Girardi said his mission is to protect the integrity of baseball for everyone involved, including the fansGETTY IMAGES
Former Yankees manager Joe Girardi went to the New York State Capitol on behalf of MLB to "advocate for a new state law regulating betting on sports," according to David Lombardo of the Albany TIMES UNION. Girardi said, "It's important for New York to be out on the forefront and get something passed ... this session. I don't think we can wait." Girardi said that his "mission is to protect the integrity of baseball for everyone involved, including the fans" (Albany TIMES UNION, 5/31). An MLB spokesperson said that Girardi "isn’t advocating for sports betting but, in the increasing likelihood of its legalization, for a regulatory framework that protects baseball and its fans." Lobbyists said that MLB Chief Baseball Officer Joe Torre is "set to make a similar push next week." On Long Island, Yancey Roy notes the U.S. Supreme Court ruling has "sent lawmakers rushing to draft legislation to create state regulations in the short time they have left in Albany this session." But at the same time, major leagues are "urging Congress to pass a law, saying they would favor one national framework over having 50 different state laws." New York state Sen. John Bonacic, who also serves as the Senate Racing & Wagering Committee Chair, said that he was "working with his Assembly counterpart to craft legislation." However, he added that the two houses "haven’t talked" with Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has "suggested there isn’t enough time left in the session for any major agreements" (NEWSDAY, 5/31). Gannett's Jon Campbell noted, "John Starks, the ex-Knick, was here last week on the same issue." LegalSportsReport.com's Dustin Gouker tweeted, "This is an escalation in the quality of former athletes that MLB/leagues are deploying" (TWITTER.com, 5/30).
MOVING FORWARD: In Pennsylvania, Robert Swift notes state gambling regulators yesterday "took the first steps to launch legal sports betting, but officials were hesitant to say if betting would be available at any casinos by football season or year’s end." The Gaming Control Board (GCB) "approved a first set of temporary regulations for sports betting without debate." These regulations "spell out how casinos are to petition the board" for a $10M state certificate to "offer betting on professional sports teams." GCB Dir of Communications Doug Harbach said that the board "expects to consider additional sets of more detailed temporary regulations covering such areas as public participation and problem gambling during the next several months." Harbach also said that the board "will have a better idea about a timetable to launch sports betting once work on these temporary regulations has advanced more" (ALTOONA MIRROR, 5/31).
SURVEY SHOWS...: In Newark, Brent Johnson cited data from a new Fairleigh Dickinson Univ. poll showing that "most New Jerseyans are OK with legal sports betting," as about two-thirds of adults (62%) "agree" with the Supreme Court ruling. That is the "highest percentage the FDU's survey has ever seen on the issue." Another 25% are "against the expansion," while 11% "didn't know." The same percentage that supports the ruling -- 62% -- are "against sharing revenue with professional teams, which has become a hot topic in New Jersey." However, (34% "back the idea." The poll was conducted via phone from May 16-21 among 926 New Jersey adults (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 5/30).
