# data[].attributes.headline
Has sports gambling in the United States caused states more harm than good?

# data[].attributes.subject
Has sports gambling in the United States caused states more harm than good?

# data[].attributes.body
Since the removal of PAPSA (2018), stages have wagered over $300 Billion dollars and counting.

This has lead to an average of $400 Million in tax revenue since the removal.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The nationwide sports betting handle post-PAPSA surpassed $300 billion on Tuesday.

States cashed in on more than $2 billion in tax revenue in the last five years.

Illinois' record $1.38 billion handle for November pushed the all-time handle past the milestone.

FanDuel received more than $500 million in mobile bets but suffered a low 4.5% hold.

CHICAGO - As of Tuesday, Americans bet more than $300 billion on sports since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned PAPSA, the federal ban on sports betting.

The post-PAPSA era began in 2018 and now there are 38 states with legal sports betting contributing to the nationwide handle. In addition to the handle record, states also surpassed the $2 billion milestone for tax revenue post-PAPSA.

Illinois' sports betting revenue report for November pushed the US total bet on sports past the $300 billion milestone. Bettors in the Prairie State wagered a record $1.38 billion in November on sports.

Illinois Continues Record Handle Streak, FanDuel Hits $500 Million

It's the third month in a row with a record-setting Illinois sports betting handle. September started the streak with a $1.08 billion month, followed by October's former-record handle at $1.16 million.

The Illinois Gaming Board reported a 33.6% increase in November's 2023 handle from last year's month. FanDuel was the most popular betting site for the month, becoming the first Illinois mobile betting app to surpass $500 million in monthly handle.

Despite the record handle, FanDuel's sports betting revenue didn't translate. High bettor success led to a low 4.5% hold, still earning $23.2 million in revenue for November.

Illinois bettors at DraftKings were less successful, leading the operator to the highest November sports betting revenue total with $28.1 million earned. DraftKings held 6.1% of their $463.9 million November handle.

Advertising Disclosure

In order to provide you with the best independent sports betting news and content LegalSportsBetting.com may receive a commission from partners when you make a purchase through a link on our site.

News tags: DraftKings | FanDuel | Illinois | Illinois Gaming Board

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
US Sports Betting Handle Surpassed $300 Billion Post-PAPSA

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The nationwide sports betting handle post-PAPSA surpassed $300 billion on Tuesday. States cashed in on more than $2 billion in tax revenue in the last five years. Illinois' record $1.38 billion handle for November pushed the all-time handle past the milestone. FanDuel received more than $50

# data[].attributes.body
Many sports have seen an increase in viewership since the legalization of sports gambling. The NFL has been seeing a consistent increase in viewership over the years following the removal of PAPSA.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
It's time to get in the game! As more states legalize sports betting across the country, the sports industry has felt its impact in both positive and negative ways. Mobile sports betting is now legal in 28 states, which is up from 18 in January 2022, and has led to a surge of fans betting on sports. Last year, nearly half of American adults placed at least one sports wager, a third of which placed at least one wager per week. These record-setting numbers will only continue to rise as more states legalize sports betting. While this is great news for fan viewership and engagement, it also brings some negative concerns over the integrity of the game and its impact on athletes.

Increase in Viewership/Engagement
Beginning with the positives, sports betting's growing popularity means an additional layer of engagement for both sports teams and leagues. Leagues like the NFL are now leaning into the industry by placing the betting lines on TV for viewers to follow in real time. Networks will even showcase sports betting analysts before the game to educate audiences on the best bets to place. This new approach relies on the idea that when people place a bet, they have a financial stake in the game and are more likely to closely follow it.

The results speak for themselves: NFL viewership has increased every year since the legalization of sports betting. In 2022, the NFL pulled in an average of 17.9M viewers on regular season games, which is a 20% increase from 2017. With more states beginning to legalize sports betting, these numbers will continue to rise. Major League Baseball is another league reaping the benefits. According to Casey Brett, MLB's Vice President of Gaming and New Business Ventures, "sports bettors, compared to the average fan, are 40% more likely to stream, 36% more likely to buy a ticket, and 30% more likely to read an article on MLB.com." For MLB, the positive trend in sports betting translates into increased revenue in the form of ticket sales, subscriptions, and advertising.
Increased Fan Experience
The sports betting surge is also enhancing the fan experience. To meet demand, stadiums have begun incorporating sportsbooks that are connected to the venue for fans to place bets before, during, or after the game. This concept is new in the sports world and is starting to grow. Before sports betting was legalized, fans would go to a game, buy a beer, and watch from their seat. Now fans are able to visit kiosks in the stadium to place bets mid-game, or they can go sit in the sportsbook and watch their bets with other fans.

