Sports betting roundup: League feuds, ban discussions, and court battles
Sports Update: Weekly Review in Gambling: DC, Betting Restrictions, More Details
Welcome to this weekend's Sports Handle recap, keeping you updated on the latest sports betting, gaming, and sports-related news. Here's a quick rundown of top stories you might've missed.
Legal wrangles and data mandates in the MLB loop
The Major League Baseball is grabbing headlines yet again, as it ramps up its quest for mandating official league data usage and imposing a royalty fee in sports betting at a meeting with Washington State Gambling Commission. Presenting its five pillars for a revamped sports betting market, the MLB advocates for the adoption of official data and a .25% royalty on handle. To date, no state has agreed to these terms, and only two out of the 18 jurisdictions with legal betting have included a data mandate in their laws. They are Tennessee and Illinois, though neither has launched sports betting operations as of now. Stakeholders in Illinois have voiced staunch opposition to the data mandate, while operators argue against royalty fees, claiming they would make the market untenable.
In an unrelated development, Washington State Gambling Commission staff offered its take, emphasizing the importance of creating an integrity unit within law enforcement, enhancing cooperation between licensees and sports governing bodies, and allowing for whistleblower protections.
This week, three sports betting bills are under consideration in the Washington state legislature: HB 1975 (tribal-only without mobile sports betting), HB 1992 (allows for betting at tribal and commercial locations, but not mobile betting), and SB 5965 (placeholder bill). If sports betting is legalized, the Washington State Gambling Commission is poised to serve as the regulatory body.
More news from the sports world
- St. Joe's sports betting policy: Some consider it a bad idea, while others think it's a terrible one. The university's policy banning sports betting among students, staff, and faculty has sparked controversy, with critics arguing against student-athlete exploitation and privacy concerns [1].
- BETTING BAN: Purdue University faces major obstacles in enforcing a sports betting ban due to legal complexities and the practicality of enforcing such a policy [2].
- GAME FIXING?: The U.S. Department of Justice recently accused a New York man of trying to fix a college basketball game. The case highlights the ongoing concern over game fixing in sports betting [4].
- THUMBS UP: A national poll reveals 80% of Americans approve of sports betting [5].
- DENIED: The U.S. Supreme Court rejects gambling connoisseur Billy Walters' appeal in a longstanding case [6].
- NO FLUFF HERE: Pauly Howard skips the fluff and zeroes in on crucial sports betting issues with his clear-cut analysis [7].
- NICE SPOT: Senecas open a sports lounge at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo [8].
- HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF?: With the Black Sox scandal serving as a grim reminder, experts discuss the potential for similar situations arising in modern sports [9].
- UP AND RUNNING: All Iowa sportsbooks are officially open for business [10].
- BETTING MVP ODDS: Ben Simmons' betting MVP odds have skyrocketed after his impressive three-pointer performance [11].
Enrichment Insights:In 2025, 39 states, along with Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, have legalized sports betting in some form. This dynamic regulatory landscape may include discussions on the mandatory use of official league data and the imposition of royalty payments for data usage in the future. For instance, the S. Department of Justice recently revealed a case involving a New York man attempting to fix a college basketball game (game fixing), which highlights wider concerns over the integrity of sports and betting.
- The Major League Baseball's push for mandating official league data usage and imposing a royalty fee in sports betting has faced opposition, as operators argue against royalty fees, claiming they would make the market untenable.
- In the sports betting market, Ben Simmons' betting MVP odds have skyrocketed after his impressive three-pointer performance.
- While Purdue University faces challenges in enforcing a sports betting ban, the Washington State Gambling Commission is preparing to regulate sports betting if it is legalized in the state.
