Record-Breaking $30 Billion in Legal Bets Expected for 2025 NFL Season

With the NFL season upon us, sportsbooks are gearing up for their largest chance of the year to attract fresh customers and boost their betting pools.

Forecasts from the American Gaming Association predict that Americans will place legal wagers amounting to an unprecedented $30 billion during this NFL season, marking an 8.5% rise from the previous year.

Dominant entities in the industry, such as FanDuel, are encountering rising competition from other emerging platforms. Additional companies are aiming to dive into the market, with innovative collaborations, like one with Kalshi, aiming to expand offerings.

Despite the growth, the most significant menace for these companies is the existence of offshore, illegal sportsbooks, including Bovada, MyBookie, and BetOnline.

Efforts to combat these unlawful operations are gaining momentum.

Recently, the Los Angeles city attorney initiated a civil case against Stake.us, an online sweepstakes casino operator, along with 20 affiliated businesses. This substantial lawsuit accuses them of conducting illegal betting activities and seeks the cessation of these operations along with the reimbursement of players’ losses.

Earlier this month, a collective letter from 50 state attorneys general was sent to the Justice Department, urging increased federal action and enforcement against unlawful gambling entities, as states are potentially missing out on around $4 billion in tax revenues.

Insights from GeoComply, a geolocation tracking firm, reveal that states taking assertive action against illegal offshore sportsbooks experience a 10% higher growth in active players annually and see 38% more new player sign-ups during August.