Sports Leagues Sue Delaware To Stop Sports Betting Plan

The lawsuit has been coming for a while, so that came as no surprise on Friday. What did come as somewhat of a surprise was how the four major US sports leagues, along with the NCAA, expect people in the US to believe they are serious about their lawsuit.

The four leagues, the NFL< NBA, MLB, and NHL, ajoined forces with the NCAA and filed a lawsuit Friday in US District Court in Wilminton, in an attempt to stop Delaware from executing their sports betting plan. The lawsuit claims that individual game betting should not be permitted.

"The leagues and the NCAA recognize that Delaware has many pressing economic issues, but more legalized single-game wagering presents a direct threat to the integrity of their games and long-term health of their sports," wrote the NCAA and the leagues in a press release.

The NFL owners did not think that gambling hurt the "integrity" of their sport recently when they voted to allow teams and state lotteries to hook up in a combined gambling venture. The lawsuit has raised eyebrows from many sports fans across the country.

"Are these leagues serious?" said sports fan Billy Hrown, "the only reason people watch sports is because of the gambling aspect. They are fooling themselves if they believe anything other wise."

Legally, the leagues may be on the right side of the lawsuit. Delaware has only engaged in sports gambling legally for a short time back in the mid-seventies, and the NFL was the only sport people could wager on.

Parlay bets were the only legal form of sports gambling at the time. The leagues contend that since single-game betting was never legal, it should not be now. Delaware, on the other hand, has already received approval from the state Supreme Court to move forward with the sports betting plan.

"We asked for and received a Delaware Supreme Court advisory opinion prior to moving forward to ensure we are in compliance with the state constitution," said Joe Rogalsky, a spokesman for Governor Jack Markell, "We invited the NFL to sit down and share their concerns. They decided instead to sue."

Markell has been instrumental in bringing sports betting to Delaware. It was his proposal that began the talks of gambling expansion. The state is expecting over $50 million annually to be added to the budget thanks to the sports betting.

July 24, 2009
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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