By Mike Jensen - Philadelphia Inquirer Feb 7, 2009,

By this summer, Delaware could be the only state east of Montana where sports fans can legally bet on a pro or college game. A bill may be introduced as soon as next month that, if passed, would alter the betting landscape of this region.

State Rep. John Viola, a Democrat from Newark and chairman of the House Gaming and Parimutuels Committee, said officials were studying the potential financial impact of legalized parlay betting. Estimates have ranged widely, Viola said, from $22.5 million to $70 million a year in increased revenue.

"Gambling is here," Viola said, pointing out that the state already has horse racing, slots, a lottery and video poker. "It's not like you don't have anything and you want to bring something in. . . . I believe the governor's office is looking at the practicality of it, evaluating whether it's going to be worth implementing and the financial impact of it."

The major pro sports and the NCAA oppose the proposal and have hired a lobbyist in Delaware. Viola said lobbyists for the pro leagues testified against past versions of the bill. "I have not personally been approached by anybody this legislative session," Viola said.

With a new governor, Jack Markell, open to the idea, the odds of a bill going through have increased dramatically, since the previous governor, Ruth Ann Minner, opposed the idea.

Viola said that because Delaware law requires that sports betting "be a game of chance - it would need to have at least two elements bet. Instead of [betting] the Pittsburgh Steelers are going beat the Arizona Cardinals, you have to [bet], Pittsburgh's going to beat the Cardinals, and the coin toss is going to be heads." No potential sites have been discussed, but Delaware Park is a likely candidate.

Delaware is one of four states exempted from a 1992 federal law prohibiting betting on sporting events, grandfathered in because it had a sports lottery for a time in the 1970s. The other states grandfathered in by existing systems are Nevada, Montana and Oregon.

If legal sports betting comes in, no bets would be taken on local Delaware schools. "People would not be able to bet on the University of Delaware," Viola said
 

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