Yesterday we explained how legal sports betting continues to gain popularity, but even with these trends, there are tons of illegal gambling websites out there. The problem with these sites is that you really have no idea which ones are legitimate, and you have little recourse when things go wrong.

This article by Richard N. Velotta in the Las Vegas Review-Journal shines a light on the problem. Velotta explains how the American Gaming Association has made it a priority to encourage the public to bet responsibly with licensed operators and avoid illegal offshore websites. Despite this, illegal gambling websites continue to operate and can be difficult to track down and shut down. He describes the case of a Canadian gambler who has been unable to collect his winnings on a $225,000 jackpot he won playing blackjack on BetOnLine.ag, an internet domain in Antigua. Read the story and you’ll see the details.

Why do betters still use illegal gambling websites?

There are plenty of reasons why these sites are still in business.

Firstly, you have to consider that betting hasn’t been legalized everywhere, so many betters are still shut out of the legal betting market depending on their state of residence or jurisdiction.

Secondly, illegal gambling websites often offer better odds and higher payouts than their legal counterparts. This can be attractive to bettors looking to maximize their winnings, even if it means breaking the law. This also applies to local bookies.

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With all the news surrounding budget cuts at the national and state level, many more Americans and state governments are warming up to the ideas of casinos and casino games. Good news like this from Pennsylvania has an impact:

As more states roll the dice on casinos, the traditional pecking order of American gambling is being turned on its head.

Just five years after its first casino opened, Pennsylvania now generates more tax revenue from card games and slot machines than any other state in the nation — and it isn’t even close.

The Keystone State’s treasury raked in more than $1.3 billion from its 10 casinos last year, outpacing its closest competitors Indiana and Nevada, which saw $875 million and $835 million, respectively. Louisiana and New York round out the top five.

New Jersey, the longtime powerhouse of Northeast gambling, now ranks only 10th, with $306 million in tax revenue, according to the American Gaming Association.

Since 2006, casino taxes and licensing fees in Pennsylvania have generated $5.4 billion. Nearly 15,000 jobs have been created at the state’s gambling hot spots, which include Parx Casino just outside Philadelphia, Hollywood Casino in rural Dauphin County near the state capital of Harrisburg, The Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh, and Mount Airy Casino Resort, tucked away in the Pocono Mountains.

Of course Americans now have many ways to enjoy casino games. If you’re a high roller you might want to jet off to Vegas, you can go to a local casino if you live in one of the many states that permit casinos, or you can have fun online with no download casinos that let you play without even downloading software