Yesterday’s reports that West Virginia has agreed to pay an “integrity fee” to US sports leagues in the event that it is able to offer sports betting by the US Supreme Court (see previous report) has been followed by denials that any such agreement was reached.
Earlier this week, state governor Jim Justice convened a meeting with interested parties to discuss the integrity fee issue following the passage earlier this year of legislation enabling West Virginia casino operators to offer sports betting subject to a federal ban being overturned by the Supreme Court.
Following the meeting the governor intimated that a tentative agreement had been reached that the casino operators would pay an integrity fee, but this has now been refuted by operator representatives who were present.
In the latest development, the governor has issued a clarifying statement noting that “the process is still in the very early stages and many details still need to be worked out.”
