Indiana attempt to legalise sports betting stalls

Hopes earlier this year that Indiana Representative Alan Morrison would be successful in pushing two legalisation bills – one for sports betting and the other to allow state gaming establishments to accept wagers on daily fantasy sports – have died with the measures at committee stage according to local media reports.

The bills were introduced to the Legislature in January this year .

Bills HB1073 and HB1074, both of which would have legalised betting activity at state racinos and casinos, failed to make it out of committee and onto the floor for debate, defeating Morrison’s goal of boosting declining state gaming revenues.

Whilst daily fantasy sports wagering is becoming increasingly acceptable across US states, legalised sports betting presents far greater challenges.

Only four states are permitted to offer sports wagering under the federal Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), and only one of these – Nevada – can offer full wagering facilities.

New Jersey has been embroiled for the past three years in costly litigation as it seeks a way around the PASPA, fought every step of the way by the national sports leagues and the US Department of Justice, who want to maintain the status quo.

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