Legalizing sports betting across the U.S. "would be bad news for local street-corner bookies and the Internet’s unregulated off-shore gambling market," but the question of whether the idea could "hurt the Nevada sports betting industry" remains unanswered, according to Howard Stutz of the LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL. The industry is currently "a long way from legal sports betting moving beyond Nevada." Boyd Gaming President & CEO Keith Smith, whose company owns and operates casinos in eight states, including nine in Las Vegas, "doesn’t believe sports gambling should expand into all gaming markets." Smith: "We make money in our sports books. We provide good amenities, and they are profitable." Las Vegas Hotel & Casino SuperBook VP Jay Kornegay said other jurisdictions "would have a tough time emulating Las Vegas." Kornegay: "There are still plenty of more reasons to come here." Stutz noted most of Nevada’s major gaming companies -- MGM Resorts, Wynn Resorts, Caesars Entertainment and Station Casinos -- "own and operate sports books." The amount of money wagered on sports by Nevada casino customers "has increased in each of the past five years." Gamblers in '14 wagered $3.9B on sports, an increase of 7.7% over '13. Analysts "credit technology for the growth." Nevada gamblers in November '14 placed $400.7M in bets "on college and professional football -- a single-month record for the sport" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 2/22).
