The MLB may consider backing sports betting
The Major League Baseball are allegedly debating the approval of the sports betting industry.
US.- Whilst sports betting industry is getting more relevant in United States’ legislation and economy, more organisations are showing their interests in developing the sector. Yesterday Major League Baseball (MLB) commissioner Rob Manfred admitted that the entity may be considering backing sports betting legalisation.
Several states, such as New Jersey and New York, are assessing a complete legislation to allow the highly demanded game. Furthermore, both officials’ organisations and private companies are lobbying for a federal approval.
Now, the biggest representative of national baseball market has revealed its consideration. Rob Manfred told Yahoo Finance that sports betting is a”form of fan engagement” and “can fuel the popularity.”
“Sports betting happens,” Manfred said. “Whether it’s legalised here or not, it’s happening out there. So I think the question for sports is really, ‘Are we better off in a world where we have a nice, strong, uniform, federal regulation of gambling that protects the integrity of sports, provides sports with the tools to ensure that there is integrity in the competition … or are we better off closing our eyes to that and letting it go on as illegal gambling?’ And that’s a debatable point,” Manfred expressed.
