Gambling is the wagering of something of value, usually money, on the outcome of an event or game. As an activity heavily criticized by some, gambling still faces many legal restrictions in the United States. Nevertheless, the industry makes a total contribution of around 240 billion U.S. dollars to the U.S. economy annually and directly employs more than 700 thousand people. Worldwide, the gross win of the gambling market was forecasted to reach approximately 400 billion U.S. dollars in 2015, more than a third coming from casino gambling.