AGA participates in sports betting federal hearing

The association testified before the House Subcommittee and emphasised that federal oversight of sports betting is unnecessary.

US.- During yesterday’s testimony at the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations hearing, Sara Slane, senior vice president of public affairs at the American Gaming Association (AGA), reiterated that federal oversight of sports betting would be unnecessary in efforts to create effective legal sports betting markets in the country.

“Because of the active, robust state and regulatory tribal gaming oversight, gaming is one of the most strictly regulated industries in America. Right now, over 4,000 gaming regulators with budgets that exceed $1.3 billion dollars oversee the gaming industry,” said Slane.

Gaming operators have successfully protected the integrity of both bets and competitions for decades in Nevada, along in partnership with teams, leagues and regulators, said AGA. The association’s continued position of support for state and tribal regulators was echoed in testimony by Nevada Gaming Control Board Chairwoman Becky Harris, who said that she doesn’t believe that it is the time for any kind of federal engagement with regard to gambling.

“States do a great job in every area including sports betting and we’ve just begun to see the roll out in other states. Nevada has a comprehensive regulatory structure that has been refined over decades, and we have a lot of integrity in our process,” said Harris.

At the hearing, the National Football League (NFL) asked Congress for a federal sports betting legislation, but it seems as if some leagues would be more comfortable with that because they wouldn’t have to adapt to rules from each state. However, legislators failed to come to a consensus.