Kelsey McGovern, Staff Writer

In 2018, the Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), ruling for the legalization of sports gambling in Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association. Throughout the years following the legalization of sports gambling, controversy emerged regarding its effect within society. Some citizens saw it as detrimental to the integrity of the game, while other citizens viewed the legalization as beneficial because it is now monitored more closely.

Those who are against legalization  raise concerns about the practice becoming more prominent in people’s everyday lives by making it easier for fans to participate. However, whether a practice is legal or illegal does not prevent people from taking part in the activity. The legalization of sports betting allows viewers to engage in the sports community, enhancing entertainment, creates a safer environment for both individuals and teams through monitoring, and improves economic growth through increasing jobs.

Critics condemn sports gambling’s effect on the integrity of the game. They believe that legalization only makes it easier for people to involve themselves in sports gambling, increasing addictive habits. People can make bets online at any time, making the practice more convenient. On the other hand, supporters of the legalization of sports betting emphasize that there are more regulations in place monitoring actions, which not only limit money and time, but also increases the emphasis on the integrity of the game. Although sports gambling may be easier to access by just going online, there are more rules to protect secure payments and to ensure that only eligible participants are able to partake. Teams and players have stricter rules that uphold the integrity of the game.

Sports betting being a legal practice allows the sports community to pursue their favorite teams. Those who are interested in sports can follow scores through sports gambling. Those who do not know much about sports but are intrigued in some way or another are able to gain interest through sports betting. Engaging in sports betting increases viewership and entertainment. It allows people to gain knowledge on how different sports work, as well as the statistics behind it. People are free to do what they want with the money they earn and are only hurting themselves if they indulge too much. The legalization of sports gambling puts limits on interaction through regulations. It decreases the possibility of players getting involved or suspicious payments being made to ensure one conclusion or not. The legalization not only allows more regulations to be in place to prevent the bad habits that may result from sports gambling, but also enforces identity verifications. Because there is a more secure environment, jobs are created in the sports gambling industry.

Opponents argue that the legalization only makes the presence of sports gambling more normalized in society. These habits trickle down to children, which makes them pick up the same interest in gambling. Legalization enhances bad habits instead of stopping them. Pursuers are concerned that gambling addictions may increase, leading to financial instability for many people. However, no matter if something is legal or illegal, people who enjoy the practice will find a way to continue their habit. In making sports gambling legal, people are monitored to control addictive measures and the integrity of the game. Fraud and unsecure payments decrease with legalization, with the protection around the individual and the sports teams. The regulations on sports betting allow the integrity of the game to be upheld due to monitoring patterns. It decreases the possibility of players getting involved or suspicious payments being made to ensure one conclusion or not. It enforces identity verifications to permit eligible individuals to participate. Ultimately, the legalization creates more jobs, increasing economic growth, which generates local taxes. It creates hundreds of thousands of jobs like casino employers, app designers, advertisers, data analysts and many more. Revenues can go to education or infrastructure initiatives, benefiting the whole country.

The legalization of various practices within the United States is seen as a positive aspect. When activities or substances become legal, it reduces the possibility of harm. In the example of sports betting, people entering the practice can do so in a safe manner. When people pursue illegal hobbies, they are at higher risk for charges, fines or danger. The legalization of sports betting allows regulations to be in place, letting those who contribute to sports gambling be protected under the law. It increases the entertainment of fans and increases the number of sports fans through their interest in sports betting. On top of these factors, it increases gross domestic product (GDP), which allows the US to grow economically. The unemployed can receive work and wages because of the legalization of sports gambling.