Sports Betting: Why the United States Should Go All In

Abstract

(11 Willamette Sports L.J., no. 2, 2014, at 1). This article compares Canada’s current sports gambling laws with those of the United States and proposes that the United States overturn the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PAPSA) and legalize sports betting. The article begins with background information on PAPSA’s legislative purpose and the Federal Wire Act, including criticisms of both acts. The article then examines the Canadian Criminal Code, which governs sports betting in Canada. Next, the article evaluates current sports betting issues in New Jersey. The article outlines the benefits from Canadian gambling laws and predicts how a similar system would benefit the US. The article also considers sports betting’s negative impacts and discusses potential modifications to the Canadian system that could alleviate those impacts. The article concludes by suggesting a system of sports betting that would benefit states while maintaining the integrity of professional and amateur sports.