Montana gets closer to sports betting
Both of Montana’s sports betting bills have been sent to the Governor’s desk to be signed before April 30.
US.- Sports betting continues to take over the US and Montana may be the next to launch it. Two separate sports betting bills were approved by each chamber and were sent to Governor Steve Bullock.
Montana sports betting could turn into a reality, but one – or both – bills need the governor’s signature before April 30. Past that date, the current session will expire and it will be too late.
The bills
The House of Representatives had approved a piece of legislation with a 90-10 vote. Its version would give the Montana Lottery the power to control the sports betting industry in the state. The Senate also passed it by 34-14 and sent it to the Governor.
The Senate’s own version had been endorsed in a separate bill with a 33-16 vote. In this case, lawmakers intend to get the Department of Justice to oversee the segment in Montana. The House voted 33-17 in favour of it and also turned it to Gov. Bullock.
Sports betting liberalisation
The US Supreme Court cleared states to legalise sports betting in May. They said that the federal law that was in place was unconstitutionally forcing states to maintain their prohibitions. As a result, the gambling industry got the green light to set regulations to find common ground on it.
The high court ruled that Congress overstepped its authority in 1992 by prohibiting states that didn’t already allow sports betting from entering the business. Due to a 7-2 vote in favour of overruling PASPA, the sports protection act that was passed 26 years ago.
