Squadron, an associate professor of sport management at Elon, talked with Managing Editor Erik Spanberg as the N.C. General Assembly considers legalizing sports betting in the state.
As lawmakers in Raleigh consider legalizing sports betting in North Carolina, Associate Professor of Sport Management Bill Squadron offered his thoughts to the Charlotte Business Journal about who the real winners may be.
The N.C. General Assembly is now considering House Bill 347, which along with legalizing sports betting would also allot millions each year for gambling addiction treatment.
Squadron told CBJ Managing Editor Erik Spanberg that North Carolinians have had limited options if they wanted to post a wager, and legalization would create new audiences for up to a dozen companies that receive licenses to provide gambling platforms, such as DraftKings Inc. and MGM Resorts International’s BetMGM.
He agreed with some opponents of legalization that it could increase gambling addiction problems in the state by making betting more widespread, and that the state may need to dedicate more to supporting treatment than the $2 million annual allotment detailed in the proposed legislation.
“Maybe that should be an even higher number,” he said. “But I don’t think that the solution is to prohibit the activity for everyone because addiction for some is something that happens. The right solution is to be mindful of it, focused on it, provide as much education and support around it as possible.”
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