Illegal online gambling operators now control 74% of the $90.1 billion U.S. online gambling marketplace, according to a new report from data intelligence platform Yield Sec, commissioned by the Campaign for Fairer Gambling (CFG). The report, USA National 2024, reveals that while legal online gambling revenues grew 36% last year, illegal revenues surged by 64% – nearly twice as fast.

The report reveals that 88% of U.S. online audiences are exposed to illegal gambling content, across platforms including search, social media, streaming, and apps. Despite the growth of legalized online sports betting and casino offerings in several states, illegal operators continue to outperform legal brands through price, product range, and aggressive promotions.

The report also reveals that illegal platforms don’t just reach more people – they engage them and retain more of their money. With 88% of U.S. audiences looking for gambling being exposed to illegal gambling content, and affiliates promoting illegal operators outnumbering legal ones by six to one, consumer engagement with illegal online gambling is deep and sustained.

Major events like the Super Bowl, March Madness, Copa America, and the Olympics in 2024 acted as recruitment gateways, driving spikes in traffic and allowing illegal operators to cross-sell profitable casino products and capture more of every consumer dollar. Product choice across illegals enhances their status to consumers as one-stop gambling shops: illegals feature all products in all states, including casino and popular predictor marketplaces which illegals have hijacked to feature events such as election and tariffs betting alongside sports and financials.

Derek Webb, founder of the Campaign for Fairer Gambling, said: “US legalization of internet gambling without a gameplan to tackle the illegal sector has been an unmitigated disaster. In California, where online gambling is illegal, the total population loss per capita for 2024 is $141. In comparison with New Jersey, where online sports and casino gambling are legal, the illegal loss per capita on sports is $103 and on casino is $169, being a total of $272, nearly twice as much as in California.

“Any pundit, commentator, legislator, regulator, lawyer or lobbyist selling legalization alone as a cure for illegal online gambling should be ashamed.”

Ismail Vali, Founder and CEO of Yield Sec, said: “Let’s not pin this on gambling regulators alone. Their job is to supervise the licensed industry, not to chase criminals who never applied for a license. Illegal gambling is everyone’s problem – operators, law enforcement, media companies, social platforms, and governments all have a role to play.

“At Yield Sec, we show every legal stakeholder how to identify, expose, and remove crime from the marketplace – because until that happens, it’s your money that’s being stolen. For America in 2025, it’s time to kick crime out of online gambling.”

Key findings in the Campaign for Fairer Gambling U.S.A National 2024 Report:

• 917 illegal online gambling operators actively targeting U.S. users, compared to just 95 legal ones

• 668 affiliates promoting illegal online gambling operators, versus 106 promoting legal brands

• 88% of U.S. online audiences are exposed to illegal gambling content

• Illegal operators generated $67.1 billion in revenue in 2024, compared to $23 billion by legal operators

• Illegal gambling revenue grew by 64% year-on-year, nearly double the growth of the legal sector (36%)

Yield Sec warns that 2025 marks a tipping point in the U.S. online gambling marketplace, unless actions are taken now against crime. CFG is calling on legislators, regulators, and all industry leaders to work together to protect consumers, safeguard state revenues, and curb crime.

Recent estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO) project the legal global online gambling market will reach $700 billion annually by 2028. Meanwhile, YieldSec, commissioned by the Campaign for Fairer Gambling (CFG), has estimated that the U.S. illegal online gambling market was valued at over $40 billion in 2023. Considering the market has been active for nearly 25 years, U.S. consumers and the economy are projected to lose at least $1 trillion to online gambling by 2028.

Derek Webb, founder and funder of the Campaign for Fairer Gambling, commented: “With this latest health guidance from the WHO, the prospect of class action litigation, predicated on duty of care liability, against the legal online gambling market has increased. This is especially relevant where consumers have been induced into gambling beyond their means. Operators should already implement robust ‘know-your-customer’ procedures to ensure that funds used are not laundered or derived from criminal activity.”

The concept of “Duty of Care,” a legal obligation to prevent harm caused by negligence, has seen limited application in litigation against gambling operators. However, DraftKings is currently the subject of a lawsuit alleging that a gambler’s addiction was “nurtured” by the company.

Online gambling operators often use sign-up offers and ongoing bonuses to attract customers and intensify gambling activity. These tactics not only draw novices into gambling but also push casual gamblers toward riskier, excessive consumption.

Research on the Total Consumption Model shows that increased gambling consumption at a population level leads to higher individual harm. When legal online gambling is combined with illegal gambling, overall consumption rises, further exacerbating harm.

The WHO emphasizes the need for universal, population-wide public health policies to combat gambling harm. Among the seven strategies it recommends is “ending gambling advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of sports and other cultural activities.”

Some state attorneys general have issued “cease and desist” letters to illegal operators, such as Bovada, a site licensed in Curacao. However, enforcement remains inconsistent. If Bovada exits a state, other illegal operators often step in to fill the void in the absence of rigorous federal enforcement.

Webb added: “States giving tax breaks to any form of gambling or gambling promotion should consider whether they are exposing themselves or their regulators to litigation risk. Legislators and regulators cannot continue to rely on the theory of responsible gambling, which shifts the burden of harm prevention onto individuals, while ignoring the WHO’s recommended strategies to control online gambling harm. Promoting legalization as a way to reduce gambling addiction or eliminate illegal gambling is misleading and unsustainable.”

Prominent gambling companies have been actively lobbying against Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker proposal to increase the tax on legal sports betting and leaning on several questionable assertions ranging from unproven to untrue. The Campaign for Fairer Gambling (CFG) is an independent gambling reform group with deep knowledge of the gambling sector’s business practices, both in the UK and now in the US.

Closely monitoring gambling initiatives in states across the US, CFG has taken particular note of the current battle in Illinois, where Gov. Pritzker proposed a tax increase on legal sports betting from 15% to 35%. This measure is aggressively opposed by the Sports Betting Alliance (SBA), comprising Fanatics, Draft Kings, FanDuel (Flutter), and BetMGM (Entain).

SBA has lobbied against Gov. Pritzker’s proposed tax increase under the messaging banner “Why It Matters,” but has not substantiated its claims. SBA claims to have demonstrated public support for its agenda, but CFG believes signatures of support were collected under false pretenses.

“It’s no feat of strength to push a fantastical narrative, then collect signatures and proclaim a mandate. Global gambling conglomerates are expert at positioning sports betting as a foot in the door before the real floodgates inevitably open. Sports betting often serves as a gateway to slots and table games down the line, because they bring in even more revenue — not to mention harm,” said CFG founder and funder Derek Webb.

“In Britain, there’s been a long history of gambling trade bodies making misleading representations. In fact, one group with shared ties to some SBA members is now defunct after having libeled a reform advocate. CFG is here to urge policymakers and the public to proceed with caution and not rely upon gambling companies who are globally notorious for exaggerating benefits and not owning the harm they create,” Webb added.