Millennial fans have long awaited this enhancement, considering back in 2020 over half of this demographic believed on-site sportsbooks would improve the fan experience. The numbers from the Caesars Sportsbook at Capital One Arena support this concept, as the amount of money waged by bettors climbed to $5.7M in August 2022. Because this development is consistently receiving positive feedback from fans, we're likely to see more in-stadium sportsbooks pop up in the future.

Integrity of the Game
While sports betting legalization positively impacts the industry, it does come with some drawbacks-such as its impact on the integrity of the game. We've seen this come to light recently when a number of NFL players were suspended for their involvement in sports gambling. In this 2023 season, ten players were suspended for sports gambling, seven of which suspended indefinitely because they bet on the NFL. These are the dangers that come with the legalization of sports betting. Leagues are now on the lookout for this as they have had to implement stricter measures to prevent players and personnel from trying to fix games and participate in other forms of corruption.

To combat this issue, the NFL is reexamining how they educate players and personnel on their gambling policy. A new directive the NFL established this year increases the education provided to young players entering the league. NFL rookies are now obligated to watch additional training videos from the league compliance, beginning with a message about the "integrity of the game." Putting this in place should provide more information and clarification for the players about the dangers of betting on sports and the consequences involved.
Impact on Athletes
With more people participating in sports gambling and player-specific betting, athletes are now facing more unnecessary scrutiny and hate than ever before. Players have started to speak out about their experiences, some even sharing the hateful messages they've received from fans. This happened in the NBA last season when former Washington Wizard and now Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal was confronted by a disgruntled fan who had just lost a bet. Beal responded by saying that he was just doing his job and that he takes what he does very seriously. Beal then turned and swatted towards the man, knocking off his hat. There was a police investigation, but no charges were filed.

With the increase of people gambling and placing player-specific bets, more of these situations are likely to occur. So far, there have been no regulations or consequences enacted by the NBA or any other leagues when it comes to fans verbally attacking players for their losing bets, but it's something leagues may consider moving forward.

While there's still a need for greater clarity on how to shape regulations, one thing's for sure: sports betting is experiencing rapid growth. By 2030, the industry is projected to be worth $182B. As it expands, its effect on the sports industry will continue to grow alongside it. Its popularity is undeniable; sports betting adds a new dimension to how people engage with the game by maximizing fan experience and deepening fan involvement. On the flip side, it also challenges the game's integrity and can create a toxic dynamic between fans and players. More leagues may tighten regulations in the future to combat these issues, but only time will tell how this new development changes the landscape of the sports industry.
Sources:

1. https://www.forbes.com/sites/willyakowicz/2023/06/15/where-is-sports-betting-legal-america-2022/?sh=989903842444

2. https://www.driveresearch.com/market-research-company-blog/sports-betting-statistics/#:~:text=Just%20under%20half%20of%20all,the%20United%20States%20(53%25)

3. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jacobgrubman/2022/02/11/nfl-ratings-rise-with-expansion-of-legal-sports-betting/?sh=21158f335bc5

4. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/38245548/why-some-players-want-change-nfl-gambling-policy-2023

5. https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2022/11/10/Technology/dealmakers-mlb-sportradar-sports-betting-fanbase-revenue.aspx#:~:text=According%20to%20Brett%2C%20the%20onset,.com%2C%22%20Brett%20said.

6. https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/35979445/bradley-beal-police-investigation-spat-fan

7. https://nvgt.com/blog/on-site-sportsbooks-improve-fan-experience-attendance/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Sports Betting Legalization: What Its Big Impact Means for Sports - Athelo Group

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
It's time to get in the game! As more states legalize sports betting across the country, the sports industry has felt its impact in both positive and negative

# data[].attributes.body
Allowing sports gambling on apps allows people to gamble whenever they want to. At work, school, etc.

An In-Play bet occurs someone bets on a game that has already started. Studies cited show that this has been a problem for impulsive gambling habits.

# data[].attributes.body
In the sports gambling sector of the United States Fanduel has nearly 40% market share. While draft kings has 34%. With nearly 3/4 of the market, these companies essentially operate as a duopoly. While other competitors have begun to enter the space, it is hard to determine how this will impact the market.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
DraftKings Takes Market Share Lead In U.S. Online Gambling

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
New report shows major change in industry’s established pecking order

# data[].attributes.body
One major concern about sports gambling is advertising.

It seems unethical to advertise during games.

Estimates claim that around 1/5 NBA viewers are not of legal age to gamble

Other countries such as Australia have also had issues with advertising to children.