The Supreme Court’s Monday ruling that ended a federal ban on sports gambling outside of Nevada has some states running to implement legislation that would legalize the practice and give them a piece of the multibillion dollar pie.
Some states have already passed sports gambling measures in anticipation of the Supreme Court’s decision, like New Jersey, which is ground zero for the case before the Supreme Court. Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, and Senate President Stephen Sweeney said they intend to move fast to pass legislation dealing with licensing, regulations, and taxes.
Sweeney unveiled a draft bill Monday and said he expects people will be able to gamble on sports in the Garden State by the end of June, according to New Jersey 101.5.
“We knew we were going to win this one, so there was no reason to wait until the decision to move forward,” Sweeney said. “At this point, it’s us getting the legislation passed, the governor to sign it, and it’s off to the races.”
Monmouth Park, a racetrack located near the Jersey Shore, hopes to take its first sports bets even sooner, unless the state legislature objects, according to Dennis Drazin, CEO of Darby Development LLC, which runs Monmouth Park.
The racetrack partnered with William Hill, a British sports gambling company, and Joe Asher, CEO of William Hill US, said he wants to be “open to business as soon as responsibly possible.”
New Jersey, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia passed laws legalizing sports betting, while sports gambling bills in more than a dozen states were introduced in either 2017 or 2018.
In Delaware, Gov. John Carney, a Democrat, signaled the state could be prepared to allow for sports betting in just over a month.
“If it is permissible under the [Supreme Court] opinion, full-scale sports gambling could be available at Delaware’s casinos before the end of June,” Carney said in a statement.
In Connecticut, Gov. Dannel Malloy, a Democrat, said he is prepared to call a special session of the state’s General Assembly to consider legalizing sports betting in the state “in a thoughtful way that ensures our approach is responsible, smart, and fully realizes the economic potential that this opportunity provides.”
Malloy signed legislation last year that allowed the state to act quickly if the Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on sports gambling.
In Arizona, Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican, signaled his state could act to legalize sports betting through the Arizona Tribal-State Gaming Compacts.
“This is positive news,” Ducey said in a tweet about the Supreme Court’s ruling. “We have been working on a modernized gaming compact. This ruling gives Arizona options that could benefit our citizens and our general fund.”
The Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Protection Act, a 1992 law that effectively banned sports gambling outside of Nevada.
The case pitted New Jersey against the country’s major sports leagues, including the NCAA and NFL, and stemmed from a 2011 decision from New Jersey voters to amend the state’s constitution to give the legislature the authority to legalize sports betting.
Most of the major sports leagues were in favor of the federal ban, and following the Supreme Court’s decision, some are urging Congress to take action to bring it back.
“The NFL’s long-standing and unwavering commitment to protecting the integrity of our game remains absolute. Congress has long-recognized the potential harms posed by sports betting to the integrity of sporting contests and the public confidence in these events,” the NFL said in a statement. “Given that history, we intend to call on Congress again, this time to enact a core regulatory framework for legalized sports betting.”
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said the league backs a “federal framework that would provide a uniform approach to sports gambling in states that choose to permit it,” but said the NBA would continue to have discussions with state legislatures.
“Regardless of the particulars of any future sports betting law, the integrity of our game remains our highest priority,” Silver said.
So far, at least one lawmaker is vowing to introduce legislation in the wake of the court’s decision. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, who helped author PASPA nearly 30 years ago, vowed to unveil a proposal designed to preserve the integrity of sports contests.
“At stake here is the integrity of sports,” Hatch said in a statement. “That’s why I plan to introduce legislation in the coming weeks to help protect honesty and principle in the athletic arena. I invite stakeholders and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in addressing this important issue.”
The NCAA, meanwhile, said it is reviewing the decision to “understand the overall implications” with college sports, but plans to adjust its sports wagering and championship policies in the wake of the court’s ruling.
