US bettors legally wager a record $13B in sports in 2019, nearly double prior year's handle

With all states reporting their December numbers, the US first full year of expanded legal sports betting is now in the books, showing a positive expansion of the vertical outside Nevada. With the addition of the December figures, Americans legally wagered a record $13 billion in sports in 2019 – nearly double 2018’s $6.6 billion handle – generating $118 million in state and local tax revenue, according to the American Gaming Association (AGA).

Since PASPA’s overturn in May 2018, bettors have wagered more than $17 billion nationwide, translating to $1.2 billion in sportsbook revenue, as well as $152 million in tax revenue to state and local governments.

With a total of 14 states now offering legal sports betting, 59 percent of money wagered in 2019 was bet outside of Nevada. In new (non-Nevada) markets, bettors wagered 7 out of every 10 dollars online. The expansion of sports betting has not come at the expense of Nevada, however, as the Silver State posted a handle of $5.3 billion last year, an annual record of its own.

Handles by state in 2019 (handle from New York and tribal casinos in Mississippi, New Mexico, and Oregon is not publicly reported):

•     Arkansas: $11 million
•     Delaware: $103 million
•     Indiana: $436 million
•     Iowa: $212 million
•     Mississippi: $369 million*
•     Nevada: $5.3 billion
•     New Hampshire: Sports betting launched 12/30/2019
•     New Jersey: $4.6 billion
•     New Mexico: N/A
•     New York: N/A
•     Oregon: $45 million
•     Pennsylvania: $1.5 billion
•     Rhode Island: $246 million
•     West Virginia: $226 million 

“With at least six more states, plus DC, set to become operational in 2020, we expect the nationwide handle to continue to rise, as more Americans than ever will finally have an alternative to the dangerous illegal market,” the AGA stated.

The number of states with active sports betting bills (17), as well as regulations for each state with legal sports betting (20 + DC), can be tracked using the AGA’s new interactive sports betting map.