NFL Chief Commissioner Roger Goodell has issued an official statement, confirming the pro-league’s position with regards to US betting following last week’s Supreme Court repeal of PASPA’s federal mandate.
Goodell and the NFL have been amongst the staunchest opponents of US licensed sports betting, defending the league’s anti-gambling stance on the basis of protecting the sport’s integrity and preventing harm to its stakeholders (athletes, franchises, sponsors, universities etc…). In the missive, Goodell and NFL executives urged for Congress to ‘enact uniformed standards for states’ that will move to implement licensed sports betting facilities.
The NFL has urged Congress to develop a uniformed betting framework, guided by the following core principles:
- The development of substantial consumer betting protections.
- All sports leagues must be able to protect content and intellectual properties.
- Fans and audiences must have reliable access to official league data & information.
- Law enforcement must have resources to monitor betting markets, and the capabilities to penalise and prosecute bad actors at home and abroad.
Goodell maintains that the NFL will prioritise the league’s integrity above all matters related to gambling. He noted: “Our fans, our players and our coaches deserve to know that we are doing everything possible to ensure no improper influences affect how the game is played on the field. This week’s ruling by the Supreme Court has no effect on that unwavering commitment”.
Following years of debate on state-sanctioned sports betting, Goodell is confident that the NFL can adjust to the changes and challenges that sports betting will demand from US pro sports governance.
“We have spent considerable time planning for the potential of broadly legalised sports gambling and are prepared to address these changes in a thoughtful and comprehensive way,” he said, “including substantial education and compliance training for our clubs, players, employees and partners. These efforts include supporting common sense legislation that protects our players, coaches and fans and maintains public confidence in our games.”
