Michael Selig found many different ways to say he will trust whatever the courts decide on sports predictions.
The nominee for chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission danced around multiple issues at Wednesday’s hearing before the Senate Agricultural, Nutrition and Forestry Committee. A confirmation vote is scheduled for this afternoon.
Selig was pressed by senators serving states with sports betting interests about what he plans to do about sports prediction markets. Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota was the first to ask the current SEC crypto task force chief counsel if he would enforce a prohibition on gaming contracts if confirmed.
“As someone who spent many years practicing law at law firms as well as studying the law in law school, these are complex issues as to interpretation of what it means to constitute gaming,” Selig said. “And, of course, I have the utmost respect for our judges working on these issues in our court system and I intend to always adhere to the law and follow what judicial decisions tell me to follow.”
Predictions to the Supreme Court?
Sen. Adam Schiff of California asked Selig about several different scenarios that could be sports betting before asking Selig what he would clearly identify as sports betting.
Selig called out what many in the gambling industry expect to be the last stop on the prediction litigation train: the Supreme Court.
“Many lengthy legal opinions have been written on one word in a statute and I would really want the benefit of understanding what the judges think about the issue. This could be one that works its way all the way up to the top and so I’ll look to the courts to the issue.”
Senators left without answers
Along with Smith from Minnesota and Schiff from California, three other senators were left without answers to betting questions:
- Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota
- Sen. Cory Booker, New Jersey
- Sen. Elissa Slotkin, Michigan
Notably, Sens. Slotkin and Schiff both mentioned that predictions are being offered on tribal land in their states and urged Selig to meet with those tribes.
