Lawmakers Say Money Shouldn't Factor In Sports Wagering Debate

Some lawmakers are cautioning their colleagues against making a decision on sports wagering based on revenue it might generate for the state.

The General Assembly will consider in 2019 whether to legalize sports betting, after the U.S. Supreme Court cleared a path for that earlier this year and some other states quickly moved to allow it.

But House Ways and Means Co-Chair Todd Huston (R-Fishers) says that decision shouldn’t be made with money in mind.

“We need to look at gaming in the aspect of what’s our long-term policy position, how is it supported, how do we strengthen the industry as the states around us change and are more competitive,” Huston says.

Sen. Jon Ford (R-Terre Haute) has been working on the sports wagering issue for years. He preaches that same message.

“When you see the overall number of sports wagering and how much of it is happening in the illegal market, everybody thinks it’s huge dollars that could come into the state," Ford says. "And I would just caution that it’s not going to be as much as people think.”

A report prepared for a study committee this year says Indiana would eventually bring in between $30 million and $40 million a year from sports wagering, if it’s legalized.