The Paris Games are expected to be the most heavily bet Olympics in U.S. history, but a few of the most popular sports are off the board in two of the 38 states (plus Washington, D.C.) with legalized betting.
Louisiana and Massachusetts don’t allow betting on judged events, meaning betting operators can’t accept wagers on gymnastics, equestrian, breakdancing (official name is breaking), surfing, and BMX freestyle.
“Regulators don’t like operating in a gray area—and these kinds of sports present a gray-area problem,” said Ronnie Jones, a former chairman of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board. “If we make a decision in Louisiana, I am sure the other 38 jurisdictions might go, ‘What are they thinking?’”
