by David Purdum, ESPN Chalk
Congress is ready to examine whether federal sports betting guidelines are needed as more states begin to open regulated sportsbooks.
On Thursday, a House Judiciary subcommittee scheduled a hearing titled “An Examination of Sports Betting in America” for Sept. 27, in Washington, D.C.
The Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigation will review the current U.S. landscape in the aftermath of a U.S. Supreme Court decision in May that struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 and opened a path for states to offer legal sports betting. Since the ruling, Delaware, Mississippi, New Jersey and West Virginia have joined Nevada in offering full-scale sports betting, and Pennsylvania and Rhode Island are also gearing up.
“My subcommittee will look at the implications of this SCOTUS ruling and talk about what it means for the integrity of sports as well as what sorts of improper or illicit activities could arise,” said subcommittee chairman Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.). “Ultimately, we want to determine whether or not a basic federal framework is necessary to guide states’ new gambling policies.”
Next week’s hearing was scheduled nearly a month after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) released sports betting guidelines, with the support of some professional sports leagues.
“As legalized sports betting spreads across the states, there is a need for consistent, nationwide integrity standards to safeguard the sports millions of fans love,” the NBA, PGA Tour and Major League Baseball said in a joint statement. “We strongly support the legislative framework outlined by Senator Schumer and we encourage Congress to adopt it.”
Rest is here…https://www.espn.com/chalk/story/_/id/24741786/congressional-subcommittee-examine-sports-betting
