Expansion of questionable gambling activities in the United States questioned due to Yield Sec study results
In a groundbreaking survey, Yield Sec, a leading data analytics company, has unveiled shocking findings about the state of online gambling in the United States. The survey's results, covered by major publications such as Forbes and Bloomberg, paint a picture of a largely unregulated market, with illegal activities accounting for a significant portion of the total revenue.
According to Yield Sec, approximately 74% of the total US online gambling market, amounting to around $67.1 billion out of a $90.1 billion market in 2024, is illegal. This rapid expansion of the illegal sector, which grew by 64% year-on-year, has raised concerns among tribal groups and state authorities, who are pushing for stronger enforcement measures.
The illegal market includes a wide range of operations such as offshore betting sites, sweepstakes casinos, and prediction markets. Yield Sec, using a patented data tracking methodology originally developed for counter-terrorism purposes, has been able to monitor these activities in real time, giving them confidence in the accuracy of their estimates compared to mainstream firms relying on less direct data.
The survey also revealed that there are a significant number of illegal gambling operators, though an exact number is not explicitly stated. This has prompted calls for more decisive action to address these unregulated operators, as they pose a threat to licensed tribal and state gambling revenues.
Yield Sec's Founder and CEO, Ismail Vali, argues that the problem of illegal gambling is not limited to regulators alone. He insists that until crime is removed from online gambling, it's the public's money that's being stolen. The illegal gambling websites are found in search engines, social media, streaming, and apps, making it difficult for consumers to distinguish between legal and illegal platforms.
The survey challenges everything we know about the legal and illegal online gambling market in the US. It suggests that a large portion of online gambling in the US is illegal, with 88% of all US online audiences being exposed to illegal gambling. Moreover, Yield Sec's data shows that there are more affiliates promoting illegal online gambling than those promoting legal brands, further fuelling the growth of the illegal sector.
In response to these findings, Yield Sec's mission is to show legal stakeholders how to identify, expose, and remove crime from the marketplace. The survey's results have sparked a much-needed conversation about the need for stricter regulations and enforcement in the online gambling industry to protect consumers and ensure fair play.
Casinos and gambling games, such as those found in sweepstakes casinos and offshore betting sites, contribute significantly to the growing illegal online gambling market in the US. The surge in illegal activities, accounting for approximately 74% of the total online gambling market, is raising concerns among authorities and tribal groups.
