Sports gambling is an exciting industry. It’s also very popular—for example, the Nevada Gaming Control Board reported $138.5 million in wagers being placed on Super Bowl LI. With Nevada being the only state allowed to have such sports betting, other states missed out on the profits. That may change soon, as a new poll shows that support for legalizing sports betting is growing.
Seton Hall University’s Sports Poll recently published a study that asked several questions on the topic of sports gambling. The first question asked respondents if they supported sports gambling legalization because it already happens so much or if they believe it shouldn’t be legalized because of the effects it has on the industry. 46% of respondents said they were in favor of legalization, while 42% were not in favor of it. 12% were undecided on the issue. The poll also noted that 67% of the respondents who were in favor of legalization were between the ages of 18-29. This statistic right here is the most telling, as it shows the future generation is in favor of legalization, a mindset that is gaining traction on multiple fronts.
As of now, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) bans sports betting in 46 states. The only states exempted from PASPA are Montana, Delaware, Oregon and Nevada. Out of these four, Nevada is the only one that has single-game betting and physical sportsbook locations. The other three states either have or had a specific type of sports betting, like parlay cards or betting pools, at the time of PASPA’s enactment. Another question on the Seton Hall poll cited PASPA’s exemption of these four states and asked if respondents feel the law should remain the same or it should be amended to allow states the right to determine if they want to legalize sports betting or not. 45% of respondents said the law should be amended, while interestingly enough, 23% believed sports betting should be made illegal in the four states which it’s currently allowed in.
This finding supports the claim that states should have the right to choose if they want to have sports betting or not. New Jersey is currently pushing for sports gambling with legislation and is waiting for the Supreme Court to hear their appeal. Those responsible for the sports gambling lobbying effort in New Jersey would be happy to hear the results of this poll. New Jersey hasn’t been the only state to want sports gambling, they’ve just been the most aggressive on the subject.
Another question asked in the poll—and this one ties back to the previous one—asked if respondents thought sports betting (if legalized) should be regulated on a state-by-state or federal level. 70% of respondents said it should be regulated on a state-by-state level. If this became the case, states could begin capitalizing off an industry that’s already widely popular. They too could fiscally benefit off a regulated sports betting market (like the one Nevada has) and funnel the money back into the state’s infrastructure or wherever they see fit.
The Seton Hall Poll reveals a younger demographic that is open to the idea of sports gambling. The major sports leagues also seem to be opening up to the idea. New Jersey and a few other states are not only open to it, but lobbying for the opportunity. North Dakota is one of the states affected by PASPA, and North Dakota sports gambling revolves around offshore sportsbooks, which are legally regulated outside the US, meaning the state doesn’t get anything out of it. If PASPA is repealed or amended, then the state could emulate Nevada and get in on the sports gambling action.