VOA慢速英语--美国最高法院终结体育博彩禁令

US Supreme¹ Court Ends Ban on Sports Betting

The United States Supreme Court on Monday ended a 26-year ban on betting on professional and college sports.

The court’s decision permits state officials to pass laws permitting books to open on sports such as football, basketball, baseball and other games.

In the coming months, those officials will also consider where bets can be placed: casinos, horse racing² tracks, betting centers, stadiums, online, or from mobile phones.

Supporters of the decision said legal betting could sharply increase income for states and the gambling³ industry. And they pointed⁴ out illegal sports betting is common. The American Gaming Association reported that Americans already place about $150 billion a year on bets.

Opponents of the decision include major sports groups, such as the National Football League. Those groups said expanding legal gambling on sports could hurt the integrity of the games. In other words, they worry that players or others would try to influence the outcome of the games for financial gain.

The president of an organization that helps people addicted⁵ to gambling also expressed concern. Marlene Warner leads the National Council on Problem Gambling. She said the ruling “will likely increase gambling participation⁶ and gambling problems unless steps are taken to minimize harm.”

But given Monday’s ruling, both the sports groups and the National Council on Problem Gambling have suggested that some of the income from legal betting go toward supporting their interests.

Three Supreme Court justices also disagreed with the ruling. They said parts of the original law were worth keeping.

But the majority of justices said the issue was not so much sports or betting, but states’ rights. They said states should not be forced to adopt a federal regulation system – an argument that may later be used in cases related to immigration laws and marijuana restrictions⁷.

I’m Kelly Jean Kelly.

Words in This Story

stadium – n. a very large usually roofless building that has a large open area surrounded by many rows of seats and that is used for sports events, concerts, etc.

gambling – n. the practice or activity of betting money : the practice of risking money in a game or bet

integrity – n. the quality of being honest and fair

minimize – v. to make something bad or not wanted as small as possible

1 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

2 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。

3 gambling   

n.赌博；投机

参考例句：

• They have won a lot of money through gambling.他们赌博赢了很多钱。
• The men have been gambling away all night.那些人赌了整整一夜。

4 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

5 addicted   

adj.沉溺于....的，对...上瘾的

参考例句：

• He was addicted to heroin at the age of 17.他17岁的时候对海洛因上了瘾。
• She's become addicted to love stories.她迷上了爱情小说。

6 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

7 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制