Pennsylvania is set to launch its sports betting industry soon -- the first wave of states to do so after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in May legalized the industry nationwide. Lawmakers in Harrisburg have already accounted for expected revenue in the state budget, but there's a lot we still don't know.
How might legal sports betting impact professional leagues, college sports, casinos and gamblers? A panel weighs in, including:
- Marc Edelman, Baruch College professor of law at the City University of New York;
- Jessica Welman, editor at PlayPennsylvania and regional director for Catena Media;
- Mark Gruetze, writer at PlayPennsylvania, and former writer for the Pittsburgh Tribune Review covering gaming trends; and
- John Clark, professor of sports management at Robert Morris University’s School of Business.
Elsewhere in the program, today is #GivingTuesday. Betsy Benson, publisher and vice president of Pittsburgh Magazine, explains how the Give Big Pittsburgh initiative began.
Benson says she hopes the platform, which offers would-be donors curated lists of local charities and causes, inspires Pittsburghers to give back to their favorite charities. Find more at GiveBigPittsburgh.com.
And a debate over a sprinkler system mandate for Pittsburgh’s high-rise buildings echoed through City Council chambers during a public hearing on Monday. 90.5 WESA’s Kathleen Davis reports that Fire Chief Darryl Jones favors an ordinance that would require sprinklers in buildings taller than six stories, but plenty of property owners aren’t as keen on the idea. A vote on the ordinance has not yet been scheduled.
The Confluence, where the news comes together, is 90.5 WESA’s daily news program. Tune in weekdays at 9 a.m. to hear newsmakers and innovators join veteran journalist Kevin Gavin, taking an in-depth look at stories important to the Pittsburgh region. Find more episodes of The Confluence here.
