West Virginia casinos on alert about integrity fees

As sports betting emergency rules get close to their deadline, operators could take legal action should sports betting conditions change.

US.- As sports betting turned legal in several states like West Virginia, major sports leagues in the US continue to push for legislation rules to include sports integrity fees that would send revenue their way. Even as they haven’t accomplished to get any fees included in any of the sports betting Laws around the country, West Virginia casino operators are on alert about their potential inclusion in the near future.

In order to get the segment up and running by the beginning of the NFL season, emergency rules were approved in the state but their time is already running out. While new rules get discussed, the president for the West Virginia Gaming and Racing Association John Cavacini has warned that casinos could take legal accion should new regulations don’t make them feel they represent the legislative intent of sports betting.

“Emergency rules can only be amended to include the legislative intent of the statute that was put in place and passed by the Legislature. The real argument is between the casinos and major league sports as to whether major league sports can charge us statutorily as a part of the rules and regulations for information and data,” Cavacini told WVNews and asserted: “But we don’t believe the emergency rules can contain anything in them that is not authorized with legislative intent when the bill passed.”

Mr Cavacini accused the leagues of trying to confiscate money from casinos, either through integrity fees or other type of taxes that are “absolutely the same,” and added: “I think we’re basically happy with how the rules are now. This was a four or five month process. The issue with sports betting was brought to us by the Lottery, and for four months we were all on the same page. The Lottery director, the counsel for the Lottery, the casinos and even the Governor, was all onboard for no fees.”