Major league executives are taking meetings with bookmakers

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Everyone, it seems, wants to grab a piece of the expected sports gambling windfall.

A major league sports team executive met with the owner of a bookmaker last week to pitch sponsorship opportunities, The Post has learned.

While leagues have looked to grab a piece of the what could become a $10 billion-a-year sports gambling business in New Jersey — mostly through a hoped-for 1 or 2 percent integrity fee attached to each wager — the revelation that individual teams may now be interested in partnerships means in-stadium advertising for bookmakers could be coming down the road.

The US Supreme Court is expected to rule as soon as Monday on New Jersey’s attempt to overturn a federal prohibition against sports gambling outside Nevada and a few other grandfathered in states.


The high court could rule that the federal prohibition — the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, or Paspa — is unconstitutional or rule that the move by New Jersey to allow sports gambling by casinos and racetracks doesn’t violate Paspa.

Either ruling could start legal sports gambling in New Jersey within two weeks of the ruling.

Major League Baseball is expected to come up soon with a policy about team sponsorships with bookmakers, a source close to the league said, should the ruling allow such bets.

“My sense is baseball has no hard line” against associating with sports betting firms, the source said.

While many European sports teams carry the logo of sports books on their jerseys, such a move in the US is not expected.



MLB and the NBA are now pushing for integrity fees from every sports bet placed — but that idea has run into lots of opposition.

The bookmakers want to spend money with sports teams and are open to other ideas where they feel there is mutual benefit, sources said.

It remains to be seen what effect a ruling allowing sports gambling will have on the values of sports franchises.

Casino chain MGM Resorts said last week when meeting analysts that it believes 10 to 12 states could legalize sports betting fairly quickly after a favorable ruling.

 

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Former Yankees manager Joe Girardi is swinging for the fences — to legalize sports betting in New York.

Girardi was in Albany Wednesday representing Major League Baseball as Gov. Cuomo and lawmakers debate whether to legalize sports betting after the US Supreme Court gave states the authority do so.

Two legislative sources said Girardi was promoting sports betting during meet-and-greet sessions with legislators outside the Senate and
Assembly chambers.

“Girardi is pushing for sports gambling legislation. He’s representing Major League Baseball,” said Assemblyman Gary Pretlow (D-
Westchester), who chairs the Racing and Wagering Committee.

Joe Torre, Girardi’s predecessor as Yankees manager and MLB’s chief baseball officer, will be pursuing the issue in Albany next week, Pretlow said.

Pretlow said MLB wants a “piece of the action” — a slice of the revenues from wagers on baseball games.


Both the National Basketball Association and MLB have suggested a 1 percent fee on all legal wagers on their games, Pretlow said.

A sports betting bill introduced last month by state Sen. John Bonacic (R-Orange County) includes a more modest fee of just 0.25 percent.

A clause in current state law gives four upstate casinos the right to offer betting on sports, if approved by Congress or the Supreme Court.. But the state Gaming Commission has to approve new rules before the first bet can be taken.

State lawmakers are also considering reviving sports betting parlors in the city following the demise of Off-Track Betting, which shut its facilities in 2010.

Girardi won World Series rings as both a Yankees manager and player.