Imagine sitting on an airliner, watching the vast greatness of the American landscape sprawling out beneath you, while live-betting on a baseball game. That scenario is exactly what Connecticut State Representative Christopher Rosario had in mind when he drafted HB6501, a bill that regulates in-flight sports betting.
Under current US law, specifically the Gambling Devices Act of 1962, gambling is formally allowed on domestic flights. Under the terms of HB6501, players would be allowed to access gaming operators licensed in the State of Connecticut on flights originating and terminating that state. Rosario’s bill also includes a clause that diverts one percent of the revenue from in-flight gambling to Connecticut public schools.
Regulating in-flight gaming is something of a novelty today, but Rosario is getting ahead of what is surely to be a major trend in gaming, especially after the recent announcement of a partnership between Delta Airlines and DraftKings. Delta CEO Ed Bastian described the in-flight gambling plan recently saying, “From fantasy sports to online adventures, gaming has become a regular part of the daily lives of millions of our customers. And you shouldn’t have to hit pause just because you’re in the sky,”
Rosario’s plan is for Connecticut to be on the cutting edge of that trend. “While respecting federal regulations, we must acknowledge in-flight betting’s inevitable growth. HB6051 positions our state for revenue opportunities, fostering local economic development. My bill ensures Connecticut benefits financially if deals like DraftKings-Delta take off–literally. I’m confident our legislation balances innovation with responsible gaming practices” he said in an interview with SBC Americas.
Given the speed at which gambling trends are growing in the red-hot US gaming market, it’s likely that the matter of in-flight will be addressed at the federal level in the very near future.