In 2018, however, the Supreme Court overturned the PASPA by a 6-3 vote, and now more than 20 states allow some form of legal sports betting, reported.
Only Nevada had an extensive gambling infrastructure in place so it was effectively the only place that allowed sports betting. Going back to 1993, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act banned sports wagering in all states except Delaware, Montana, Nevada and Oregon. See the List: Most Successful Athlete From Every Decade Americans were betting $150 billion on sports every year when it was illegal outside of Nevada, the American Gaming Association reported. The History of GamblingĪs professional and college sports have surged in popularity in the United States, legal (and illegal) betting has risen, too. In 2019, Nevada alone handled a total of $5.32 billion in sports bets, reported. From those humble beginnings, sports gambling has grown into a gigantic industry. Go back all the way to gladiators battling and chariots racing in the Coliseum, and Romans placing wagers on who would emerge victorious. Read More: How Rich are Michael Jordan, Alex Rodriguez And 13 More Incredibly Wealthy Retired Athletes?
See the List: The Richest Athletes in the World As long as games have taken place, someone has wanted a little action on who will win. Sports gambling has always been a huge industry in the United States.
