Indiana state Rep. Alan Morrison said that the NBA and MLB are asking for a "piece of the action in an Indiana bill that aims to legalize sports betting," according to David Purdum of ESPN.com. House Bill 1325, introduced yesterday by Morrison, would "authorize sports wagering at the state's riverboats, racinos and satellite facilities, if federal law changes." Morrison said that he "received input on the bill" from the NBA and MLB regarding an "'integrity fee' that sports betting operators would have to pay to the sports leagues." The fee, equal to 1% of the "amount wagered" on the leagues' events, would be "required to be submitted on a quarterly basis." Morrison: "We've certainly had some input and welcomed some advice and language that makes the leagues feel a little bit more comfortable." The bill would only go into effect if the "federal ban on state-sponsored sports betting is lifted." The NBA and MLB are "taking pre-emptive steps ahead of the decision." In addition to the integrity fee, Morrison's bill would "give the leagues rights over what types of wagers are offered and require operators to use official league data in some cases" (ESPN.com, 1/8).
