Nev. Lawmaker Moves to Legalize Election Betting

A top Nevada lawmaker is moving to legalize betting in Las Vegas on federal elections, an effort he says bluntly is aimed at making money for his state, according to Politico.

“I’ve been following elections and betting in London, and [gaming companies there] are making a fortune. Why not do it here?” said Tick Segerblom, the Democratic chairman of the Nevada Senate Judiciary Committee.

Last year’s presidential election, he added, was “one of the biggest moneymakers in all of betting outside the United States.”

Foreign websites already offer betting on U.S. elections, and Segerblom has introduced a bill that would permit wagers in Nevada on presidential, Senate, and House races. The bill, he said, could be expanded to include state elections and cultural events, such as the Academy Awards.

Asked about the possibility of corruption, Segerblom noted that foreign bettors have tried before to influence U.S. elections without success. “Let’s be frank here. You’re not going to throw a federal election in the United States.”