Legal sports betting is a relatively new phenomenon, but its scope and popularity speak for themselves. Today, the practice is legal in a majority of the United States, and many states have also opened their betting markets to professional and collegiate sports teams, as well as high school sports leagues. That being said, not all forms of legal sports betting are created equal, and understanding who exactly benefits from legal sports betting is crucial if you’re looking to get into the action. Here we’ll discuss the different types of individuals and entities that enjoy the benefits of legal sports betting.
The Fan
What kind of person would you say benefits the most from legal sports betting? Perhaps the fan of a particular team, or fan of a particular player. After all, it’s the fans that fill the stadiums and buy the tickets, so it makes sense that they’d be the ones reaping the benefits. From an entertaining point of view, it’s hard to deny that the fans stand to gain the most from legal sports betting. As someone who fills a sports fan’s life with content, I can tell you that I’d love to see more and more people get into the action. Imagine how great it would be if every person you knew was a sports fan and all of them were pulling for your team or player? It would be pretty magical, wouldn’t it?
Professionals
Though the fans stand to gain the most from legal sports betting, it’s not necessarily the case that everyone else shares their enthusiasm for sports. There are several professional teams and athletes that benefit from legal sports betting as well. Consider the case of the Harlem Globetrotters, an international team of comedians, musicians, and athletes that tours Europe every summer. With games that often come with hefty payouts, the Globetrotters are a popular team with which to wager. Also, people who work in the sports industry, from referees to statisticians, are able to make a good living off-track betting, especially since so many games are available and they need to maintain large sets of data. For instance, sports oddsmakers at betting agencies need only follow the action and collect statistics in-house to satisfy regulators, much like the bookies did back in the day, which makes their jobs more convenient and less prone to errors. Another interesting group that benefits from legal sports betting are the players’ familes. The popularity of Fantasy Sports and daily fantasy sports continues to grow, which means more people are playing with and following their favourite teams and players. It would be great to see more players benefit from the ability to keep track of their stats and gain some extra cash!
Colleges And Universities
Not only do fans of collegiate sports teams stand to gain a lot from legal sports betting, but so do the schools themselves. After all, they’re the ones who benefit from increased attendance and interest. In some instances, schools pay for students’ trips to games and other athletic activities, so it’s not like they don’t benefit at all! For instance, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and the University of Phoenix each give students a certain amount of cash when they place a wager on a sporting event. The schools also benefit from the exposure that comes with being associated with a successful sports team. In both cases, this is especially handy since they can’t always rely on their high school’s athletic programs to bring in the students or generate interest in their sports.
Governments
Governments, both federal and state, stand to gain a lot from legal sports betting as well. After all, what’s more important to them than bringing in as much tax revenue as possible? That being said, not all governments are created equal, and not all forms of legal sports betting are created equal. For instance, some states don’t offer any sort of tax benefits to residents who wager legally, but they do offer a discounted rate for non-residents. The best thing for you to do would be to contact the state tax department and ask about the current rules and regulations pertaining to legal sports betting. Knowing this would be essential in creating a game plan and following the correct procedures to ensure your success!
Small Businesses
Though most people would assume that large corporations stand to gain the most from legal sports betting, this is not necessarily true. In fact, in some instances, it’s actually the little businesses that stand to gain the most. This is especially the case with offshore betting agencies that operate in jurisdictions where there is no effective government regulation. Since there’s no effective government oversight or regulation in these areas, it’s the sort of place where anyone can operate and offer their services to the public. In this sort of environment, it’s the small businesses, freelancers, and sole traders who can really make a buck off-course betting and legal sports gambling. Some of these agencies will even go so far as to provide little business kits to new customers, including software, hardware, and even a free monthly credit to use on-site. Just make sure you do your research and work with a reputable agency, otherwise you run the risk of losing all your money!
Big Businesses
Though they don’t necessarily benefit from legal sports betting, it’s not the case that big businesses, like Google and Microsoft, are entirely opposed to the practice. In fact, some of them make their money off-course betting and legal sports betting, mostly in the form of advertising. As long as you’re not violating any league rules or regulations, having your brand associated with a particular team can be quite the marketing boost, especially since the consumer is already predisposed to believe that your products are worth using!
The bottom line is this: everyone benefits in some way from legal sports betting, whether it’s fans, organizations, or even the government. It would be great to see more people get involved in the action and start taking advantage of the opportunities that exist. The more participants, the more lucrative the market can become, which will benefit everyone.