The American Gaming Association (AGA) has been prompted to respond again to calls for a federal approach to legislating the newly legalized sports betting sector, this time by way of a rejoinder to Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. He has suggested that a federal framework for sports wagering should be implemented and that all sportsbooks must use official data from the sports leagues.
Sara Slane, senior vice president public affairs at the AGA, said on behalf of the association: “The casino gaming industry shares Senator Schumer’s goal in preserving the integrity of sporting events and providing consumer protections. Federal oversight of sports betting was an abject failure for 26 years only contributing to a thriving illegal market with no consumer protections and safeguards. New federal mandates are a nonstarter.”
She added: “The casino industry is working with stakeholders to ensure the proper protections for consumers, and the integrity of bets and sporting contests are included in state policy, universally implemented by all operators in those states, and overseen by effective state and tribal gaming regulators.”
Schumer, who also proposed a measure preventing under-21s from participating in sports betting, joins Senator Orrin Hatch who has made similar calls for federal oversight in the wake of the strike down of PASPA.
