WWE wants betting to become legalized as the wrestling organization lobbies state regulators
Photo by Getty Images
- WWE reportedly wants its fans to be able to bet on its scripted matches just like other sports.
- The company has allegedly communicated with regulators in Michigan, Colorado and Indiana.
- WWE has presented betting on other events where results are predetermined like the Oscars as a comparable example.
World Wrestling Entertainment is reportedly in talks with state gambling boards to potentially legalize betting on scripted WWE matches, as sports betting continues to grow in more states.
The wrestling organization that draws millions of viewers to its scripted matches is arguing that people in some states bet on events that have predetermined outcomes similar to the Oscars or other award shows, according to CNBC.
Under WWE's new proposal, it will keep the results of events secret for months by working with an accounting firm. This would allow fans to bet on events for months, up until a few hours before the wrestlers and crew involved in a production find out the results, CNBC reported.
The first states that WWE approached about the possibility of legalizing the bets included Michigan, Indiana, and Colorado, according to CNBC.
WWE has registered with Indiana's gaming commission, which a source told CNBC was related to its gambling proposal. Colorado's gaming division told CNBC it is not considering legalizing the bets, and said it currently has a statute that prohibits betting on events like the Oscars.
Michigan's gaming board said Thursday that it has not had direct conversations with WWE officials about legalizing the bets, and that it was approached by a third party "more than a year ago" about the idea, according to Legal Sports Report's Matthew Waters.
Sports betting has progressively become legal in more states over the last several years since the Supreme Court struck down the federal ban, and is currently legal in over 30 states. In the few states where it's legal, some sportsbooks like DraftKings and FanDuel allow betting on events like the Oscars in their mobile app, CNBC reported.
WWE did not immediately respond to a request for comment.