State and local governments collected $30 billion in fiscal year 2020 from gambling, which represented just over one percent of total state and local government revenue. This amount does not include revenues from tribal casinos, which many states collect through revenue-sharing agreements. Two-thirds of gambling revenue came from lotteries and casinos. Video gaming and parimutuel wagering accounted for less than $200 million.

The amount of money wagered legally each year by people who gamble is around $10 trillion, but the amount that is wagered illegally may be higher. Lotteries are the most common form of gambling, and in the United States and Europe, state-licensed lotteries grew rapidly during the last century. Most European countries have organized football pools, and most South American, Asian, and African countries offer state-licensed wagering on other sporting events.

In the United States, gambling is widely available, but it is regulated by state and federal laws. Federal gambling laws have many restrictions, including limits on types of games and locations. Gambling activity has exploded on Indian reservations in recent years. The Internet has also expanded gambling strategy and threatens to bring gambling into homes and businesses.

In some countries, gambling is illegal for minors. Minors cannot participate in state lotteries. In addition, some states do not allow online gambling. While some states do not have strict laws about gambling, some do. These laws are intended to protect children from gambling-related offenses.