Oregon plans to legalise sports betting

Oregon is planning to legalise sports betting in the state, following the US Supreme Court order that allows US states to formulate state-specific legislation on sports betting operations. The Oregon Lottery expects that sports betting will be legalised by the next football season.

Officials from the local lottery revealed that their initial proposal includes people being able to pick the winners, either outright or against the spread. “It’s in the black market, offshore sports betting operations that people can access,” said Oregon Lottery spokesperson Matthew Shelby. “The question that we’re looking at is should there be a regulated, state-run way for people to do that?” KATU informed.

Despite the plans, Shelby revealed that the state lottery does not have projections on how much revenue could be generated through sports betting operations annually. The proposal aims at authorising betting on sports through a phone app, while it would eventually develop to betting at kiosks at bard and restaurants.

“If you were at an Oregon lottery retailer, potentially, you’d have the opportunity to bet on additional things,” Shelby said. “Who’s going to have the most yards in the first half, that type of thing.”