Where Bernie Sanders, Michael Bloomberg, Pete Buttigieg, Stand On Legal Sports Betting

Written By Matt Burke on February 19, 2020Last Updated on September 13, 2022
Where Bernie Sanders Michael Bloomberg Pete Buttigieg stand sports betting

This week, all of the leading Democratic presidential candidates are in Nevada.

Discussion on Medicare for all, border safety, foreign relations, and other common debate topics will take place.

It’s unlikely that the topic of the leading candidates’ views on legal sports betting in the US will be discussed. Despite Nevada being renowned as a global gambling hub, they are falling behind regarding legal online sportsbooks. Current mobile books operating in the state are all linked to physical sites. FanDuel and DraftKings, which have established themselves as the “Big 2” in states such as New Jersey and Pennsylvania, have yet to gain a presence in Nevada.

 

Bernie Sanders, Michael Bloomberg, Pete Buttigieg on sports betting

Vermont, the home state of Bernie Sanders, has not legalized sports betting yet. However, the long-standing Senator supports its legalization.

According to ISideWith.com, Sanders holds the view that sports betting should be legalized on a state-by-state basis, provided there are limits on the amount people can bet.

Ex-New York City Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, also supports the legalization of sports betting. According to ISideWith.com, Bloomberg insisted that such a decision should be made individually by each state.

Former US Vice President, Joe Biden, also believes that sports betting should be permitted. He expressed to Las Vegas Union workers in the previous year that he does not advocate for imposing unnecessary limitations on the gaming industry like those the Trump Administration has enforced.

Elizabeth Warren concurs with Bloomberg that it should be decided on a state-by-state basis, a viewpoint that Pete Buttigieg also shares.

 

Trump’s stance on sports betting

Upon taking the role of President of the United States, it was widely assumed that Donald Trump would unreservedly support the legalization of sports betting nationwide. However, this has not entirely proven to be the case.

Last year, the ex-casino tycoon supported the US Department of Justice’s interpretation of The Wire Act. This action stalled much of the progress that had been achieved in 2018 by states seeking to legalize sports betting.

Matt Burke Avatar
Written by

Matt Burke

Matt Burke currently manages PlayCA, PlayColorado, PlayIllinois, PlayIA, PlayMaineOnline, Play MA, PlayMichigan, PlayNHOnline and PlayNY as the Site Runner. Before this, he founded MetroBet, a sports betting platform available in digital and print. He also held the position of Executive Sports Editor at Metro US Newspapers, covering NY, Boston, and Philadelphia. Matt’s impressive reporting portfolio includes coverage of Super Bowls and Final Fours. He holds a degree from the University of Connecticut.

View all posts by Matt Burke