An item in today's Harness Tracks of America daily newsletter states that Delaware governor Jack Markell gave a low-key but clear response over the weekend to Major League Baseball, the NFL, NBA, NHL and NCAA, which filed a joint lawsuit last week challenging the constitutionality of Delaware’s new sports betting law.
Markell did take on the organizations' arguments on single-game betting violating the letter and spirit of the law, but said the state had vetted the law and felt comfortable in pursuing it. “Delaware sports lottery will help pay for our core government services like our teachers and police and will also create new jobs in our state. That’s our focus,” Markell said through spokesman Joe Rogalsky.
“We asked for and received a Delaware Supreme Court advisory opinion prior to moving forward to ensure we are in compliance with state law. We invited the NFL to sit down and share their concerns. They decided instead to sue.”
Rogalsky called sports betting “this unique hook,” emphasizing it was one of only four states grandfathered to utilize sports betting. The pro leagues, in what some readers of the Philadelphia Inquirer called hypocrisy, claim Delaware sports bets would compromise the honesty of the leagues. Rogalsky noted gently that sports gambling already exists.
(With files from Harness Tracks of America)
It is interesting that the
It is interesting that the NFL Commissioner and Board are concerned about sports betting on NFL games. The past history of the NFL shows they are well advised to do this as games were "rigged" by many players in the past and if any player is found betting on the outcome of the games he is given an automatic lifetime ban. Now in Harness Racing we turn a blind eye to "players"(insiders/trainers/drivers/grooms) who routinely bet and in mirriad ways try to influence the outcome of the races!!