Supreme Court to hear New Jersey Appeal on Monday Over Sports Wagering

December 5, 2017

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear the New Jersey Appeal by oral arguments over whether or not states ought to have the facility to legalize sports activities wagering.

The failed federal ban on sports betting is driving an unlawful, underground market of not less than $150 billion yearly, argues an amicus brief filed within the United States Supreme Court by the American Gaming Association (AGA). AGA’s temporary details how the failed federal ban on sports activities betting is funding harmful prison enterprises and threatening the integrity of sports activities. New Jersey appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court last month challenging the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), which limits legal sports activities betting to four states.

“As President-elect Donald Trump has acknowledged, illegal sports betting is a thriving industry,”

stated AGA president and CEO Geoff Freeman.

“The 24-year-old federal ban –which is breathing life into a $150 billion illegal sports betting market — threatens the integrity of games, presents fundamental questions about states’ sovereignty to define their own laws and combat crime within their borders, and prevents fans from engaging with the sports they enjoy in a safe, legal way. The United States Supreme Court should consider New Jersey’s important claims and allow all states to address the serious problems associated with illegal sports betting.”

Since President George H.W. Bush signed PASPA into legislation in 1992, trillions of dollars have been wagered on sports activities illegally. Annually, sports activities fans wager about $150 billion illegally, together with $4.1 billion on Super Bowl 50 earlier this year. AGA estimates followers throughout the nation will wager $90 billion on NFL and college soccer games this season. However, $88 billion – or 98 percent – of all bets shall be made illegally due to the federal authorities ban.

In September, AGA launched two studies on sports activities betting. “The Key to Sports Integrity in the United States: Legalized, Regulated Sports Betting” details how the United States would profit from adopting a strategy similar to that within the United Kingdom to permit authorized, regulated sports activities betting in an open and clear market to guard the integrity of sports activities. The second report, “Law Enforcement Summit on Illegal Sports Betting: After-Action Report,” discovered that PASPA is fueling an enormous underground betting market and needs to be repealed.

Through its “Stop Illegal Gambling – Play it Safe” initiative, the on line casino gaming trade is working with legislation enforcement organizations and businesses, together with the FBI, attorneys common, district attorneys, police chiefs, sheriffs and others, to show the rising unlawful playing market that preys on customers, siphons tax revenues and funds violent crime – and stands in stark distinction to the authorized, regulated gaming trade that serves as a community accomplice throughout 40 states. AGA is targeted on five varieties of unlawful playing: sports activities betting; illicit machines; Internet sweepstakes cafes; on-line and sometimes offshore wagering and animal betting.

About AGA: The American Gaming Association is the premier nationwide commerce group representing the $240 billion U.S. on line casino trade, which helps 1.7 million jobs in 40 states. AGA members embrace business and tribal on line casino operators, suppliers and different entities affiliated with the gaming trade. It is the mission of the AGA to be the only only champion of the trade, relentlessly defending in opposition to dangerous and sometimes misinformed public policies, and paving a path for development, innovation and reinvestment.