North and South Dakota make first steps toward legal sports betting
North Dakota is looking to jump into the sports betting bandwagon as a local legislator is crafting a bill that would allow the practice, and proceeds from it would go to charities.
Local news outlet KFYR-TV reported on Friday that House Rep. Jason Dockter is planning to introduce a bill that would authorize charitable sports betting, thus providing an additional revenue source for the state’s charities.
Charitable gambling is a popular activity in North Dakota. Under state laws, it can only be conducted by non-profit corporations that hold a State Gaming License issued by the Office of the Attorney General or an organization or group of people who have been granted a Local Permit from a county or a city. Charitable gambling first became legal in North Dakota in 1977. The state is also home to several tribal casinos, but those are operated under separate rules and regulations.
Rep. Dockter has told local media that with sports betting, charities will be able to offer around 20% of all gambling options available in Las Vegas and this would save the state quite some money. The legislator went on to explain that:
“It puts less burden on the state because those charities and other entities would come to the state and ask to appropriate money for their services. Well this is a way for people already spending their money, you can put some of that money toward sports gaming. They can use that so they don’t have to come to the state and put burden on the general fund.”
If sports betting gets legalized in North Dakota, almost all proceeds from the practice would go for charities. As explained by Rep. Dockter, the only sports betting money the state would get would be used to offset costs by the Attorney General’s office.
The House lawmaker has said that he is yet to finalize his bill. Rep. Dockter has expressed confidence in the success of the piece, although some opposition is expected to be raised.
Neighboring South Dakota Could Too Move to Legalize Sports Gambling
News have emerged that North Dakota’s neighbor could too legalize betting, taking advantage of the mid-May SCOTUS ruling that lifted a long-standing federal ban on sports wagering. However, sports betting cannot become legal in South Dakota before 2020.
South Dakota gaming officials have recently submitted a proposal for a constitutional amendment that would legalize sports betting. They seek to place the measure on the 2020 ballot and will need about 34,000 valid signatures to secure that it would be voted on in the election.
If the proposal gains support from the majority of voters, it will then be debated in the South Dakota Legislature. Lawmakers will have to craft and approve regulatory and taxation frameworks. According to experts, it would not be before mid-2021 when first legal sports bets will be placed in South Dakota.
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The post North Dakota Looks to Legalize Charitable Sports Betting appeared first on Casino News Daily.
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