Did you know that you can bet on electronic sports “esports” in Nevada? The state recently added the increasingly popular form of competitive video gaming to its sports book. It’s no wonder, since 22% of millennial males watch esports, and the phenomenon generated $493 million in revenue in 2016, as stated in Sports Illustrated. For now, wagering on esports is only permissible in Nevada, however that could change based on a pending United States Supreme Court decision.
In October 2017, Governor Tom Wolf signed Act 42 of 2017 into law, which authorized an expansion of gaming in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The expansion includes sports betting, should federal law ever permit it. Since the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, or “PASPA” as it is more commonly known, prohibits states from authorizing sports betting, it remains illegal in Pennsylvania. However, the Court will soon decide whether that statute is constitutional in Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association. Should the Court find PASPA unconstitutional, Pennsylvania regulators will begin the process to allow sports betting, and esports could potentially be one of many collegiate and professional sports that can be wagered on in person at casinos and off-track betting locations, as well as using internet platforms.
