While the NBA and MLB have both been vocal in their opposition to sports betting, they have endorsed the idea of legalized sports wagering in their respective states. They claim that the payment of fees by legal sportsbooks will help preserve the integrity of the game. Only Illinois and Tennessee have passed laws mandating the use of official league data. The NFL and NHL have also proposed such a measure. In addition, many states are now legalizing sports betting online or mobile-only.
Georgia legalized sports betting
Despite the success of bills in many other states, Georgia is not ready to legalize sports betting. Its lawmakers did not have the stomach for it, and failed to pass SR 135 and SB 142 in the 2018 legislative session. Now, the state is waiting until 2023 before it will revisit the issue. This is a long way off, but there is still hope for sports betting in Georgia. If you’re an avid sports fan, you may be interested in reading this article to learn more about the current status of the state’s sports betting laws.
Kentucky legalized sports betting
Kentucky lawmakers are trying to move closer to legalizing sports betting. They are trying to pass HB 606, sponsored by state Rep. Adam Koenig. It passed the house on a 58-30 vote and gained the support of Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. However, the bill failed to clear the Senate. While majority leader Damon Thayer said the bill was a “natural extension of horse race betting,” he said the bill lacked the number of votes needed to pass. Eventually, the bill was withdrawn from the Senate floor without a vote.
Tennessee legalized online/mobile-only sports betting
Legalized online/mobile-only sports betting is coming to Tennessee this November. The state lottery had released preliminary rules in November, but listened to criticism and appointed a nine-person board to make final changes. Those changes included a proposed 85% payout cap and a mandatory 15% hold. The aggregate annual payout of each Licensee cannot exceed 90 percent. That’s an increase from the current 60 percent cap.
New Jersey legalized sports betting
New Jersey legalized sports betting in August 2018, bringing the state’s online sports betting market to more than 80% of the state’s monthly handle. The state is home to a number of popular online sportsbooks, including BetMGM, DraftKings, and SugarHouse Online Sportsbook & Casino. Many of these sportsbooks also offer casino games, such as blackjack and roulette. New Jersey sports betting regulations have also improved payouts and the process of depositing and withdrawing money from online casinos.
Ohio is considering legalizing sports betting
Ohio has recently become one of the few states that hasn’t already legalized sports betting. The state passed a bill last December allowing for the legalization of sports betting, but has yet to open its sportsbooks. On Wednesday, the Ohio Casino Control Commission announced that sports gaming is expected to be legal in all of its casinos by January 2023. Although some lawmakers had hoped for a much earlier start date, others haven’t been able to reach that goal.