Sports betting has been outlawed in 46 states in the United States since 1992 thanks to a federal ban entitled the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, or PASPA for short. PASPA and the major sports leagues, such as the National Football League, National Hockey League, National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball and the National Collegiate Athletics Association have blocked any type of push for sports betting legalization. The American Gaming Association has long been in support of sports gambling and has put together a grassroots campaign to see the industry legalized.
The AGA is of the mindset that sports gambling already happens. This mindset is quantifiably backed by the recent numbers coming out of Super Bowl LI, where an estimated $4.5 billion worth of bets were placed illegally on the biggest game of the year. That’s $4.5 billion worth of unregulated money going towards an industry that is being shut out in the US by a 25-year-old law. If states had the right to choose if they wanted sports betting, they could potentially establish legal, regulated sports betting markets with the money garnered going back into the state economy.
In light of the stark realization that 46 states are missing out on the benefits of sports betting, the American Gaming Association is leading an effort to inform people on how PASPA affects them and how changing it could be beneficial. In partnership with The Mellman Group, a research institution, a survey was put out and found that 80% of people who watch the Super Bowl believe PASPA should be overturned. Also, 66% of respondents believe that the decision to have sports betting should go to each individual state as opposed to the federal government. This line of thinking aligns with states like New Jersey, who have actively tried to push out legislation that circumvents PASPA. American Gaming Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman sees the benefits that could come from sports gambling legalization. “A regulated marketplace would generate tax revenue and jobs, protect consumers and leverage cutting-edge technology to strengthen the integrity of the games we all love,” said Freeman.
The American Gaming Association’s site on sports gambling informs people all about the current laws surrounding sports betting, the statistics behind the amount of bets already being place and also on how you can get involved in the fight for sports betting legalization. Their aim is to help people understand the ramifications of the sports betting market as it exists now and what it could be given the proper regulatory oversight. If you take Nevada’s example and apply it to other states, it spells out a lucrative industry.
2017 looks to be a pivotal year for sports gambling. New Jersey’s case is currently awaiting word from the Supreme Court on whether they’ll hear their case. If they end up doing so, and the ruling is in their favor, it could pave the way for other states to follow. The American Gaming Association will keep lobbying for PASPA’s repeal in hopes of bringing the sports gambling industry to the forefront. Utah is one of the states affected by PASPA, and Utah sports gambling could change forever if PASPA is repealed or amended to give states the power to choose if they want it or not.