PFT has a blurb up about the fight to legalize sports betting and the battle that the NFL is putting up to stop it.
From the article:
The NFL remains staunchly opposed to legalized gambling, possibly/probably because the NFL realizes that the pressure to improve officiating and to ensure full integrity of injury reporting would increase dramatically with the legalization of sports wagering. Likewise, the federal authority charged with regulating gambling would be keenly interested in any irregularities, including a late call that doesn’t change the outcome of the game but that results in significant dollars changing hands by affecting the application of the point spread. |
So the NFL is pretty much acknowledging that their officiating is not that great by fighting this. I really hope it does become legal now so that they are pressured to move to full time refs who spend significant time in the offseason preparing for the coming season.
Cuban calls opposition to gambling “hypocritical” - (
New Window )
Ah, no. I doubt 5% of NFL fans bet in a meaningful way on games - and I don't count FF as that is pretty new and the NFL was wildly popular before FF. Yeah we have football pools in many offices, etc, but that is an adjunct to the popularity.
Does gambling enhance the popularity, absolutely. Is it the single biggest reaason, no.
Snowball's chance in hell.
Side note fantasy is not illegal because circuit courts have deemed it to be a game of skill not chance. There are arguments both sides on that one.
Take that out of the equation completely, and the league may not exist.
They arent watching it for the quality, as its by far the worst out of the 4 professional sports. There are still diehards that will watch regardless, but they seem to be dwindling down as the years go on.
I agree that betting and FF heighten the excitment for many, but I just don't see it as the reason that the NFL exists.
Not against betting at all and I think it should be legalized, btw.
Quote:
wouldn't exist without people betting on it. The NFL doesn't want to hear that but the single biggest reason it is as popular as it is is because of gambling.
Ah, no. I doubt 5% of NFL fans bet in a meaningful way on games - and I don't count FF as that is pretty new and the NFL was wildly popular before FF. Yeah we have football pools in many offices, etc, but that is an adjunct to the popularity.
Does gambling enhance the popularity, absolutely. Is it the single biggest reaason, no.
This ^^