Sports betting is a popular form of betting, and is one of the most profitable sources of revenue for the leagues, media, and states. The sport has always been a popular place to place wagers, but it took a back seat to legalized online casinos after the Black Sox scandal. While the Black Sox scandal led to a lot of caution, the advent of new technology has made sports wagering more accessible. It is now possible to make large-scale bets on anything from tournaments to week-long games. With this decision, the doors have been opened wide to those who would like to take advantage of it.
However, the debate over sports gambling continues to rage. In 1992, the federal government banned sports gambling, but a Supreme Court ruling invalidated PASPA on Tenth Amendment grounds. In recent years, the federal government has tried to get involved in sports gambling, but so far, states have been reluctant to pass their own legislation. But some pro-gambling groups are attempting to fight the problem. The state of Georgia is considering legalizing sports betting.
As the popularity of sports betting has grown, the Federal Trade Commission has also begun to crack down on illegal bookmaking. In the 1950s, the federal government cracked down on organized crime and drove the mobsters out of the Nevada casino industry. However, organized crime’s grip on the illegal bookmaking business only deepened. While many states have “independent” bookies, law enforcement officials have acknowledged that there are large numbers of “independent” bookies throughout the United States. These organizations are able to target customers better and continue to hook them into their systems.