Highsnobiety
Double Tap to Zoom

Today is a monumental day for sports fans and gambling enthusiasts alike, as the Supreme Court has made it legal to bet on sporting events in the U.S. According to ESPN, the court ruled six-to-three in favor of doing away with the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, a 1992 law that prohibited sports gambling. Previously, Nevada was the only state allowed to wager on such events.

Individual states will now determine whether or not to make sports gambling legal, as New Jersey is expected to be the first to offer legalized sports betting, while Delaware, Mississippi, New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia are likely to follow shortly thereafter.

"Congress can regulate sports gambling directly, but if it elects not to do so, each State is free to act on its own," the court noted. "Our job is to interpret the law Congress has enacted and decide whether it is consistent with the Constitution. PASPA is not."

Following the news from the Supreme Court, former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, who has been fighting for legalization for some time, took to Twitter to express his jubilation.

Your Highsnobiety privacy settings have blocked this Twitter post.

The NCAA, NFL, NBA, NHL, and Major League Baseball had all previously been against the legalization.

"We remain in favor of a federal framework that would provide a uniform approach to sports gambling in states that choose to permit it, but we will remain active in ongoing discussions with state legislatures," NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. "Regardless of the particulars of any future sports betting law, the integrity of our game remains our highest priority."

The MLB then had this to say regarding the ruling: "Our most important priority is protecting the integrity of our games. We will continue to support legislation that creates air-tight coordination and partnerships between the state, the casino operators and the governing bodies in sports toward that goal."

And lastly, the NFL added, "The NFL's long-standing and unwavering commitment to protecting the integrity of our game remains absolute. Congress has long-recognized the potential harms posed by sports betting to the integrity of sporting contests and the public confidence in these events. Given that history, we intend to call on Congress again, this time to enact a core regulatory framework for legalized sports betting. We also will work closely with our clubs to ensure that any state efforts that move forward in the meantime protect our fans and the integrity of our game."

ESPN also points out that the United States joins the likes of Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and France, who have all legalized sports betting.

For more on the game-changing decision, follow here.

In other sports news, a Floyd Mayweather versus Conor McGregor UFC fight probably won't happen.

We Recommend
  • Why the Outdoor Industry Is an Augmented Contradiction
    • Sports
    • sponsored
  • All I Want For Christmas Is RB Leipzig’s Jingle Jersey
    • Style
    • sponsored
  • FIFA Strike Gold with Tiffany & Co.
    • Sports
    • sponsored
  • David Beckham Spent Two Years Perfecting His New adidas Shoe (EXCLUSIVE)
    • Footwear
  • Denim Can Defy Gravity: G-STAR Taps Olympic Gymnast for Fall
    • Style
    • sponsored
What To Read Next
  • As Techy as Ever, ASICS' 2010s Running Shoe Grows in Beauty
    • Sneakers
  • Needles Brings The Elevated Workwear, NOMA t.d. Brings The Artisanal Craft
    • Style
  • An adidas Samba Sneaker Dressy Enough for a Black-Tie Event
    • Sneakers
  • Take It or Leave It: What Highsnobs Are Bringing Into 2025 (& Leaving Behind)
    • Style
  • Nike Finally Unleashes a Gorgeous & Once-Super-Exclusive Jordan 1 Sneaker
    • Sneakers
  • The Extreme Craftsmanship of a Swiss Watch In a GORE-TEX Boot
    • Footwear