As pleasure builds across the NFL playoffs, followers in states the place on-line sports activities betting stays unlawful are more and more in search of methods to position authorized wagers. The demand for regulated sports activities betting in these unregulated states has by no means been extra evident. Information from GeoComply, an organization specializing in geolocation know-how, has make clear the in depth and untapped potential for authorized sports activities betting in seven states—Texas, Nebraska, Alabama, Georgia, Minnesota, South Carolina, and Mississippi—at present with out authorized on-line sports activities betting. With state legislative periods in 2025 simply across the nook, the time is ripe for lawmakers to contemplate the numerous advantages of legalizing sports activities betting.
GeoComply revealed in a press launch that by its proprietary PinPoint know-how, it has tracked greater than 33 million geolocation requests from residents in these states between September 2024 and January 2025, underscoring the excessive demand for regulated sports activities betting. Mississippi, which already gives retail sports activities betting however not on-line wagering, led the cost with practically 10 million check-ins, adopted by South Carolina with 7.7 million and Texas with 4.5 million. These numbers replicate a considerable improve in lively accounts, signaling a rising curiosity in legalized sports activities betting choices.
The year-over-year development in account registrations is especially noteworthy. South Carolina noticed an astounding 437% improve in lively accounts, pushed by the launch of cellular sports activities betting in neighboring North Carolina. This improve serves as a transparent indication of how neighboring states’ legalizations affect client habits. Different states, together with Alabama and Georgia, additionally noticed greater than double the variety of lively accounts from the earlier 12 months.
Cross-Border Betting Conduct: The “Busiest Cornfield in Iowa”
A very intriguing development highlighted by GeoComply is the numerous cross-border betting exercise from states like Nebraska. Residents of Omaha regularly journey to Iowa, the place sports activities betting is authorized, to position wagers. This phenomenon, humorously dubbed “The Busiest Cornfield in Iowa,” displays the will of Nebraska residents for a regulated sports activities betting choice. The geolocation information from this rural space, simply over the state line from Iowa, recorded greater than 326,000 check-ins, displaying the amount of bettors prepared to cross state strains to position authorized wagers.
Related cross-border exercise has been noticed in different components of the nation. In locations like New York and Kentucky, lawmakers have acted to handle the rising lack of tax income from residents crossing state strains to position bets. These examples additional illustrate the clear demand for authorized sports activities betting and the financial advantages that may be realized by states that legalize it.
The Financial and Client Safety Advantages of Authorized Sports activities Betting
Past assembly the demand for authorized sports activities betting, GeoComply’s information additionally emphasizes the significance of client safety and the financial potential of a regulated market. At the moment, residents in unregulated states are sometimes pressured to hunt out unlawful sportsbooks, which carry the dangers of fraud and exploitation. GeoComply’s analysis means that, with out regulation, these shoppers are susceptible to unscrupulous operators. Legalizing sports activities betting wouldn’t solely provide shoppers a safer, safer platform for putting bets but additionally present instruments for accountable gaming, fraud prevention, and general client safety.
Along with defending shoppers, authorized sports activities betting is a serious income driver for states. GeoComply factors to the greater than $7.1 billion in tax income that has been generated by authorized sports activities betting since 2018. With most of the states in query probably seeing comparable outcomes, the legalization of sports activities betting would offer a big enhance to state revenues. Texas, for instance, may see greater than $300 million in tax income by the third 12 months of legalization, primarily based on a minimal 15% tax fee. A number of states, together with Minnesota, Alabama, and Texas, are already contemplating sports activities betting laws or are anticipated to take action within the coming months.
