Legislators evaluate NBA’s petition

The NBA would support legal sports betting if the league could take 1 per cent of operations.

US.- As the National Basketball Association (NBA) is now pushing for legislation of sports betting with the condition of receiving 1 per cent of the profits of legal operations, the US Supreme Court’s ruling in favour of the gaming sector is expected. However, experts consider that the condition could only benefit illegal bookmakers.

As reported by Calvin Ayre, financial and legal experts in the United States suggested that the 1 per cent condition established by professional sports leagues could affect the development of legal sports betting operations as it would “ultimately hinder gamblers from switching from illegal gambling houses and offshore markets to the legal ones.”

Furthermore, a recent poll of New Yorkers showed that almost 70 per cent of American citizens were opposed to the 1 per cent demand but also supported legalisation of the industry. Over 18 states in the US have shown interest in legalising the sports betting industry, and the US Supreme Court will soon determine whether the PASPA amendment that prohibits operations could be changed.

Nevertheless, Dan Spillane, senior vice president and assistant general counsel for the NBA, defended the demand by arguing: “Without our games and fans, there could be no sports betting. And if sports betting becomes legal in New York and other states, sports leagues will need to invest more in compliance and enforcement, including bet monitoring, investigations, and education. To compensate leagues for the risk and expense created by betting and the commercial value our product creates for betting operators, we believe it is reasonable for operators to pay each league 1 per cent of the total amount bet on its games.”