State Representative Matt Bell Agrees with Sports Gambling Ban

According to The Journal Gazette, bars and taverns of the Fort Wayne area will soon offer low-stakes gambling.  While the wrinkles of the plan are being ironed out, it is already decided that there will not be any wagering on any sports event. Representative Bell was in full support of the idea.

Rep. Matt Bell, R-Avilla – one of the co-authors of the bill legalizing the bar and tavern gambling – agrees with the policy decision the commission made.

“I think that’s a very dangerous road to go down,” he said. “That would more or less be taking the public-policy stance of allowing sports-pool betting in Indiana, and I don’t think the General Assembly is ready to take that step.”

Indiana casinos are not allowed to offer sports betting. Bell said specifically he did not want to encourage betting on local high school sports teams.