After the Supreme Court struck down a federal ban on sports betting, state legislatures began to pass laws legalizing it. Now, 34 states and the District of Columbia have sportsbooks. This is known as official betting, and it’s one of the biggest changes that came with the ruling. ESPN’s David Purdum has been covering gambling and the NFL for a long time, and he talked to us about how much the landscape has changed since the Supreme Court ruling.
NBA players are allowed to place bets on non-NBA events at legal sportsbooks, but they cannot place wagers while inside team or league facilities or when they’re on the road with their teams. Players are required to sign a statement acknowledging the rules spelled out in their contracts. In addition, NFL security and integrity personnel are deployed to monitor and identify possible violations. The league has also beefed up in-house technology and partnered with integrity firms to ensure responsible betting by fans. The league’s policy has led to suspensions for Isaiah Rodgers and Rashod Berry, and the firing of Alabama baseball coach Brad Bohannon.
Illinois legalized sports betting in 2019, and retail options opened up in March 2020. Online and mobile sportsbooks launched in 2021. In-person sports betting is available at a variety of casinos throughout the state, and DraftKings, BetMGM, PointsBet, and BetRivers are among the online sportsbook options in Illinois. In addition, a sportsbook at Chicago’s Wrigley Field has opened this year.