Sports leagues lobby for sports betting fee
Professional sports leagues are lobbying for an official fee that would be obtained once sports betting operations are legalised.
US.- As the US Supreme Court is soon to release a final resolution on sports betting demand presented by New Jersey, the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Major League Baseball (MLB) are lobbying for a fee in the business. Although both sports organisations opposed a legal sports betting market, the leaders are analysing a potential legalisation and, therefore, are seeking to benefit from it.
Lobbying records released on Tuesday revealed that they’ve met with Peter Cammarano, Gov. Phil Murphy’s chief of staff, as well as state Senate President Stephen Sweeney, and state Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin.
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.
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.
