Sports betting in the U.S. is surging with the return of the National Football League and other major professional sports, and gambling operators are vying for fans’ attention. In New Jersey, the biggest market for sports betting outside Nevada, total sports-wagering revenue in August rose nearly 57% compared with last year, to $39.5 million, according to numbers released Monday. From January through August, revenue totaled about $178 million, up 16.5% versus 2019, despite the several-month sports hiatus earlier in the year. This autumn marks the third NFL season since a 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling paved the way for states outside Nevada to allow sports betting. Sports books got a boost this past weekend as leagues staging games or matches included the NFL, Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League and the U.S. Tennis Association.

Source: Wall Street Journal September 14, 2020 19:48 UTC