The Nevada Gaming Control Board has reportedly thrown its backing behind a proposal for the US state to legalise betting on the summer and winter Olympic Games.
As reported by iGaming Business last month, a group of sportsbooks in the Nevada gambling haven of Las Vegas have been lobbying for the state to consider legalising such betting activities.
Betting on the Olympics is currently illegal in Nevada due to its classification as an amateur sport.
However, the group argued that such betting activity is commonplace in many other regulated markets around the world and the state would benefit from an expanded sports betting market.
Nevada is currently the only state in the US where betting on sports events is legal.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board regulatory body has reportedly agreed with the group and is expected to recommend the state’s gaming commission legalise betting on the Olympics when it meets on February 26.
Marie Bell, executive secretary of the Nevada Gaming Control Board, told the Bloomberg news agency that wagering would be legal in the state for “Olympic sporting or athletic events sanctioned by the International Olympic
Committee, subject to limitation by the chairman or the chairman’s designee in his sole and absolute discretion”.
The move comes at a time when various high-profile figures in the US are pushing for the country to legalise sports betting on a wider scale.
Rob Manfred, the new commissioner of North America’s Major League Baseball earlier this week became the latest sporting figure to speak out in favour of sports betting.
Potential reforms have also been backed by various other figures from the sports industry, as well as a number of individuals from the US government and the gambling sector.
source : www.igamingbusiness.com
