To understand what started gambling on sports one has to first examine the historical past of sports gambling in America. The USA has a long history of permitting some kinds of legal gambling and also illegal betting to a certain degree. Political control and scandals concerning gaming interests have ended in selected backlashes which have resulted in prohibition or regulating sports gambling. Standards and laws pertaining to sports gambling have kept changing.

Nelson Rose describes these adjustments in law as 3 waves. The 1st wave was during the colonial era that lasted up until the mid 1800s, the second wave started at the end of the Civil War and lasted up until the early Twentieth century and the third wave commenced while in the Great Depression and it’s still continuing.

Throughout the Colonial Era, different attitudes were enforced towards gambling. Puritan attitudes were adopted towards gambling and possessing dice, cards, gaming tables etc were banned. Afterwards it was allowed so long as it wasn’t a calling or trade but for moderate and innocent recreation. Settlers brought along with them views that said gambling was merely a harmless past time. The frontier spirit encouraged the appeal of gambling since it involved risk taking, high expectations and opportunism. world sport betting results

Ultimately all colonies used lotteries as being a solution out of financial problems and to help the colonies. It was a civic responsibility and profits were used to establish a number of the first prestigious universities, build churches and also libraries. Lotteries continued to be popular right to the early 19th Century. Horse racing had also been preferred and the Long Island built the very first race track in 1665. Casino gaming began to emerge slowly as roadhouses and taverns began to permit card games and dice.

The Lower Mississippi Valley became a structured and legitimate gambling area in 1800s. The mighty river featuring its riverboats was a major trade avenue for wealthy merchants and farmers. New Orleans quickly gained recognition as being the gambling capital. Through the 1830s southern settlers turned against professional gamblers who were held responsible for carrying out crimes, debasing morals of society and endangering streets. During 1800s there was increasing attack of gambling especially lotteries and when operators absconded with the proceeds lottery scandals eventually concluded in prohibition of gambling.

The Gold Rush in California triggered a huge increase in the kinds of gambling and San Francisco became the new gambling capital in the USA. During 1849 and 1855 gambling spread widely and also by 1850 California and many cities had licensed gambling centers. But soon the Legislature made most forms of gambling illegal and a number of professional gamblers were lynched. This prohibition drove wagering activities underground and did not eliminate it. Gambling was legal during 1869-1910 in Nevada.

It is possible to now understand what started gambling on sports in the USA. With the numerous scandals within the lottery gambling segments, 35 states in the US including California prohibited lotteries. In 1933 pari-mutuel betting was legalized and new automated systems and laws made horse racing betting more straightforward. In 1978 casino gambling was legalized by New Jersey and Atlantic City was a preferred tourist destination. Regardless of its illegality sports gambling became very popular and already is a billion dollar industry.