NFL commissioner outlines position on sports betting liberalisation

Faced with the fait accompli of the US Supreme Court decision overturning the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, the powerful National Football League which opposed the change has issued a statement on its position going forward.

Commissioner Roger Goodell said Monday that the NFL believes a federally drafted set of standards and regulations should be passed by the US Congress for application across all US states wishing to adopt sports betting, and that this legislation should include four core principles:

* Allow sports leagues to “protect our content and intellectual property from those who attempt to steal or misuse it.”

* Guidelines must provide substantial consumer protections.

* Ensure fans will have access to official, reliable league data.

* Ensure that law enforcement will have the resources, monitoring and enforcement tools necessary “to protect our fans and penalize bad actors here at home and abroad.”

The NFL wish list, in addition to paying little respect to states’ rights, does give an indication of the way the leagues’ strategy is shaping up, particularly in regard to demands already on the table for states to pay “integrity fees” and being required to use the leagues’ data.

Goodell revealed the NFL has been planning for the potential of legalised sports gambling in states other than Nevada for some months.

“(We) 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,” he said. “These efforts include supporting common sense legislation that protects our players, coaches and fans and maintains public confidence in our games.”

Observers noted that the NFL statement could suggest that the leagues want federal authority over the standards and regulations because in pursuit of the integrity fee it would be less complicated to deal with Congress than each individual state.

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