A bill in Connecticut has been introduced that would allow sports betting on flights scheduled to depart or arrive in the state, despite other states’ gambling laws.
State Rep. Christopher Rosario introduced the bill Wednesday. However, federal laws could prevent the bill from moving forward, including the Gaming Machine Act of 1962, which prohibits the use of gaming devices on commercial flights.
However, since bets can be placed with the tap of a finger, lawyer Daniel Wallach does not see this as an obstacle.
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Some of the more than 400 betting offers for Super Bowl LI between the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots are displayed at the Race & Sports SuperBook at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino on January 26, 2018 in Las Vegas. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
“A cell phone is not a gaming device,” Wallach told Front Office Sports. “A cell phone doesn’t determine winners or losers; it’s just a means of communication. It’s no different than a pencil writing its name on a betslip and handing it to an agent. [The act] does not prohibit gambling; it bans gaming devices.”
The biggest problem, perhaps, is the fact that a dozen states have kept sports betting illegal. Thirty-seven states have legalized it in some capacity over the past decade. The Federal Wire Act of 1961 states that interstate gambling is prohibited.
Delta Air Lines appears to be poised to partner with DraftKings, which has become a sports gaming powerhouse after starting out as a daily fantasy company.
Connecticut is seeking to legalize sports gambling on flights to and from the state. (PK Press Club)
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Eilers & Krejcik, an independent research firm, conducted a new study showing that sports betting would be profitable for the state of Texas, where sports betting remains illegal.
The study titled “Legal Online Sports Betting in Texas: Revenue Forecasts and Economic Impact Analysis” estimates that the market could generate more than $360 million in direct tax revenue for the state, while creating more than 8,000 jobs.
Guests watch Game 6 of the World Series at the three-level Circa Sportsbook during the grand opening of Circa Resort & Casino on October 27, 2020 in Las Vegas. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Circa Resort & Casino)
The report estimates that Texas would benefit from an economic output of more than $2.6 billion annually, adding that non-gaming tax revenue generated by legal sports betting is expected to total $24.3 million annually.
