Many sites do not have strong identity verification and are able to advertise on social media with little oversight. Tech-savvy young people in the United States can gamble on them using false identities and readily available software to mask their locations, often unbeknownst to their parents.

By last year, [Pennsylvania] was collecting $1.05 billion in taxes from digital casinos, compared with $188 million from sportsbook apps. The revenue from casino games is significant: Pennsylvania’s entire state budget is about $50 billion.

“States are losing out by keeping this activity — that is already occurring within their borders — in the shadows.”

BBB study finds consumers confused, upset amid hundreds of unlicensed and unverified casinos and sportsbooks.

In the eyes of many gaming corporations, not to mention lawsuit plaintiffs and state regulators, sweepstakes casinos act as traditional casinos, only without the oversight, consumer protections and tax laws.