A Republican representative from Indiana is the latest official to come out in favour of legalising sports betting in his home state, subject to a successful challenge by New Jersey in its ongoing US Supreme Court battle.
State Representative Alan Morrison, who resides in the city of Terre Haute near Indiana’s western border with Illinois, told a local newspaper that he would be happy to sponsor a bill legalising sports betting if the longstanding federal ban is lifted.
Morrison told the Indy Star: “I understand where they’ll be coming from, but it’s also important for the NCAA to understand that the landscape of gaming is changing throughout our country. I think they would hopefully have some understanding that Indiana would have rights just like the other states.”
However the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the body opposing New Jersey in the current Supreme Court case, is incidentally based in Indiana, and will undoubtedly provide stern opposition to any legalisation attempts in its home state.
Indiana is already home to a number of casinos, and is significant for being one of the first states to push through daily fantasy sports (DFS) legislation in 2016. Morrison, a longstanding advocate of relaxing sports betting laws, was instrumental in that attempt also.
The NCAA declined the Indy Star’s request for comment. In the event of a Supreme Court victory for the state of New Jersey, the decision will be made on Indiana’s situation by the end of March.