Idaho Unwilling to Legalize Sports Betting

When the Supreme Court of the United States overturned PASPA, thus allowing states to legalize sports wagering, many were eager to start working on the regulations…

…while the others were not so thrilled.

Among the states which do not see sports wagering as something that could contribute to the society is Idaho. In fact, the situation in this state is quite complicated.

Namely, in order to allow sports betting, Idaho would have to amend its Constitution and that is yet another step the residents of this state are unwilling to make. And at this point, the people in the governing branches are not paving the road for sports betting regulations.

What Did They Say?

Brian Kane, Idaho assistant chief deputy attorney general pointed out: “To me, it’s so uphill that I haven’t even heard a whisper of a proponent. The Constitution is very clear.”

Things are similar in South Dakota, where the Constitution also needs to be altered for sports wagering to become regulated. However, the climate there is different…

…and both the people and authorities are showing interests in this type of gambling as they believe the revenue earned and the taxes collected would help them improve state infrastructure.

None of that happens in Idaho! Kane confirmed that people should count on Idaho to amend the Constitution. The laws in this country are quite strict. Not only do they forbid bettors to gamble at the local facilities, but they are also preventing them from entering the online market…

…and use the services such as FanDuel and DraftKings which are present in the other markets.

2016 Agreement

In fact, only two years ago, the Idaho attorney general requested from the two providers mentioned above to remove the s connected with Idaho addresses and they eventually did so.

In 2016, Attorney General Lawrence Wasden wrote: “The concern I have is that the paid daily sports offering provided by these companies constitute gambling under Idaho law. I have a duty to enforce and uphold that law. I commend the companies for negotiating in good faith and agreeing not to make these contests available in Idaho.”

Recently, though…

…Brian Kane spoke for Idaho Press: “You’re actually seeing the states that are doing it, I don’t want to say they are predisposed to gambling, but they had a much more favorable regulatory regime to amend.”

The Troubling Constitution

The Constitution in Idaho allows three types of gambling:

• State Lottery
• Charitable Raffles
• Pari-Mutuel Gambling

The last one includes horse racing, but it doesn’t include historical horse race machines. The residents of Idaho had a chance to make a step forward with Proposition 1 that would introduce the historical horse race machines…

…but the proposition didn’t gain the majority of the votes!

The initiative which failed showed Kane that the people in Idaho are doing just fine without gambling. Furthermore, it is fair to point out that the state is surrounded with countries where all sorts of betting are allowed e.g. Nevada.

Many residents of Idaho don’t mind skipping the border and go on a gambling spree, but they do not want gambling legalized in their own backyard as Kane explained.

And while the other states in the US are quick in legalizing sports wagering, it appears Idaho doesn’t have enough desire to deal with the regulation process and sports betting in general.

Source:

“Despite SCOTUS ruling, sports betting unlikely in Idaho’s future”, Xavier Ward, idahopress.com, November 22, 2018.