by Bob Cohn, Triblive
Gambling is so — the threat of gambling, and to create more threats, is to me — I’m stunned. … I’m appalled . I’ m really appalled. … It’s beyond belief.”
— MLB commissioner Bud Selig, December 2012
“Gambling in terms of our society has changed its presence on legalization, and I think it’s important for there to be a conversation between me and the owners about what our institutional position will be.”
— MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, February 2015
Welcome to the dialogue, Commissioner. The conversation has begun, in earnest. An energized debate over legalizing sports betting in the United States is taking place, and experts believe it could become reality in as soon as five years.
“No doubt about it,” said Las Vegas bookmaker and Trafford native Jimmy Vaccaro, “the walls are crumbling.”
Sen. John McCain in January said Congress should hold hearings on legalized sports betting, and the American Gaming Association, a national trade group representing the casino industry, for the first time formed a task force to study the subject. In November, a New York Times op-ed piece by NBA commissioner Adam Silver calling for legal sports betting caused shock waves.
“I think everyone realizes there has been a lot of discussion about this,” said task force head Sara Rayme, the AGA senior vice president for public affairs. “Everyone is questioning if the status quo works right now.”
Sports betting is legal in four states — Nevada, Oregon, Delaware and Montana — but confined mainly to Nevada. To the antigambling forces, what happens in Vegas (and within state lines) should stay there. But that’s hardly reality. The AGA conservatively estimated bettors illegally wagered $138.9 billion on sports last year. Other estimates reach as high as $380 billion, including $9 billion on March Madness (including office pools) and $3.8 billion on this year’s Super Bowl.
The idea of legalizing sports betting is far from new. In 1950, for example, New York City mayor William O’Dwyer proposed statewide enactment to raise revenue. Comparing illegal sports gambling to Prohibition, he acknowledged what many (as now) believed to be true: “The public generally is interested in sports not only from the standpoint of the sports themselves but also from the pleasure they get from betting on sports.” The idea never had a chance.
Today, opposition remains, much of it entrenched. But public perception is changing. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie twice has pushed a sports legalization bill successfully. The first time, voters approved a referendum by a 2-1 margin. The second time, both government chambers overwhelmingly approved.
On both occasions, opponents — that is, the NFL, NHL, NBA, Major League Baseball and the NCAA — managed to send it back to the Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled against the bill the first time. It is expected to return another ruling by the end of the month.
Rest is here
