Monday a key date for U.S. sports betting
News on 3 Dec 2017
News on 3 Dec 2017
December 4 is a key date for US sports betting as the US Supreme Court begins hearing arguments on New Jersey’s appeal for relief from the provisions of the highly restrictive federal Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, seeking to widen and liberalise the sports betting market in the United States.
The proceedings will be avidly watched by operators, lobbyists, punters and industry specialists alike, because a favourable decision could see a massive regulated and licensed market, boosting consumer protection, earnings for operators and tax revenues for states.
Media reports indicate that around a dozen states have passed, or are working on, legislation enabling a fast take-up of sports betting if it is made more widely legal, and a number of other states are monitoring the case closely due to its potential impact on sports betting within their borders and the potential for increased tax revenues.
The New Jersey case has dragged on for years (see previous reports) as the Garden State pioneered states’ right to control gambling within their borders, opposed by the national sports bodies and the Department of Justice.
Eighteen individual US states have backed New Jersey’s initiative, along with leading horse racing and casino trade bodies like the American Gaming Association.
The arguments have gone back and forth in a series of lower courts over the years, with New Jersey losing repeatedly; the US Supreme Court appeal could be the state’s last throw of the dice…and the demise of hopes for a more liberal US legal sports betting regime in the foreseeable future.
There are literally billions of dollars in revenues in prospect here
New Jersey wants to allow only certain types of sports betting, at casinos and racetracks, by bettors who are at least 21.
Legal experts and lobbyists have opined that other states would be sure to follow if New Jersey prevails in the Supreme Court hearing, with media reports indicating that the justices should deliver their verdict by mid-year.
Connecticut, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania are among states that have passed conditional legislation enabling them to quickly adopt sports betting in the event of a positive Supreme Court outcome, but up to 20 other states are said to be interested in following suit.
