Why Nevada Sportsbooks Need an Online Registration Option

• Nevada’s in-person sign-up rule for mobile betting limits its market share, recording the seventh-highest sports betting handle ($7.89 billion) in 2024.
• Eliminating in-person registration could boost mobile betting participation, letting them compete for the 4th spot in national sports betting rankings.

LAS VEGAS – Nevada’s sports betting market has long been the gold standard in the U.S., but the state’s in-person registration requirement for mobile betting is quickly becoming a major hindrance to its dominance.

While other states with legal sports betting have embraced mobile sports betting with easy-to-use apps that allow bettors to place wagers from anywhere, Nevada’s strict in-person sign-up rule has kept the state from keeping pace with its competitors.

The Impact of In-Person Registration

States like New Jersey, New York, and Illinois have bypassed this hurdle by offering online registration—a convenience that has led to explosive growth in sports betting handles across these regions. As a result, Nevada’s market share has steadily declined, with the state ranking seventh nationally in the amount of money bet on sports in the US during 2024.

Last year, the Nevada sports betting handle stood at $7.89 billion, much lower than figures from states like New York ($22.7B) and New Jersey ($12.77B). This shift highlights how restrictive regulations—such as requiring in-person sign-ups—are becoming obsolete in an era where consumers expect convenience and accessibility.

The demand for mobile sports betting is only continuing to grow. In every other state with betting apps, bettors can create accounts, make sportsbook deposits, and place wagers without the need to travel to a casino.

This added step is not only inconvenient for residents but also a deterrent for out-of-state bettors who might otherwise be drawn to Nevada’s well-established gambling culture.

What Would Change If Nevada Scrapped In-Person Registration?

If Nevada were to eliminate the in-person registration requirement, it would open the door for an influx of new bettors, both from within the state and across the country. In fact, legal online sportsbooks would be able to capture a much larger share of the mobile betting market, boosting both the state’s sports betting handle and its overall gaming revenue.

Here’s how the change could positively impact Nevada:

• Increased Mobile Adoption: Bettors could sign up remotely, creating a much larger pool of participants who engage with legal sports betting regularly.
• Higher Betting Volume: With fewer barriers to entry, more casual bettors would likely participate, increasing the total volume of bets placed on mobile platforms.
• Greater Market Share: Nevada could once again compete for the top spot in national sports betting rankings.

Only then can Nevada hope to recapture its position as the leader in U.S. sports betting. However, figures from the top sports betting states in 2024 prove they may never recapture their lead but a push toward fourth overall is possible.

1. New York – $22,703,977,143
2. Illinois – $14,012,863,146
3. New Jersey – $12,774,039,219
4. Pennsylvania – $8,421,417,830
5. Ohio – $8,826,334,002
6. Arizona – $7,959,647,194
7. Nevada – $7,898,235,434
8. Massachusetts – $7,404,008,773
9. Virginia – $6,925,832,327
10. Colorado – $6,187,564,045

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