Baptists in Delaware Must Oppose Sports Betting

Bob Simpson, associate executive director of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware, told Baptist Press in March that Baptists in Delaware and elsewhere must continue to oppose expanded gambling.



"I am well aware of the dramatic change that has occurred within American culture," Simpson said. "I get that we as Bible-believing Christians are swimming upstream on most things related to both faith and family values. But it just seems to me that, in spite of what the pro-gambling folks tell us, more good could come if we solidly defeat any and all gambling initiatives."

The Baptist Press featured an article on potential sports betting in Delaware on Wednesday.

The pro sports leagues contend that Delaware's new lottery goes beyond what is allowed by the '92 exemption. The lottery the state started in 1976 -- which later failed -- only offered parlay bets on the results of three or more NFL games. The new plan would allow betting on single games and on sports other than professional football.

In May, Delaware's Supreme Court ruled that the current sports betting plan does not conflict with the state constitution as long as chance is the predominant factor in winning or losing.

The major sports leagues have argued otherwise.

Kenneth Nachbar, an attorney for the leagues, said the harm posed to the sports leagues was recognized by Congress in 1992 when the law was enacted, the Associated Press said.

"The only aspects that are being challenged are single-game betting and betting on sports other than the NFL," Nachbar said. "Delaware has never had sports betting on anything but NFL games."

Gambling911.com Staff