It’s been almost ten years since NBA Commissioner Adam Silver broke with professional sport dogma by supporting the legalization of sports betting in the United States. Silver voiced that support in a New York Times editorial titled, Legalize and Regulate Sports Betting, that is still considered one of the tipping points in changing public opinion towards regulated sports betting.
Now, with the benefit of hindsight, Silver is looking back at his support of sports betting with no regrets. “I’d say when it comes to sports betting, I certainly don’t regret writing that op-ed piece and being in favor of legalized sports betting,” he said in a recent interview with the Associated Press.
Silver pointed out that regulated sports betting is the best way to fight unregulated sports betting. “I still think you can’t turn the clock back. I think, as I said at the time, with the advent of the internet, widely available sports betting online… we had to deal directly with technology and recognize that if we don’t legalize sports betting, people are going to find ways to do it illegally,” he said.
One way Silver would likely change the current sports betting ecosystem is by introducing federal regulations adding, “I was in favor of a federal framework for sports betting. I still am. I still think that the hodgepodge of state by state, makes it more difficult for the league to administer it.”
Whether they realize it or not, every American who enjoys sports betting, or benefits from its legalization in any way owes a debt of gratitude to Silver and long-ago stand on legalization.