California sports betting is currently illegal, but that all might change within the next two years. Political consultant Russell Lowery has just filed a motion to put sports betting to a public vote, requesting that the state’s attorney general allow Californians the ability to decide whether or not they would like this to be a part of their sporting experience. This initiative would be part of the 2020 ballot, dubbed the Gaming Fairness and Accountability Act. If passed, it would grant gaming firms and sports authorities the right to take bets on different sporting events, with state legislature allowed to…

With Assembly Member Gary Pretlow’s latest sports betting bill referred to the Assembly’s Racing and Wagering Committee in the New York State last week, lawmakers are up against a short clock to make sports betting legal in New York. The legislature adjourns June 20, leaving seven business days to make NY sports betting legal before having to wait until 2019. Pretlow (D-District 89) officially introduced his bill, A11144, last Friday and as yet, no formal action has taken place in the Racing and Wagering Committee, of which he is the chairman. According to Pretlow’s office, the bill does not yet…

Canada sports betting will follow in the footsteps of its neighbor the US and legalize wagering on sporting events within the next two years. That was the bold prediction made in the Toronto Sun by Harley Redlick, who believes that Canada will need to make such a move in order to safeguard casino jobs and the economy and prevent money from leaking over the border to American gaming locations. Emphasizing the possible financial gulf that could open up between the two countries due to the nature of Canada sports betting laws, he commented: “Even though we are the more liberal…

With the expansion of online gambling, there are more and more people stuck with gambling addiction and with gambling debts with each passing year. Gambling is a serious problem for many people around the world and has ruined the lives of thousands. Even the richest athletes are not immune to it, with many of them going bankrupt even after earning millions of dollars during their careers. Whether it is blackjack (learn more about blackjack strategies and rules on http://blackjack.org), craps, poker or slots, many athletes have endured serious problems due to their gambling addiction. Some have managed to pull through,…

New Jersey sports betting moved one step closer to reality recently. The State Legislature voted to legalize sports betting, paving the way for casinos and racetracks to take wages and providing the state with a new source of revenue. It is likely a matter of days now before cash can start changing hands at casinos in Atlantic City and at Monmouth Park Racetrack near the Jersey Shore and perhaps take advantage of the global interest in the World Cup, which begins next week, or the National Basketball Association finals. The last remaining hurdle is the signature of Gov. Philip D….

The real world costs of operating US sports betting in a fully legal market were given special attention by Joe Asher, CEO of William Hill US, during last week’s GiGse conference in Miami. Asher was speaking as part of a panel that was tasked with examining how transforming legal betting on sports might be for the US gaming landscape. Explaining some of the cost implications, he told delegates: “I’d like to drill down a little bit more on tax rates to help explain it. There’s a quarter point handle on the tax from the IRS that partially translates into five…