NCLGS Announces Session on Past, Present and Future of Sports Betting

NCLGS Announces Session on Past,

Present and Future of Sports Betting

SAN DIEGO, CA: As legalized sports wagering continues its rapid expansion across the United States, the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS) will convene an extended general session titled “Sports Betting in America: Risks, Rewards, and the Road Ahead” during its Summer Meeting, July 8-11, 2026, at the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court's 2018 decision striking down the federal prohibition on sports betting, the industry has grown into a multi-billion-dollar market operating across dozens of states. While sports wagering has generated significant tax revenues, consumer engagement, and economic activity, it also has raised important questions regarding sports integrity, athlete protections, responsible gaming, regulatory oversight, and emerging competition from predictive markets and the illegal marketplace.

This comprehensive session will bring together leaders from athletics, academia, sports governance, and gaming policy to examine the evolution of sports betting in the United States, assess its impact on athletes and sporting events, and explore the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for policymakers.

This session will be chaired by Steve Geller, a former Florida Senator who is the founder and General Counsel of NCLGS. Panelists include:

Panel 1

Dena Freeman-Patton, Vice President/Director of Athletics, Morgan State University
Jon A. Steinbrecher, Commissioner, Mid-American Conference

Panel 2

Scott Bearby, Chief Legal Officer, NCAA
Ali Emdad, Ph.D., Executive Director of Research Centers, Morgan State University’s Graves Business School; Founding Director, Center for Data Analytics & Sports Gaming Research
Brad Humphreys, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Research Professor of Economics, West Virginia University
Fernando Quiñones Bodega, Vice President, BSN (Puerto Rico Basketball League); FIBA Integrity SPOC, Puerto Rico Basketball Federation

This sports betting session is part of a robust, three‑day program that includes:

A Keynote featuring Mike Dreitzer, Chairman of the Nevada Gaming Control Board
General Session – Prediction Markets (extended session)
One-on-One Conversation with Mick Mulvaney, Executive Director, Gambling is Not Investing. Mr. Mulvaney is a former White House Chief of Staff and Budget Director, and was a Congressman from 2011-2017
Pari‑Mutuel Committee – The Road Ahead: Decoupling, HHR and HISA
General Session – State Attorneys General on the Docket
NCLGS International Committee – Illegal Gambling at Home and Abroad
Special Committee on Taxes – Balancing Revenue, Competition and Sustainability in Modern Gaming
Committee on Lottery
Committee on Responsible Gambling, featuring a presentation from Parents Standing Together
General Session: Driving Measurable Outcomes in Responsible Gaming: Land-Based and Online
Committee on Emerging Forms of Gaming – Does Regulation Stifle Innovation? Legislative Considerations for Rapidly Evolving Gaming Industry

Sponsorship opportunities remain for organizations seeking to engage directly with lawmakers and industry leaders during this milestone 30th anniversary year.

The NCLGS Summer Meeting will feature two evening receptions, July 8^th and 9^th, as well as a late-night event (sponsored by FanDuel), taking place July 9^th at nearby Rustic Root Gaslamp. These gatherings offer legislators, regulators, and gaming industry stakeholders the chance to connect, exchange ideas, and build relationships outside of the formal meeting sessions – an important complement to the policy discussions and educational programming that define the NCLGS experience.

NCLGS meetings are produced and organized by Spectrum Gaming Group, which serves as Executive Director and has supported the organization’s growth for more than a decade.

For more information, visit NCLGS.org

Key Contacts:

Sponsorship: Josh Faber

Events: Jenna Wheeler

Legislative: Wayne Marlin

Media: Sherry Amos

NCLGS is the only organization of state lawmakers that meets on a regular basis to discuss gaming-related issues. The NCLGS semiannual meetings, which are open to the public, attract numerous state legislators as well as regulators, gaming operators and suppliers, attorneys, lobbyists, media, and other stakeholders to discuss all aspects of regulated gaming, as well as the risk implications of unregulated gaming. NCLGS meetings are proudly produced and organized by Spectrum Gaming Group, which serves as Executive Director.

2026 Summer Meeting Sponsors

MEDIA PARTNERS

NCLGS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR