San Diego State University established a new institute dedicated to the rapidly expanding sports betting sector.
The Institute on Sports Wagering and Gaming (ISWAG) will belong to the college’s L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, concentrating on aspects like bettor behavior, education, industry involvement, 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 is among the largest institutions in the California State University system and boasts five locations apart from its main campus.
San Diego State Sports Wagering Institute Enters Limited Group
Around seven years have passed since the renowned 2018 Supreme Court decision concerning the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), and while numerous colleges have released research linked to sports betting, only a limited number provide specialized programs or degrees.
In other words, San Diego State’s ISWAG is entering a relatively thinly populated area, but one with considerable growth opportunities as more individuals in academia examine the behavioral implications of sports betting and associated policy outcomes.
Besides San Diego State, the universities of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) and Reno possess specialized gaming institutes that have some involvement in sports betting. The University of Michigan provides a comparable statistics class. Seton Hall University in New Jersey has been engaged in researching and analyzing sports betting and provides a graduate-level gaming course for future lawyers.
San Diego State’s ISWAG will encompass areas of research such as sports wagering behavior, policy developments, marketing strategies, and player safety. The institute will additionally provide “certificate programs, student research chances, and executive education options to enhance capacity throughout the sector.”
Dr. Brandon Mastromartino, the leader of ISWAG, has authored numerous articles on sports betting, including several that came out this year.
Gambling on sports remains illegal in California
An intriguing aspect of San Diego State’s ISWAG is that the institute is operated by a university in a state where sports betting is not permitted. The school that announced the establishment of the institute did so shortly after California Attorney General Rob Bonta (D) stated that daily fantasy sports (DFS) are illegal in the state.
It remains uncertain how long Bonta’s perspective will last, as Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) disagrees. To clarify, scholarly studies of sports betting are valid and allowed even in states where that type of wagering remains illegal.
When California will become part of that event is a choice that rests with the state’s tribal casino operators and the electorate. The first must initiate a ballot measure to present the matter to the second, with the soonest possibility occurring in 2026. Many think California tribes are not eager to advance sports betting and may prefer to postpone the issue until the 2028 election period.