Illegal gambling is still rampant in the United States despite years of regulation. According to the final installment of the 2024 CFG USA report series, criminal operators took in 74% of all online gambling revenue last year.

Key numbers from the report show:

  • The total U.S. online gambling market was $90.1 billion in 2024.
  • Illegal operators made $67.1 billion, up 64% year over year, vs. 36% for legal operators.
  • The assumption that legalization would shrink the illegal market has been proven wrong — both segments have grown, and criminals are still in the lead.

CFG founder Derek Webb said legalization alone isn’t working: “It’s grown the total market, not displaced crime.” He called for a moratorium on further state expansion until illegal activity is addressed with proper enforcement mechanisms. Ismail Vali, CEO of Yield Sec, agreed: “Monitor, Police, Enforce, Optimize.”

The numbers raise big questions about the effectiveness of current regulation in the U.S. — crime is still deeply embedded in online gambling even years after legalization.

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