Summary
Share on X X.com Share on Facebook Facebook Email Email While sports betting has become more widespread in the U.S., with 39 states and the District of Columbia legalizing some form of sports betting, illegal sportsbooks and illegal online gaming sites are still prevalent. These illegal sportsbooks and online gaming sites have significant consequences for the American public, the U.S. economy, and the integrity of sports betting in the U.S. Individuals engaged in illegal gambling risk funding organized crime activity and becoming vulnerable to violence, extortion, and fraud. As a federal law enforcement agency, the FBI enforces criminal statutes, including those involving organized crime and illegal gambling operations. The FBI emphasizes each bettor's individual responsibility to ensure they wager legally and responsibly. As of August 2025, the American Gaming Association estimated Americans wager $673.6 billion annually in illegal and unregulated markets—which includes sports betting, online games, and unregulated machines. 1 While some online gaming websites are legal elsewhere in the world, they are still operating illegally in the United States dependent on state regulations. Many offshore gambling websites advertise towards U.S. consumers, obfuscating their overseas presence, and providing U.S. consumers with a false sense of comfort.