Harris and Trump Voters Unite Over Legal Casinos and Sports Betting

You can't legally place wagers on the outcome of the American election at our best sports betting sites in the United States. You still can't bet on sports in plenty of states. Others don't have legal casinos. But no matter which candidate wins the election, their supporters are in agreement on one topic: legal casinos and sports betting.

Election day is less than a week away, and polling shows a tight race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. Amid the flurry, CNBC Correspondent Contessa Brewer new research from the American Gaming Association (AGA) revealing one opinion that voters of both parties seem to have in common.

“While many industries are gaming out which candidate might be better in office, the gambling industry is looking at how presidential politics intersects with attitudes about wagering,” explained Brewer.

She said a recent AGA survey found that voters of both parties show strong support for gambling, with around 75% of each supporting casino gambling and 69% backing sports betting. BetMGM US Presidential Odds and Handle recently revealed a lot of betting support for Trump on Election Day.

If you have access to one of the best sportsbooks in Canada that is offering wagering on the election, you can cast your bet on who you think will emerge victorious on Election Day.

Current situation in the U.S.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018, 38 states have legalized sports betting. Of the twelve remaining states, most have casinos or a state lottery. As of 2024, only two states offer absolutely no form of gambling – Utah and Hawaii. 

As Brewer points out, legalization is handled by individual states. For example, in this year’s general election, Missouri voters will get the chance to amend the state constitution to permit online and retail sports betting. If Amendment 2 is approved, the Show Me State would become the 39th legal sports betting state.

“Americans of course are very focused on the economy, and casinos and gaming operators will highlight how much tax revenue they can contribute to state and local economies,” said Brewer, adding, "Some of the biggest states in the nation remain out of reach.”

For instance, she discusses how voters rejected measures to legalize California sports betting in November 2022, while the Lieutenant Governor of Texas has thrown cold water on hopes for sports betting and casino legislation in 2025.

Brewer shared insider speculation that “another Trump presidency could result in either Texas Governor Greg Abbott or Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick joining Trump’s cabinet. And that would remove the major roadblocks to gambling for the nation’s second most populous state, a big deal there.”

Bigger tax opportunity in iGaming

“But iGaming, or online casino games, provide the bigger opportunity for gaming revenue and tax revenue, and right now, only seven states offer it,” said Brewer. “None have new legislation under consideration so candidates who want to spend big and are looking to new funding, maybe gambling is the best bet.”

Rhode Island was the latest state to launch its legal iGaming market in March 2024 as residents gained access to select real-money online casinos. The state recently reported a record $3.2 million monthly revenue for September. 

NFL star stands with Trump

On Wednesday, Trump will hold rallies in Rocky Mount, N.C., and Green Bay, Wisc. His campaign recently that special guest speaker and former NFL star Brett Favre in Wisconsin will join him. 

Meanwhile, Harris has called on the support of musicians such as Gracie Abrams and Mumford & Sons to perform at her Wisconsin rally on the same day. ChatGPT recently predicted a Harris victory on Election Day.