A brief history of Senator Jon Kyl’s tryst with sports betting

Jon Kyl, who is widely speculated to replace the late Sen. John McCain in the senate, is no stranger to US gambling industry. His appointment will have an impact on the recently changed US betting scene as well.

For starters, Jon Kyl was instrumental in passing the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act through Congress in 2006 (UIGEA). The UIGEA banned payments dealing with online gambling activities that are not explicitly legalised by a state. The UIGEA also stopped some of the biggest online poker and gambling sites in the US market.

Kyl had also tried in vain once to ban online gambling entirely, but unsuccessfully. This history of his has prompted the gambling industry in the country to sit up and take notice when his name popped up as the most likely candidate to take the seat left by the late McCain.

These are times when the Congress has been very interested in the topic of sports betting and its possible regulation at the federal level. Powerful senators from both sides of the aisle – Orrin Hatch and Chuck Schumer – have made their desire to advance legislation loudly know in recent weeks.

But Kyl is likely to come to the mix, making the situation further complicated.

Kyl would probably like to try to ban sports betting again rather than to regulate it federally, but that ship appears to have sailed in Congress.

Kyl works as an advisor for the law firm Covington & Burling. It has represented many of the top pro US sports leagues in one fashion or another. It’s even dealt with sports data and statistics – one of the central issues the leagues are concerned with when it comes to sports betting – on behalf of the NFL.

It’s not clear if the leagues have Kyl’s ear like they do with Schumer and Hatch – both are espousing league talking points – or if he’s even involved with advising them.

Regardless, Kyl is coming to the Senate at a potentially crucial time for the future of US sports betting. And given his past interest in gaming issues and his stature in Congress even years after his departure, he may have an impact.

Source: legalsportsreport.com