It is 24 years since the United States passed the controversial Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), placing a ban on sportsbetting in all states except for four. To mark this day, and in continuation of its ongoing efforts to have the law overturned, the American Gaming Association “celebrated” PAPSA by publishing 24 facts about the law, showing how ineffective and detrimental it has proven to be. This publicity stunt has certainly caught the attention of the industry, and gambling proponents have congratulated the AGA on their original birthday wishes.
According to the AGA:
“1. Since PASPA’s inception, trillions of dollars have been wagered illegally on sports.
2. Annually, PASPA has created a $150B illegal sports betting market.
3. Of the $4.2 billion wagered on Super Bowl 50, nearly 97 percent was bet illegally.
4. Money from the illegal sports betting market often fund other forms of illicit crime.
5. Sports betting in the United Kingdom has become commonplace and is done in a legal regulated market.
6. The thriving illegal market and lack of regulation create an atmosphere ripe for manipulation.
7. The crime of illegal sports betting has brought together the law enforcement community to discuss ways to combat illegal sports betting.
8. Leaders in law enforcement recommended that PASPA’s repeal would be an effective way to combat illegal sports betting.
9. A record amount was wagered legally on Super Bowl 50 in Nevada.
10. Even President Obama joined the 47 million Americans who’ve bet on the Super Bowl.
11. For the first time in 16 years, Nevada sports books accepted bets on the Rio Olympics.
12. State governments would stand to benefit from additional tax revenue that would come from legalized, regulated sports betting.
13. Tax revenue from legalized, regulated sports betting could go to fund local communities, such as teacher salaries and infrastructure projects.
14. Research shows that betting drives massive ratings for NFL games.
15. Millions more viewers would bet on games if sports betting were legalized.
16. Research shows that engagement with March Madness bracket sites drives viewership in the early rounds of the tournament.
17. Sports bettors are highly valuable to advertisers, as they watch more TV programming for longer periods of time than non-bettors.
18. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver wrote in a New York Times op-ed that he favors legalized, regulated sports betting.
19. NBA Commissioner Emeritus David Stern said that he favors legal sports betting.
20. In a sign that sports leagues and casinos can coexist, more than 80% of NFL teams play their home games within a one-hour drive of a casino.
21. The NHL is expanding to Las Vegas, showing that pro sports leagues are increasingly comfortable with legal, regulated sports betting.
22. Showing how sports betting and professional sports can coexist in a safe, regulated marketplace, Nevada’s legislature approved funding of a new stadium in Las Vegas.
23. Legalized, regulated sports betting strengthens the integrity of games.
24. 80% of Super Bowl viewers say it’s time to change sports betting law.”
Happy birthday PAPSA!
