Other Papers Say: Sports gambling bill a good bet

The following editorial originally appeared in the Yakima Herald-Republic:

Are we going to try our best in this space to avoid employing cringe-worthy puns when analyzing a bill working its way through the state Legislature to legalize gambling on sports in tribal casinos? You bet.

Gambling has become such an everyday part of our lives that its lingo has transcended insider jargon and become part of the vernacular. But until the U.S. Supreme Court last year overturned a long-standing federal law that banned betting on sporting events in most of the country, laying down some money on “the game” was something people here did either legally in Las Vegas or illegally through shadowy under-the-table means via bookies and offshore sportsbooks.

But if sponsors of HB 1975 get their way, Washingtonians would be free to wager on the Seahawks or Huskies and Cougars in the state’s tribal gaming facilities (aka casinos). Proponents see it as a logical next step in giving residents safe, well-regulated access to places to place their bets, as well as a guaranteed revenue-generator for the state, a la the legalization of recreational marijuana. No longer would people have to break a law that is legal in other states for an activity that has become woven into the fabric of American lives.

Just how widespread is sports gambling? The American Gaming Association estimated that $6 billion was wagered on the recent Super Bowl — enough to fund a certain proposed border wall.

Opponents, however, worry that easier access to sports-betting will exacerbate the growing problem of gambling addiction. Would making it easier for people to gamble lead to more destructive behavior? Perhaps. But it is far too late for a prohibition on this activity.

Moderation

So, if gambling is here to stay and sports gambling continues to grow in popularity, it indeed might be more prudent for the state to legalize it and regulate it than to see Washingtonians continue to bet under-the-table or travel to other states to place wagers. HB 1975 would restrict sports betting, via in-person or online, to within the physical space of tribal casinos.

A certain urgency exists for state lawmakers to act, since a wave of states seeking to pass sports wagering legislation is cresting — including Oregon. Ten states have passed sports betting bills in the past year.

Traditionally, Washington has been slow to accept legalized gambling. It remains the nation’s only state to make all forms of internet gambling, including online poker, a felony. In 2015, an attempt to legalize fantasy sports sites, such as Draft Kings, was defeated in the Legislature.

Done right, a well-regulated system of sports betting could add some revenue to state coffers, much as marijuana legalization did. That said, gambling addictions remain a problem both here and nationwide. As with the legal consumption of alcohol and marijuana, sports betting should be done in moderation.