How big is illegal gambling? It may run as high as $100 billion per
year. Other estimates put the figure even higher. That may seem like
a very large figure, but as noted earlier, sports betting is immensely
popular and most of it is illegal. The large extent of illegal sports
betting is one of the reasons that some used to advocate its legalization.
Others claim that business with illegal bookies would not decline
because they offer better odds, credit, tax free payouts, and greater
convenience in placing bets and collecting winnings.
Sports books are not the only component of illegal gambling. In
San Jose, police raids led to the confiscation of 60 illegal slot
machines at 14 different business establishments.
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