These operators tend to be online sportsbooks based in other countries.įor state governments across the country, this isn't just a legal problem.

had legalized sports betting in some form, either online, in-person, or both.īut the report also found 49% of sports bettors have placed at least one bet with an illegal operator over the past year - 15% did so for all their bets - and estimated these operators account for nearly 40% of the US sports betting market. Illicit sports betting - and illegal gambling more broadly - is costing states millions in tax revenue, and someday, taxpayers could be called upon to foot part of the bill.Īmericans are projected to place $100 billion in legal sports bets this year through platforms like DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM, according to a November American Gaming Association report, which included a September survey of over 5,200 US adults.

Millions of Americans placed bets on the World Cup over the past month, but many likely did so illegally.

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Is betting illegal in us