SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Major League Baseball (MLB) Commissioner Rob Manfred is prepared to discuss legalised sports betting with other US pro leagues and sporting bodies.
Manfred joins NBA Chief Commissioner Adam Silver in his open approach to sports betting being allowed in the USA. Speaking to ESPN Manfred praised Adam Silver for opening discussions and debate on the subject matter. Manfred further commented
“Without embracing everything Silver said, certainly the idea of having a federal system to govern gambling — whatever that system is — uniformity at a federal level seems like a pretty good idea to me”.
“Gambling in terms of our society has changed its presence on legalization. I think it’s important for there to be a conversation between me and the owners about what our institutional position will be”.
To date MLB has been one of the staunchest opponents of US sports betting legalisation. Previous commissioners had been vocal against the subject matter, stating that the MLB wanted to keep its sporting integrity having been victim to sports betting scandals in its past.
Pro sports betting campaigners and the American Gaming Association, have stated that improving discussion and relations between gambling enterprises and US pro leagues will be key to progressing nationwide sports betting.
