Will it be a slam dunk for the US sports betting ban?
By Natalie Sherman
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Business reporter, New York
A ban on sports betting in many US states might be reversed by a case being thought about by the Supreme Court.
The state of New Jersey is challenging the 1992 federal law that mostly outlawed sports betting gaming, describing the matter as a "states' rights" problem.
The case, which started on Monday, follows New Jersey citizens voted in 2011 to legalise sports betting wagering.
A group of sports betting leagues opposes sports betting on games, which they fear will motivate match-fixing.
Lower courts have against New Jersey, saying it is within the federal government's power to restrict a state's policy alternatives.
The Supreme Court opted to hear the case nevertheless amid a larger shift in American mindsets towards sports betting.
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Before 1976, Nevada - home of the Las Vegas strip - was the only state with legal casinos outside Native American lands.
But recently, states hungry for tax earnings in the wake of the financial crash have enacted a rash of looser gaming laws, collecting substantial levies on gaming revenue.
There are now 24 states with business casinos - roughly double the number a decade ago.
Despite the official ban, which already exempts Nevada and three other states, illegal sports betting is swarming in the US.
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Americans put about $154bn in illegal sports betting bets every year, according to the American Gaming Association.
The association's president, Geoff Freeman, described the federal ban, external as an "utter failure" earlier this year.
It states the UK is an example of a nation where sports betting is prevalent.
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"It's time for Washington to stop denying states of vital tax profits and permit them to enjoy the rewards of a regulated market," Mr Freeman stated.
More than 15 states filed papers in support of New Jersey in the event. A handful have currently passed laws to authorise sports betting wagering in case of a change.
'Times have altered'
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On Monday, as legal representatives started arguments for the Supreme Court, some more conservative judges appeared sceptical of the existing law.
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The court is expected to decide in June 2018.
"If we succeed here we might have bets being taken in New Jersey within two weeks of a choice by the court," said outbound New Jersey guv Chris Christie after participating in the court hearing. "We're prepared in New Jersey - we're ready to go."
Regardless of the court's final judgment, Congress may also take up the debate amid wider conversation about online gaming and e-sports betting.
Even a few of the professional sports betting leagues have begun to change their positions on the concern of sports betting.
Adam Silver, National Basketball Association commissioner, supported a federal law that would create an uniform set of rules throughout the US. "Times have altered," he composed in a 2014 viewpoint piece, external.
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Will it be a Slam Dunk for the United States Sports Betting Ban?
Denis Lilley edited this page 5 months ago