House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte. Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images
The NFL on Thursday asked Congress for federal sports betting legislation, during a House Judicial Committee hearing.
The bottom line: Legislators failed to come to a consensus.
The goal of a federal framework for sports betting is to eliminate illegal off-shore betting that has become an industry worth billions of dollars.
- Many congresspeople favor such legislation, but this was the first hearing to discuss its potential.
- Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer pushed for federal regulation in August.
Jocelyn Moore, the NFL's executive VP of communications and public affairs, said the league is asking for "core standards to protect the integrity of our game." She added that they could provide:
- Easier paths to data sharing between leagues.
- Greater authority on interstate commerce, law enforcement and money laundering.
- Protection for intellectual property and data for leagues.
Sara Slane, senior VP for public affairs at the American Gaming Association, agreed that everyone at the hearing is racing against the illegal betting market, but maintained that state regulations are strong enough to beat it.
Be smart: Legislators still had questions about things like credit card use, how student athletes are affected and security concerns for players and league officials involved in betting.