NFL's Goodell Finally Gives Sports Betting StatementGoodell Calls For Federal 'Uniform Standards' |
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The commissioner of America’s most popular league for betting has finally made formal comments on the proliferation of sports gambling, which could create a $4 billion market in five years.
The National Football League’s Roger Goodell, a long-time opponent to legalized gambling, issued a statement Monday to the NFL’s website. According to Goodell, there is “no greater priority” than safeguarding “the integrity of our sport” from game fixing and other forms of corruption.
Goodell said the Supreme Court ruling that gives states the right to regulate sports betting in-person and over the internet “has no effect on that unwavering commitment.”
Long before the high court reversed the 25-year-old federal sports betting ban, Goodell and the NFL were warming to gambling—although they didn’t admit it publicly—thanks to the Oakland Raiders’ successful Las Vegas relocation ambitions. A roughly $2 billion stadium is currently under construction for the franchise. City officials hope that the domed stadium could eventually host a Super Bowl in America’s gambling hub.
Goodell isn’t a fan of sports betting being legalized on a state-by-state basis with no federal oversight. About 20 states have so far moved on sports betting thanks to the Supreme Court simply deciding to hear the case last year. More are expected to follow, as there are casinos, either commercial or tribal, in 40 U.S. states.
“We have spent considerable time planning for the potential of broadly legalized sports gambling and are prepared to address these changes in a thoughtful and comprehensive way, including substantial education and compliance trainings for our clubs, players, employees and partners,” Goodell said. “These efforts include supporting commonsense legislation that protects our players, coaches and fans and maintains public confidence in our games. We are asking Congress to enact uniform standards for states that choose to legalize sports betting.”
According to Goodell, federal legislation must protect consumers, allow for the leagues to “protect” their content and intellectual property from theft or misuse and give law enforcement the resources and tools to “protect our fans and penalize bad actors here at home and abroad.”
There have already been formal calls on Capitol Hill for such a bill.
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