Over the years, different rulers have tried to make it illegal. Later, the Romans were placing bets on gladiator fights. We know the Ancient Greeks were betting on sports and other competitions more than 2,000 years ago. The next time someone tries to give you an attitude about your betting, politely remind them that you are simply taking part in an ancient tradition. Read ahead for our crash course in understanding sports betting and how to get started. The online betting market handles billions of dollars on a monthly basis.Īlthough this is all exciting and we want in, it can be easy to get lost with all the terms getting thrown around. In 2016, we spent over 100 billion dollars on all types of gambling, from horse races to nickel slots. The explosion of betting markets since then has been nothing short of remarkable.Īmericans love to gamble. Before May 14, 2018, all sports betting outside of the state of Nevada had been illegal.