UFC executive backs legalized sports betting in US

In an interview with ESPN, Epstein said an expansion of this market would enhance, rather than hurt sports and give fans more confidence that contests are not fixed.” Epstein said.

Epstein’s comments come after Adam Silver, commissioner of North America’s National Basketball Association (NBA) league, in September predicted that widespread sports betting legalization in the US is inevitable and that a regulated market would help the competition.

Despite Silver’s comments, the NBA, along with three other North American professional sports leagues, recently succeeded in suspending the launch of legalized sports betting in the state of New Jersey.

The NBA, NFL American football league, NHL ice hockey and MLB baseball, as well as the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), launched a legal challenge against a new bill signed by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie to partially repeal the state's prohibition on sports betting.

The bill would allow New Jersey casinos and racetracks to offer sports betting services under the provision that bets are placed on events outside of the state to avoid conflict with a 1992 federal law.

According to paperwork filed in US District Court, the sports leagues said that the bill is “in clear and flagrant violation of federal law – to accomplish what it unsuccessfully attempted to do three years ago: sponsor, operate, advertise, promote, license or authorize gambling on amateur and professional sports at state-licensed casinos and horse racetracks”.