US Supreme Court Invalidates Federal Ban on Sports Betting

In the May 14, 2018 case of MURPHY. vs. NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSN., the U.S. Supreme Court held the Federal law that barred sports betting was null and void.

Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. wrote in the majority opinion: the Federal law was a violation of state sovereignty because it “unequivocally dictates what a state legislature may or may not do.” The Decision is consistent with the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution because the Federal Government only possesses those powers delegated to it by the U.S. Constitution. As such, all remaining powers are reserved for the states or the people.

Consistent with this Decision, it is anticipated that several states will enact legislation to legalizing sports gambling. There are clearly two sides to legal gambling, but more and more of the focus of proponents now include those States who also seek ways to increase their revenues to offset the escalating budgets from year to year.