AGA Urges Supreme Court To Look At Sports BettingCasino Lobby Supports New Jersey's Efforts |
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Though it’s still pushing for comprehensive federal legislation, the American Gaming Association indicated this week that it supports New Jersey’s efforts to have the 1992 Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act looked at by the U.S. Supreme Court.
That law restricted sports betting to just a few states, with Nevada being the only jurisdiction in the country with traditional sports wagering. Casinos are now in 40 states, and competition for gaming revenues has never been greater, especially in the Northeast.
New Jersey asked the Supreme Court in 2014 to look at the constitutionality of PASPA, but the court didn’t do so. In August, after another lower court defeat, the Garden State asked again.
The major professional sports leagues and the NCAA years ago sued to try to prevent New Jersey from circumventing PASPA through state legislation.
“As President-elect Donald Trump has acknowledged, illegal sports betting is a thriving industry,” AGA president and CEO Geoff Freeman said in a statement released Wednesday.
“The 24-year-old federal ban—which is breathing life into a $150 billion illegal sports betting market—threatens the integrity of games, presents fundamental questions about states’ sovereignty to define their own laws and combat crime within their borders, and prevents fans from engaging with the sports they enjoy in a safe, legal way. The United States Supreme Court should consider New Jersey’s important claims and allow all states to address the serious problems associated with illegal sports betting.”
In September, Freeman told Card Player that the group “continue[s] to believe that the way to address this issue is where the law was made.”
In other words, in Congress.
A Congressman from New Jersey has said that he intends to introduce legislation to legalize sports books, but nothing has officially been put on the table yet.
Just days ago, five other states signaled their support of New Jersey’s efforts to go through the Supreme Court to get PASPA declared unconstitutional.
Even if the Supreme Court again decides not to review PASPA, a Trump presidency would likely be favorable to new sports betting legislation. Trump is a former Atlantic City casino owner.
New Jersey Congressman Frank Pallone said that his legislative efforts would also involve reforms to the 1961 Wire Act and the 2006 Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.
“The laws need a wholesale review to see how they can actually work together and create a fairer playing field for all types of gambling, both online and offline, including sports betting and daily fantasy sports,” Pallone said in a statement.
Online poker players shouldn’t get their hopes up, as billionaire Republican Sheldon Adelson still opposes casino games on the internet (happening in just three states). Vice President-elect Mike Pence has a history of supporting Adelson’s proposed ban.
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