Can gambling boost flagging interest in NASCAR?

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Brendan Gaughan has a unique perspective on sports gambling. He's a part-time driver, and his family has been in the casino business for decades.

So is he wagering NASCAR will benefit from the proliferation of legalized gaming?

“The more readily available it is the more people will pay attention (to NASCAR),” said Gaughan before he qualified for his forth Daytona 500 this week. “The more that NASCAR allows (fans) to embrace it and allows TV to embrace it, the more people will pay attention. They'll watch the race longer, which means all value goes up.”

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NASCAR hasn't exactly embraced legalized sports betting since the the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), a decision last May that allows all states to offer legalized sports betting. The racing series has given gambling more of a nod at this point its seeks to reignite interest among casual fans. 

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