The Story of Sports Betting

5 infographics that tell the story of legal sports wagering in the U.S.

 

Whether you are a casual or die-hard sports fan, it’s difficult to root for your favorite team without encountering sportsbooks ready to take bets on the biggest and smallest outcomes of a game.

 

Since the Supreme Court in 2018 permitted states to allow sports betting, the industry has grown exponentially, drawing multi-billion-dollar revenues each year. Sports books own stadium naming rights, buy ad time on major sports podcasts and have commercial partnerships with sports journalism organizations.

 

Here, we trace the recent history of sports betting in the U.S. in five visualizations.

 

We cover the history of the 2018 Supreme Court case, the growth of sports betting at the state level, state tax revenues from sports betting, revenues from other so-called “sin” taxes, and integrity concerns that news outlets are increasingly covering.