Will Supreme Court open a ‘dam burst’ of legalized sports betting

[mouser]

could there be scandals in the future, like players not giving their all, for money? or something else

There were such scandals in the past in places where sports betting was illegal. I'm not sure the making wagering legal vs. illegal is going to have that much impact on people willing to cheat for money.

There's a decent argument that making it legal could improve transparency--i.e. make it easier for the sportsbooks to track if there's a pattern of suspicious betting behavior.

 

[BKIslandersFan]

This has to be one of the worst days ever for Mobsters since RICO Act was passed.

 

[Jussi]

exactly..... we have had lots of those scandals here in europe, in all kinds of sports ! a shame they will allow betting in the US, nothing good will ever come of it! except money losses for regular folks, and more money to the big corporations

Finnish society benefits greatly from legalized sports betting. Almost half of government funding for science, culture, arts and sports and youth movement is covered by revenue from Veikkaus, the national betting and lottery agency.

Link in Finnish to budget proposal from 2017: Ajankohtaista

 

[Jussi]

Even then there would be scandals.

Plus when it's regulated strictly so that you can't for example cash in wins of certain amount in cash, only directly to you bank account, there would always be a trace.

 

[Jussi]

There were such scandals in the past in places where sports betting was illegal. I'm not sure the making wagering legal vs. illegal is going to have that much impact on people willing to cheat for money.

There's a decent argument that making it legal could improve transparency--i.e. make it easier for the sportsbooks to track if there's a pattern of suspicious betting behavior.

Exactly. Strict regulation and transparency help prevent match fixing. It probably won't stop people from trying but they have always been caught. Even international betting companies act when they notice abnormal behaviour in betting.

 

[TheMoreYouKnow]

Exactly. Strict regulation and transparency help prevent match fixing. It probably won't stop people from trying but they have always been caught. Even international betting companies act when they notice abnormal behaviour in betting.

Trust me, the idea that they 'always' catch them is preposterous. They catch the tip of the iceberg. Legalized gambling means that the underworld bookies might lose business but gangs will simply shift to manipulation and using legal gambling services to bet on them. While gambling companies try to monitor suspicious patterns in gambling, the criminal side has its methods as well to evade those monitoring attempts.

Based on my experiences in Ireland, sports betting is harmless occasional fun for many but another possible self-destruct button aside of drugs and booze for surprisingly many as well.

 

[cutchemist42]

Whats interesting to me is that the reasoning for the ruling sounds pretty obvious that Im surprised this didnt happen years ago.

Giving 1 state the right to do so was always wrong.

 

[mike14]

yeah, but they could have friends or family members placing bets

This happened in Aussie Rules football and the player who got his friends to make bets was still found and suspended.

As stated elsewhere, you'll never catch everyone who's using insider info to place bets, but if the legislation is drawn up correctly it should be easy enough to investigate the stuff that really matters.

The good thing about sports like hockey where it really is a team game is that unless it is really organized match fixing, one player can't have that much of impact if they try to do something dodgy

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Today’s Supreme Court Decision Means New Frontier for Spo | Teds Take

Think about it this way: Wall Street is another industry that’s all about data. It’s about making informed decisions about what the market will do based on the data you have available to you. And there are tremendous safeguards in place to protect consumers – the SEC, for example – to ensure that trading happens on a level playing field. Sports betting is no different. Today’s decision paves the way for the implementation of safeguards against fraud in sports betting, including things like licensing betting operators to ensure they are legitimate and regulated monitoring of betting lines.

Many ask if this decision will impact the integrity of sports themselves. I think it’s just the opposite. I think that the increased transparency that will accompany more legalized betting around the country will only further protect against potential corruption. They say sunlight is the best disinfectant, and in this case I believe that is certainly true.

An owner's take on the decision today.

I wonder how pro athletes, coaches, executives, owners, and officials will all be regulated from participating in betting within their own sports.

 

[stator]

The landscape has changed in 25 years. Today most of your major Vegas casinos have locations across the country. Many of them have built 'racebooks' that focus on horse racing but can easily be made into a sportsbook.

Today the major sports leagues in the US simply want a piece of the action.

Not to mention the indian casinos that are already accommodating those that want to bet on sports.

I also believe the reason why the NHL was backing the losing argument due to people would bet on their team rather than spend that money on tickets, if placing the bet was easy and nearby.

 

[LeHab]

I wonder how pro athletes, coaches, executives, owners, and officials will all be regulated from participating in betting within their own sports.

