NBA commissioner Adam Silver believes expanded legalized sports betting in the United States is "inevitable," and the league is open to participating in it.

Speaking at the Bloomberg Sports Business Summit on Thursday in New York, Silver said that he understood that cash-strapped states will pursue legalized sports betting and that the NBA can benefit from it.



"It's inevitable that, if all these states are broke, that there will be legalized sports betting in more states than Nevada," Silver said, per Bloomberg.com. "We will ultimately participate in that."

It's a change in tune for the NBA, which in 2012 joined the NCAA, NFL, MLB and NHL in suing New Jersey over its efforts to bring legalized sports betting to its casinos and race tracks. During deposition testimony in the New Jersey case, former NBA commissioner David Stern scolded Gov. Chris Christie for his efforts.

"The one thing I'm certain of is New Jersey has no idea what it's doing and doesn't care because all it's interested in is making a buck or two," Stern said in November 2012, according to court documents. "They don't care that it's at our potential loss."

The sports leagues, who were joined by the Department of Justice, ultimately prevailed over New Jersey with a majority decision by Third Circuit Court of Appeals. New Jersey, however, is continuing its pursuit of sports betting.

Stern retired in February, giving way to Silver and his openness to sports betting.

"If you have a gentleman's bet or a small wager on any kind of sports contest, it makes you that much more engaged in it," Silver said. "That's where we're going to see it pay dividends. If people are watching a game and clicking to bet on their smartphones, which is what people are doing in the United Kingdom right now, then it's much more likely you're going to stay tuned for a long time."

More than $3.6 billion was wagered on sports at Nevada sports books in 2013. The American Gaming Association, citing the National

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

In most cases I would never bet on an NBA game. You would have to devise a better line system.

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Elections have consequences.

Good for silver. Too bad the NBA is kinda the weakest best out there. Bernstein is right on that, not much intrigue. Now the nhl that could be something.

Tim Donaghy likes this.

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George

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if we shot that rocket at dan bernstein would it turn him black too so the white folks dont have to worry about him anymore?

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the world will always the world. your entire existence is defined by your response.

Pete Rose was ahead of his time and in the wrong pro sport.