We have seen a huge shift in the way sports betting is perceived and allowed in the USA over the past couple of years.
No longer is Nevada the mecca for punters, we now have 14 states that legally allow gambling to take place inside their boundaries. But what about the future, and how long until we see the USA become the biggest sports betting market in the world?
Sports Betting Taking Over the US
There are 14 states that legally allow betting as things stand at the beginning of 2020, but don’t expect that number to remain the same for long.
It is expected that it could go over 20 by the time we get to the end of 2020, and 2021 will more than likely see an increase of a similar number.
One of the next to come on board could be Washington DC, who have all the required legislation in place.
That would put us in a position where more states will have legal sports betting than those which don’t offer it. Who would have thought that was possible a decade ago?
The biggest step for the country as a whole was the first few states making the jump and allowing betting to take place. Now we are seeing more people come around to the idea, and that means less resistance to bills and legislation being passed.
The UK Betting Market Having Huge Influence in the US
One of the biggest moves we have seen so far has been the number of UK bookmakers that are targeting the US market. These have vast experience, and they know from the UK what players want.
This has gone down really well, with a number of companies opening headquarters in the US, and applying for licenses in a number of different states.
These bookmakers know how to attract attention and customers, they have been doing it for years in the UK. Many bookmakers offer a free bet for new customers when they sign up, followed by further offers that can be used while betting.
This is all about standing out from the crowd, attracting business and keeping people happy. Experience is key in the betting world, and UK bookmakers are using that to their advantage.
What Will Sports Betting Look Like in Five Years?
This is when the boom will really happen. The majority of states will allow sports betting, and people will be accustomed to it, seeing it as a regular pastime and part of their life.
It is at this moment that the USA will be the biggest betting market in the world, with huge numbers of customers for each bookmaker and millions of bets placed on a daily basis.
You only have to look at how well the UK bookmakers have done in what is a small island to see the possibilities with a play as big as the USA.
They already appreciate just how big this could be, which is why so many of them are keen on a place in the market, and you can’t blame them for that.
What Will Happen to Vegas?
For many years, Las Vegas has been the gambling capital of the world, and certainly a place where people from the USA head to bet.
There is no doubt that widespread legal betting will detract from that, and make the Las Vegas strip a far less attractive destination for gamblers.
Instead they can stay at home, or even go elsewhere to another state that accepts betting, and Vegas will have to make a move to counter that.
They can no longer rely on being the only place to gamble and will have to come up with something new to attract business to the area.