Posts

Sports Gambling In NC? What Local Governments Should Be Considering

By Brian Meyer

As most people reading this blog have probably heard, the U.S. Supreme Court recently decided the matter of Murphy v. NCAA.  In short, the Court ruled that the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PAPSA) which essentially prohibited the states from authorizing betting on sports, is unconstitutional.  What followed was largely a reaction that legalized sports gambling was on the way across the country, the value of sports franchises were increasing overnight, and gambling chaos would ensue.  But before you start sizing up the over/under line on your son’s or daughter’s little league game, the reality is that while this ruling does open the door in the future don’t expect legal sports gambling to invade North Carolina overnight.  While a few states will likely move quickly to establish sports gambling most states will need time to study the impacts.  After all, at least as of today, it is still illegal in North Carolina (See NCGS 14-292).  The Court’s decision also arguably leaves room for Congress to step in and attempt to regulate sports gambling on its own accord (or at the request of one of the major professional sports leagues).

But if the day comes that sports gambling is authorized in North Carolina what should local governments be preparing for?

Read more