WGoNerd

May 14th, 2018 at 10:46 AM ^

I'm glad it'll be legal, the ban was pretty dumb, but I can think of 2,007 reasons that actually betting on college football would be a bad idea.

Arb lover

May 14th, 2018 at 10:48 AM ^

The opinion is here

Cliffnotes:

The legalization of sports gambling requires an important policy choice, but the choice is not ours to make. Congress can regulate sports gambling directly, but if it elects not to do so, each State is free to act on its own. Our job is to interpret the law Congress has enacted and decide whether it is consistent with the Constitution. PASPA is not. PASPA “regulate[s] state governments’ regulation” of their citizens, New York, 505 U. S., at 166. The Constitution gives Congress no such power. The judgment of the Third Circuit is reversed.

Arb lover

May 14th, 2018 at 3:51 PM ^

The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) makes it unlawful for a State or its subdivisions “to sponsor, operate, advertise, promote, license, or authorize by law or compact . . . a lottery, sweepstakes, or other betting, gambling, or wagering scheme based . . . on” competitive sporting events

 Justice Thomas has an interesting concurring opinion and kind of trashes the severability aspect of this (which could lead down the path you are thinking).However since that is already up to the states, and some states already allow it, I don't see the SC wanting to get involved in that at any point soon.

Interestingly enough, the way the court sums up the pros and cons of the subject (not the basis for their decisions, albeit informative how the "right" decision might vary over decades as public opinion shifts), it indirectly makes the argument that general gambling such as online poker, provide less impact on society (as it doesn't corrupt the athletes).

Supporters argue that legalization will produce revenue for the States and critically weaken illegal sports betting operations, which are often run by organized crime. Opponents contend that legalizing sports gambling will hook the young on gambling, encourage people of modest means to squander their savings and earnings, and corrupt professional and college sports.

M-Dog

May 14th, 2018 at 10:45 AM ^

Like Prohibition and driving over 55 mph, sports gambling was always pretty much "legal".  

It doesn't really matter much what law they write about it.

 

AnthonyThomas

May 14th, 2018 at 11:35 AM ^

People may have still drank alcohol during Prohibition, but its end had transformative effects upon the alcohol industry itself (i.e. there actually was in fact an "industry" again) which in turn reshaped how and what Americans drank, where and when they drank, who they drank with, etc. Ending the ban on sports gambling will have similar effects. 

Arb lover

May 14th, 2018 at 3:55 PM ^

According to my grandfather, his dad made more money in three years running the detroit river for booze from his sources in Canada, than he did in 20 with his own bar in Detroit, playing by the rules, once prohibition ended. 

So let's be clear tlhere's industry and there's legal industry that you can tax. 

LSAClassOf2000

May 14th, 2018 at 10:44 AM ^

Well, if Michigan legalizes it, all that it now means is that I can lose actual money on the Byzantine system by which my mind seems to like to make bets. 

As for the news itself, this is huge indeed. 

CraigMack

May 14th, 2018 at 10:45 AM ^

Now when I cash out I don’t have to wait 3 months for a check from Hong Kong. I have one on the way and it’s been two months already



And the bank doesn’t look at me weird when I cash it

The Donger

May 14th, 2018 at 10:51 AM ^

Have already spent most of my money on women and booze.  Great to have another legal vice as a third option to blow my cash...

rc15

May 14th, 2018 at 10:46 AM ^

How bad does this hurt Vegas? Or does it?

If people are able to legally gamble on sports wherever, they won't have to put NC picks or season Over/Unders in while in Vegas. But I could also see it leading to more people being addicted to gambling on sports, leading to them betting more while their visiting.

The Donger

May 14th, 2018 at 10:57 AM ^

is estimated that Americans make $150 billion in sports bets annually.  Only $5 billion of that is in Nevada.  The remainder is online, overseas or through bookies.  Most of it is illegal. 

Will hurt the online sites and those shady dudes taking book more than it will hurt Nevada...

jbrandimore

May 14th, 2018 at 11:20 AM ^

Both are slightly up as of a few minutes ago.

I think after you get over the initial "this is BAD for Vegas!" hot take, you realize that these resort companies now operate casinos from coast to coast and each of them is now going to open a sports book.

If you think MGM and Ceasars are Vegas, this was GOOD for Vegas.

Mike Damone

May 14th, 2018 at 10:50 AM ^

damn time.  Between online gambling and bookies, pretty much everyone was already acting illegally.

That PASPA law had "unconstitutional" written all over it!  The Supreme Court vote was 7-2 - will love reading the dissenting opinion by Ruth Bader Ginsberg/Sonia Sotomayer...

Arb lover

May 14th, 2018 at 11:11 AM ^

They basically just said we shouldn't have severed the entire PASPA simply because parts of it were unconstitutional, and then failed to go in to detail in response as to why the court argued to do so.

mgobaran

May 14th, 2018 at 10:54 AM ^

Always thought I could use less time investment in sports, and the investment I put in is pretty emotional. Not a fan of putting in a financial investment on top of it. Liking sports I'd otherwise not like only because I have money into it feels empty in the end, to me at least. 

Glad it's legal now though. People are going to do it anyways, might as well tax it and have better roads/schools for it. 

jbrandimore

May 14th, 2018 at 10:57 AM ^

I'm going to guess that gambling was not an outlier and congress probably used this same approach to outlaw other types of things.

Any of our other legal eagles or politics folks know which other industries are this morning on the phones with their lawyers?

Zarniwoop

May 14th, 2018 at 10:59 AM ^

This changes my life in no way shape or form as I lack the disposable income to risk betting on sports.

But, holy crap can I see this causing a problem for a few people I know unless they are a lot better at it in the future than they have been when betting just with their mouths.

Chalky White

May 14th, 2018 at 2:05 PM ^

I have two cousins who will be living in their cars by the end of football season. They night be living in the same car together to save money.

Realistically, they already have no problems betting at the barber shop or wherever they bet now. I don't see how things would get any worse.

I remeber this was a topic on the radio a few years ago. Most people said their local bookie was online. Its been easy for them to get for a while.

NYC Fan3

May 14th, 2018 at 11:12 AM ^

*Warning*  Unpopular opinion here.  I hate this if it passes.

There are too many families out there that could be impacted by someone with a gambling problem and it causing financial ruin.  I know the argument around casinoes, but sports viewing is much more popular and people tend to have addictive personalities.

When Joe in Alabama is watching the National Championship game and puts $2,000 on Bama -4 because, Bama.  Their 3 point loss causes Joe to lose his bet and thus prevent the money going towards other items.

I know people should have the freedom of choice, but I do fear irrational decisions around sports betting leading to financial difficulties for many parties.

 

MeanJoe07

May 14th, 2018 at 11:17 AM ^

but people have moral agency! We don' need the dern gervermernt terlling erse whert terd der!!  If people gamble and ruin their lives, it's ther person's fault!  Personal responsibility!  If we can't trust our people to make good decisions on their own then what kind of country are we?!?  This is Amurrrrrrrrrica! I'm gonna go eat some oatmeal.