$150B Spent Annually on Illegal Sports Betting

An estimated $150 billion is spent each year by Americans on illegal sports betting.[1]

Such wagers were illegal because of a 1992 law, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. That law made it illegal for states to authorize gambling on sports. However, the U.S. Supreme Court recently declared that law unconstitutional in Murphy v. NCAA.

This ruling might have a significant impact on sports leagues and fan interest. However, there are larger issues at stake. The Court ruling was based on the fact that the federal government does not have the authority to prevent state legislatures from legalizing sports gambling. It could set a precedent for returning more power to the states and placing further limits on the federal government. 

The New York Times, "Supreme Court Ruling Favors Sports Betting," May 14, 2018​

​​Each weekday, Scott Rasmussen’s Number of the Day explores interesting and newsworthy topics at the intersection of culture, politics, and technology. Columns published on Ballotpedia reflect the views of the author.​

Scott Rasmussen is founder and president of the Rasmussen Media Group. He is the author of "Mad as Hell: How the Tea Party Movement Is Fundamentally Remaking Our Two-Party System," "In Search of Self-Governance," and "The People’s Money: How Voters Will Balance the Budget and Eliminate the Federal Debt." Read more reports from Scott Rasmussen — Click Here Now.