GeoComply Advocates for the Expansion of Online Sports Betting in the United States
New data from a study by GeoComply suggests that seven states in the U.S. could benefit from legalizing online sports betting. Lawmakers in these states need to consider the economic benefits addressing unmet demand could offer. GeoComply can track the devices that try to access legal sportsbooks with advanced technology. This geolocation data shows a high volume of attempts to access legal sportsbooks from states that aren’t legal.
Turning to unregulated platforms
Regulated sportsbooks that offer online sports betting must comply with strict rules and regulations to protect consumers. In states that don’t have legal sports betting, sports bettors may turn to unregulated sportsbooks. In some cases, this is unwitting as these states may appear to be legitimate. Bettors who do online searches to find sportsbooks may end up on unregulated platforms. These platforms lack consumer protection and bettors may be at risk of fraud or exploitation.
What legal sportsbooks offer
Legal sportsbooks are beneficial for states and sports bettors who reside in them. They offer secure online sports betting and follow responsible gaming practices. Sports bettors can place a range of sports bets and make use of bonuses to make their bankrolls go further. Deposits and withdrawals are safe and secure.
Which states could act first?
Nebraska
Nebraska is one of the seven states mentioned by GeoComply. It has land-based sports betting but no online sports betting. Many potential sports bettors in the state would benefit from legalizing online sports betting.
South Carolina
South Carolina, another state mentioned by GeoComply, shows how the demand for online sports betting can increase when a neighboring state legalizes it. North Carolina introduced online sports betting in 2024 and by November, online sports betting brought in total revenue of over $657 million for the month.
After legalization in North Carolina, the active attempts to access online sports betting from residents in South Carolina grew. GeoComply tracked over 7.7 million checks from nearly 365,000 accounts.
Senior advisor for GeoComply, John Pappas, says he has no idea which state will be next to legalize online sports betting. It’s likely that Nebraska, South Carolina, and Georgia will soon start discussing bills. Georgia has been discussing legalization for a while but it hasn’t been a smooth ride.
Other states mentioned by GeoComply that could benefit from regulated sports betting are Alabama, Texas, Mississippi, and Minnesota. GeoComply recorded 4.5 million checks in Texas from more than 333,400 accounts. Despite various bills to expand gambling, some obstacles remain in Texas.
A good economic opportunity
Gaming revenue stats show that November 2024 was a good month for land-based and online sportsbooks, which generated revenue of over $1.65 billion.
The tax revenue states generate from legalizing online sportsbooks can boost their economies and support essential public services. In the NFL season and at major sporting events like the Super Bowl, betting activity grows year-on-year. States that legalize sports betting could capitalize on this growth.