We are all fully aware that betting on the outcome of anything associated with the NFL in the United States is illegal. However, that doesn’t stop people from making sizeable bets on the Super Bowl like the much publicized annual bets made by Floyd Mayweather according to SB Nation. Unfortunately, if there is a will, there’s a way.
It also doesn’t stop approximately $400 million of illegal bets on anything related to the NFL annually as reported by The Washington Post in 2014. The NFL and the NBA have collectively taken a hard stance against sports betting for a very long time. However, a both leagues seem very pro-fantasy football and basketball. Which has seen many question whether there is a difference between the two.
Yes, many of the fantasy football leagues are free, including the NFL’s very own fantasy league but there is still a sizeable reward for the winners. Unlike in the United States, Europe doesn’t imposed stringent betting laws on their sports and has helped fund many sporting community projects at grass roots level as well help with the infrastructure of the professional ranks in a myriad of different sports.
With the aforementioned figure of illegal bets per year there’s also the unnerving factor that these are unregulated bets. When students, professionals or even retired men and women feel compelled to bet on a sporting event or the upcoming NFL Draft who is overseeing these bets? Are they safe? What are the implications of such a shady bet?
There are many gray areas when it comes to betting in the United States, hence why many are calling for regulated betting to be allowed in the United States like it is in Europe. Now these betting portals are able to give back to their respective communities through sponsorship deals while also safely regulating bets. When Cryptologic bought online betting exchange Betfair in 2005, Poker News reported that it managed to turn the company into the biggest online betting exchange in the world. The site is revered for being very bettor-friendly and encourages responsible betting amongst its users. Various sports bets can be made through the site because it covers a plethora of sports from around the world. But it, like many other online portals, has been lauded because it is a safe place to bet while also reinvesting money back into to so many sports.
Unfortunately, this isn’t available in the United States, and we are unable to safely bet on the Draft or other notable events with the knowledge that our bets will be regulated. What do you think on the current stance on betting? Do you think he would help fund grass roots football? Do you think it will help generate more money for the sport? If so, is that a good thing in the long run? Leave your comments below.
