Legalized Sports Betting Coming Soon? Delaware Makes It Happen

Sports betting may become Delaware's path out of a projected budget shortfall, or at least lawmakers in the state are hoping so. The AP reports that governor Jack Markell today signed a bill legalizing betting on sports in the state. Further, it looks like state officials aren't going to be stopping at just sports betting either, as the story noted they expect to also have "table games such as poker, blackjack, craps and roulette, in play in no more than six months."

Although a number of federal laws apply to regulate many forms and methods of gambling, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act is the federal law that covers sports betting. As noted by the AP, this law grandfathered in only 4 states (Delaware, Nevada, Montana and Oregon), and leaves the remainder out in the sports-betting-cold.

Considering the challenges facing pretty much all state budgets, it probably shouldn't be too surprising that other states have already thought about trying to hop aboard the gambling cash-train. For example, New Jersey filed a lawsuit earlier this year challenging the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, on the very grounds that it discriminates against the un-grandfathered 46 states. For those who prefer gambling from the comfort of their own home ... state ... we'll keep you posted.