NASCAR to refine rules on sportsbetting

In the United States, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) has reportedly announced that it intends to adopt new rules early next year that will clarify its policies on sportsbetting.

Delaware move prompts clarification:

According to a Sunday report from NBC Sports published by Yahoo.com, the revelation came from Steve Phelps, President for NASCAR, after the weekend saw Dover International Speedway begin offering on-site sports wagering covering a range of markets. The first track in the country to have launched such a service, the Delaware venue’s sportsbetting kiosks offered aficionados the chance to bet on the winners of individual stages and races as well as the number of lead changes and select driver match-ups.

Updated language for 2019:

Although NASCAR employees are currently prohibited from wagering on the outcome of races, the organization’s rule book reportedly does not explicitly outlaw drivers and team members from placing bets. The organizer is now eager to change this situation before its 2019 season gets underway in mid-February via the 61st running of the iconic Daytona 500 from Florida’s Daytona International Speedway.

PASPA repeal leads to re-think:

Delaware launched sportsbetting at its three casinos in June following the earlier invalidation by the United States Supreme Court of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). Phelps reportedly explained that his organization is to respond to this move by passing rules for the start of next year’s 36-race season that contain ‘more specific language’.

Phelps reportedly told NBC Sports…

“The way the rulebook looks today, I think the teams and the drivers understand what it looks like, and I think we’ll clarify for 2019 with more specific language in it. For right now, there’ll be betting here. We’ll study and see how that goes but I think we’ll have some rules in place for sponsorship, for what betting looks like and continue to see what happens in the landscape overall.”

Expecting ‘different opportunities in sportsbetting’:

NASCAR is responsible for one of the most popular sporting competitions in the United States and last year attracted some four million fans to its numerous tracks spread across 39 states as well as in Canada and Mexico. The organization can trace it roots back to 1948 but has recently been experiencing declining viewership figures and is reportedly eager to find ways of attracting more fans.

Phelps reportedly told NBC Sports…

“We’re looking very hard at what the future of sportsbetting is going to look like for our sport as all sports are. From a sponsorship standpoint, I think sponsorship will definitely [bring] betting houses and different opportunities in sportsbetting. They’ll gravitate to NASCAR as most sponsors do because of the return on the investment they can get because of the visibility that it has.”