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Delaware bets on sports gambling
Aric Almirola celebrates after winning the NASCAR Camping World Series Sunoco 150 at Dover International Speedway on September 19, 2008 in Dover, Del.
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STEVE CHIOTAKIS: Delaware's always been known as "The First State." First in the union -- way back in 1787. And starting at 11 this morning eastern time, it'll be the first state east of the mighty Mississippi to legalize sports betting. That could mean $50 million or more a year to boost Delaware's budget. Here's Marketplace's John Dimsdale.
JOHN DIMSDALE: Delaware has decided to take advantage of a 30-year-old Supreme Court ruling that gave four states -- Nevada, Oregon, Montana and Delaware -- the right to legalize sports gambling.
COLIN BONINI: I think there is a tremendous underground economy that will start to surface in Delaware. And I think its going to be a tremendous cash cow.
Even so, Republican State Senator Colin Bonini opposes legalizing bets on the outcome of sporting events -- on moral grounds -- and because he thinks it'll bring in too much cash.
BONINI: And I think we're gonna be so flush with money that we're gonna spend even more irresponsibly in the future.
Plus, Bonini figures Delaware's move will be so successful, its neighbors will want in on the action. Economics professor James Butkiewicz at the University of Delaware says legalized gambling is an attractive way for states to raise revenue.
JAMES BUTKIEWICZ:If the state is taking a share of the house cut, that's a voluntary payment of taxes. You don't have to fill out a form, you certainly can choose not to gamble and pay zero taxes.
Another risk for Delaware: Professional sports leagues -- and the NCAA -- vehemently oppose betting on the outcome of their games. Delaware has no major league teams, but the NCAA says schools like the University of Delaware can forget hosting any league championship games.
In Washington, I'm John Dimsdale for Marketplace.
This is a good thing, for those of us that like to bet on sports legally. I generally fly to Nevada 4 times a year to bet on sports, because currently that is the only way to do it legally. With Sports gambling in Delaware now I can drive If I wish and do the same thing on the east coast legally. I do not involve myself in any underground sports gambling due to it not being legal. Thanks Delaware for doing this.
"30-year-old Supreme Court ruling that gave four states -- Nevada, Oregon, Montana and Delaware -- the right to legalize sports gambling."
Oregon Sport Action lottery started in 1989 and ended in 2007. There were many sports organization such as the NBA, NFL, etc opposed to the Oregon Sport Action lottery. After Oregon Sport was canceled, Portland, Oregon was awarded regional games in the 2009 NCAA men's basketball tournament.
this is the greatest news ever. no more trips to lv to bet on sports. the nfl are huge hypocrytes,without gambling there would be half the imterest in most of the games,and they know it. this will also lessen the need for the underground bookmaking that goes on on a daily basis.go delaware, and that lawmaker that said this would bring in too much money is talking out of his a--.
