Earlier today, the U.S. Supreme Court declared the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 unconstitutional. Now, all 50 states will be able to legalize sports betting.
BREAKING: U.S. Supreme Court rules that federal ban on state-sanctioned sports betting is unconstitutional. Decides case in favor of New Jersey. Floodgates now officially open for other states to allow sports betting. #RIPPASPA
— Daniel Wallach (@WALLACHLEGAL) May 14, 2018
Attorney Daniel Wallach wrote an article about what happens next.
It is expected that Monmouth Park Racetrack, located in Oceanport, will be one of the first New Jersey gambling venues to offer sports betting, perhaps as soon as two weeks from now, according to Monmouth Park executive Dennis Drazin. Several years ago, Monmouth Park inked a deal with sports betting conglomerate William Hill US to operate a sports book at the historic New Jersey track. With Monmouth Park’s racing season already underway, there is a good chance that it will be taking sports bets during the current racing meet.
But New Jersey is not the only state that will benefit from today’s landmark Supreme Court decision. Three other states — Mississippi, Pennsylvania and West Virginia — recently passed laws that would allow sports betting contingent on the Supreme Court invalidating PASPA. With that outcome now having been achieved, those three states could be in a position to implement their sports gambling laws within the next 60 to 90 days.
Additionally, some 15 other states — including New York and Illinois — have introduced bills to legalize and regulate sports betting tied to the Supreme Court outcome. With a favorable Court decision, look for those states (and perhaps a few others, such as Massachusetts and Rhode Island) to quickly advance sports betting legislation so they can potentially be in a position to join New Jersey, Mississippi, Pennsylvania and West Virginia in allowing sports betting later this summer.
Sports leagues are expected to continue lobbying at the state level.
Since last June when the court agreed to hear the case, more than 20 states have taken up versions of bills aimed at taking advantage of a favorable ruling. Four states — New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Mississippi and West Virginia — have passed bills that could see them begin taking bets in a short time.
The NBA and MLB have been on the ground in all of these states as they combine resources to lobby to get language that would assure them of a gambling revenue stream for years to come. They’ve hired high-priced lobbying firms, submitted written statements and sent executives to testify in statehouses.
All the pro sports leagues, including the PGA Tour and the NCAA, have been involved, but it has been the NBA and MLB that have been the tip of the spear. And first in the firing line for those pushing back and the desire for a cut of the new proceeds.
ESPN Chalk reporter David Purdum compiled reactions to the decision.
Thread with reactions to Supreme Court ruling that the federal sports betting prohibition is unconstitutional. pic.twitter.com/evDEymglLM
— David Payne Purdum (@DavidPurdum) May 14, 2018
From NCAA re: Supreme Court ruling, striking down federal ban on sports betting. pic.twitter.com/rxIYs8zVYR
— David Payne Purdum (@DavidPurdum) May 14, 2018
From @WilliamHillUS, which will operate the sports book at Monmouth Park in N.J.: pic.twitter.com/rfaYl9WakR
— David Payne Purdum (@DavidPurdum) May 14, 2018
Statement from Major League Baseball re: sports betting decision: pic.twitter.com/Ozah9tl3DU
— David Payne Purdum (@DavidPurdum) May 14, 2018
Statement from NFL re: legalization of sports betting: pic.twitter.com/m4HBAHhKUD
— David Payne Purdum (@DavidPurdum) May 14, 2018
Statement from NBA re: legalization of sports betting: pic.twitter.com/GH0U41NSOw
— David Payne Purdum (@DavidPurdum) May 14, 2018
Statement from National Thoroughbred Racing Association on legalization of sports betting: pic.twitter.com/FVNwBYeO9h
— David Payne Purdum (@DavidPurdum) May 14, 2018
Statement from Nevada Gaming Control Board on legalization of sports betting: pic.twitter.com/ZjewTciBqm
— David Payne Purdum (@DavidPurdum) May 14, 2018
Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon on the legalization of sports betting: pic.twitter.com/fKfEHNxN5k
— David Payne Purdum (@DavidPurdum) May 14, 2018
Caesars Entertainement CEO on the legalization of sports betting: pic.twitter.com/RkEEiY8S1Y
— David Payne Purdum (@DavidPurdum) May 14, 2018
Statement from MLB Players Union on legalization of sports betting: pic.twitter.com/GDWZ1zHlCt
— David Payne Purdum (@DavidPurdum) May 14, 2018
Statement from Poker Players Association on legalization of sports betting: pic.twitter.com/Rba0xzROhq
— David Payne Purdum (@DavidPurdum) May 14, 2018
Expanded legal sports betting is expected to be a boon for sports leagues and media consumption.
It’s not just the act of wagering on sports that changes. Television ratings/media consumption predicted to skyrocket, especially NFL. Regular gamblers are heavy consumers. Now there should be many more of them.
— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) May 14, 2018
There’s still more to be worked out — like if intrastate sports betting will be an option.
Too early to tell. Still lots of moving parts. https://t.co/HXfiv3AlvQ
— Chris Andrews (@andrewssports) May 14, 2018
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