California prepares for legalised sports betting

California has joined several other US states in preparing for the legalisation of sports betting in the event that the US Supreme Court rules in favour of New Jersey’s appeal against the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), which restricts sports wagering to just four states (see previous  reports).

In an interview with Thoroughbred Daily News this week the chair of the California Assembly Governmental Organization Committee, Assemblyman Adam Gray, announced the introduction of his ACA 18 amendment to the state constitution, which seeks to make provision for California to pass legislation legalising sports betting, subject to the US Supreme Court decision on attempts to repeal or circumvent the federal PASPA.

Gray pointed out that the reality is that Californians are already using international online betting sites to wager on sports, and his amendment is designed to “bring this multibillion dollar industry out of the shadows.”

“I am pleased to see the U.S. Supreme Court has shouldered the burden of bringing legal clarity to the issue of sports wagering and the rights of states under the United States Constitution,” Gray added.

“We need to crack down on illegal and unregulated online gaming and replace it with a safe and responsible option which includes safeguards against compulsive and underage gambling, money laundering, and fraud. All other gaming activities in California are subject to regulations that ensure the safety of consumers. Sports wagering should be treated no differently.”

In the event the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down the current PASPA ban, ACA 18 would require any legalisation effort in California to muster a two thirds approval in the state legislature before being placed on the ballot for majority approval by voters.

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