A new examine reveals that unregulated on-line playing platforms captured the majority of the $90.1 billion U.S. on-line gaming market in 2024, outpacing development within the licensed sector. Based on the USA Nationwide 2024 report from Yield Sec, commissioned by the Marketing campaign for Fairer Playing (CFG), illicit playing operators accounted for 74% of complete on-line income — roughly $67.1 billion — marking a 64% surge year-over-year.
In distinction, authorized operators noticed a 36% enhance in income throughout the identical interval. Regardless of regulatory developments and the launch of iGaming in extra jurisdictions akin to Rhode Island, unlawful playing continues to increase extra quickly and broadly.
Widespread publicity and client engagement:
The examine highlights that 88% of American web customers encounter unlawful playing content material throughout a variety of digital channels, together with engines like google, social media, streaming platforms, and cellular apps. This publicity has translated into excessive engagement and retention, with unlawful platforms providing broader product choices and aggressive promotions that usually outcompete authorized options.
Yield Sec discovered that associates pushing unlawful websites vastly outnumber these selling licensed manufacturers — by a ratio of six to 1. Of the operators reviewed, 917 have been unlawful, whereas solely 95 have been authorized, additional amplifying their visibility and attain.
Massive-scale occasions such because the Tremendous Bowl, March Insanity, and worldwide competitions like Copa America and the Olympics served as gateways for attracting new gamers. These occasions have been utilized by illicit operators to funnel customers into on line casino video games and different high-yield choices. Unlawful platforms additionally present betting on prediction markets, together with elections and tariffs — merchandise usually unavailable via regulated channels.
“Illegals function all merchandise in all states, together with on line casino and standard predictor marketplaces which illegals have hijacked to function occasions akin to election and tariffs betting alongside sports activities and financials,” the report defined.
Trade voices name for broader accountability:
CFG founder Derek Webb was sharply crucial of how authorized playing has been promoted with out addressing the underlying unlawful market. “US legalization of web playing with no gameplan to sort out the unlawful sector has been an unmitigated catastrophe. In California, the place on-line playing is unlawful, the entire inhabitants loss per capita for 2024 is $141. Compared with New Jersey, the place on-line sports activities and on line casino playing are authorized, the unlawful loss per capita on sports activities is $103 and on on line casino is $169, being a complete of $272, almost twice as a lot as in California,” Webb acknowledged within the official press launch.
He continued, “Any pundit, commentator, legislator, regulator, lawyer or lobbyist promoting legalization alone as a treatment for unlawful on-line playing needs to be ashamed.”
Ismail Vali, Founder and CEO of Yield Sec, emphasised that fixing the issue goes past regulation alone: “Let’s not pin this on playing regulators alone. Their job is to oversee the licensed business, to not chase criminals who by no means utilized for a license. Unlawful playing is everybody’s drawback – operators, regulation enforcement, media firms, social platforms, and governments all have a task to play.”
He added, “At Yield Sec, we present each authorized stakeholder tips on how to establish, expose, and take away crime from {the marketplace} – as a result of till that occurs, it’s your cash that’s being stolen. For America in 2025, it’s time to kick crime out of on-line playing.”
The Marketing campaign for Fairer Playing is urging lawmakers, business leaders, and enforcement businesses to behave swiftly to include the unchecked rise of unregulated playing. The report warns that 2025 may grow to be a tipping level for the market if coordinated efforts are usually not undertaken to dismantle illicit operations.
