life and change during the course of games, which is something that was previously impossible and could only be done in an unlawful manner. 

But will there ever be a day when society reaches a tipping point, one in which the gamification of sports games begins to undermine the elements that make them enjoyable, to begin with? 

One probable response is that more individuals who lose their wagers would grow to believe that tournaments are manipulated. This would be a response to the gambling business rather than the other way around. As a result, these people might stop watching sporting events.

Positive Outcomes from the Legalization of Sports Betting

There are strong feelings on both sides of the debate around legalization. There are a lot of people who believe that if sports betting were made legal, it would just lead to more people gambling and more issues.

On the other hand, proponents of the opposing viewpoint out that legalization could have enormous benefits for the states that choose to do so. The following are some of the advantages:

●     Revenue from increased taxes

●     The demise of unlicensed betting operations

●     Increased number of available jobs

●     The expansion of various additional industries that are related

The potential increase in tax revenue is the primary motivation for the majority of state governments to support legalization. The supplementary funds can be put toward the improvement of healthcare, educational opportunities, or any other area of discretionary spending. 

Nearly $30 million in tax revenue was generated by sports betting in the state of New Jersey, which was the first state after PASPA to permit online sports betting.