William Hill CEO Philip Bowcock has welcomed today’s decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to hear arguments on whether sports betting should be legalized in New Jersey and, by extension, elsewhere in the U.S.
In America, new state laws about sports betting have been largely dormant since the federal Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was enacted in 1992. This law has stopped states from legalising sports betting.
However, in 2012 New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed legislation to permit Nevada-style sports gambling. But the major American sports leagues including the NBA, NHL, MLB, NFL and NCAA sued to stop New Jersey's plan. The Supreme Court will now decide whether PASPA is consistent with the United States Constitution.
Mr Bowcock said: "Today’s Supreme Court decision is a welcome development. It is time that it was recognised that PASPA has failed as a law. We believe it is right that all parties, including the American sports leagues, now come together and establish a new framework of regulation.
"That will enable sports betting to be enjoyed legally by millions of Americans. At the same time more than 100,000 new jobs could be created and billions of tax raised. William Hill is now Nevada’s leading sports betting company and we stand ready to take advantage of an opening up of the sports betting market in other states."
A decision is expected from the Supreme Court in the first half of 2018.
William Hill in Nevada
- William Hill US is Nevada’s leading sports betting company
- It was created in June 2012 through the acquisition of three small sports book operators in Nevada that were consolidated and re-branded as William Hill
- It boasts more than 100 full service and kiosk locations throughout the state
- William Hill offers Nevada’s most diverse betting menu throughout the year on everything: Including football, basketball, baseball, horse racing, soccer, auto racing, hockey, MMA, and boxing
- The US gaming market is dominated by land-based casinos and lotteries. Online gaming is largely illegal with only Delaware, New Jersey and Nevada having licenced operators to provide certain gaming products.
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