The promised bill requiring federal approval of state sports betting laws has been introduced in the US.
Sens Chuck Schumer and Orrin Hatch introduced the bill to set minimum standards for state legislation and to create a non-profit agency to share data between states, leagues and gaming industry stakeholders.
It would not require states to pay royalties to sports leagues, but would require the use of official league data at least until 2024.
The eight states that have already legalised sports betting could continue while the Justice Department evaluates their laws. Hatch, who retires in a matter of days, appears uncertain about the bill’s near-term chances.
“There is much work to be done, but I hope this bill will serve as a placeholder for the next Congress, should they decide to continue working to address these issues,” he said.
The bill would: allow online sports betting; update the Wire Act to allow interstate sports betting compacts; allow betting on professional and college sports, and the Olympics; require the US Attorney General to approve or reject new state laws within six months of submission; and create the non-profit National Sports Wagering Clearinghouse to receive and share sports betting data and suspicious activities among sports betting operators, regulators, sports organisations and law enforcement.
Source: Fantini’s Gaming Report
