U.S. legalised sports betting; a ‘perfect storm’ ahead?

The American Gaming Association’s CEO Geoff Freeman continued his campaign for the overthrow of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) as a “failed law” this week, and predicted that a “perfect storm” was forming for the wider legalisation of sports betting in the United States.

Speaking to Yahoo News, Freeman listed a Republican dominated Senate, House and in the main state governments, along with a softer attitude emerging from professional sports leagues and the possibility that President Trump would side with the widening of sports betting beyond PASPA demanded by the majority of adult US gamblers.

“We have a perfect storm coming together,” said Freeman. “You have leagues, you have broadcasters, you have law enforcement, you have the casino industry – everyone is acknowledging that we are better off having a regulated environment.

“We have a Republican House, Republican Senate, Republican president. Generally those folks believe in states ’ rights and empowering states to legislate as they see fit. If you believe in that, then you’re inclined to think PASPA is a failed law.”

The Yahoo News report also references a new Seton Hall Sports Poll of 626 adults, asking them which of two scenarios they supported

* Widespread sports betting is already happening, and it should therefore be regulated, taxed and controlled;

* Wider legalisation is not good for sports integrity, expands gambling and should therefore be rejected.

The results showed that 43 percent of respondents were against wider legalisation, whilst 46 percent said they supported the concept. 13 percent claimed they have never placed a bet, but said they would place a bet if it were legal; Rick Gentile, director of the Seton Hall poll, says that may have been affected by the fact that some people do not like to admit to an interest in gambling.

70 percent of respondents felt that the decision on wider sports betting was a state, and not federal, prerogative, whilst 21 percent felt federal intervention was desirable.

Daily fantasy sports was included in the survey, with 61 percent of respondents opining that DFSW was gambling, and 23 percent saying it was rather a game of skill.

The age demographics of respondents are interesting, with support for wider sports betting at both younger and older levels:

* 67 percent of respondents aged 18-29 support, whilst only 30 percent of those over age 60 oppose it;

* In the 30 to 40 age group only 48 percent are in favour of wider sports betting;

* In the 45-59 age group, 42 percent do not support wider legalisation.

The AGA has been increasingly insistent on the need for properly regulated sports betting across the USA (at state governments discretion) and recently used the latest Super Bowl statistics to make a point, claiming that 95 percent of the massive $5 billion wagered on the event had been placed illegally (see previous report).

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