AGA survey suggests more than half of US bettors participate in illegal market
Washington-based body calls for greater consumer clarity on legal sector with offshore wagering having increased during lockdown
The American Gaming Association (AGA) has called for greater consumer clarity on legal betting operators in the US after 52% of consumers revealed they had bet illegally.
According to an AGA survey carried out between December and January 2020, 52% of the 3,451-person sample said they had bet via the illegal market.
More than half (55%) believed they were betting legally, while 84% of that segment were surprised to learn they were engaging in black market activity.
Just under half of participants (48%) said they would change their behavior after realizing they were using illegal products.
Source: AGA
The top reason for shifting to legal betting was confidence in receiving winnings at 25%, with up to 20% of bettors preferring regulated sites for their igaming offering.
Up to 97% of potential gamblers surveyed said they would support legal betting in their state with 96% of regular gamblers agreeing.
The AGA said it is actively collaborating with federal and state law enforcers to “enhance the collective understanding of the illegal marketplace.”
The body is also engaging publishers to ensure media platforms do not promote the illegal marketplace and educating the public about the dangers associated with offshore operators.
AGA president and CEO Bill Miller said: “Illegal, offshore operators continue to take advantage of unknowing consumers.
“This only worsened during the sports shutdown, with unregulated bookmakers offering odds on everything from the weather and shark migration patterns to whether your friends’ marriage will survive the pandemic,” he added.
The survey was carried out by Heart + Mind Strategies on behalf of the AGA.