Michigan Sports Betting – Pros, Cons, and the Great Unknown
There’s been a contentious debate surrounding the legalization of Michigan sports betting over the last few months. In 1992, the US federal government passed a law stating individual states cannot legalize sports gambling. However, this spring, the US Supreme Court found this federal statute violated the 10th amendment to the US Constitution and reversed it. The 10th amendment states the federal government cannot commandeer state legislature. So, we now find ourselves in uncharted territory with regard to Michigan sports betting.
Sports Gambling on a National Level
Because of this recent ruling, many questions remain. On a national level, Congress in Washington could potentially pass a law that bans sports gambling nationwide. This is different than the previous laws, which mandated what the states could and could not do. However, experts in this debate largely agree that a federal ruling such as this is unlikely. In the probable event this doesn’t happen, it will become an issue each state will need to address soon.
Michigan Sports Betting – Where We’re At
Currently, there’s a proposed package of bills that would attempt to legalize Michigan sports betting. With the current legislative session ending at the end of 2018, these bills would need to be passed by the House and Senate and then signed by the governor before Michigan sports betting is legalized. If this happens, the biggest questions remain. What are we going to allow? What is going to be off limits? Can we bet on our kids’ Little League games? What about college sports? The answers remain unclear. What we do know is, if this power is given to the state, Michigan will need to step up and outline specifically what is and isn’t legal.
While the cons include an unknown future and what will be allowable, the pros to the legalization of Michigan sports betting are plenty. Sports gambling will generate revenue by way of tax dollars once regulated. Networks will likely get involved and generate ad revenue as well.
Information from SinasDramis.com .
