NEWS
30 August 2018
Senator calls for federal US sports betting
By Tim Poole

Senator Schumer’s suggestions centre on the premise that all sportsbooks only use official league data to determine outcomes.

Schumer also suggested illegalising sports betting for anyone under the age of 21 and encouraged responsible advertising and the reporting of suspicious activity.

This was met with approval by those who stand to gain from his proposal, with the NBA, MLB and the PGA Tour releasing a brief joint statement in favour.

The NFL and NCAA later released a similar statement.

However, there was far from universal support, with the American Gaming Association warning against increased federal involvement.

Senior Vice President, Public Affairs, Sara Slane said : "Federal oversight of sports betting was an abject failure for 26 years, only contributing to a thriving illegal market with no consumer protections and safeguards. New federal mandates are a non-starter.

"The casino industry is working with stakeholders to ensure the proper protections for consumers, and the integrity of bets and sporting contests are included in state policy, universally implemented by all operators in those states, and overseen by effective state and tribal gaming regulators."