The Rise of Sports Gambling
The rise in interest in sports gambling has given a new boost to the state’s sponsorship and local TV advertising markets. The emergence of new sportsbooks has also helped the NBA, NFL, and college sports to grow as a result. The NBA and college football teams have recently entered into league-wide partnership deals. These companies are leveraging their brand recognition to attract fans. A recent partnership between the NHL and Betway has generated a lot of buzz. The NHL has made betting on its games the official partner of the NHL in the U.S., with Betway providing visible signage during games and league events.
In New Jersey, a sports betting bill was introduced that was vetoed by Gov. Paul Clement because he did not believe residents wanted to expand gambling in their state. The proposal also lacked protections for problem gamblers. However, it seems like sports gambling backers are working to convince the governor of the state to support a new bill in 2021 that might become law in January 2022. In Massachusetts, a Republican governor and Democrat-controlled General Court support legal sports betting.
The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) has issued a resolution calling for legalized sports gambling in the United States. It calls for stakeholders to recognize the potential impact on gambling addiction and offers direct actions for states and gambling operators. For example, the NBA’s Tim Donaghy admitted to gambling on NBA games, despite the fact that it is not legal in the state. Its members have made a resolution urging lawmakers to adopt laws prohibiting the practice of sports betting.