Sports betting in the USA has already proven fruitful for many states across America since the Professional, and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was repealed in 2018 by the Supreme Court. Since that historic day, there have been 13 states that have passed domestic sports betting laws, six states are pending a domestic sports betting launch, and another 20+ states have pending legislation that could allow sports betting if passed into law.
The American Gaming Association (AGA) recently released figures that shattered previous sports betting records set in the United States. For September 2019, the AGA reports that the US sports betting market reached nearly $1.4 billion. 40% of those wagers originated in Nevada, which reported its third-largest handle in state history.
Before May 2018, sports betting was only allowed in pre-PASPA states that already offered sports betting in some form. The states that were exempt from PASPA were Nevada, Oregon, Montana, and Delaware.
Sports betting in the United States has reached $7.8 billion for 2019 through September. Last year it was reported that Americans wagered $6.6 billion through all legal avenues in the US. Now that more states are seriously considering offering domestic sports betting in their jurisdictions, these numbers will probably be succeeded in the near future.
The AGA has also recently reported that Americans are now approving of wagering more than ever before and that a record 49% of Americans now see casinos favorably. This could have a lot to do with sports betting, considering that most domestic sportsbooks located in the 13 legal states are stationed at local casinos.
Two states have opened up their doors for patrons over the age of 18; Rhode Island, and Montana. While most states still require bettors to be over 21, these 18+ states both have less of a player pool than most of their competitors.
Online sportsbooks located offshore can legally offer online sports betting to American bettors over the age of 18. For most 18-year-old sports bettors, their best option is often the offshore sportsbooks because of the bonus options, favorable lines, and lower age restriction. Online sports betting has a couple of features that make it more convenient for players, including mobility and live betting options.
Sports betting in the US is still in its infancy, and over the next couple of years, many people expect the industry to grow and mature.