| Sports betting is the general activity of predicting | | | | (the profession of accepting sports wagers) is highly |
| sports results by making a wager on the outcome of | | | | regulated but not criminalized. Proponents of legalized |
| a sporting event. Perhaps more so than other forms | | | | sports betting generally regard it as a hobby for sports |
| of gambling, the legality and general acceptance of | | | | fans that increases their interest in particular sporting |
| sports betting varies from nation to nation. Sports | | | | events, thus benefiting the leagues, teams and players |
| betting has been around since the beginning of the | | | | they bet on through higher attendances and television |
| United States, and the colonists were known to have | | | | audiences. |
| wagered on fighting, horse racing, and even | | | | Opponents fear that, over and above the general |
| cockfighting. Gambling was a long-time tradition in | | | | ramifications of gambling, it threatens the integrity of |
| England and it was only natural the colonists would | | | | amateur and professional sport, the history of which |
| bring their love of gambling across the ocean with | | | | includes numerous attempts by sports gamblers to fix |
| them. | | | | matches, although proponents counter that legitimate |
| In the United States, the Professional and Amateur | | | | bookmakers will invariably fight corruption just as |
| Sports Protection Act of 1994 makes illegal to operate | | | | fiercely as governing bodies and law enforcement do. |
| a "betting, gambling or wagering scheme", except for in | | | | Most sports bettors are overall losers as the |
| the states of Delaware, Nevada, and Oregon. Nevada, | | | | bookmakers odds are fairly efficient. However, there |
| however, is the only state currently allowing sports | | | | are professional sports bettors that make a good |
| gambling, while in many European nations bookmaking | | | | income betting sports. |