Who needs at sports betting ban in America? The idea of people placing illegal bets on sports doesn’t keep most of us up at night. In fact, many of us likely have family and friends who make illegal wagers, further normalizing the activity. But, we also know that unsavory characters run elaborate illegal sports betting operations to help fund more sinister criminal activity. That’s why we’ve been part of the American Sports Betting Coalition and working with other invested stakeholders on the issue of illegal sports betting for the past few years.

The startling truth the coalition uncovered was that the 25-year-old federal prohibition on sports betting known as the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was not only ineffective at preventing illegal sports betting, but it was actually helping to facilitate it. Today, millions of Americans bet on sports through a massive illegal market that operates outside the reach of law enforcement with no regulatory oversight, no means of protecting the integrity of the games, and no safeguards for consumers.

Based on all of this evidence, the Fraternal Order of Police and other law enforcement organizations concluded that legalization and regulation of sports betting is a better route that a sports betting ban. Legalizing the activity would bring it out of the shadows with tools and transparency for law enforcement and regulators. That is why we were pleased when the Supreme Court of the United States recently struck down PASPA.

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