With legal sports betting booming in the US, major leagues are stepping up efforts to regulate the industry and protect player health. They’re imposing official data mandates and seeking to collect an integrity fee on US wagers. These efforts — which include e-learning modules — are designed to connect current student-athletes with the risks of problem gambling and ensure sports betting is conducted responsibly.
However, the utility and reliability of official data remains in question. And mandating its use by private operators imposes unintentional artificial constraints on the sports betting market. The industry views these mandates as bad policy. The leagues’ attempt to collect a handle-based fee also provides no guarantee of the integrity lawmakers seek in legal US sports betting.
MLB betting: The days of baseball being the most popular sport in America may be fading, but the game still has a passionate following that will fuel interest in opening day and again throughout the playoffs and World Series. The NHL, which trails the big three in popularity, will also see a surge in interest once the playoffs begin.
NCAA betting: Betting on the NCAA and its collegiate divisions is widely accepted. The only restriction is that players and athletics personnel cannot bet on their own team or the NBA.
Iowa: The first retail sportsbooks opened in November 2018 and online betting went live in May 2019. SugarHouse, DraftKings and PointsBet are among the operators with a presence.
Virginia: The state approved sports betting in April 2020 and legal sportsbooks went live on Jan. 1, 2021. VSibet and Caesars offer a sportsbook app in the state. Washington, DC: GambetDC, powered by Intralot, offers a sportsbook in the District.