In 2018, the US Supreme Court repealed the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA), and five years later, 85% of Americans support this decision, according to the American Gaming Association (AGA). This marks a 22% increase from five years ago. Furthermore, 77% of US adults support sports wagering legalization in their home state, regardless of its current legal status.
The research shows that both land-based and online bettors increasingly use regulated sportsbooks (78% and 77%, respectively), almost double the rate in 2019. However, 29% of US adults are unsure of the legal status of sports betting operators in their states, though this is a 45% improvement since 2018. Consumer education is still needed, as 70% of consumers placing bets with illegal operators mistakenly believed they were using legal sports betting services.
Since the repeal of PASPA, $220 billion has been legally wagered on sports, generating $3 billion in tax revenues. AGA President and CEO Bill Miller emphasized the importance of responsibly expanding the legal market while cracking down on predatory illegal operators. The growing support for legalized sports wagering demonstrates increased awareness of the community benefits resulting from the sports betting industry’s growth.