Opposition mounts to federal interference in U.S. sports betting
News on 30 Aug 2018
News on 30 Aug 2018
The ink was barely dry on Sen. Chuck Schumer’s memo Tuesday calling for federal involvement in the newly liberalised US sports betting market, when the American Gaming Association weighed in with some pointed language.
The Association’s senior VP of public affairs, Sara Slane said Wednesday:
“Federal oversight of sports betting was an abject failure for 26 years, only contributing to a thriving illegal market with no consumer protections and safeguards. New federal mandates are a non-starter.
“The casino industry is working with stakeholders to ensure the proper protections for consumers, and the integrity of bets and sporting contests are included in state policy, universally implemented by all operators in those states, and overseen by effective state and tribal gaming regulators.”
The sports leagues, which have vigorously opposed all attempts to overturn the restrictive federal Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, have modified their stance since the US Supreme Court struck down PASPA in favour of individual states deciding on their own gambling laws.
Following the ruling, some leagues have attempted to persuade individual states legalising sports betting to give them an “integrity fee” cut of the action, a move which has not always met with success.
The sports leagues have been quick to endorse Sen. Schumer’s “suggestions” that federal involvement and guidance on sports betting is necessary (see previous report).
Their support is understandable, given that Schumer wants to ensure that only official league data should be used, enabling the sports properties to benefit from a potentially lucrative new revenue stream.
A joint statement by the NBA basketball league, Major League Baseball and the PGA Tour expressed strong support for Schumer’s ideas and encouraged the US Congress to move on his proposals, whilst a similar statement from the NFL and the National Collegiate Athletic Association applauded the Schumer initiative in “supporting federal legislation to protect the integrity of our games following the Supreme Court decision.”
