HELENA, Mont. (NMB) – In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a federal gambling law, giving individual states the power to legalize and regulate sports gambling.
In the Montana Legislature Wednesday, the Senate Business, Labor and Economic Affairs Committee heard testimony on two bills that would legalize sports betting and regulate it through the Board of Horse Racing and the Montana Lottery, both of which have not oversight from the Gambling Control Division.
Tim Pierce with the UM Legislative News Service reports, Representative Brad Tschida from Missoula sponsored House Bill 475, which would expand pool-based horse betting systems to other sports teams.
“For those of us who don’t bet, it really has no impact on us. For those who like to bet, it’s and opportunity from them to do that in a way that is organized and well maintained.”
The second bill heard way House Bill 725, sponsored by Representative Ryan Lynch from Butte, which would allow the Montana State Lottery to offer sports betting.
“The reason the Lottery makes sense is that it’s already existing. So we have existing infrastructure that’s been already laid out across the state. What this does would allow the Lottery the authority and the opportunity to offer sports wagering within communities.”
Both bills passed out of the House last month.
