U.S. SPORTS LEAGUES HEDGING THEIR BETS ON LEGAL GAMBLING
WASHINGTON» In court, all four major U.S. sports leagues are fighting New Jersey’s challenge to the federal ban on sports gambling, which the Supreme Court will hear next week.
Outside of court, leaders of three of the four leagues have made public comments that suggest they wouldn’t mind losing the case. Only the NFL has been steadfast in its opposition to gambling, a stance that critics see as hypocritical, especially as the Raiders plan a move to a billion-dollar stadium just off the Las Vegas Strip.
As the Supreme Court prepares to hear a case that could lead to the federal ban on sports betting being struck down, the leagues are hedging their bets — preparing for a future of expanded gambling and hoping to have a say in how legalization takes effect.
The NBA and Major League Baseball see gambling as something that could enhance fan interest and open up new revenue opportunities. The leagues, however, insist that appropriate regulations should be put in place to prevent corruption — something that a court ruling in New Jersey’s favor wouldn’t do, at least not right away.
Much has changed since 2012, when the leagues and the NCAA sued New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to stop him from legalizing sports betting at the casinos and racetracks in his state. At the time, MLB and the NBA were led by old-school commissioners who bore the scars of gambling scandals in their leagues, including Pete Rose in baseball and referee Tim Donaghy in basketball. Baseball’s Bud Selig said in a deposition that gambling was “evil, creates doubt and destroys your sport.”
Selig and the NBA’s David Stern have since been replaced, respectively, by Rob Manfred and Adam Silver, both of whom have taken a fresh look at gambling.
Silver argued three years ago in a New York Times op-ed that sports gambling should be legalized. Manfred this year said gambling “can be a form of fan engagement, it can fuel the popularity of a sport” — and he raised the prospect of people betting during games on whether the next pitch will be a strike. He’s also said MLB wants a seat at the table if Congress considers legalization.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has said gambling isn’t a major concern because so little money is wagered on hockey compared to other sports.
For the past several years, the NFL has also played games in London, where people can bet on sports online. Commissioner Roger Goodell has conceded that his position on the issue has “evolved.”
Orange holds Maryland at bay.
N.Y.» Tyus Battle scored 13 SYRACUSE, of his 18 points in the second half, Oshae Brissett and Frank Howard each scored 15 and Syracuse held off Maryland 72-70 in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.
• Gary Clark had 14 point and seven rebounds, and No. 11 Cincinnati stayed unbeaten heading into its game against its crosstown rival by beating winless Alabama State 83-51.
The Bearcats play at No. 21 Xavier on Saturday.
• Devon Hall scored 16 points as No. 18 Virginia beat Wisconsin 49-37.
Qatar had $15M ready for bribes.
YORK» The former president of NEW
Colombia’s soccer federation testified that a sports marketing executive told him up to $15 million in bribe money was available for South American officials from Qatari interests ahead of the FIFA executive committee vote to decide the site of the 2022 World Cup.
Taking the witness stand as the trial of three former soccer officials entered its third week, Luis Bedoya said he was introduced to a Qatari television representative by Mariano Jinkis of Full Play Group during a meeting in a Madrid hotel ahead of the 2010 Champions League final. Bedoya said he could not recall the name of the Qatari.