How the Legalization of Sports Betting Affects College Sports

The last decade has seen significant movements in the world of online gambling. One of these shifts has been the increased legalization of sports betting on college sports. With gambling on college matches now legal in more states than ever, it remains to be seen how this will impact college sports overall. There are positives and negatives to this legalization of sports betting, with increased engagement and more money in the college sports industry.

Shifts in the Landscape of Sports Betting

Take a walk back in time by 10-15 years, and you’ll notice something distinctly different about the way betting is viewed.

Before a shift in the landscape of sports betting, most forms of wagering were viewed with an element of taboo. Gambling was for those on the margins of society—those who had problems and addictions. Law-abiding members of society wouldn’t wager on sports or visit casinos, it was something done in secret or not done at all.

Today, however, there has been an increased normalization of sports betting and online gambling. In large part, this is due to the changes in legislation and availability of both—no longer must an unsavory location be frequented in order to bet on sports.

Twenty-two different US states have now legalized sports betting, with the majority extending to college sports. More states appear to be in the pipeline for legalization as well, indicating a significant shift in the betting landscape. You can take advantage of the liberalized law by visiting https://www.betflorida.com/ and placing a bet on your favorite sports team.

Legalization Will Mean Increased College Sports Engagement

One big impact of this increased legalization is the greater engagement that it will drive with college sports.

It’s no secret that the NCAA has been concerned about crowd numbers the last few years, as more fans prefer to stay home to watch college games. However, imagine you’ve placed a bet on your favorite college football team. Chances are, you’ll be much more likely to head on down to the stadium and be fully engaged with the match because you now have skin in the game.

The same goes for TV ratings. Even if those gambling on college sports don’t attend the game in person, more viewers will be tuning into matches to watch the outcome of their bets.

More Cash—But Who Gets It?

When it comes to college sports, who gets paid is always a contentious issue.

The increased legalization of sports betting will drive a huge influx of cash into the college sports industry. Outside of brand sponsorships, sports betting is one of the main revenue streams in sports. Its introduction into the college sports industry will mean suddenly there is a lot more money floating around.

However, who gets the biggest slice of the pie is yet to be seen. There’s no doubt the NCAA will be doing whatever they can to clip the ticket on sports betting transactions in some way. With college athletes now able to benefit from their name, image, and likeness, will they also be able to get a payday from sports betting in some way?

As the industry evolves over the coming years, the real impact of sports betting on college sports will be revealed.