The American Gaming Association (AGA) has released research that suggests US sports bettors are moving away from the illegal market.
Methodologically speaking, it has to be noted the AGA’s research does not have the most widespread sample size, with Heart + Mind Strategies conducing a survey on the association’s behalf of 3,451 interviewees between December 2019 and January 2020.
However, the survey’s results were encouraging for the AGA and the regulated US sports betting market, suggesting average spending with illegal operators fell 25% in states where sports betting has been legalized.
Betting spend was up 12% for legal online and mobile operators, although illegal offshore operators also saw a 3% rise in states with legal sports betting.
The most influential factors for bettors who had shifted from the illegal to legal market were confidence bets will be paid out (25%), awareness of legal options (20%) and a desire to use a regulated book (19%).
AGA president and CEO Bill Miller said: “We’ve known for a long time that Americans like to bet on sports. This research affirms their interest in moving toward the protections of the legal market.
“Giving consumers convenient alternatives to the illegal market, like regulated mobile offerings and competitive odds, is key for getting bettors to switch to legal channels.”
