Legal Sports Betting States Now Capable Of Hosting NCAA Tournaments

• The ban on collegiate postseason tournaments was in effect for 26 years.
• A quarter of the states have passed laws in support of legal sports betting.
• Nevada has already announced their desire to enter the bidding process as a host state.

INDIANAPOLIS – After taking a strong stance towards Oregon in the early 1990s for their Sports Action parlay game, the NCAA has decided to remove the ban of allowing states with legal sports betting to host post-season tournaments.

Announced on Friday, the policy was in effect for 26 years, after being temporarily suspended last year as a result of the federal law known as PASPA being overturned by the Supreme Court.

“Prior to that ruling, it wouldn’t have been possible, but, now, it’s up to the various bids that go out,” said Stacey Osburn, a spokeswoman for the NCAA.

Voted to remove the ban for good, it was passed by the board last week and will allow states such as Pennsylvania, who hosted an NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament series last year, to still be able to host post-season tournaments.

Currently, there are eights states who have sportsbooks in operation. Four more states, plus DC, have legalized sports betting and are expected to launch an industry within the next year or two.

New Jersey will gather some excitement around this announcement, as it has been nearly a decade since hosting a 2011 tournament game in Newark’s Prudential Center. As for Nevada, they can join this list, as they have not seen a single tournament game played in their state, ever.

The sites are already locked in through the 2022 season, but the states with legal sports betting and a host school or conference can entertain the idea for the 2023 seasons and beyond.

“I think the relationship between the NCAA and Las Vegas has been improving a lot in the past two or three years,” said the president of Las Vegas Events, Pat Christenson. “We think we’re an attractive destination and there aren’t all that many options for regionals in the West.”

The NCAA still remains opposed to all forms of gambling, especially on amateur athletics involving their student-athletes. Moreover, the board also asked for federal lawmakers to step in and create a ban or regulations on collegiate betting in general last year.

News tags: NCAA | New Jersey | Pennsylvania