A trade show announced in June to examine sports betting and casinos took on added significance at the end of that month when the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear the appeal of the state of New Jersey in a case that challenges the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA).
PASPA bans wagering on sports in all but for states, and bans single-game wagering everywhere in the U.S. outside of Nevada. New Jersey passed a law in 2014 to eliminate its state ban on sports betting and establish state-regulated sports books, drawing a lawsuit from the major sports leagues that has gone to the present Supreme Court case.
The recent developments mean that the Sports Betting USA trade show, to be produced by Clarion Gaming at New York City’s Convene center November 14-15, is likely to be concurrent not only with the high court’s consideration of the New Jersey case, but with congressional hearings on a repeal of PASPA expected in the fall.
Sports Betting USA is geared toward both the ports and gaming sectors. The two-day conference will discuss the legislative path to the repeal of PASPA; demystify misconceptions around sports integrity; outline data monetization strategies, fan engagement opportunities and new revenue streams for the rights holders; and present routes to a regulated market for the operators wishing to add this vertical to their offer.
“I have been monitoring the evolution of the sports betting discussion in the U.S. for the last two years waiting for the right moment to offer this conference to the market,” said Ewa Bakun, head of content for Clarion Gaming, in announcing the show last month. “As this issue has now become a mainstream one, largely due to the effort by the American Gaming Association and the shifting positions of the sports leagues, and as we’re starting to see operators actually invest to prepare for regulated sports betting through products that are legally viable now, I think our November event will see top-level participation from both the sports sector and the gaming industry.”
Sports Betting USA has been designed as a meeting and educational platform for the sports leagues, team owners and TV networks to learn how regulated sports betting could help their plummeting viewership numbers and to address the concerns around sports integrity.
The event will also bring together gaming operators including land-based casinos, tribes, licensed sports books, both online and land-based from Nevada and the European markets, DFS operators, lawmakers, regulators and suppliers to discuss the path to legislation and routes to market, including interim strategies to create a footprint with sports-driven customers now.
