In 1992, PASPA made single-game sports wagering illegal in all states but Nevada.
California is just one of several states pursuing sports betting legislation, according to the AGA. Now that the gates are open, states are pushing harder than ever to open sports books on their own turf. “Our current sports betting laws are so out of touch with reality that we’re turning tens of millions of Americans into criminals for the simple act of enjoying college basketball,” Freeman said. Just 3 percent of the roughly $10 billion wagered in March Madness 2018 was placed legally, AGA speculates.ĪGA President and CEO Geoff Freeman said in a March statement that PASPA has played a key role in fostering the illegal sports betting market. The American Gaming Association (AGA) estimates that Americans illegally bet about $150 billion on sports annually.
