The National Football League (NFL) has become the center of controversy once again. This time around, the league is in the middle of a fight for player safety, demanding that its fans stop betting on football. As a result, many states have implemented legislation that could change the landscape of sports betting forever. Let’s take a quick look at how sports betting could (and might) change in 2022.
NFL Players Are Back On The Stands
When the world learned that the Super Bowl was going to be played without any professional football players, it was a major blow to the sport. For months, the league’s players had been taking a knee during the national anthem, protesting police brutality and social injustice. The controversy started during the pre-season when many of the league’s stars skipped the first game of the season. The protests eventually led to a national dialogue about race and inequality in the U.S. And now that the season is under way, it seems as if the NFL’s players have realized the importance of their stardom. The fans are still willing to pay exorbitant sums of money to see their favorite players on the field, but without the attraction of pro football, it’s a whole different story. It wasn’t just the protests that turned off fans; it was the entire atmosphere surrounding the issue. Even diehard fans found the protests hard to get behind.
New Jersey Gets Closer To Implementing Legal Sports Betting
In November of last year, the Garden State became the first in the U.S. to pass legislation that would allow for legal sports betting. The move was a very positive one for the sports betting industry, but there are still a lot of regulations and licensing that have to be adhered to. It wasn’t easy getting to this point; lobbying by the racing industry was a significant factor. Still, it’s a step in the right direction. If New Jersey can implement legal sports betting, then it’s a possibility that other states could follow suit. In 2020 alone, there were over 100 million US sports betting consumers. If just 10% of those customers were in New Jersey, that would be an additional 10 million people playing sports legally. It’s a huge market that could potentially transform the landscape of sports betting. And for the fans who love football, it means the opportunity to make some serious wagers without risking prosecution. New Jersey has taken a lot of criticism over the past year, but it seems as if the market has rewarded the efforts of the state’s lawmakers. In 2020, people are already starting to complain about the shortage of legal sportsbooks in New Jersey. There are only a handful of options for customers to place their wagers, and many of them are owned by offshore gaming companies. It’s not exactly user-friendly. But with the right regulations, New Jersey could become the envy of the sports betting world. And for the fans who love their NFL teams, it means the opportunity to make some serious wagers without risking prosecution.
The NFL’s Influence On Lawmakers
It’s not just about the fans and the stars. While the NFL was losing fans and clout due to the pandemic and the protests, it was also gaining influence on Washington lawmakers. Over the past year, there have been a number of proposed bills in state legislatures hoping to overturn federal enforcement of sports betting laws. As the football world turned its attention to other sports, the NFL knew it could return to its old ways. State by state, it’s now possible for fans to bet on their favorite team without fear of federal prosecution. Although many details still need to be worked out, the trend clearly shows that the NFL is becoming more powerful as more states legalize sports betting.
It’s about time the NFL took a good hard look at its priorities. While the league is trying to keep its fans, it seems as if the players have found a way to keep the attention of lawmakers. Could this be the start of the end for NFL bans on player protests and demonstrations? What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!