As sports gambling continues to be introduced to more and more states across the U.S., each state has taken a different approach to how the market should be managed. Some are very conservative; others are more relaxed. Some allow online sportsbooks; others don’t. And, in a few cases, placing a wager is more cumbersome than it needs to be. That’s not going to be true with Montana’s sports gambling market, though, as the Big Sky State is going to make it as easy as possible. If regulators with the Montana Lottery and Sports Wagering Commission (MLSWC) get their way, there’s going to be one betting location for every 764 residents.
The legislation that allows sports gambling in the state was put into place by Governor Steve Bullock earlier this year and gave control of the industry to the state’s lottery commission. It has now submitted a proposal that would allow sports wagers to be taken at up to 1,400 locations across the state, which, based on the population, is one for every 764th person who calls Montana home.
The MLSWC will now have to brace itself for what may come out of a public hearing on the subject. That meeting is expected to be held October 28, just ahead of Halloween. That seems appropriate.
When Montana legalized sports betting, it said that wagers could be placed both online and at land-based kiosks. That latter stipulation led to the MLSWC wanting to offer the betting machines at the state’s liquor permit-holding establishments. It explains of the decision in its proposal, The lottery has taken this approach because by limiting eligibility to locations that possess the appropriate alcoholic beverage license for certain gambling activities, the lottery will ensure a sufficient number of locations to offer sports wagering and help limit any adverse impacts of an overabundance of population.”
The idea is no different than what is already in place in the state. Gambling through card games and video machines has been in place and it’s actually a requirement that alcohol and wagers be combined. By law, gambling is allowed at a location only if it has a liquor license. Available data puts that number at about 1,400. That is almost certainly not going to sit well with gambling foes and they’ll most likely be on hand come Monday to let their opinions be heard.
