Half a trillion dollars wagered — and counting
With A-level celebrities hawking sports betting websites, it’s easy to forget that one could go to jail for running such gambling operations less than a decade ago. Until 2018, laying down a (legal) bet on a basketball game or other sports event usually required a trip to Nevada. Aside from some niche exceptions, no other U.S. operators could legally take sports bets — online or in person.
The Supreme Court changed all that by striking down a law that prevented states from authorizing and regulating sports gambling. Since 2018, 38 states have rolled out legal sports betting either online, in retail establishments like casinos, or both….