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As 2025 legislative sessions kick off, efforts to make sports betting legal in key states are picking up steam.
GeoComply’s Findings Show How Neighboring States Impact Sports Betting Demand
New numbers from GeoComply show big demand in areas without regulations, like Texas, Nebraska, Alabama, and South Carolina. This sheds light on how setting up a regulated market could benefit the economy and consumers.
GeoComply’s study shows that people want to bet on sports even in places where it is not legal. Take Nebraska as an example. Thousands of people there cross over to Iowa to place their bets. During the 2024 NFL season, this led to more than 326,000 location checks and almost 2,800 active betting accounts. This goes to show how far people will go to bet in regulated markets. Something similar happened in South Carolina. When North Carolina started allowing mobile sports betting in 2024, South Carolina saw a big jump in activity. This shows how making betting legal in one state can affect its neighbors.
Those in favor of sports betting say making it legal does not just help the economy, but also keeps bettors safe. In Texas, people bet about $6 billion every year. Groups like the Texas Sports Betting Alliance think this money could boost the state’s economy if betting was allowed. They believe legal sports betting in Texas might bring in $360 million each year in taxes. This cash could help pay for schools and roads.
Texas Advocates for Regulation to Protect Consumers and Boost the Economy
Illegal betting puts people at risk since many end up using shady websites that pretend to be real betting companies. Those who support regulations say sports betting legalization would fix these problems by setting up safe and clear betting sites, while also giving tools to help people bet in a responsible way. With no rules in place, people who bet can be taken advantage of.
Texas, with its huge market potential, leads the national debate. A bill passed the state’s House in the last legislative session, but it did not move forward in the Senate because Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick opposed it. Yet more public pressure and good economic predictions make supporters hopeful. Studies show that legal sports betting could boost the state’s economy by $2.6 billion each year making a strong case to take action.
GeoComply’s data shows how much people want to bet on sports during big games like the NFL playoffs. This highlights the need to address this demand. States that allow sports betting are seeing the benefits. Those without regulations risk losing money and leaving people open to illegal betting. As lawmakers meet, the talk about sports betting gives states a chance to make money and protect people better.
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