Supreme Court Strikes Down Federal Sports Gambling Ban
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In a landmark 6-3 ruling Monday the U.S. Supreme Court on struck down the 1992 Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), which prohibited states other than Nevada from legalizing sports gambling. The state of New Jersey challenged PASPA’s constitutionality under the Tenth Amendment, arguing that the law violated the freedom of states to legislate on policy matters that Congress hasn’t chosen to regulate.
Writing the opinion for the majority — which included the court’s four reliably conservative justices plus Justices Anthony Kennedy and Elena Kagan — Justice Samuel Alito wrote of the sports gambling ban:
“It is as if federal officers were installed in state legislative chambers and were armed with the authority to stop legislators from voting on any offending proposals. A more direct affront to state sovereignty is not easy to imagine... PASPA ‘regulates state governments’ regulation’ of their citizens. The Constitution gives Congress no such power.”
With the federal prohibition on sports gambling lifted, states are expected to take steps toward legalization — starting with New Jersey in the coming weeks or months while Delaware is also exploring its short-term options. Additionally, ESPN lists Connecticut, Iowa, Mississippi, New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia as states which have either enacted or fast-tracked legislation. A further 15 states have either introduced or plan to introduce legislation, or have existing laws that could be expanded.
Tell your reps whether Congress should permit states to legalize sports gambling using the Take Action button and share your thoughts below!
— Eric Revell
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