PUBLIC POLICY
The case for legalized gambling: how legal, regulated sports betting benefits society
T he legalized sports betting industry is proliferating in the U.S. and shows no signs of slowing down. 35 states and Washington D.C. have launched legal, regulated sports betting markets 1 , and an additional three states have passed legislation to legalize and regulate sports betting, although these markets are not yet operational. While the expansion of the legal sports betting industry is a significant boon to the industry, this upswing in growth also brings about substantial benefits to consumers and communities at large. The proliferation of legal sports betting across the United States makes a compelling case for how its
legalization contributes positively to the well-being of both bettors and society.
Visibility and protection The rise in legal sports betting is an essential check to the longstanding alternative to consumers: the illegal betting market. Sports betting has been a widespread activity since long before the Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018, opening the door to legal sports betting throughout the country. Before
1 https://www.americangaming.org/research/state-gaming-map/
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IMGL MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2024
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