Even though the United States is gradually introducing licensed online sports betting in the majority of its states, there appears to be a sizable sector of the population that is still engaging in illegal online gambling. During the initial three months of the NFL season, an estimated 201 million individuals visited illicit wagering sites in the United States.
Sports betting is permitted in 37 states, with Vermont being the most recent addition. There are additional states that have yet to deliberate on the issue. As a result, interested gamers in these regions are being forced to employ the cross-border method, leading to a surge in activities related to online sports betting USA. In this regard, a conference was called at the National Council of Legislators of the gaming states’ winter convention in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
In spite of a repetition of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), legalized sports wagering is present in most states in the US. Yet, unlawful cross-border online gambling options are still rampant. This is a betting haven for gamers who do not have legalized facilities.
In 2023, retail and online betting in the United States surpassed the $100 billion mark. It was also discovered that 201 million gamblers linked with illegal gambling sites throughout the first three months of the NFL. While the NFL and college football seasons are underway, bettors are looking for alternative ways to wager.
Lindsay Slader, senior vice president of compliance at GeoComply, reports that some Georgian bookmakers were able to successfully lay their wagers during the recently concluded College Football Playoff semifinal games.
The most popular cross-border gambling site in the United States was Bovada.lv, which had 35 million bettors connect with it in September, rising to more than 40 million in October and November. MyBookie and BetOnline were the most popular, with 50 million and 20 million connections. According to Slader, the NFL season appeared to have led the list with 202 million connects; legalized betting is offered in little more than 30 states in the United States, with a few online casino and poker activities thrown in for good measure.
The panel was asked why Bovada is operating freely in several states and even putting out major promotional efforts, with their applications available at application retailers. That, according to Slader, is an issue that advertisers must solve.
Bettors in states where online gaming is illegal are reaching out to states where it is legal. According to GeoComply, 1.5 million bettors attempted to connect with licensed sites in Georgia since the start of the NFL season. In Nebraska, 1.7 million bettors were trying to connect.
In Oklahoma, there were almost 380,000 attempts from 400,000 individual individuals. The same is true in Canada, with Quebec gamblers attempting to link with the Ontario online wagering space.
According to Slader, the illegal sites deceive the public by creating a false sense of security that is far from the truth. It appears to be a continuous issue, and one must also consider the lost opportunity to generate additional cash through online wagering.
