The casino industry's largest lobbying group in the United States is ramping up its efforts this week to repeal a 25-year-old federal law that bans sports betting in most states, including Arizona.

The American Gaming Association (AGA) is creating a coalition involving attorneys general, police and policymakers to advocate for the repeal of the ban.

The AGA estimates Americans wager $150 billion a year on sporting events, with nearly all of it placed through illegal channels. The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was passed in 1992. It bans gambling on athletic events, both collegiate and professional, in states except Nevada, Oregon, Delaware and Montana.

The AGA is leading the lobbying effort in Washington, D.C., to repeal the federal ban on sports betting. This week, the group is meeting with players’ associations from Major League Baseball, the NFL, the NBA and the NHL.