corruption/rigging on a grande scale??


ARE ATTITUDES CHANGING ABOUT SPORTS BETTING?

States are now lining up to introduce sports betting legislation. While only four passed such legislation, another 15 are considering a bill. With nearly half the states passing or considering new laws and a favorable SCOTUS decision, it is fair to say the tides are shifting.


Sports betting is a multi-billion dollar market in the United States, and the current operators are illegal bookies and offshore gambling websites.


Cash-strapped states looking for innovative new revenue sources are starting to see the sports betting market as a realistic way to generate money. This is similar to the change in attitude towards land-based casino operations and online gambling.


POSITION OF SPORTS LEAGUES

League/Team Casino/sports betting partner
NBA MGM Resorts
NHL MGM Resorts
New York Jets (NFL) MGM Resorts, 888 Casino
Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) Caesars
Vegas Golden Knights (NHL) William Hill
New Jersey Devils (NHL) William Hill, Caesars
Dallas Cowboys (NFL) WinStar Casino
Baltimore Ravens (NFL) Horseshoe Baltimore (Caesars)


When New Jersey passed sports betting legislation, major pro sports leagues,including the NFL, NHL, NBA, andMLB were the ones who took them to court to oppose it. Many of the same sports leagues stood in opposition when Delaware looked to expand its lottery parlay wagering beyond football.


However, the leagues’ stances on sports betting may be softening. In fact, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver wrote an op-ed in the New York Times in 2014 calling for the repeal of PASPA. He claimed the popularity of gambling across the United States as a reason why.


Silver called for Congress to adopt a federal framework allowing states to authorize betting on professional sports. Of course, he also said it should be subject to regulatory requirements and safeguards. As new bills rolled out, it became clear Silver and other leagues also expect a cut of the sports betting revenue—a move drawing extensive criticism from the gambling industry.


Other leagues are echoing the NBA’s sentiments in the wake of the Supreme Court decision. They are lobbying for afederal sports betting bill with a cut for the leagues to help finance measures to preserve the integrity of their games.


On July 31 though, the NBA did something unprecedented. It partnered with MGM Resorts. MGM will be the official sports betting partner of the league. In exchange for $25 million, MGM will get to use league data and logos in its sports betting promotion for the next three years. The deal establishes a precedent that casino companies should pay sports leagues for certain data and content rights.


The NHL was the next to jump on the wagon with MGM. With the relationship between the two organizations bolstered by the Vegas Golden Knights‘ historic run to the Stanley Cup finals, the two announced a deal on October 29 to allow MGM access to the NHL’s intellectual property.


That access extends to use of the logos and associated property of the 31 teams in the NHL. MGM Resorts is also now the official resort of the NHL.


Individually, two of the NHL’s teams have not waited to partner with other gaming companies. Both the Golden Knights and the New Jersey Devils now have deals in place with sportsbook provider William Hill.