Will it be a slam dunk for the US sports betting restriction?
By Natalie Sherman
Business press reporter, New york city
A ban on sports betting wagering in many US states could be reversed by a case being considered by the Supreme Court.
The state of New Jersey is challenging the 1992 federal law that mostly forbade sports betting gaming, describing the matter as a "states' rights" issue.
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The case, which began on Monday, comes after New Jersey residents voted in 2011 to legalise sports betting.
A group of sports betting leagues opposes banking on video games, which they fear will encourage match-fixing.
Lower courts have actually consistently ruled versus New Jersey, saying it is within the federal government's power to restrict a state's policy options.
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The Supreme Court chose to hear the case nonetheless amid a broader shift in American attitudes toward sports betting.
Before 1976, Nevada - home of the Las Vegas strip - was the only state with legal casinos outside Native American lands.
But recently, states starving for tax revenue in the wake of the monetary crash have actually enacted a rash of looser gambling laws, collecting hefty levies on sports betting income.
There are now 24 states with commercial casinos - roughly double the number a decade back.
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Despite the official restriction, which already excuses Nevada and 3 other states, unlawful sports betting is rife in the US.
Americans place about $154bn in illegal sports betting bets every year, according to the American Gaming Association.
The president, Geoff Freeman, described the federal ban, external as an "utter failure" earlier this year.
It says the UK is an example of a country where sports betting is prevalent.
"It's time for Washington to stop depriving states of crucial tax profits and permit them to gain the rewards of a regulated market," Mr Freeman said.
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More than 15 states filed documents in assistance of New Jersey in the case. A handful have actually already passed laws to authorise sports betting in the occasion of a change.
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'Times have altered'
On Monday, as attorneys started arguments for the Supreme Court, some more conservative judges appeared sceptical of the existing law.
The court is expected to make a decision in June 2018.
"If we succeed here we might have bets being taken in New Jersey within two weeks of a decision by the court," stated outbound New Jersey guv Chris Christie after going to the court hearing. "We're prepared in New Jersey - we're ready to go."
Regardless of the court's last judgment, Congress might also take up the argument amidst more comprehensive discussion about online video gaming and e-sports betting.
Even some of the expert sports betting leagues have begun to alter their positions on the question of gambling.
Adam Silver, National Basketball Association commissioner, supported a federal law that would produce a consistent set of guidelines across the US. "Times have actually altered," he composed in a 2014 viewpoint piece, external.
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Will it be a Slam Dunk for the US Sports Betting Ban?
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