Leagues must already have policies in place as sport betting exists underground, is legal in other countries (Canada for one) and lets not forget offshore online betting is just a click away. Legalization will allow to at least offer a locally regulated alternative and keep revenues within states.

 

[LadyStanley]

Hmmm

 

[Llama19]

Hmmm

Pre-emptive betting on themselves...

 

[LadyStanley]

Pre-emptive betting on themselves...

I know the union controls the use of a player's name/likeness. So betting using a specific player's name may also result in some kind of royalty paid to union?

 

[gstommylee]

I know the union controls the use of a player's name/likeness. So betting using a specific player's name may also result in some kind of royalty paid to union?

Not sure there is much the league can do about the union wanting royalties. I don't think the league can actually provide that since that would require a separate agreement with the league and every state that allows sports betting.

 

[MaskedSonja]

Not sure there is much the league can do about the union wanting royalties. I don't think the league can actually provide that since that would require a separate agreement with the league and every state that allows sports betting.

Would that be considered player income like endorsments? Could a player be endorsed by a legal gambling company? What if an arena naming rights bought by gambling company? Would that be considered nhl revenue( i dont know if naming rights count as revenue)

Im just throwing some scenarios that have me querying


Could be very interesting to see how it shakes out

 

[LadyStanley]

Yes, player income from endorsements happens. (Nominally split by union)

Arena naming rights is not considered part of HRR.

 

[gstommylee]

Would that be considered player income like endorsments? Could a player be endorsed by a legal gambling company? What if an arena naming rights bought by gambling company? Would that be considered nhl revenue( i dont know if naming rights count as revenue)

Im just throwing some scenarios that have me querying


Could be very interesting to see how it shakes out

I'll be upset if this is the issue that causes a loss season due to lock otu.

 

[LeHab]

Could a player be endorsed by a legal gambling company?

Already happening.

Komarov is the new global ambassador for NordicBet, a European-based betting website. His sponsorship deal is the first of its kind for an active NHL player and signals a shifting attitude within the sport about affiliations with gambling.
Todd Diamond of International Sports Advisors Co., the agency that represents Komarov, said the arrangement was cleared with the Leafs front office before it was finalized.

It didn’t raise any red flags for the NHL or NHL Players’ Association, either.
“It doesn’t violate our rules as long as he isn’t directly promoting sports wagering and as long as the advertising is limited to where NordicBet’s business is legal,” deputy commissioner Bill Daly told Sportsnet.
Komarov was actually approached by multiple betting companies, according to Diamond, and found NordicBet most appealing because it is a publicly traded company in Sweden.

Komarov's betting deal may change attitude towards gambling in hockey - Sportsnet.ca

Also NHL has licensing deals with Canadian provincial gambling bodies.

 

[gstommylee]

Whats interesting to me is that the reasoning for the ruling sounds pretty obvious that Im surprised this didnt happen years ago.

Giving 1 state the right to do so was always wrong.

I think no state attempted to pass state sanctioned sports betting until NJ tried.

 

[cutchemist42]

Your state-by-state guide to sports betting in light of Supreme Court ruling

Your state-by-state guide to sports betting in light of Supreme Court ruling


Decent breakdown of where various states stand as some prepared more for the ruling than others.

 

[mouser]

Hmmm

The PA wants a cut of the pie. The "rights of privacy and publicity" is all about the publicity, not the privacy.

Run a daily fantasy league, or allow wagering lines on a specific player and we want a cut of that.

 

[dkhockey]

And Europe has had match-fixing scandals. Though this could of course happen in the U.S. too even with betting illegal (and has happened).

My main concern here is that gambling has ruined many a man and the creatures you tend to see hang around bookies' offices in countries where gambling is legal are typically quite pitiful. Given how in America everything gets hyped and commercialized to the umpteenth degree once it is legal, I can imagine that legalizing gambling will open that trapdoor for many more people.

no doubt..... and with crime cartels and mafia presence strong in the USA... i just don't see this decision as a good thing, on the contrary, only crap will come from it

 

[dkhockey]

Even then there would be scandals.

that is what i mean, crooked refs getting other people to bet for them

 

[Fenway]

Massachusetts is on a fast track to get in on the action.

They want the Mass Lottery involved where people can go to their local store and bet on games with existing lottery terminals and Draft Kings is also based in Boston.

Hockey betting in the US has always been on the back burner but @Killion might recall when the Boston Irish Mob took control of a huge betting pool in Quebec which was based on 'time of last goal'. The timekeeper/PA announcer at the Forum got fired for playing games with the clock.