Everything You Need to Know About Betting On Sports in the United States

By  //  November 22, 2018

Sports betting generates several billion dollars per annum in terms of revenue and it is known to be a very profitable industry with a rich history. As per experts, sports betting has been existent since historic times with wagering initially being carried out on events such as canoe and chariot racing.

Sports betting generates several billion dollars per annum in terms of revenue and it is known to be a very profitable industry with a rich history. As per experts, sports betting has been existent since historic times with wagering initially being carried out on events such as canoe and chariot racing.

Despite being practiced from time immemorial, the activity of betting on sports has been banned for a large period in the United States. However, this has changed, with five states completely permitting it.

According to experts, by 2019 a minimum of twelve more states are legalizing it and further eight could allow for operational books for sports to take up bets before the commencement of the football season in 2019. Rhode Island and Pennsylvania are already in the process to set up operations for live betting, while New Mexico has opened a tribal casino with a sports book.

The restriction on gambling

It might be quite interesting to note that sports betting was present in the U.S. even prior to the independence of the States. Strangely, the first state which enacted laws against gambling was California. Initially, the laws that were present were not very strong and only dealt with particular games.

Eventually, it made the regulations against gambling more robust and stringent and all kinds of wagering which involved a bookmaker and a bettor was banned.

This did not imply that betting was illegal per se, as the tradition of betting continued among the folk, however, this was done in a pari-mutuel manner. By 1891 there was a ban in all states in the US.

The enactment of Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA)

Over time, there was a revamping of laws pertaining to gambling and the government permitted gambling in casinos however its perception on sports betting did not alter by much. According to the various sports authorities also were of the impression that betting in sports would lead to a loss of integrity in the sporting community.

In 1992, the PASPA was enacted and as per this legislation, betting in sporting activities was banned in all states in the US. The government, however, did provide a period of a year to contemplate on whether they desired to permit sports betting in the confines of their territory and the first state to come forward to claim for an elaborate array of betting choices was Nevada.

Many other states did come forward as well for the approval of some types of gambling, however, their requirements were not as comprehensive.

It might be quite interesting to note that sports betting was present in the U.S. even prior to the independence of the States. Strangely, the first state which enacted laws against gambling was California. Initially, the laws that were present were not very strong and only dealt with particular games.

The change in the law and the future ahead

May 2018 saw the abolishment of the PASPA by the Supreme Court which further entailed that states have the option to choose as to whether they desired to permit sports betting within the confines of their territory or not.

After the overruling of this statue, the first state to permit online sportsbooks and wagering shops was New Jersey.

Mississipi and West Virginia were next to follow suit and they allowed wagering in sports in August and September of 2018 respectively. Access the best sport betting sites available in the US here, with the assurance of the most favorable odds, a wide array of options of sports to bet on and the best customer service.

The Supreme Court ruling is a big victory in sports betting and in five states, wagering in sports is legal for all types of sports. According to experts, in a period of two years, it is highly likely that this number will increase to 24 states.

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