NFL Commish: 'Have Evolved A Little On Gambling'Roger Goodell Softens Position As Raiders Consider Vegas |
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The NFL might be softening its hypocritical anti-gambling position as the Oakland Raiders continue to explore a possible move to a $1.4 billion stadium in Las Vegas.
In an interview with ESPN’s Mike & Mike on Friday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell indicated that the league might be open to finally embracing the importance that betting has in maintaining the NFL’s popularity.
“All of us have evolved a little on gambling,” Goodell said. “To me, where I cross the line is anything that can impact the integrity of the game. If people think it is something that can influence the outcome of a game, we are absolutely opposed to that."
The second part of Goodell’s statement drew reaction from the American Gaming Association, the industry’s top lobbying group on Capitol Hill. The AGA is pushing for reform.
“Nothing threatens the integrity of sports more than a thriving and opaque sports betting black market where the bettors and those taking the bets hide in the shadows,” AGA CEO Geoff Freeman said in a statement. “Illegal sports wagering in the United States is conservatively estimated at $150 billion annually. The gaming industry invites those who are serious about protecting the integrity of sports to partner with us in pursuit of eliminating the sports betting black market.”
“Recent research reveals that 80 percent of Super Bowl viewers believe it’s time to change sports betting law and 65 percent say legal, regulated sports betting would not jeopardize the integrity of games," Freeman added.
Last month, Freeman was quoted as saying that the next U.S. president "is going to have the issue of legalizing sports betting on their desk, and I’m confident they’ll make the right decision.”
Though casinos continue to be built around the country, only Nevada brick-and-mortar gambling facilities have sports books. Delaware has limited sports betting in the form of parlays.
The notorious nature of the NFL’s position on gambling was crystal clear in 2015, when the league told several players on the Miami Dolphins that they couldn’t participate in a $94 buy-in poker tournament in Florida.
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