Increased federal gambling regulation remains a significant potential obstacle for the industry as well as an untapped resource, multiple gaming figures reaffirmed Tuesday., particularly around advertising. This could then indirectly funnel money back to unregulated markets and diminish the legal market stakeholders have spent the better part of a decade – and billions of dollars – developing.
Gaming regulators, operators, and the industry largely supported the state-level implementation of gambling that began nearly a century ago with the legalization of casino gambling in Nevada. That has carried over to the rapid expansion of regulated sports betting in roughly 40 U.S. jurisdictions since the Supreme Court struck down the federal wagering ban six years ago.
Existing federal regulations already stifle intervention, Dayanim said. Decades-old background check policies and other security measures already dissuade major companies such as Amazon from exploring gaming involvement as they look to avoid increased public scrutiny. Sports betting’s rapid growth has drawn increased public and legislative attention nationwide, particularly around advertising. The language around “risk-free” bets, and even the sheer number of ads, have amplified interest in federal action.