NFLs Opposition to Legalized Sports Betting a Hypocrisy

Sports betting has definitely been an issue among lawmakers in New Jersey. During a recent public hearing, NJ lawmakers criticized the National Football League’s (NFL) opposition to legalized sports betting. The Legislature is currently pushing for a public vote on the legalization of sports betting at Atlantic City’s several casinos, on the Internet, and at horse racing tracks. The bill that will authorize a November referendum has been approved by a Senate committee. It now awaits actions from both legislative chambers. If approved, the bill will legalize sports betting in the state but it will prohibit making bets on New Jersey teams and state-based college games. NFL’s stand on sports betting According to Timothy McDonough, NFL spokesman, legalizing sports betting on league games can have a negative effect on how the public will view NFL. He also added that this can affect the league’s integrity and can send the wrong message to their younger fans. What New Jersey lawmakers have to say However, New Jersey lawmakers think that these statements are hypocritical. This is because even though the league is against legalized sports betting, NFL has existing contractual relationships with huge TV networks that openly discuss spreads, odds, and other concepts directly related to sports betting. Aside from local lawmakers such as state Sen. Jim Whelan (D., Atlantic), the NFL also received harsh criticism and accusations of hypocrisy from Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association’s Chief Executive Joseph Brennan. Sen. Robert W. Singer (R., Ocean) also claimed that sports betting doesn’t taint anything, considering that certain professional sports leagues have been under fire due to recent steroid scandals (basketball) and high-profile arrests of several NFL players. NFL’s stand as a proof of the league’s hypocrisy Those who are criticizing NFL for its hypocritical stand claim that sports betting is everywhere, and that TV networks and other gambling entities have current ties with NFL. As one of the co-sponsors of the bill, Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D., Union) released this statement, “Gambling and the NFL – perfect together,” adapting the old tourism slogan of New Jersey. Lesniak also stated that NFL is actually driven by bets and gambling on its games. Those pushing for legalized sports betting in New Jersey claim that the ban on sports betting in this state is unconstitutional. So before sports betting can be legalized in New Jersey, the ban must be repealed or overturned. The state is actually suing the government to repeal or overturn the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. This 1992 act limits sports betting to 4 states who were able to meet the deadline for application to legalized sports betting. These four states are Nevada, Oregon, Montana, and Delaware. Sports betting in New Jersey as a billion-dollar industry The Internet betting association headed by Brennan also came up with an estimate regarding the sports betting’s potential as a source of tax income. Based on the information gathered, sports betting can be a $10-billion industry in New Jersey by 2011. This amount can actually result into almost $100 million worth of annual tax revenue for New Jersey.