In May 2018, the Supreme Court citing conflicts with the Tenth Amendment, opened the door to legal sports betting in the United States. The court’s decision effectively struck down the Bradley Act, also known as the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). PASPA was a federal law that forbade states from authorizing such gambling.

This ruling immediately allowed individual states to determine the legality of sports gambling within their borders.

Some states had prepared for this ruling. New Jersey was taking their first bets within weeks. Other states warmed to the idea over time, while some, including Texas and California, remained against allowing sports bets to be placed within their state lines without significant legislative debate.

PASPA was passed into law on October 28, 1992, to protect the integrity of professional and amateur sports in the United States. At the time, only Nevada’s sports wagering industry was protected.

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