NBA Changes Its Collective Mind about Sports Betting

Sports Betting USA, the Woodstock of sportsbooks, was held in New York City between November 14^th and 15^th. Even though many topics were discussed, perhaps the biggest takeaway was the NBA’s apparent readiness to lobby Congress for more regulation of sports gambling in the United States of America. This is quite the volte-face from the league’s previous stance on the subject a year ago, when they were adamantly against sports betting. They have, like Saul on the road to Damascus, seen the light. They were lost but now are found. Praise be to Cajetan, patron saint of gamblers.

Senior Vice President & Assistant General Counsel at National Basketball Association Dan Spillane said at the conference that the NBA has advisors in Washington DC and legislation they are putting together with their commissioner Adam Silver, who got the conversation going, now that members of congress are more receptive following the SCOTUS decision. The NBA had previously gone as far as stating their support federal regulation of sports betting, but refrained from advocating for it. Silver had also said that federal sports wagering needed to be regulated in the United States.

As one might recall, three years ago Silver authored an opinion piece entitled Legalize and Regulate Sports Betting, which was published in the New York Times, in which he wrote, “for more than two decades, the National Basketball Association has opposed the expansion of legal sports betting,” which he acknowledged to be “widespread,” and “thriving” in spite of “restrictions” and lack of “regulation or oversight.” “Gambling has increasingly become a popular and accepted form of entertainment in the United States,” he added. “Most states offer lotteries. Over half of them have legal casinos. Three have approved some form of Internet gambling, with others poised to follow.”

Considering the “appetite among sports fans for a safe and legal way to wager on professional sporting events” as well as “domestic and global trends,” Silver called for Congress to “adopt a federal framework that allows states to authorize betting on professional sports, subject to strict regulatory requirements and technological safeguards.” In spite of Silver’s silver tongue, the Commish was criticized for not backing his words with actions. Perhaps he was wary of endangering the “integrity of the game” of basketball. Or maybe he was just really busing framing Roger Rabbit.  It may have taken him three years, but it seems as if the NBA is finally going to put its money where its mouth is.

The Sports Betting USA conference wrapped up just as the Supreme Court is gearing to commence oral arguments in the Christie V. NCAA case. New Jersey representatives will argue that PASPA is unconstitutional and as such must be overturned. Should the Professional & Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 be changed, New Jersey as well as several other states will be ready to push forward to offer regulated sports betting services. A decision by the Supreme Court of the United States is expected to be given between the months of April and June.