The House Always Wins”: Can Blockchain Make Sports Betting More Predictable?

Expanded legalized sports betting is “inevitable,” believes NBA commissioner Adam Silver. In June 2018 Americans would find out whether his prediction was correct: the US Supreme Court is expected to decide on a case that seeks to overturn a ban on gambling.

New Jersey making money moves
The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), a law passed back in 1992, said any state that did not legalize sports betting by 1993 was prohibited from doing it. American players had to use foreign sites. Thousands of US friendly online sportsbooks - companies taking bets - are operating offshore.

Most of them are based in Malta, the Isle of Man, Antigua, Curacao or even native territories, such as Canadian Kahnawake. In the US, however, betting could be legally done only in Delaware, Montana, Nevada and Oregon. But in June the Supreme Court could allow states to decide for themselves.

The case was brought out by New Jersey that has been seeking to overturn the ban for years. In 2012, the rival state challenged the federal law by authorizing sports betting. But a smart move didn’t work out: the four major professional sports leagues and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sued. Since PASPA passed, New Jersey has challenged the ban six times in courts with no success.