To learn what started betting on sports one has to first examine the history of sports gambling in America. The USA had a long history of permitting some kinds of legal gambling and also illegal gambling to some extent. Political control and scandals concerning gaming interests have led to selected backlashes that have lead to prohibition or regulation of sports gambling. Standards and laws relating to sports gambling have kept altering.

Nelson Rose describes these adjustments in law as three waves. The 1st wave was during the colonial era that lasted up until the mid 1800s, the second wave started following the Civil War and lasted up until the early 20th Century and the third wave commenced during the Great Depression and is still continuing.

Throughout the Colonial Era, different attitudes were enforced towards betting. Puritan attitudes were adopted towards gambling and possessing dice, cards, gaming tables etc were outlawed. Afterwards it had been allowed so long as it wasn’t a calling or trade except for moderate and innocent recreation. Settlers brought with them views that said gambling was merely a harmless activity. The frontier spirit encouraged the appeal of gambling since it involved high risk, high expectations and opportunism. best sport betting iphone apps

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

The Lower Mississippi Valley became a structured and legitimate gambling area in 1800s. The grand river with its riverboats was a major trade avenue for wealthy merchants and farmers. New Orleans quickly gained recognition as the gambling capital. Through the 1830s southern settlers turned against professional gamblers who had been blamed for committing crimes, debasing morals of society and endangering streets. During 1800s there was increasing attack of gambling especially lotteries and whenever operators absconded with the proceeds lottery scandals finally led to prohibition of gambling.

The Gold Rush in California set off a huge surge in the types of gambling and San Francisco became the new gambling capital in the US. During 1849 and 1855 gambling spread widely and by 1850 California and many cities had licensed gambling centers. But soon the Legislature made most types 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 many scandals in the lottery gambling segments, 35 states in America 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 became a preferred tourist destination. Despite its illegality sports gambling became very popular and today is a high dollar industry.