Indiana regulator body slams rumors of betting on scripted professional wrestling matches
As rumors swirl around the possibility of legalized betting on scripted matches held by professional wrestling industry leader World Wrestling Entertainment, an Indiana state regulator told IndyStar this week the state has no interest in the idea.
According to a CNBC report, first published March 8 and soon picked up by several other national news outlets, WWE reached out to Indiana, Colorado and Michigan as possible states to begin sports betting on its matches. The report cited unnamed sources saying WWE had registered with the Indiana Gaming Commission for this purpose.
WWE has registered with the state as a "sports wagering registrant," but Indiana Gaming Commission Deputy Director Jennifer Reske told IndyStar the registration only allows a company to assist other entities licensed to offer betting services in Indiana with marketing strategies.
"We have not received a request from any operator for wagering on WWE events, and we are not interested in approving wagering on scripted events," Reske said.
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Operators — local casinos, as well as established gambling websites like FanDuel and DraftKings — go through a separate licensing process. Reske confirmed WWE is not approved as an operator in the state.
WWE did not respond to IndyStar's request for comment.
WWE's plan, as outlined in the CNBC report, calls for a third-party accounting firm to safeguard the planned results of the company's scripted wrestling matches — similar to how betting on the Academy Awards, which is legal in Indiana but not permitted in most other states, is handled.
However, state regulators say Indiana is not about to see betting on professional wrestling any time soon.
Even if a licensed operator brought forward a proposal to bet on WWE matches, the state would not be interested, Reske said.
Professional wrestling, at WWE events or otherwise, does not appear on the state's list of approved events for sports wagering, which includes everything from basketball and football to bull riding and a hot dog-eating contest.
Unlike most sporting events, the results of professional wrestling matches are predetermined and known by a group of employees — writers, company officials, wrestlers. Top stars often have considerable control, if not outright veto power, over the match results. Match endings do occasionally change due to unforeseen circumstances, such as injury.
Rory Appleton is the pop culture reporter and columnist at IndyStar. Contact him at 317-552-9044 and rappleton@indystar.com, or follow him on Twitter at @RoryDoesPhonics.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana gaming regulator against betting on WWE matches
