Illegal Betting Appears as a Big Global Issue

Report Highlights Vast Amounts Wagered Sports Betting

Report Highlights Vast Amounts Wagered on Illegal Sports Betting

By Blake Roberts Founder & Editor in Chief Updated: 08 January 2022

Blake Roberts Founder & Editor in Chief

Blake Roberts is the founder of Betting.US and is currently heading the creative team as Editor in Chief. Born and raised in Morgantown, West Virginia, Blake is a great sports fan, with football and basketball being his favorite. He’s our trusted voice for all betting-related matters.

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A recent report has highlighted just what a huge issue illegal sports betting has become, with claims that it could be generating up to $1.7 trillion a year worldwide. In the United States, illegal sports betting has become a major issue in many states, with bettors having no protection and the affected states making no revenue from the activity.

Many US states have legalized sports betting in some form over the past two years, and this has helped to cut down on illegal sports betting because fans can go to legal and regulated sportsbooks to place their bets. However, the report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has laid bare the extent of the issue.

A Major Crackdown Is Needed

The report is said to demonstrate the need for a major crackdown when it comes to illegal sports betting. This type of betting benefits only the operators, as those that place bets have no protection, and no tax dollars are generated for the state because it is an underground activity.

According to the United Nations website:

While corruption in sport is not a new phenomenon – fraudulent activities in the running of sports institutions and competitions have been documented from the times of the ancient Olympic Games – the past two decades have witnessed a substantial increase in criminal activities within this area.

The report goes on to state that the amount of money that can be made, the growth of both legal and illegal sports betting, and advancements in technology have made this type of venture more attractive and appealing to criminals over recent years.

While some states have managed to better control illegal sports betting through the legalization of retail and/or mobile sports betting, there is still a long way to go. Many officials from states around the country have expressed concerns over the issue of illegal sports betting, and it continues to cause huge issues in many areas.

A Number of Recommendations

In a bid to try and tackle the problem of illegal sports betting, the report makes a number of recommendations designed for both government authorities and sports organizations. Among these is the need to improve frameworks relating to legal issues and policy in order to prevent or tackle corruption in this field.

Another of the recommendations is the creation and implementation of comprehensive anti-corruption policies relating to sport, focusing in particular on major sports events, manipulation in competitions, illegal sports wagering, and even the tackling of organized crime in the world of sports.

In addition, the report touches upon the need to increase cooperation, the promotion of good practices, and the prevention of crime in conjunction with lawmakers, policymakers, and criminal justice organizations.

Officials in states across the country continue to try to tackle this type of criminal activity. For those in states where sports betting is not legal in any form, it has become a particular issue because many sports fans turn to illegal sites and platforms because they have no other option.