NFL Helped Get Internet Gambling Bill Passed

[Reel Deal]

Lobbyist Helps NFL Get Internet Gambling Legislation Passed

The NFL used lobbyist Marty Gold, a former counsel to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN), to “ram through Internet gambling-curbing legislation in the final minutes of the legislative session,” according to sources cited by Geoff Earle of the N.Y. POST. Opponents of the bill “charge that the NFL broke the rules when it fast-tracked legislation that never even got a vote in the Senate.” The league first tried to “tack the bill onto final defense legislation that couldn’t be amended.” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and former Commissioner Paul Tagliabue wrote Senate Armed Services Committee Chair John Warner (R-VA), saying that the bill “was an ‘achievement’ he could be proud of, but that couldn’t get through the Senate by regular means.” After Warner refused, Frist “hatched a new plan to add it to a bill to secure the nation’s ports.” U.S. House Homeland Security Committee Chair Pete King (R-NY) “allowed it onto his port bill without a vote by negotiators.” King: “I’m not going to stop a bill because of Internet gambling” (N.Y. POST, 10/10).

Thanks a lot NFL, you know you could have had them narrow the bill to only include betting on sports.

[Talking Poker]

WTF? Thanks a lot.

I hate everyone.

[Tony Cheval]

Boycotting the NFL now. Soccer 4 Life baby!

[Penguinfan]

This is the height of hypocracy, or at least stupididty.

The NFL has been against gambling on it's games weather off-shore or in Vegas for a long time. The NCAA holds a similar position.

ESPN has been noted as siding with this anti-gambling stance.

Do any of the above groups have even the smallest clue how their product IMMEDIATLY becomes less valuable if gambling were to somehow be banned altogether? Honestly, does anyone think people are watch a Monday night game involving Oakland and KC of they don't have money on it?

OK, maybe some people would still watch because it's MNF and they have a fantasy player on the field, but you can't tell me anyone on the country gives a solid shit about Boise ST and Hawaii at midnight on Saturday if they don't have action on the game. There would not be college football 4-5 nights a week if not for gambling on it.

ESPN especially should see this, and I really don't see how the NFL is so blind, honestly. I'm not saying TV money dries up on NFL games if betting is stopped, but it sure goes down a bit, instead of steadily increasing like it has been. As far as the NCAA goes, I honestly thing a bunch of the non-tournament games don't get on TV again if people aren't betting on them.

Think people.

[Spidey44]

If you think the NFL is against betting on games you're dreaming. There's a reason that there is a rule in place to have all injuries reported on a weekly basis and it's not to give the opposing teams necessary info.

I'm not sure what their purpose is getting involved with this is though.

[Penguinfan]

Much like the NBA is also not against it? Then tell me why the Maloofs can't have NBA games bet on at their sportsbook?

[jillaj]

Conflict of intrest. Company line is against gambling so that the integrity of the game is not questioned. As for the bottom line, gambling helps their business no matter what they publicly say.

[Penguinfan]

Exactly my point, so why did they help push the bill through?