Legalizing sports betting in the United States is one of the most popular topics on social media platforms like Twitter. People are constantly asking whether it is possible to play sports and make money off it. Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused people to be homebound and away from their daily routines, the demand for legal sports books has skyrocketed.
This is due, in part, to the fact that many sports books offer online betting where individuals can place bets from the comfort of their homes. And it’s not just about the comfort either — many people are interested in playing sports and being physically active during this time of pandemic.
Despite this newfound interest in sports betting, it is not yet possible to engage in legal betting activities in all states. Only some of the states have enacted legislation to allow for legal and regulated sports betting. In this article, we will examine the current status of legal sports betting in the United States. We’ll cover the basics of the law, the extent to which it has been enacted, and what this means for professional and recreational sports bettors.
The Basics Of Legalizing Sports Betting
It is important to note that until recently, it was not yet possible to engage in legal sports betting in the United States. However, that all changed with the passage of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2014. PASPA allowed for states to authorize and regulate sports gambling, as long as the activities complied with state and federal laws. This effectively removed the federal ban on sports gambling that had been in place since 1930.
While PASPA did not explicitly legalize sports betting, it did provide the legal framework for it. So, with that in mind, it is now possible to engage in legal sports betting in all states as long as the activities comply with the law. This effectively means that it is up to the states to decide whether or not to legalize sports wagering. If a state chooses to legalize it, then it is up to the books to comply with the law and offer an honest game.
How Many US States Have Legalized Sports Betting?
As noted above, PASPA did not explicitly legalize sports betting. However, it did provide the framework for it, setting a precedent that allowed for the legalization of sports betting in the future. Currently, there are 28 states where it is legal to engage in sports gambling. Of those, only four states — Colorado, Illinois, Oregon, and Washington — completely criminalized sports gambling. The other 24 have legalized some form of gambling on sports.
In general, the legality of sports betting in the United States is split 50/50 between those states that have legalized it and those that have not. So, when it comes to the legality of sports betting in the United States, it is complicated. But that is a much better scenario than it was just a few years ago when only some states had legalized it and it was all but impossible to engage in. Now it is up to the individual states to decide what will constitute fair competition in their realm.
What Does Legalization Of Sports Betting Mean For Professional And Recreational Athletes?
When states decide to legalize sports betting, it usually means that they have determined that it is a fair competition and that honest practices should prevail. Due to this, it is generally accepted that legalized sports betting will not affect professional or recreational athletes in a negative way. In fact, many experts predict that legalized sports betting will provide additional opportunities for athletes.
However, it is still not guaranteed that all states will choose to legalize sports betting, so it is important to know the limitations of playing in these states. For example, if you are a professional baseball player and play in a state where it is not yet legal to bet, your contract may prohibit you from doing so. If that is the case, you may have to find a way to make up for this lack of integrity by finding employment in a different jurisdiction.
Which States Have The Most To Gain And The Most To Lose From Legalizing Sports Betting?
The biggest winners from the legalization of sports betting in the U.S. are most likely going to be the bookmakers, as they will likely see a rise in business due to the increase in sports gamblers. However, the biggest losers are going to be the small gambling establishments that are already operating in a gray area. These types of businesses will likely not have the financial resources to fight in court if they are charged with a crime for operating in a state where it is not yet legal to bet. So, overall, it is safe to say that the legalization of sports betting is good for the overall economy, but it may not be good for small businesses that are already operating in a gray area.
Which States Have The Most To Gain And The Most To Lose From Legalizing Sports Betting?
For a better understanding of the impact of legalized sports betting, let’s take a look at how many states have enacted legislation to allow for some form of gaming and how that compares to the total number of states where it is currently legal to bet. We’ll use the Brookings Institution’s ‘State Economic Trends’ tool to analyze the current legalization status of sports betting in the United States. As you can see in the table below, there are currently 28 states where it is legal to engage in some form of sports gambling, compared to 24 states where it is still unlawful. So, clearly, the tide is shifting in favor of legalizing sports betting.
Let’s now take a closer look at how many of those states have actually made it legal to bet on sports:
- 20 states have implemented comprehensive sports wagering legislation, effectively legalizing sports betting for all games, including professional ones.
- 4 states have partially implemented sports wagering legislation, prohibiting certain types of gambling but allowing for others.
- 4 states have banned sports gambling altogether, choosing not to implement any form of legal wagering.
As you can see above, 20 states have implemented comprehensive legislation that allows for all types of sports gaming, including professional games. Those 20 states are:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
The biggest winner in the legalization of sports betting in the United States is most likely going to be the bookmakers, as they will likely see a rise in business due to the increase in sports gamblers. However, the biggest loser is going to be the small gambling establishments that are already operating in a gray area. These types of businesses will likely not have the financial resources to fight in court if they are charged with a crime for operating in a state where it is not yet legal to bet. So, overall, it is safe to say that the legalization of sports betting is good for the overall economy, but it may not be good for small businesses that are already operating in a gray area.