On Monday, oral arguments were presented by both sides at the US Supreme Court concerning New Jersey’s case for legalized sports betting. Simultaneously, Dina Titus, the Congresswoman for Nevada’s 1st District, is urging Congress to tackle this issue.
Rep. Titus actually penned a letter on Monday to the Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Greg Walden (R-OR), and the Ranking Member, Frank Pallone (D-NJ). The purpose of the letter was to request that the committee conduct a hearing on the future of sports betting in the United States. The content of Titus’ letter is as follows:
While the Supreme Court is considering the Christie v. NCAA case and reviewing the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), it is crucial that Congress also focuses on sports betting within the United States. The sports betting industry is thriving in America, irrespective of its legality. The existing system has inadvertently fostered a $150 billion per year illegal sports betting market, which is highly susceptible to manipulation and other criminal activities.
Standing behind states rights
Although her home state largely dominates the fully legalized sports betting industry, Rep. Titus seems to strongly support New Jersey and other states in their right to legalize it.
She wrote, “If sports betting were legalized with regulation and safeguards, it would reduce issues caused by the black market and enable state governments to generate extra tax revenue for the benefit of local communities.”
Titus stated that a minimum of 13 states have introduced legislation on sports betting this year. These bills have been put forward by lawmakers in the hope that the Supreme Court will rule in New Jersey’s favor, thereby enabling other states to establish legal and regulated sports betting markets.
Rep. Titus has also stated that according to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, the NBA is prepared to approach Congress concerning this matter. She asserts that Silver is open to discussing the regulation of sports betting at the federal level, irrespective of the result of the sports betting case in New Jersey. In her words:
This issue is clearly heading towards Congress, and we must be prepared to act promptly to safeguard consumers and prevent unscrupulous participants from entering the marketplace. Congress members must be ready in case a Supreme Court decision allows sports betting in their respective states or necessitates federal legislation.
Calling for expert testimony
Rep. Titus is asking the Energy and Commerce Committee to conduct a hearing on the issue. Additionally, she aspires to bring in gaming regulation experts from her district to testify.
Full-scale sports betting is only legal in Nevada. Rep. Titus represents a district that encompasses the Las Vegas Strip, which is a major hub for this activity. The district is also home to gaming establishments, sports books, and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas International Center for Gaming Regulation. According to Rep. Titus, their input would make the hearing an informative and valuable event.
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