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The rise in legal sports betting across the U.S. has stirred concerns in the NFL, leading to calls for federal intervention to tackle the “illicit sports betting market.” In a letter to U.S. Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nev.), the NFL laid down its stance on gambling and expressed concerns about the integrity of the sport.
In June, alarmed by betting-related issues, Titus sought clarity from 12 major sports leagues about their gambling policies. Her intention was to understand the measures in place to ensure the integrity of the games, particularly since 34 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico have opened legal betting markets after the 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling.
In response, Jonathan Nabavi, the NFL’s vice president of public policy and government affairs, stated: “There is no higher principle at the NFL than safeguarding the integrity of the game. Our efforts to uphold game integrity have been ongoing throughout the history of the league and our commitment has not wavered since the Supreme Court’s decision. The increased accessibility of sports betting has made our efforts even more important.”
However, Titus expressed dissatisfaction with the NFL’s response, particularly with the lack of answers to specific inquiries, such as the number of ongoing investigations into potential gambling violations. She said, “It’s very disappointing that the NFL has declined to answer our questions and instead pivoted to illegal sports betting generally in their response. It makes one wonder what they are trying to hide.”
Since the Supreme Court’s ruling, the NFL has suspended 22 players for violating the league’s gambling policy. While legal sportsbooks are growing across the nation, the underground betting market still thrives, posing an integrity risk.
Nabavi emphasized the need for more robust measures, writing, “We believe that additional attention and resources are needed from lawmakers and law-enforcement to address the illicit sports betting market, which still has the power of incumbency.”