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- "Best-case scenario: one to three years. Outer limit: three to five years," renowned gambling attorney boldly predicted this week
- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. to introduce sports betting legislation next year
- Pallone Jr: "The laws need a wholesale review to see how they can actually work together and create a fairer playing field for all types of gambling”
- Pallone Jr. added: “I plan to continue discussions with the key stakeholders (sports leagues) and then will introduce comprehensive legislation to finally update these outdated laws."
It’s something that many of us thought we would never see in our life times: Legalized sports betting in the United States. But now there is serious discussion taking place within the US Congress regarding the issue with one top gambling lawyer predicting legalization – at best – within one to three years.
"Best-case scenario: one to three years. Outer limit: three to five years," renowned gambling attorney Daniel Wallach predicted this week. "In 10 years, there's going to be legal sports gambling. You'll be able to bet on games inside the arena using mobile phones. But without the stakeholders involved, nothing meaningful will happen."
Those “stakeholders” are the actual sports leagues.
U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. announced Friday that his congressional committee will conduct a review of the laws and introduce new sports betting legislation in the next session that also will cover daily fantasy sports. The current legislative session is coming to a close, affording no time for consideration in 2016.
The New Jersey Rep is a power player in Washington who serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. His state has been trying unsuccessfully to challenge current sports betting laws, opposed by the very leagues that have begun to embrace Daily Fantasy Sports.
Pallone issued a statement Saturday to ESPN: "The laws need a wholesale review to see how they can actually work together and create a fairer playing field for all types of gambling, both online and offline, including sports betting and daily fantasy sports," Pallone Jr. said. "At the same time, we must ensure the laws are actually creating an environment of integrity and accountability, and include strong consumer protections. I plan to continue discussions with the key stakeholders and then will introduce comprehensive legislation to finally update these outdated laws."
State-sponsored sports gambling is currently prohibited in all but four states by the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA).
Sports gambling also is regulated by the Interstate Wire Act of 1961, which prohibits phone wagers, and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, which is a somewhat more flawed prohibition directed towards the prevention of online wagering.
- Gilbert Horowitz, Gambling911.com
