Geolocation inquiries during the 2024 NFL regular season demonstrate the market demand for legal online sports betting in various jurisdictions where such gambling is still outlawed.
GeoComply, a leading business-to-business provider of geofencing, or the process of establishing a virtual perimeter around a geographic area for online regulatory purposes, reported today that would-be sports bettors in states where internet sportsbooks are prohibited from operating legally were quite active during the regular football season.
GeoComply evaluated data from seven states that do not yet allow mobile sports betting: Alabama, Georgia, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, South Carolina, and Texas. While in-person sports betting is legal in Mississippi and Nebraska, online wagering is not.
PinPoint, GeoComply’s unique technology that can locate a computer or mobile device within four feet, enables the gambling company to detect devices attempting to access legitimate online sportsbooks.
According to GeoComply, more than 33.4 million geolocation check requests were received from computers and mobile devices in those seven states during the NFL regular season, which spanned from September 5, 2024 to January 5, 2025.
See also:
- Dutch Regulator Fines Winning Poker Network $1.34M
- Esportes da Sorte Gets Nationwide Authorization in Brazil
- KSA Issues Seven Warnings Over Youth-Targeted Ads
Growing Opportunity says GeoComply
With the start of the new year, state legislatures convene for their 2025 sessions. Gaming is once again a priority in several states, with sports betting expected to be addressed in the majority of the aforementioned jurisdictions.
GeoComply officials claim that geolocation activity in unregulated online sports betting states demonstrates that a legal, regulated market would generate state tax revenue while also protecting the many millions of consumers who are interested in betting online or already do so through an offshore, illegal sportsbook.
“This data highlights the significant unmet demand for legal [online] sports betting in these states,” according to the GeoComply announcement.
“The demand observed during the previous NFL season shows no signs of decreasing as we approach the playoffs and the Super Bowl in February. Early indications in the legal markets show significant increases in activity compared to last year’s playoffs,” the survey said.
Minnesota is widely seen as the most likely to join the 39 other states and Washington, D.C., that have allowed some kind of sports betting. Mississippi lawmakers are also poised to pass legislation that would allow for online sports betting.
Estimated Annual Tax Revenue
GeoComply, which, of course, has a vested interest in promoting the tax benefits states could earn from legalizing mobile sports betting, claims the seven states could receive millions of dollars in annual tax revenue.
Texas, the second most populous state with over 31 million citizens, many of whom are sports fans, stands to benefit the most from an estimated $302.4 million in annual tax revenue. GeoComply believes Georgia may get $112.9 million in new tax revenue and South Carolina $60.1 million.
Minnesota is set to collect $59.6 million, while Alabama will receive $53.3 million. If Mississippi and Nebraska legalize sports betting on the internet, their combined annual tax benefit may grow by $30.3 million and $19.9 million, respectively.
“As lawmakers prepare for the 2025 legislative sessions, the data is clear: there is a strong desire for legal sports betting, and the benefits are numerous. It’s time to offer the benefits and safeguards of a regulated market to jurisdictions who are still on the fence,” the GeoComply concluded.
Join us on all our social channels and groups
Gameongazette is present on: