Although there are still a few states where you can’t bet online, it is clear that the tide is turning. On November 6, 2018, Vermont passed legislation to legalize sports betting. It was yet another milestone in the fight for online sports betting in the United States. However, the fight is far from over. There are still several states where you can’t bet online. Some of them even have legislation to prevent the practice.
Which state will be next?
It is clear that the tide is turning. More and more states are realizing the economic benefits that sports betting offers. It is also becoming more and more evident that regulating sports gambling is essential to protecting the integrity of sport. Keeping score can be tricky enough as it is. Adding a layer of complexity by introducing sports gambling to the mix is something that the sports world doesn’t need. Not to mention the fact that gambling itself is already illegal in some states. So, putting a stop to online sports betting, as well as in-house betting, seems fair enough.
The good news for Ohio sports bettors is that the movement toward regulation and legalization of sports gambling is definitely underway. On October 24, 2018, the state’s representatives in the Ohio House of Representatives voted 33-21 in favor of a bill that would legalize online sports betting. The bill is entitled the “Ohio Online Sports Betting Act.”
Those who were against online sports betting reportedly argued that this form of gambling would only serve to increase the amount of sports betting that takes place under the table. However, the supporters of the bill cited studies that show digital sports betting to be less likely to result in problem gambling. The fact that it is already legal in some other states, like Nevada, and offers better safeguards than the current situation in Ohio, is also something that the bill’s supporters pointed out. The bill will now head to the state Senate. If it passes there as well, then it will go to Governor Mike DeWine for signing.
What is the current status of sports betting in Ohio?
The status of sports betting in Ohio is currently governed by the Wire Act. This Act makes it illegal to use a “wire communication service” to place bets or offers to bet on sporting events. However, that doesn’t exactly stop people from doing it. According to a study performed by the American Gaming Association, a large percentage of problem gamblers engage in some type of sports betting. In fact, it is one of the most popular pastimes among this group.
The researchers found that among adults aged 18 to 34, 58% reported that they had gambled on sports in the past year. And among those aged 35 and older, 71% had also experienced sports betting. Overall, 60% of American adults reported that they had gambled on sports at least once in their lives. Given this, it is clear that many people are breaking the law but remain unaware of the potential consequences. Especially since the study also found that 28% of those who participated in sports betting didn’t know that it was illegal.
The Rise in Popularity
If you aren’t familiar, the Wire Act was originally passed in 1937 to prevent the spread of organized crime in the form of illegal gambling. At the time, gambling was largely run by mobsters and considered a form of “social evil.” In the decades that followed, the Wire Act was largely ineffective in preventing organized crime from entering the sports betting market. And for the most part, it still is. However, as the years have gone by, the acceptance of online gambling has grown, providing a breeding ground for online sports betting.
According to the 2018 Gambling Studies, around 20% of American adults aged 18–34 used online gambling in the past year. What is more, around 6% of American adults aged 35–54 used digital gambling platforms. This is compared to around 3% of adults aged 55+. This is also markedly higher than the 1.5% of American adults who reported using sports betting in 2015.
The Unintended Consequences Of Prohibition
The rise in the popularity of online sports betting in the United States is largely due to the fact that it is already legal in other states. Due to the fact that Ohio is a “prohibition” state, where gambling is not legal, it is considered somewhat of a grey area when it comes to sports gambling. Therefore, the fact that it is already legal in some other states opens up a can of worms when it comes to the law in Ohio. Especially since the practice of online sports betting is still highly unregulated. As a result, it remains a dangerous underground activity that is largely done by criminal elements and those looking to abuse the system. This is also true for in-house betting, where employees of an organization secretly place bets for their team. In 2017, around 140 cases of problem gambling were attributed to in-house betting, according to a study by the American Gaming Association. In-house betting is also a breeding ground for fraud. As a result of the unregulated and secretive nature of the practice, it is difficult to know the extent of the problem. However, given the fact that around 50% of problem gamblers report that they have engaged in some type of sports betting, it is evident that this is a problem that the sports world needs to address.
A Growing Trend
There is also clearly a trend toward more and more states legalizing sports betting. According to Forbes, as of November 2018, 18 states have passed legislation to legalize sports betting, while four others have attempted but failed. In 2018, bills have been introduced in 29 states to legalize sports betting. And this year, around 20 more states have introduced bills seeking to regulate and/or legalize sports betting. This is a marked difference from just a few years ago, when bills seeking to legalize or regulate sports betting were considered “radical” and far-fetched. Now, they are becoming commonplace.
New Studies
Not only is there a rise in the popularity of online sports betting, but there is also a growing body of research that seeks to understand and quantify just how big a problem gambling on sports actually is. Given the fact that it remains a popular activity among those who are prone to gambling, as well as the fact that it is already legal in some states, it seems obvious that the sports world needs to pay closer attention to just what is happening on the front lines of this emerging trend.
To that end, a new study from the University of Wisconsin published in the journal Psychology of Sport and Exercise reveals some interesting insights into the psychology of sports betting. For the study, around 400 adults were asked about their experiences with sports betting. And interestingly enough, around 65% of those who participated in some type of sports betting reported that they did so because they felt that it was exciting to bet on games. Furthermore, 40% of those who engaged in sports betting admitted that this was a way to relieve stress and anxiety. And in a state where online gambling is already legal, it is not hard to understand why.
It should come as no surprise that people are flocking to online sports betting given the fact that it is already a legal option in some states. And although it remains somewhat of a risky and/or illegal activity in others, it is clear that as more and more states legalize online sports betting, this trend will not be slowed but will most likely be accelerated. This is not just limited to sports betting but also the case with other types of online gambling, such as casino games and poker. There are currently legal ways to place bets in Florida, Montana, and West Virginia. And given the fact that Delaware just became the fifth state to legalize online gambling in 2019, this is clearly just the beginning.
Which state will join the others in legalizing sports gambling?
Although there are still several states where you can’t bet online, it is clear that the tide is turning. On November 6, 2018, Vermont passed legislation to legalize sports betting. It was yet another milestone in the fight for online sports betting in the United States. However, the fight is far from over. There are still several states where you can’t bet online. Some of them even have legislation to prevent the practice.
Which state will be next?
It is clear that the tide is turning. More and more states are realizing the economic benefits that sports betting offers. It is also becoming more and more evident that regulating sports gambling is essential to protecting the integrity of sport. Keeping score can be tricky enough as it is. Adding a layer of complexity by introducing sports gambling to the mix is something that the sports world doesn’t need. Not to mention the fact that gambling itself is already illegal in some states. So, putting a stop to online sports betting, as well as in-house betting, seems fair enough.