Issue 22 - January 7th, 2019

Well, friends, here we are yet again, in a brand new year full of possibilities and promise. It's the perfect time for fresh ideas, improved strategies, and a bright outlook for the future of our industry. Like all of you, I can't wait to see what this new chapter has in store for us.

One continuing theme that will certainly carry over into 2019 is that of sports betting. By now we all know what an immense and exciting topic this has become, ever since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned PASPA and opened the floodgates. And while that ruling was a huge victory for states' rights, it appears that the fight may not be over. Potential federal sports betting legislation looms anew.

For this reason and more, the time to educate ourselves is now. Sports betting is complicated, but it's an enterprise that we in the lottery industry are inherently qualified to take on. After all, nearly 70 percent of the world's sports wagering operations are run through lotteries. And, more importantly, it's an opportunity to generate even more revenue for the amazing causes we support in our communities.

Of course, each state is different. Some lotteries already have sports betting up and running. Others are unlikely to be directly involved at this time. However, the legislative and real-world precedents being set in these early days will affect us all.

You can bet on that.

So follow the sports betting news coming out of Washington. Be a part of the conversation. Make sure your governors, legislators and everyone else know the importance of states' rights and the positive impacts lotteries make in their jurisdictions. Reach out to your colleagues. Ask questions. Give advice. And be on the lookout for educational opportunities provided by NASPL. In the upcoming months they will be providing a series of webinars, workshops and other tools to keep us informed and up to date on this fluid and complex subject.

We may be in uncharted territory here, but we're not alone. And what better time than now to take on a new, inspiring challenge? Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."

This is our chance.

Dennis Berg
Director, Ohio Lottery Commission
NASPL President