If you’re an American, chances are you’re a die-hard NFL fan.
The National Football League (NFL) is easily the biggest sports league in America. Every year, it pulls in millions of viewers and gamblers. In recent years, there’s a new niche market that the league has attracted, albeit for different reasons: gamblers.
The gambling industry clearly sees the massive appeal American football has in this day and age. With sports gambling in general taking the world by storm, it was inevitable for it to extend towards the NFL. It is evidently the most profitable sports league, not just in America, but in the world!
So, the sports betting growth during NFL season is understandable. But its appeal wasn’t always appreciated. Until recently, the league had fought to keep sports betting as far away from it as possible. Now, it’s starting to embrace it. So, before we talk about the future of NFL sports betting, let’s take a brief look at its past.
History of NFL Sports Betting
Sports bettingitself has been around for centuries, but online sports betting started nearly as soon as the internet more accessible to all. In the late ‘90s is when online gambling sites started popping up. In 1992, prior to the online surge in sports betting, the US government has banned commercial sports betting in nearly every state. The NFL mirrored this stance and vehemently rejected the notion of accepting gambling on NFL.
The NFL had kept this stance for decades since then being very vocal about the dangers of gambling, casinos, and sports betting. The league considered sports gambling to be one of its biggest threats. However, after maintaining this opposing stance for so long, the league started to gradually embrace it. This is largely in part due to the 2018 lifting of the PASPA Act which enabled more US states to start legalizing sports betting.
Recent Developments
In 2018, the 1992 PASPA Act that banned sports gambling in all but a few states was lifted. Since then, the NFL started putting its opposition to this highly lucrative practice on the backburner.
Some would argue that the league had started embracing sports gambling much earlier than the ban lift. This is because of the league’s 2017 decision to move the Oakland Raiders to Las Vegas, a.k.a. the capital of gambling and casinos.
The most recent developments in the NFL’s evolving relationship with sports gambling have been the most monumental, too. Earlier this year i.e. in April 2021, the NFL announced its partnership with three US sportsbooks: Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel. This marked the first time the league had ever actively signed up on a sports betting deal.
In August 2021, the league announced another massive development in its growing appreciation for sports gambling. The NFL is now in agreement with four major US sportsbook operators: BetMGM, PointsBet, WynnBet, and FOX Bet.
Future of NFL Sports Betting
In light of all the monumental developments between the NFL and the sports gambling industry, there are some significant trends that could define the future of NFL sports betting.
Betting Lounges and Gambling Arenas
In early 2020, ESPN reported that NFL had allowed stadiums to build betting lounges, but had not approved of sports gambling happening inside those lounges. The league also allowed its teams to sign agreements and start partnerships with sportsbooks, but still prohibited engaging in sports betting. All of these policies were applicable in states where sports betting had already been legalized.
Rise In Betting Ads Investment
The American Gaming Association had previously suggested that about 45 million Americans will wager on the 2021 NFL season. While we’re yet to see if those numbers were closely estimations, one thing that’s for sure is that more Americans were introduced to the concept of sports betting during this season than previous ones.
The reason for this is the sheer amount of sports betting ads that are now overtaking the league’s advertisements. The league is able to increase its sports betting ad spending due to the revenue from its sportsbook partnerships. Due to the profitable nature of sports betting advertising, you can expect to see a lot more sports betting ads during NFL games than you ever have before.
More Partnerships with Sportsbooks
Sports gamblers are only increasing in number. With the massive nationwide appeal for sports betting, especially in the NFL, it would be silly for the league to not think for profit. The league’s tri-exclusive partnership with the three sportsbooks and four sportsbook operators is already estimated to generate more than $1 billion. Why wouldn’t it opt for more sportsbook partnerships? You can expect to see a lot more agreements between the NFL and US sportsbooks in the near future.
Sports Betting Kiosks
Thanks to these partnerships with sportsbooks, sports betting features will become more readily available in NFL stadium matches.
Betting lounges aside, there might be video screens and scoreboards throughout the stadiums that display betting odds and point spreads. There may even be sports betting kiosks available inside the stadiums that gamblers can access on-the-spot. Although some states have fully legalized sports betting, there is no clear regulation about the acceptability of sports betting kiosks in stadiums. The situation is uncertain for now, but may soon be a reality.
About the Author
This guest blog has been written by an online gambling expert who is currently associated with Betting Sites Ranking.
Betting Sites Ranking is an online gambling resource site. The author has been responsible for providing some of the information mentioned in the “blog” section of the website. He has also assisted the site owners with their best online betting sites rankings and reviews. On the website, you can comparebetting offers and promotions from top online casinos or simply read reviews about them.
