Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred has revealed that the organization is re-examining its stance on legal sports betting in the US. The statement may indicate that the professional sports league’s reserve towards legal and regulated gambling may be melting.
MLB is looking for ways to attract younger generation fans and sports betting may be seen as one such way. Mr. Manfred told Yahoo Finance on Wednesday that sports-related gambling is happening in the States, no matter whether it is legal or not. The MLB Commissioner spoke in support of previous opinions on the topic that it may be much better for the nation to have a sports betting industry that is regulated in a manner that will protect the integrity of sports.
Mr. Manfred further noted that betting is an activity fans find enjoyable and that if properly regulated and promoted it can help baseball increase and maintain its popularity.
Wednesday’s comments were not the first ones to be indicating MLB may be ready to embrace legal sports betting. In 2015, Mr. Manfred noted that the league might consider partnerships with legal gambling operators, provided that the country changed its stance regarding the provision of betting offering within its borders.
Will President Trump’s Office OK Much Anticipated Nationwide Sports Betting Legalization?
Many believe that the election of former casino mogul Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States may have increased the chances for the legalization and regulation of sports betting significantly.
Back in the 1990s, when he was a big name on the Atlantic City casino scene, President Trump had spoken openly in support of sports betting. It is yet to be seen whether the country’s top official has kept that stance over the past two decades and whether his administration is disposed favorably towards the removal of a quarter-of-a-century-old federal ban on that particular type of gambling activity.
Under the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, Nevada is the only US state that is allowed to accept legal bets on single sports events. The controversial nationwide ban has been contested on numerous occasions over the years, but it can be said that New Jersey has been among the most active lobbyists for its repeal.
The state’s most recent push for sports betting legalization has reached the US Supreme Court. Last month, the country’s highest court took the rather unexpected step of asking the new US Solicitor General for an opinion on the matter. Many interpreted the step as a good sign. According to sports betting proponents, this could mean that the court may eventually decide to hear the case rather than reject it.
