The Wiz of Odds

Court Strikes Down Delaware Single-Game Bets

Single-game sports betting was scheduled to start Sept. 1 in Delaware, but a three-judge panel of the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Monday that the state’s plan violated the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 and cannot proceed.

The panel was expected to rule on a temporary order to stop Delaware from launching sports betting with single-game wagers against a pointspread, but instead announced that the issue was a simple matter of law and that the issue could be resolved at this stage.

It was a total and complete victory for the NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA and the NCAA.

"We're very disappointed with the ruling," Michael Barlow, legal counsel to governor Jack Markell, told the Wilmington News-Journal.

The state has 14 days to ask for hearing before the entire appeals court to reconsider and possibly reverse Monday's ruling. The state also could appeal directly to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Gators a 73-Point Favorite Over Charleston Southern*

*Updated: Was the 73 meant be a 63? Matt Hinton of Dr Saturday has the scoop. Wiz take: Even at 63, it would probably be the biggest pointspread in college football history, eclipsing the 59.5 points Hawaii spotted Northern Colorado in a 2007 season opener. Hawaii won, 63-6, and failed to cover.

It has come to this in college football. Danny Sheridan of USA Today has made Florida a 73-point favorite in its Sept. 5 opening game against Division I-AA Charleston Southern. It's believed to be the largest pointspread ever for a college football game.

Las Vegas normally doesn't post lines on games involving Division I-A teams playing I-AA opponents for obvious reasons. It's simply not a fair fight. I-A teams are allowed to have 85 players on scholarship, I-AA teams only 63. There are a myriad of other reasons, but Sheridan occasionally puts a number on such a game.

But seriously, isn't it about time the NCAA put an end to such games? Since the NCAA adopted the divisional setup in 1978, only five I-A teams have not played a I-AA opponent. Those teams are Michigan State, Notre Dame, USC, UCLA and Washington. The Spartans fall off the list Sept. 5 because they play host to Montana State.

Delaware Sports Betting Given Green Light by Judge

A judge has struck down the latest legal challenge to sports betting in Delaware, clearing the way for the state to start taking single-game wagers on NFL and college games in September.

Chief District Judge Gregory Sleet denied an emergency request from the NFL, NBA, NHL, Major League Baseball and the NCAA to stop the state from launching sportsbooks at three racinos while a lawsuit challenging their legality moves forward to a Dec. 7 trial.

The state, which is trying to address a projected budget shortfall of more than $600 million, expects to take in $3 million from sports wagering between Sept. 1 and June 2010, and expects an additional $14 million in new revenue from slot machines because of increased traffic at the racinos because of sports betting.

Another Legal Challenge to Sports Betting in Delaware

The National Football League, Major League Baseball, National Hockey League, National Basketball Association and NCAA jointly filed a lawsuit Friday in an attempt to stop Delaware from offering single-game betting on pro and college sports.

It is the second legal challenge at striking down the betting law, enacted in May. Within weeks after governor Jack Markell signed the legislation, the NFL argued before the state's Supreme Court that the law was unconstitutional, but all five justices sided with the state.

The latest lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Wilmington against Markell and lottery director Wayne Lemons, contends Delaware's "scheme" violated the federal 1992 Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act and the state constitution. The leagues plan to seek an injunction Monday to stop the state from implementing single bets on pro football, and any bets on college or other professional sports. Delaware officials are confident of their legal standing and say the state plans to offer wagering on football by September.

Delaware Sports Gambling Is Ruled Constitutional

The Delaware Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the sports betting law signed this month by governor Jack Markell complies with the state's constitution, clearing the way for wagers on NFL and college games this fall.

Attorneys argued before the court last week on behalf of the NFL, which tried to have the law ruled unconstitutional. But the state's highest court saw otherwise, with all five justices concluding the law was legal.

Table games are also part of the law, and Markell is counting on successful implementation of the law to raise upward of $50 million and help fill a projected $800 million hole in the state’s fiscal year 2010 budget.

Sports Betting Bill Passes Delaware Legislature

Delaware could have legal sports betting by the end of the week.

The state Senate, on a vote of 17-2, passed a bill legalizing all types of sports betting on Tuesday and governor Jack Markell plans to sign the measure this week.

The NFL, in what could be a precursor to a lawsuit, has already filed a legal brief against the measure with the state Supreme Court.

A similar bill failed last week in the House when state casinos lobbied against passage because it called for the state to take a larger share of casino revenue. But Markell, looking to address a projected shortfall of more than $600 million in the coming fiscal year, pressed for a compromise and got it.