Three Things We Can Do About The Court Ruling on Sports Betting

Gambling, ,

On Monday the U.S. Supreme Court ruled states can legalize sports betting.

The decision sets the stage for states like Arkansas to become awash in a sea of gambling. State law already generally prohibits betting on ballgames and other sporting events, but gambling interests likely will start lobbying heavily to have those laws changed.

Some of our friends are asking what they can do about this court ruling. Here are three things:

1. Oppose Casino Amendments in Arkansas

At least two constitutional amendments legalizing casino gambling in Arkansas are vying for a spot on the November ballot. Casino proposals rejected in the past would have allowed any form of gambling that is legal in Nevada.

Sports betting is legal in Nevada right now. If our laws let casinos in Arkansas offer the same forms of gambling that casinos in Las Vegas offer, then that would include sports betting.

Opposing any casino amendments in Arkansas is one way we can ensure sports betting doesn’t work its way into our state.

2. Encourage the Legislature to Oppose Sports Betting

The racetracks at Oaklawn and Southland already offer casino-style games, and last December consultants for the State of Arkansas floated the idea of letting them offer sports betting as well.

We need to encourage our legislators not to authorize sports betting at Oaklawn or Southland.

3. Encourage Our U.S. Senators and Congressmen to Regulate Sports Betting

The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling struck down a federal law that effectively gave Las Vegas a monopoly on sports betting in America, but it left the door open for Congress to restrict and regulate sports betting through other federal laws. All four professional sports leagues — the NBA, NFL, National Hockey League, and Major League Baseball — as well as the NCAA oppose sports betting.

We need to encourage our congressmen to regulate sports betting as much as they possibly can.

Here’s Why We Need to Oppose Sports Betting

Sports betting in particular poses a problem, because of its appeal to young people who are more likely to develop a gambling problem.

Sports betting also threatens to undermine the integrity of collegiate and professional sports. Many sports programs work hard to maintain family-friendly environments that young and old alike can enjoy. Sports betting threatens to corrupt those family-friendly programs. That is one reason so many leagues have opposed efforts to legalize sports betting.

As a whole, gambling is a blight on the community. It is linked to homelessness, domestic violence, divorce, and a host of other issues. Problem gambling and gambling addiction tear families apart. Arkansas already has enough trouble from gambling. We don’t need any more.

Photo Credit: The original uploader was Bobak at English Wikipedia (Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons.) [CC BY-SA 2.5 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons

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U.S. Supreme Court Says States Can Legalize Sports Betting

Gambling,

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, May 14, 2018

On Monday the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a federal law that had generally prevented states from legalizing gambling on sports.

Family Council President Jerry Cox released a statement saying, “Any expansion of gambling is a bad thing. This court ruling sets the stage for states like Arkansas to become awash in a sea of gambling. Arkansas law already generally prohibits betting on ballgames and other sports. We need to make sure that ban stays in place and applies to the racetracks at Hot Springs and West Memphis.”

Cox dismissed the idea that sports betting would be good for Arkansas’ economy. “In December consultants for the State of Arkansas told our legislators that the State might be able to collect tax money from sports betting if the U.S. Supreme Court ever issued an opinion like this one. You can’t gamble and tax your way to economic prosperity. Gambling preys on the poor. It’s linked to an increase in domestic violence, homelessness, and divorce. Sports betting is going to appeal to younger people who are more likely to develop a gambling addiction. For every dollar the State would get in tax revenue from sports betting, it would have to spend a lot more on social services trying to clean up the mess that gambling makes in our communities.”

Cox said his group will oppose any expansion of gambling in Arkansas. “Out-of-state groups are trying to open casinos in Pine Bluff, Texarkana, and elsewhere. Now I expect we’ll see groups wanting to legalize sports betting in Arkansas, too. Between the State Lottery and the casino games in Hot Springs and West Memphis, Arkansas already has enough problems from gambling. We don’t need any more.”

Family Council is a conservative education and research organization based in Little Rock, Arkansas.

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Photo Credit: By Bobak at en.wikipedia (Transferred from en.wikipedia by SreeBot) [CC BY-SA 2.5 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons

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