San Diego State Creates Dedicated Sports Betting Institute

As part of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, the Institute will focus on the evolving landscape of the gaming industry, specifically examining the regulatory frameworks and consumer safety standards surrounding sports betting. As part of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, the Institute will focus on the evolving landscape of the gaming industry, specifically examining the regulatory frameworks and consumer safety standards surrounding sports betting. Key areas of research and study will include sports wagering behavior, player protection, and the legal complexities inherent in modern athletic gambling markets.

San Diego State University formed a new institute focusing on the fast-growing sports wagering industry.

The Institute on Sports Wagering and Gaming (ISWAG) will be part of the college’s L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality and Tourism Management and will focus on areas such as bettor behavior, education, industry engagement, and policy research.

ISWAG will also serve as a collaborative space for faculty and departments across SDSU to explore the cultural and health implications of sports wagering,” according to a press release. “With the sports betting industry expanding across the U.S. and globally, the ISWAG is uniquely positioned to offer research informed guidance at a time of unprecedented growth and public attention.”

San Diego State Sports Betting Institute Joins Small Field

It’s been about seven years since the now-famous 2018 Supreme Court ruling on the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) and while a slew of colleges have published sports betting-related research, few offer dedicated problems or degrees.

That is to say San Diego State’s ISWAG is joining a sparsely populated field, but one with significant growth potential as more people in academia focus on the behavioral effects of sports betting and related policy impacts.

Addition to Universities with Dedicated Gaming Institutes

In addition to San Diego State, the Universities of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) and Reno have dedicated gaming institutes with some exposure to sports wagering. The University of Michigan offers a related statistics course. Seton Hall in New Jersey has been active in studying and surveying sports wagering and a offers graduate-level gaming course for aspiring lawyers.

ISWAG’s Fields of Study

San Diego State’s ISWAG will feature fields of study including sports betting behavior, policy initiatives, marketing, and player protection. The institute will also offer “certificate programs, student research opportunities, and executive education offerings to build capacity across the sector.”

California’s Sports Betting Status

One interesting element San Diego State’s ISWAG is that the institute is being run by a university in a state in which sports wagering isn’t legal. In fact, the school announcing the creation of the institute arrived soon after California Attorney General Rob Bonta (D) declared daily fantasy sports (DFS) to be illegal in the state.

For how long Bonta’s view holds remains to be seen because Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) doesn’t agree. To be clear, academic pursuits of sports betting are legitimate and permitted even in states that haven’t legalized that form of wagering.

Conclusion

As the sports betting industry continues to grow, it’s essential to have institutions like ISWAG providing research informed guidance. With its unique position at the intersection of academia and the sports world, San Diego State’s ISWAG is poised to make a significant impact in this rapidly evolving field.

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