Washington, D.C, June 12, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) joined the American Sports Betting Coalition (ASBC) to launch a campaign to end the 25-year-old failing federal ban known as the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). PASPA prohibits sports betting outside Nevada. The coalition consists of a diverse group of law enforcement, elected officials and gaming industry leaders committed to addressing the failing federal ban on sports betting that’s fueling the $150 billion illegal sports betting market.
The ASBC will empower law enforcement with robust regulations and 21st century tools. The coalition will include an advisory council of law enforcement and state and local elected officials to solicit critical input as all invested stakeholders craft a solution. It brings together the American Gaming Association’s Illegal Gambling Advisory Board and immediately welcomes organizations such as the Fraternal Order of Police, National District Attorneys Association, Major County Sheriffs Association, U.S. Conference of Mayors and National Conference of State Legislatures who support the coalition principles.
“Our nation’s mayors are the closest elected officials to the people,” said Oklahoma City Mayor and president of the United States Conference of Mayors, Mick Cornett. “The overwhelming majority of Americans agree that allowing sports betting is something for the people of each state to decide, not the federal government. Also, the potential revenue would be great for our local economics; and the tools for law enforcement would make our communities safer.”
According to new research by Oxford Economics, legalizing sports betting in the United States would curb a conservatively estimated $150 billion illegal market while supporting up to 152,000 jobs, creating an estimated $26 billion in economic output and generating up to $5.3 billion in tax revenue.
A recent AGA-commissioned national survey by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner (GQR) found strong support for legal sports betting. Nearly six in ten Americans – and 72 percent of avid sports fans – are in favor of ending the federal ban.
In addition, the GQR results show that Americans are much more likely to watch, engage with and talk about sports when they bet on games. Further, the research concluded that a majority of Americans, regardless of education, income level, political party affiliation and geographical region, want to end the federal ban on sports betting.
“The U.S. Conference of Mayors stands ready to be an active voice in the formulation of new policies and regulations on sports betting,“ said Tom Cochran, USCM’s CEO and Executive Director. “Representing the nation’s mayors on the American Gaming Association's new Advisory Council of the American Sports Betting Coalition, I will work to ensure that the mayors’ voices are heard, particularly on any changes to law enforcement and the distribution of any tax revenues.”
To learn more about the ASBC visit sportsbettinginamerica.com.
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