Rise of Sports Betting in US States Follows 2018 Supreme Court Decision

The expansion of sports betting in the United States began with a 2018 Supreme Court decision. In Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, the Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), a 1992 federal law that had restricted sports betting to Nevada and a few other locations.

PASPA had prohibited states from authorizing sports betting schemes, but the ruling shifted authority to the states. Following the decision, states moved quickly to legalize sports betting. As of recent reports, dozens of states have enacted such laws.

Many of these states allow online sports betting, which has become a potential revenue source.

legalization accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many states faced budget shortfalls and turned to sports betting as a means to generate tax revenue. This approach provided funds without increasing general taxes on residents, a strategy lawmakers have used historically with other forms of commercial gambling. Once legalized, reversing these policies proves difficult.

States become reliant on the steady tax income from betting activities. The introduction of online platforms marks a new phase, differing from previous gambling expansions due to widespread digital access.

betting has integrated into mainstream media and advertising.

Commercials for platforms like DraftKings appear frequently during games. This visibility has normalized betting in sports culture.

Ten years ago, commentators avoided mentioning bets, but current broadcasts routinely include such references. The shift coincides with the broader legalization trend.

opinion pieces, such as one in STAT, have discussed the potential public health implications of increased gambling access, particularly for young men.