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When the State Runs the Numbers Game

By: Amelia Ayrelan Iuvino

In the second half of the 20th century, as raising taxes came to spell political suicide, states looked to a new source of revenue: lotteries.

Illustration by Richard A. Chance

In 2024, Americans poured $150 billion into sports betting, generating $13.7 billion for the industry and $2.8 billion in tax revenue, a nearly 25 percent jump from the previous year. Today sports betting is legal in thirty-eight states and Washington, DC, with Missouri set to join the fold. Just a decade ago, this kind of freewheeling […]

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In 2024, Americans poured $150 billion into sports betting, generating $13.7 billion for the industry and $2.8 billion in tax revenue, a nearly 25 percent jump from the previous year. Today sports betting is legal in thirty-eight states and Washington, DC, with Missouri set to join the fold. Just a decade ago, this kind of freewheeling […]

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In 2024, Americans poured $150 billion into sports betting, generating $13.7 billion for the industry and $2.8 billion in tax revenue, a nearly 25 percent jump from the previous year. Today sports betting is legal in thirty-eight states and Washington, DC, with Missouri set to join the fold. Just a decade ago, this kind of freewheeling […]

Large

In 2024, Americans poured $150 billion into sports betting, generating $13.7 billion for the industry and $2.8 billion in tax revenue, a nearly 25 percent jump from the previous year. Today sports betting is legal in thirty-eight states and Washington, DC, with Missouri set to join the fold. Just a decade ago, this kind of freewheeling […]

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