Californian sports betting could be on again

California state Senator Rod Wright, already well known for his attempts to push online gambling legalisation measures through the state Legislature, is spearheading another gambling initiative…the legalisation of sports betting.

Wright’s effort this year mirrors a similar attempt last year, when his SB1390 made it through the Senate but stalled irretrievably in the Assembly

According to a report Thursday in the Los Angeles Times, Wright is at it again this year, attracting the attention of the Senate Republican caucus.

The caucus issued a report titled “You Wanna Bet? Legalized Wagering on Sporting Events Gets a Second Look,” noting that Wright’s legislation will again feature on the Legislature’s agendas, and noting that there could be benefits in allowing Californian punters to enjoy a flutter on a variety of sports events.

“Authorizing sports wagering at California’s horse racing tracks and satellite wagering facilities on fair grounds, card clubs, and tribal casinos, for instance, could … bring more people into these facilities on slow business days,” the report said. “Such a plan might provide the vital financial help to the racing industry and provide the state with additional tax revenues.”

The caucus acknowledges the problems of such a move, notably the obstacle that the federal Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) represents…something the state of New Jersey is currently contesting after passing a similar law.

PASPA restricts sports betting to just four states, and the Department of Justice is opposed to it being overturned, judging by its recent participation in the New Jersey litigation with national sports leagues.

The caucus report concludes that many support the idea that a legalised, regulated, and policed wagering environment will reduce cheating as sports-fixing schemes are, by their nature, done through illegal means.”

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