Illegal sports betting falls as licensed options rise

According to research published by the American Gaming Association, players are swapping illegal bookies for licensed online betting.

US.- The American Gaming Association has published a study that shows people are spending less with illegal bookmakers and more on legal online betting options.

According to the figures, average spending with illegal bookies in states that have legalised sports betting fell by 25 per cent last year, while spending on legal online and mobile betting increased 12 per cent.

It noted however that there had been a 3 per cent increase in spending at Illegal operators located offshore.

Bill Miller, AGA president and CEO, said: “We’ve known for a long time that Americans like to bet on sports. This research affirms their interest in moving toward the protections of the legal market.

“Giving consumers convenient alternatives to the illegal market, like regulated mobile offerings and competitive odds, is key for getting bettors to switch to legal channels.”

The survey carried out by the trade association found bettors were opting for legal operators for greater confidence, with 74 per cent of respondents saying it was important to only bet through legal providers. Despite this, 52 per cent of sports bettors still participated in the illegal market in 2019.

The study found that the 55 per cent of consumers who used to bet with illegal operators had believed they were betting legally.

Miller said: “Illegal, offshore operators continue to take advantage of unknowing consumers. This only worsened during the sports shutdown, with unregulated bookmakers offering odds on everything from the weather and shark migration patterns to whether your friends’ marriage will survive the pandemic.

“The AGA is focused on educating customers on how to wager legally and the dangers of the illegal market, especially with the return of the MLB and NBA this month.”