Every time professional sports seems to have reached rock bottom from a moral standpoint, something happens to remind us that the descent is far from over. As proof: the NBA’s decision this Wednesday to approve the sale of the Dallas Mavericks to Miriam Adelson, one of the richest casino owners in the world.
Just a few years ago, major North American sports leagues were actively engaged in legal and policy debates to combat the potential legalization of sports betting outside the state of Nevada. For example, Gary Bettman argued that the legalization of betting was likely to change the nature of hockey for the worse. He also said he feared that young people would end up believing that an association between sport and sports betting is natural and acceptable. Bettman also said the integrity of his sport would suffer.
However, as soon as the United States Supreme Court decreed the liberalization of sports betting in May 2018, the same leagues quickly turned around and became the biggest allies of casinos and bookmakers. The same thing happened in Canada as soon as the government adopted a legislative amendment now allowing betting on the outcome of a single match.
Since these changes, advertisements and sponsored segments encouraging the public to bet have become ubiquitous, even suffocating, when games are broadcast on TV and radio.
The leagues have become closely associated with the betting houses, with whom they now share data, statistics and all kinds of information. In fact, leagues are now promoting bookmakers. In the space of a few years, the two industries have become almost intertwined.
In Montreal, the leaders of the Canadiens – who will stop at nothing to pocket an extra dollar – even recently tried to obtain a permit to install a betting parlor at the Bell Centre! This request was refused.
The police also note an upsurge in organized crime in the area of betting. Within the Montreal mafia, as recently pointed out by colleague Daniel Renaud, of The Pressmurders are committed to gain control of local illicit gambling.
Finally, because sports betting is ubiquitous and more accessible than ever, there is more distress and problems linked to compulsive gambling in society, according to several organizations specializing in the subject.
A few years ago, Gary Bettman was not wrong when he said he feared the harmful effects of sports betting on youth and NHL customers. But last season, those worries seemed to disappear when Wayne Gretzky, Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews were promoting a sports betting house.
This sad portrait having been drawn up, let’s return to the sale of the Dallas Mavericks.
Famous Mavericks owner Mark Cuban sold the majority of his team’s shares to Miriam Adelson and her family.
The transaction values the Mavericks at approximately US$3.5 billion ($4.6 billion Canadian). Cuban, however, retains a minority stake in the team, where he will continue to oversee sports operations.
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Miriam Adelson is one of the richest casino owners in the world.
Photo : Associated Press / Patrick Semansky
Cuban will continue to oversee the basketball aspect because Ms. Adelson, who is 78 years old, cares little about sports. Her late husband left her a vast empire that includes several casinos in Las Vegas, Singapore and Macau. Her fortune is estimated at more than 32 billion, which gives her 5th place in the list of the richest women on the planet.
By joining forces, the family of Miriam Adelson and Mark Cuban dream of pushing the integration of sport and gaming a little further. And it gets even more uncomfortable.
A while ago, Cuban explained that he and his new partner want to build a casino in Dallas and that they intend to – get this – erect the next Mavericks amphitheater right in the middle of said casino!
By the way, it is this abject real estate – and social – project that the NBA owners approved on Wednesday, by accepting the sale of the Mavericks.
For now, this possibility seems remote because gambling and casinos have still not been legalized in Texas. What we do know, however, is that Ms. Adelson, a generous Republican donor, has been raining down millions since last year in the hope of obtaining the legislative changes she wants from a Republican-controlled administration.
The Associated Press notably reported that Ms. Adelson had invested 2 million last year in a political action committee which gives money to elected officials and which lobbies with Texas legislators. Governor Greg Abbott alone would have been entitled to an additional $1 million contribution.
If Ms. Adelson’s family has decided that the time has come to acquire the Mavericks, it is reasonable to suspect that they expect that their efforts will eventually bear fruit.
This story will be worth following closely because, if Mark Cuban’s operation is successful, it will certainly be replicated elsewhere. And many times!
Not long ago, sports leagues avoided like the plague anything related to casinos or sports betting. And in a few years, fathers and mothers, holding their children’s hands, may have to circulate inside a casino to get to their seats and watch a game.
Isn’t that exciting?
2023-12-27 22:40:15
#sale #Mavericks #moral #decline #sport
