Why not give people what they want? The consensus is that
most Americans want sports betting to be legalized.
There are several reasons why people enjoy sports
betting. It gives them a thrill and they get a rush every time their favorite
player makes a touchdown, or they get excited as their wager comes to fruition.
In addition, it is fun, and it adds to the game.
For ages, people have been wagering on sports even though
it has been illegal. Think about it. Individuals make bets on their fantasy
football leagues and they make proposition bets on the largest NFL games in
history.
Betting on sports helps take the game to a whole new
level and MORE people get involved too. In fact, you often see people who do
not even watch sports religiously jump in and get excited that they can make a
bet and possibly win money.
Being able to bet on a sport helps increase the challenge
and it makes the entire thing much more exciting for everyone involved. It
helps you feel like you are immersed in the game yourself.
What
States Plan to Legalize It?
Not too long ago, if someone wanted to bet on a sport,
they needed to go to Vegas or somewhere in Nevada. NV had the monopoly share of
sports betting, but this has changed. They no longer monopolize the sports
betting industry, and this has opened the doors for many others.
Delaware was the first state to make the act of sports
betting legal. Other states have followed suit such as New Jersey, West
Virginia, Michigan, Connecticut, and New York.
Now that we are in 2019, there are several predictions
for what states may be next up to legalize sports betting. Michigan and
Illinois are two of the most hopeful states and have both showed interest in
passing bills to make it happen.
Other states such as Massachusetts, Kentucky, Indiana,
Missouri, Tennessee, Virginia, Ohio, Iowa, Oklahoma, and Maryland are predicted
to hop on board in 2019 and work towards legalizing sports betting.
Sports
Betting Increases Revenue for States
Sports betting has been shown to increase tax revenue for
states and legalizing betting in each state could dramatically increase the
revenue that is seen.
The American Gaming Association released reports that
roughly $150 billion is wagered illegally on sports each year alone. This money
would be going into the states’ pockets if it were legalized.
When looking at the numbers, in Nevada, sports betting
revenue made up 2.2% of all casino revenue that the casino took in within a
year’s time. In addition, the total gambling revenue netted about $15 million
in state taxes alone in Nevada.
Sports
Gambling and Betting Could Be a Reality Soon
With so much potential and so many supporters, it is
unheard of as to why sports betting is not yet legalized. As more states start
to adopt a positive outlook on it and see how much revenue can be made, they
may start to jump on board. 2019 will be a good year for sports betting!
