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This topsy-turvy world
Sharon Harris looks at the battle between the regulated “good guys” who operated legally, and the unsavory characters operating in backrooms or in foreign locations.
legalized within the past 15 years. Punishments for violators are more severe, and financing is tougher. Favorable legislation and opportunities enhance consumers’ confidence they will honestly get paid when they win.
Currently, 38 states and D.C. now offer legal sports betting. Technology is responsible for the changing gaming landscape as legislation has often followed the introduction of dozens of advancements with positive results.
In mid-February, the American Gaming Association (AGA) held its annual State of the Industry webinar. President Bill Miller reported some great news. Total commercial land-based, iGaming and sports betting revenues reached $71.92 billion in 2024, up 7.5 percent over 2023, which was already a record year.
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t is amazing what can actually happen by following the law and eliminating illegal activity. I know… it sounds ridiculous and obvious, but in this topsy-turvy world where bizarre events are celebrated and common sense is often rejected, it’s not a given. The gaming industry has confronted illegal actions for decades, starting when the first slot machine rolled off a basic assembly line more than a century ago. After that came illegal poker games.
That began a battle between the regulated “good guys” who operated legally and the unsavory characters operating in backrooms or in foreign locations. I was involved for
14 MARCH 2025
many years with the efforts to legalize video poker games in licensed liquor locations in Pennsylvania. We failed to make it happen. In late 1997, I attended a conference in Washington D.C. that focused on pervasive offshore illegal gambling. Speakers included federal employees and FBI personnel. There was a guy in the audience awaiting sentencing for illegally operating in some Caribbean country. He ultimately did go to prison for a time.
While illegal gambling reached a record high decades ago, the scope and infiltration into the mainstream has definitely declined since online gaming and sports betting were
The report excluded Arizona’s numbers from November and December, plus tribal figures. The National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) will report its totals later this year. Predictions for U.S. gaming revenue approach up to $115 billion. Miller proudly explained, “Even as we’ve achieved this success, we’ve overcome significant challenges – from combating illegal offshore operators to taking on new actors who seek to circumvent foundational gaming laws. What encourages me most is how we’ve tackled these challenges as an industry: united and focused on our unwavering commitment to enter every market through the front door, doing business the right way with transparency and strong regulatory oversight.”
One area of continued concern, regarding sports betting and iGaming, is “guaranteeing” that only legal, eligible individuals may gamble. That means eliminating players who are trying to bet
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