The NBA is a global sports powerhouse, with a loyal and passionate following. Interest will be high around the start of the season and again during the playoffs.
Among adults over 21, 25% had bet on sports, per a Morning Consult survey conducted in December of 2021. And betting is expected to grow as more states legalize and regulate the industry.
A pivotal Supreme Court ruling in 2018 opened the door for states to allow sports betting. But some states are more prepared to roll out the service than others.
New Jersey has launched both retail and online sportsbooks, with FanDuel, DraftKings, MGM and Caesars among the first operators to offer betting in the Garden State. And there are now sportsbooks inside NFL stadiums, including the one at the Bears’ Wrigley Field.
In addition to the regulated sportsbooks, there are black markets that operate outside of the reach of government regulation. These black markets can be difficult for law enforcement to monitor and prosecute. Amid growing interest in sports betting, the NCAA is taking steps to educate current and prospective student-athletes about problem gambling harms and the risks that sport wagering poses to integrity. The NCAA launched its first e-learning module to support these efforts and is expanding its integrity monitoring program with the addition of a new partner. This network connects university compliance directors, gaming operators and specialized vendors to prevent and detect integrity concerns across the country.