Connecticut State Rep. Joe Verrengia, chairman of the powerful Public Safety and Security Committee said last week that the possibility of an “integrity fee” as part of a sports betting bill remains a possibility.
So far six states have adopted legislation that does not have a fee for the professional sports leagues.
Before the Supreme Court lifted the ban on sports betting, Verrengia held hearings at which he said he wasn’t interested in “lining the pockets” of the sports leagues, but last week he said, “Given the time that has passed, we’re obviously going to revisit the issue of an integrity fee.”
He is interested in possibly generating a fee that might be used to support youth sports in the state. He has raised the subject of partnering with the leagues for that purpose with league representatives. “They were all for it. They thought it was a great idea because it would benefit the state and have also help them grow their market as well. I would like to see that happen,” he told Legal Sports Report.
The representative indicated that any bill include a provision for mobile apps that allow sports betting statewide. “The evidence is overwhelming that that’s where the real money is – in the mobile platform,” he said.
