GIQ US SPECIAL 2017
PASPA
Court strikes down PASPA depend on working out issues with Indian tribes in the state. West Virginia’s law is quite straightforward and hopes to build on the state Attorney General’s support for gambling and the state’s recent embrace of racetrack casinos. Pennsylvania’s sports betting bill has been voted out of committee but has stalled on the floor of the state legislature. Given Pennsylvania’s strong gaming growth and massive gambling tax revenues, there is reason to be optimistic. It also is likely that, were PASPA struck down, the immediate availability of sports betting would prove a powerful incentive to move sports betting legislation forward. Michigan and Maryland have also introduced sports betting laws, but both would require a popular referendum. In Michigan, this is largely irrelevant because the proposed legislation has stalled. But in Maryland, growth in casino gambling has been a big win for the state and there is a good chance that sports betting could be passed by referUS SPECIAL REPORT
endum. This makes Maryland an important state to watch. The most complicated procedural questions are raised by proposed constitutional amendments in two of the largest potential markets. New York likely has support to legalise sports betting, but the process to do so will take several years and require a public referendum. This means that New York is mostly a matter of patience. In California, a constitutional amendment has stalled on the floor of the state legislature, where it would require a two-thirds majority and public approval (as well as working out certain issues with Indian tribes). However, the initiative process for constitutional amendments may allow an end-run around the California legislature and quicker results. Of course, all of this depends on the Supreme Court. But if PASPA is invalidated, all attention will turn to state legislatures, as legal sports betting has the opportunity to spread. n
The most complicated procedural questions are raised by proposed constitutional amendments in two of the largest potential markets
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