A California state representative, Adam Gray, has proposed a constitutional change that would allow sports wagering in the state, contingent upon approval by a statewide ballot.
Gray, who heads the Assembly’s Governmental Organization Committee, stated that the proposed amendment was presented in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling last May to overturn the 1992 Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). He pointed out that eight states currently permit legal betting, and over 35 states are contemplating legislative proposals.
ACA 16 would modify Article IV, Section 19 of the California Constitution, granting the legislature the power to authorize sports betting regulation. This would pave the way for legislation to establish a regulatory framework and tax structure for the industry.
“The Supreme Court has fulfilled its duty in bringing legal clarity to the matter of sports betting and the rights that states possess under the Constitution,” Gray remarked. “Now, the legislature has a responsibility to determine the most judicious course of action.”
In spite of legal limitations at both the national and regional levels, wagering on sporting events continues to be immensely popular, with an estimated $150 billion wagered illicitly annually.
“Regardless of our preferences, California inhabitants are already placing bets on sporting events through illicit and frequently unethical websites abroad,” Gray added.
“It is time to bring this multi-billion dollar industry out of the shadows. We need to take strict action against illegal and unregulated online gambling and replace it with a secure and trustworthy substitute that includes protections against compulsive and underage gambling, money laundering, and deception.
Read the complete article on iGB North America.
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