NBA and MLB hire lobbyist
As the United States considers a legal sports betting industry, the NBA and the MLB hire a lobbyist.
US.- The National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball have hired the Senate Finance Committee’s former chairman Stephen Alves to lobby on their behalf. Over 18 states of 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.
In a prepared statement, Mike Bass – the NBA’s executive Vice President of Coummunications – said: “We’ve dedicated years to carefully studying the issue of legalized sports betting and we agree the time has come to give sports fans a safe and legal way to bet on sports while protecting the integrity of our games. We look forward to working with the governor and the legislature on a framework that includes appropriate safeguards.”
The sports betting legalisation is an issue being discussed at national level throughout the United States. With over 18 states willing to introduce new legislation regulating the market, New Jersey has taken the case to the US Supreme Court, which is expected to set a resolution next month. Under current legislation, sports betting is banned federal-wide, except in four states – Nevada, Oregon, Delaware and Montana – as they were already offering some variation of sports lotteries back in 1992, when PASPA (the Act against sports betting) was approved.
