Legalized gambling could have major implications for esports

On May 14, the United States Supreme Court struck down a federal law that prohibited states from legalizing betting on professional and collegiate sporting events, except in Nevada, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). Annually, over $150 billion is wagered on sports in the U.S. esports leagues.

Without the PASPA in effect, game publishers, teams, businesses and fans are now all eager to create ecosystems for legal esports gambling. It is inevitable that legal esports gambling will provide a financial windfall for the industry and further move esports into mainstream American culture. By 2020, esports betting will become a $23 billion industry, generating over $1.8 billion annually in revenue, per the market research firm Eilers & Krejcik Gaming.