Place your bets? Not just yet
High court clears sports wagers, but some states are readier than others
The Supreme Court struck down a federal ban on sports betting in Monday’s decision, although only a handful of states will allow people to place bets once the NFL season rolls around.
The 6-3 decision by the highest court sided with New Jersey — likely to be the first state to take advantage of the ruling — as it struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. Passed in 1992, the act had effectively kept Nevada as the only state to offer widespread, state-sanctioned sports betting.
Here’s a rundown of the states that could be among the first to offer sports wagering:
New Jersey
The state’s casinos and horse tracks were ready to offer sports betting within days of then-governor Chris Christie’s approved legislation in October 2014. A federal court halted that move, which led to the protracted legal fight with the major sports leagues and the NCAA that finally came to an end Monday.
It stands to reason it won’t take long for the state’s horse tracks and casinos in Atlantic City to ramp up.
“Today’s victory would not have been possible without the incredible bipartisan effort from so many in our state, particularly former Governor Christie and former State Senator (Raymond) Lesniak,” New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said in a statement. “I look forward to working with the legislature to enact a law authorizing and regulating sports betting in the very near future.”
Dennis Drazin, who leads the parent company that operates the Mon-
mouth Park racetrack, said Monday that his facility could, in theory, offer betting in two weeks. But track and casino operators are likely to put such a move on hold as the state passes legislation in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling.
Allows online wagering? Most likely. Bettors would need to visit the casino/racetrack to start an account and would be able to wager only within New Jersey.
Likely tax on wagering: 8%-10%
West Virginia
Legislators in about 20 states put forward bills in anticipation of a PASPA repeal. West Virginia was one of the first to sign such legislation into law.
The state passed the West Virginia Lottery Sports Wagering Act in March, which clears the way to allow sports wagering at five racetracks/casinos. Like other proposed bills around the nation, companies that want to operate within West Virginia are subject to a vetting process, which includes background checks and fingerprinting for key personnel.
Gov. Jim Justice pushed back on lobbying from sports leagues for a socalled integrity fee, which would have been about a 1% cut taken out of all sports bets before the state got its cut.
“I insisted from day one that no part of an integrity fee for sports betting would be paid by the state,” Justice said in a statement last week. “I demanded that the entire fee be paid by the casinos.”
Allows online wagering? Yes. The state will set rules on the approval and use of mobile/online wagering, which will include the need to be within the state’s borders.
Likely tax on wagering: 10%
Delaware
A decade ago, Delaware led a fight — against many of the same organizations New Jersey did — to allow sports betting.
The federal courts thwarted that effort, although the state has allowed parlays on NFL games since 2009.
After the act’s repeal, Delaware Gov. John Carney said in a statement that “full-scale sports gaming could be available at Delaware’s casinos before the end of June.”
“In the coming days, the lottery office will consult with the Delaware Attorney General’s Office to more fully understand the details and impact of this decision on Delaware,” Carney said.
Allows online wagering? Not allowed under law.
Likely tax on wagering: The state operates parlay wagering on a revenuesharing model.
Mississippi
A law passed by Mississippi last year wasn’t touted as one that would allow sports betting by its title, but House Bill 967 could do just that after the Supreme Court decision.
Before that bill passed, all gambling had to be on games taking place inside casinos, such as blackjack and slot machines. The measure was used as a means to enable daily fantasy play.
“It will be just another type of game offered in a legal casino operation,” Mississippi Gaming Commission Director Allen Godfrey said.
The state’s casinos could have sports gaming ready to go “within 45 to 60 days, before football season,” Godfrey said.
Allows online wagering? Law doesn’t allow it.
Likely tax on wagering: 8% Contributing: Geoff Pender of The Clarion-Ledger, Scott Goss and Phil Freedman of The News Journal