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By Kevin Bessler | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – Illinois is one of 38 states that have
legalized sports betting, and now Congress is getting involved.
The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing Tuesday
entitled “America’s High-Stakes Bet on Legalized Sports
Gambling.”
Committee Chair Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Springfield,
said while sports leagues once opposed sports betting, leagues,
franchises and networks now partner with betting companies and
have integrated gambling into sporting events and broadcasts.
“It is virtually impossible to watch a sporting event today
without being barraged by ads encouraging you to bet or hearing
from celebrity endorsers about the latest parlay you should
try,” said Durbin.
Sports betting has exploded ever since the Supreme Court’s
ruling in Murphy v. NCAA struck down the Professional and
Amateur Sports Protection Act in 2018.
The committee says an estimated 2.5 million U.S. adults meet the
criteria for a severe gambling problem and the risk of problem
gambling has risen by around 30% between 2018 and 2021 alone.
Durbin said he is concerned about the student athletes around
the country.
“Problem gambling is not the only negative side of legalized
sports betting, as sports betting has spread the actual games
and cheering for your team have become less important for many
individuals who are more focused on the point spread or player
props,” said Durbin. “When a bet doesn’t hit, angry betters
often take it out on the players.”
U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-NC, suggested forming a commission that
would study the issue for a year and propose federal rules
applicable to the states that have legalized sports betting.
Illinois is the third largest sports betting state in the
country. According to Illinois Gaming Board records, the state’s
11 active sportsbooks raked in just over $1 billion last year,
sending $150 million in tax revenue to the state. |
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