Sports betting has long been recognized as a way to increase the excitement of watching a game
Because they are more invested in the games they watch and actively participate in the sports they enjoy the most, fans can empathize with the highs and lows that their favorite teams experience.
One of the many reasons that sports betting has become such a popular pastime for sports fans is that it gives them a sense of being deeply connected to the games they watch and the teams they support. And the added benefit of walking away with some extra cash isn’t a bad thing either.
Punters can enjoy not only the activity of placing bets but also the excitement that comes with it, thanks to the proliferation of sports betting. As a result, many people regard it as an extremely desirable type of gambling.
Because of this, the fact that the behavior is commonplace all over the world and that several nations have made it legal for its practice within their jurisdictions should not come as a surprise to anyone. The United States, on the other hand, has not experienced this phenomenon.
Historically speaking, it has not been possible for citizens of the United States to wager on sporting events, but there are a few notable exceptions to this rule. As a direct consequence of this, they placed a significant amount of their trust in bookmakers located in other countries to take part in sports betting.
As a result of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, which was enacted in 1992, states were prohibited from authorizing gambling on sporting events, which effectively rendered this type of wagering illegal for residents of those states. This limitation is being imposed because the provisions of the law require it to be done so. As a consequence of this, offshore bookmakers and the sportsbooks that they offer seemed to be one of the few options for bettors in the United States who wanted to participate in the activity of sports betting.
All of that changed relatively recently when the Supreme Court issued a single decision that opened the door to the possibility of legalizing sports betting in the United States. Previously, betting on sports was illegal in the United States.
The Procedure That Led to Sports Betting Legalization in the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States overturned the federal government’s prohibition on sports betting in a landmark decision in 2018, giving individual states the authority to determine how they will handle the issue.
This meant that, in addition to Nevada, Delaware, Montana, and Oregon, where sports betting and lotteries were already legal, other states could now come forward and introduce legislation to legalize sports betting in any way they wanted, including through on-premise and online bookmakers. This was due to the perception that Nevada, Delaware, Montana, and Oregon had already legalized the activities.
The state of New Jersey
This State was among the first to offer its residents the opportunity to wager on sporting events. As a result, US-based bookmakers, such as 888 sportsbooks, have been allowed to establish and publicize their sports betting operations in the various states in which they operate.
Which states in the United States have legalized sports betting?
As of the time this article was written, eight states had passed legislation making sports betting legal within their borders. Other states are either debating or have introduced similar legislation.
To provide context, the following states are among the few that have legalized sports betting to date, with Nevada, Delaware, and New Jersey standing out.
Nevada
Although Nevada is not considered the sole ruler of the world of sports betting in the United States, it was the first to pass legislation regulating the industry. It remains a notable state for this medium because it attracts the most people from within the state into the sports betting industry.
Delaware
Delaware is unique among the states in that it was one of the few that already had regulations regarding sports betting in place before other states followed suit. As a consequence of this, it, along with the state of Nevada, continues to be formidable about the regulations and compliance practices that are in place.
One of the states that make up the United States is called New Jersey
Because it was New Jersey’s state government that brought the case to the highest court in the land, the state continues to hold the lead in the movement to legalize sports betting. Within its geographical boundaries, there are several brick-and-mortar bookmakers in addition to online bookmakers that are in operation.
In addition to these states, the only others that let residents place bets on sporting events are Mississippi, West Virginia, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island.
About gambling in sports, what does this mean for the gaming industry as a whole?
The current climate makes it possible for a greater number of bookmakers with operations in the United States to provide services for sports betting both on-site and online. This is true for all casinos and other types of bookmakers, from those with hundreds of employees to those with just a few. Punters now have access to a greater variety of betting options, which enables them to take advantage of the sportsbooks’ improved services and more appealing betting options.
While the licensing requirements for bookmakers to operate sportsbooks have been loosened up in some states, other states have maintained a stricter stance on the matter. Bookmakers can now obtain a sports betting license in several states in a relatively straightforward manner. Anyone who appreciates sports and wishes to get the most out of their experience by taking part in general sports betting will discover that the outcome, regardless of the path that was taken to get there, is extremely favorable. This is true irrespective of the methods that were used to get there.
It would appear that betting on sports in the United States does have a promising future after all, as additional states are making plans to get in on the action.
