GAME Act seeks to establish US sports betting at a Federal Level

The legislation of licensed sports betting, is back on the US Congress’ menu after a committee revealed the first draft of the ‘The Gaming Accountability & Modernisation Enhancement Act’, which will be referred to as the GAME Act.  

Proposed by the House Energy & Commerce Committee, the draft bill aims to outline federal provisions required for US states who may choose to allow for licensed sports betting enterprises, including fantasy sports.

GAME would also move to repeal the controversial 1992 ‘Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act’ (PASPA), which currently prohibits sports betting activities throughout the US, apart from the states of Oregon, Delaware, Montana which allow for sports pools and Nevada which allows sports betting in licensed gambling premises.

New Jersey Representative Frank Pallone is acting as the GAME bill’s lead sponsor. Pallone has detailed that the bill has been developed following a review of federal and state level gambling laws with a view to giving consumers protections and clarity on legal betting.

Speaking to ESPN News Pallone stated that US lawmakers needed to drastically revise existing laws at a Federal level as US consumers had turned to illegal markets.

“Despite the federal gaming laws in place today, Americans are betting up to $400 billion a year on sporting events alone,” Pallone said in a statement announcing the legislation. “It’s time to recognize that the laws are outdated, and the GAME Act will modernize them by increasing transparency, integrity, and consumer protections.”

Having presented GAME this Thursday, Pallone has asked fellow congressional members for its support and has urged industry stakeholders and commercial bodies to review provisions in what he believes is the best chance of US licensed sports betting.

In 2017, US industry body  American Gaming Association is building a coalition and plans to begin lobbying Congress to lift PASPA this year. “President Trump will have sports betting legislation on his desk during his term,” stated American Gaming Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman 


Source: SBC News