Silver doesn't regret 2014 op-ed on pro sports betting

It took years for the major sports to implement sports betting, but not without controversy. As the commissioners fought to allow various sportsbooks to open across the nation, the NBA made the first big move.

Adam Silver has been in favor of legalizing from the beginning. That was a given when he wrote an op-ed back in 2014 backing that up. He recently addressed that very topic, standing by the op-ed a decade later.

“I’d say when it comes to sports betting, I certainly don’t regret writing that op-ed piece and being in favor of legalized sports betting,” Silver told the Associated Press. “I still think you can’t turn the clock back. I think, as I said at the time, with the advent of the internet, widely available sports betting online … that we had to deal directly with technology and recognize that if we don’t legalize sports betting, people are going to find ways to do it illegally.”

Silver’s thoughts didn’t change since writing the piece, but did admit there were some downsides and pushbacks that come with bringing gambling into the sports space, some of which vary state-to-state.

“I was in favor of a federal framework for sports betting. I still am,” Silver added. “I still think that the hodgepodge of state by state, it makes it more difficult for the league to administer it. I think it creates competition, understandably, among states to get — just think New York, New Jersey or a situation like that where you’re both competing for the same customer so you can compete on tax rates and other things and a regulatory framework.

“I think that on the downsides of sports betting, they certainly exist, and I think we have to pay a lot of attention to that. I think where we’re hearing it in multiple categories, certainly you see incidents of underaged people betting. We have to pay a lot of attention to that, what’s potentially going on at college campuses, certainly people betting over their heads.”

In March, the Legal Sports Report reported the NBA and MLB would receive a $1.7 billion revenue increase from legal sports betting. Fan engagement would provide an extra $425 million to the NBA and game-related revenue of $160 million.

During March Madness alone, Americans legally gamble around $3 billion according the New York Times’ German Lopez.

On the flip side, former NBA player Jontay Porter was banned for life by the league when it was discovered he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors who were wagering on games. Silver said this instance was “blatant,” and it was obvious how to track him down; DraftKings was one of those betting sites Porter was using. DK was able to see the biggest money winner in prop bets was attached to him.

“We take this very seriously,” Silver said. “As I said sort of Day 1, it’s not a huge business for us in terms of a revenue stream into the league, but it makes a big difference in engagement. It’s something that people clearly enjoy doing. I’d put it in the category of other things in society that I wouldn’t criminalize them, but on the other hand that you have to heavily regulate them because if there’s not guardrails, people will run afoul and create issues, problems for themselves, potentially for their families or for operations like us.”

[ Associated Press ]
[ Legal Sports Report]
[ New York Times ]

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