Wagering activities which are conducted for the purposes of predicting the outcome or results of an amateur or professional sporting event are typically referred to as “sports betting”. The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (in the US) forbid the operation of betting and gambling schemes in all but a few states. Conversely, in many European countries today, the profession of taking in sports wagers or “bookmaking” is regulated, but not considered to be a criminal act.
As an example of the difference between the handling of sports betting in European countries versus the US, the National Collegiate Athletic Association, known simply as the NCAA, threatened to ban the state of Delaware from having “playoff games” should they persist in allowing betting and gambling on college sporting events in the state. Additionally, the state of New Jersey has also been threatened in similar fashion. Considering the existence of Atlantic City casinos, second only to Las Vegas as a betting and gambling Mecca, this might not be such an easy task for the NCAA.
Oftentimes viewed as a hobby for sporting enthusiasts by the proponents of legalised sports betting, this activity helps to increase their interest in specific sporting events thus benefiting the different leagues, the players, and the teams involved. This is evidenced by an increased attendance at these different sporting events as well as the increase in television viewership. Conversely, sports betting opponents fear that the integrity of amateur and professional sports will be threatened by legalised wagering over and above the other ramifications of betting and gambling.