Roger Goodell (NFL), Adam Silver (NBA), Rob Manfred (MLB), and Gary Bettman (NHL) gathered for a panel titled “GameChangers: Creating the Future of Sports” at the Paley Center for Media in New York City. While none of them were acting as Commissioner at the time, in 1992 all of the major sports leagues supported the passage by Congress of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, or PASPA, which generally prohibits states from authorizing sports betting except for Delaware, Montana, Nevada, and Oregon. Despite the fact that it is estimated that nearly $400 billion is illegally wagered on sports activities in the United States each year, the professional sports leagues have failed to move from their position against the legalization of sports gambling, until somewhat recently.
It was not surprising that Adam Silver took a progressive stance relative to sports gambling during the panel, as he has been at the forefront of the legalization of sports gambling for several years. In 2014, he authored an op-ed piece in the New York Times supporting a federal approach to the legalization of sports betting in the United States. When asked about it during the panel, Silver said “My sense is that the law will change in the next few years in the United States. It’s more a function of being realists. It’s a multi-hundred billion-dollar illegal industry in the United States. Ultimately, as the owners of the intellectual property, we’re going to embrace it.”
While Roger Goodell did not offer any comments, Rob Manfred and Gary Bettman voiced their concerns about the impact of the experience for spectators at games. Bettman said “I don’t worry about fixing games. I don’t worry about anything other than what does it do to the way young people consume sports. Secondly, what does it do to the environment in a stadium or an arena if everybody is sitting there just worrying about their bets? Does it turn us into something other than what we’ve been, more like a race track?”
It is somewhat surprising to hear these comments from Bettman, considering that the NHL is the first major sports league to put a professional team in the Las Vegas market. The Vegas Golden Knights will debut during the 2017-2018 NHL season. Additionally, if this was not simply an attempt at a PR move by Bettman and reflected his actual beliefs, it would be shocking that he would be so naive and out of touch with the actual current state of sports gambling. In-game betting, also known as “live” betting, is already taking place on a large scale, despite the fact that it is illegal. As an example, if a spectator was attending or watching a Blackhawks game in which they were trailing the Penguins 3 to 1, but believed that they could come back and win the game, a “live” bet could be placed through an illegal gambling method on the Blackhawks to come back and win the game. In-game bets are simply wagers that can be placed during the course of live game action, with the odds adjusted accordingly in real time based on the action that is taking place. It has become an extremely popular form of betting, as it keeps spectators involved and interested and also allows bettors to take action on games even if they have not placed any wagers prior to the start.
Rob Manfred was less than enthusiastic when it came to in-game betting, as he said “The growth area is on more discreet activities in the game. Is the next pitch going to be a ball or a strike? … It seems to me that there is a difference between somebody betting on whether the next pitch is going to be a ball or a strike — which is hard for anybody to affect or control — as opposed to the outcome of a game.” Adam Silver responded to his comments by stating that “Research generally shows that fans are fairly sophisticated. They can both root for their team and virtually all the action. … They want to bet throughout the game. They’re betting on quarter scores, on particular players, and free throws. It results in enormous additional engagement.”
While Roger Goodell did not comment during the forum, he previously stated the following in April 2017: “I think we still strongly oppose [among ownership] legalized sports gambling. The integrity of our game is No. 1. We will not compromise on that. …. I think we have to make sure that we continue to stay focused on making sure that everyone has full confidence that what you see on the field is not influenced by any outside factors. That’s our No. 1 concern. That goes to what I consider the integrity of the game, and we will not relent on that.”
At this point, it appears that Adam Silver and the NBA are the only league that is not taking a hypocritical stance. The NFL, for example, has dealt with integrity issues due to deflated footballs, poor officiating, and a health crisis related to player safety and concussions over the past few years, to name a few. To say that legalized sports gambling could compromise the integrity of the game seems somewhat foolish. Whether sports gambling is illegal or legal will likely have little impact on any potential integrity issues. Sports gambling is already running rampant throughout the country. Saying that the legalization of sports gambling could impact the integrity of a sport is the equivalent of saying that legalizing marijuana could lead to a drug epidemic. Both things are already happening, so they might as well be legalized and monetized instead of billions of dollars going to illegal markets.
Sophisticated monitoring systems are in place which can analyze the various wagers being placed across several platforms, and any potential impropriety can easily be identified. For example, tennis has had some recent player integrity issues which have been identified through this monitoring technology. Unlike low end tennis players that are scraping by monetarily, even the least valuable player on a professional sports roster is doing well enough these days that game fixing should not be an issue. The days of the Black Sox Scandal where players were barely getting paid are now long gone with the enormous salaries that professional athletes are currently making.
Despite the fact that they have been more open to dialogue concerning the legalization of sports betting in recent years, and particularly the NBA, all four professional sports leagues sued to stop New Jersey from legalizing sports gambling. In addition to the professional sports leagues, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is adamantly opposed to any form of legalized sports gambling. While the professional sports leagues and their respective Commissioners might not be ready, the legalization of sports gambling is inevitable. Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, West Virginia, and Wisconsin have all joined New Jersey’s effort in asking for the case to be heard by the Supreme Court. Whether through judicial or legislative action, the mainstream acceptance of sports gambling suggests that a path for legalized sports betting could be coming soon.
Walters Law Group, represents clients involved in all facets of the gaming and sports industries. Nothing in the foregoing article is intended as legal advice. Neil Braslow, Esq. can be reached via email: neil[at]firstamendment.com, or toll free: 800.530.8137.