New Jersey has recently passed a law which would allow race tracks and casinos to make bets on National Football League matches as well as other sports. However, New Jersey Senator Raymond Lesniak, a sponsor on the bill, has yet to be able to place a bet as a Federal Judge has enjoined NJ from implementing the law as a response to a suit that several leagues have levied against New Jersey's Law. Their primary complaint is that the allowance of sports gambling would lead to higher occurrences of match fixing.
This is certainly a concern as match fixing allegations have arisen in European soccer league, which at this point have prevented clubs like Fenerbahce from participating in Europe's top flight soccer league, the Champion's League. Several referees from the German Bundesliga have been convicted of match fixing. Most recently C.J. Ross, a judge for Nevada State Athletic Commission resigned her position after public outcry alleging dubious judging for Floyd Mayweather's title defense against Saul "Canelo" Alvarez in September of last year. However, these instances are few. In addition, a well regulated betting system would allow police as well as administrators to observe betting trends and gaming activity to discern if there is any impropriety as to the bets being placed at a sportsbook.
The system would also allow more funds to flow into the pockets of the participating leagues as well as the coffers of many struggling casinos. The Fertita Brothers who are the owners of Station Casinos as well as the Ultimate Fighting Championship's parent company Zuffa,Inc, have come out in support of efforts like NJ's, stating that it would "legitimize the sport." NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has joined to support the legalization of sports gambling in the United States.
"In light of these domestic and global trends, the laws on sports
betting should be changed," Silver wrote. "Congress should adopt a
federal framework that allows states to authorize betting on
professional sports, subject to strict regulatory requirements and
technological safeguards."- Silver's Op-ED NY Times. Nov. 13, 2014
With the ever increasing demand to legalize sports gambling in more states and figures like Silver supporting efforts like NJ's, will we see a change in federal law that would create a system like the UK or Australia where it is highly regulated?
Feel free to comment below...
