Delaware loses in gamble for sports betting
By: Jim Williams
Examiner Sports Columnist
August 26, 2009
Monday, in a stunning reversal in Philadelphia, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit dealt what appears to be a knockout punch to Delaware's plan to offer single-game sports betting, ruling that the state would be violating federal law if it proceeds.
On Aug. 5, a federal district court denied an injunction request by the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB and NCAA, clearing the way for sports betting to begin in Delaware in September.
The strange part of Monday's ruling was that the U.S. Court of Appeals was to rule on an injunction brought to the court on behalf of the NFL that would have stopped single-game sports betting in Delaware until a trial could be scheduled.
But the panel, in an unusual move, decided there was no need for a trial and that they could decide the key question -- whether Delaware's plan was legal under federal law. The answer in their minds was very clear: No.
Delaware will offer some sort of multi-game waging package while they look at their appeal options and wait for the Courts' written ruling.
The state was given the right to have sports betting in 1992 when Congress passes the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. That covered the states of Delaware, Nevada, Montana and Oregon, giving them the rights to offer sports gambling in multi-game form. But Delaware was seeking the right to offer a single-game betting option like the one available in Nevada, one of the four states covered by the 1992 gaming act.
So the major sports leagues got their win -- because gambling on sports in any way threatens to destroy the very fabric of the games that are played.
Today, as NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell strolls down Park Avenue on his way to his office he can stop at a newsstand and choose either a Giants or a Jets New York lottery ticket with their official logo being used to entice people to gamble. Once he is inside his office he can log onto his computer and join any one of the official fantasy football sites that sport the NFL logo where people own teams and join leagues in the game of chance -- yes, gambling -- on picking the right players that will help them win a pot of cash at the end of the season.
NBA Commissioner David Stern can bring his fellow commissioners to watch the WNBA play games at Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut.
But thank goodness sports are safe from legal gambling in Delaware.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this! on washingtonexaminer.com.
