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Delaware Sports Betting Bill Passes Despite NFL Resistance
Markell's bill reviving the state's dormant sports lottery gambling program passed the Senate late yesterday, even though heavy pressure against the bill was applied by the NFL and NCAA.
The opposition of sports leagues to the Delaware sports betting package has put Governor Jack Markell in an ornery mood. Markell's bill reviving the state's dormant sports lottery gambling program passed the Senate late yesterday, even though heavy pressure against the bill was applied by the NFL and NCAA.
The new measure allows Delaware to accept sports wagers on any sporting event it chooses, with National Football League and college football games likely to be first up as the season approaches.
Markell has had a testy verbal battle with sports organization representatives since offering the proposal. NFL spokesmen have insisted legal sports gambling threatens the integrity of games, although they had no reply to inquiries about the corruptive power of the preponderance of illegal bookmaking.
Markell, for his part, said he respected the NFL, but didn't appreciate the league telling Delawarians how to run their state.
The NCAA also has threatened to pull any tournament or playoff games scheduled instate to new locations as long as sports betting is allowed. Markell, speaking on ESPN's E60 news show, said the NCAA actions are "retaliatory and inconsistent."
Markell refers to Nevada and Montana both hosting postseason NCAA games, even though both states have NCAA gaming. Rachel Newman Baker, the NCAA Director of Gambling, says the other states receive games due to "administrative error."
As far as fear of competition by Las Vegas sports books, Jay Kornegay of the Las Vegas Hilton sports book says, "You can build a roller coaster anywhere, but eventually they're going to want to go to Disneyland."
The bill is expected to be signed into law by Markell this week.
Markell's bill reviving the state's dormant sports lottery gambling program passed the Senate late yesterday, even though heavy pressure against the bill was applied by the NFL and NCAA.
The opposition of sports leagues to the Delaware sports betting package has put Governor Jack Markell in an ornery mood. Markell's bill reviving the state's dormant sports lottery gambling program passed the Senate late yesterday, even though heavy pressure against the bill was applied by the NFL and NCAA.
The new measure allows Delaware to accept sports wagers on any sporting event it chooses, with National Football League and college football games likely to be first up as the season approaches.
Markell has had a testy verbal battle with sports organization representatives since offering the proposal. NFL spokesmen have insisted legal sports gambling threatens the integrity of games, although they had no reply to inquiries about the corruptive power of the preponderance of illegal bookmaking.
Markell, for his part, said he respected the NFL, but didn't appreciate the league telling Delawarians how to run their state.
The NCAA also has threatened to pull any tournament or playoff games scheduled instate to new locations as long as sports betting is allowed. Markell, speaking on ESPN's E60 news show, said the NCAA actions are "retaliatory and inconsistent."
Markell refers to Nevada and Montana both hosting postseason NCAA games, even though both states have NCAA gaming. Rachel Newman Baker, the NCAA Director of Gambling, says the other states receive games due to "administrative error."
As far as fear of competition by Las Vegas sports books, Jay Kornegay of the Las Vegas Hilton sports book says, "You can build a roller coaster anywhere, but eventually they're going to want to go to Disneyland."
The bill is expected to be signed into law by Markell this week.
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