Sara Slane, American Gaming Association’s senior vice president, has hit back at Mark Emmert NCAA’s president’s remarks.
She was replying to his suggestion that legalized sports betting in the US will be harmful to US College sport.
“In recent remarks at the NCAA Annual Convention,” she told SBCAmericas this week. President Mark Emmert suggested that continued legalization and regulation of sports wagering across the country is going to have a dramatic impact on everything we do in college sports.
As a result, “It will threaten the integrity of college sports in many ways”, he said
“Mr. Emmert is failing to address or chooses to ignore the decades-old, massive illegal market for sports betting in this country. It includes betting on collegiate athletics.”
“It continues to thrive. Surely the NCAA can’t support the status quo.”
Slane’s Alternative To NCAA’s President’s Remarks
However, Slane believes there is a better alternative. Legalization as a means to promote integrity in sports should be supported. It will protect punters and athletes from illegal operations.
“Sports wagering is a multi-billion dollar, sophisticated enterprise that, if left primarily in the shadows, will continue to threaten competition and bet integrity, tax law enforcement resources and perpetuate the vulnerability of athletes – particularly unpaid amateur athletes – to bad actors in the illegal market,” she said.
Above all, “only by legalizing and regulating this popular American activity can we offer protection to competition, consumers, and competitors, ensure that responsible sports wagering is properly regulated and that those laws are enforced.”
Slane’s Conclusion
In addition, the AGA continues to support the expansion of legal, regulated sports wagering.
In the eight states where sports betting is now legal, consumers have a viable, safe alternative to place bets. Further, they benefit from the protection of stringent oversight by experienced gaming regulators.
“Without legalization, none of these protections exist and we leave game and bet integrity, consumers, and athletes vulnerable.”
