NFL Continues to Lobby Against Internet Gambling Not Involving Sports Betting

NFL Continues to Lobby Against Internet Gambling Not Involving Sports Betting

By Marcus Camby
Legal US Online Casino News
As foes and friends of the UIGEA ban against Internet gambling line up for legislative and judicial battles over the law this spring, the National Football League remains among the most adamant opponents to striking the problematic law. Despite sports gambling via the Internet being barred by the 1961 Wire Act, the NFL somehow finds reason to believe regulating other forms of online gambling would damage the integrity of pro football games.

While repealing the UIGEA would free Congress to regulate online casinos, sports betting online would still be forbidden by the Wire Act, according to the ruling of the US Fifth District Court. But NFL officials are convinced that sports wagering would increase if the UIGEA were struck.

"We are opposed to more gambling on our games which is what would occur if the 2006 law was overturned," league spokesman Brian McCarthy told the San Diego Union-Tribune.

"We understand that illegal gambling currently occurs but there is little we can do about that, he said. However, we can exercise our right to oppose Internet betting on our games. ... Gambling on our games online or offline threatens the integrity of our games and all the values they represent."

McCarthy did not explain how banning Internet casino gaming and online poker transactions protects NFL game integrity. Nor did he offer an opinion on how tossing away the UIGEA would alter the Wire Act or make sports wagering legal. Legal experts have said betting on NFL games would not change statUS if the UIGEA is removed.

The NFL has exercised its massive wealth and political power to combat gambling laws that seem to only peripherally affect the league, although this may be the beginning of NFL interference in gaming that has no sports correlation.

The league used influence to force Oregon to withdraw a state sports lottery plan, and has sent delegates to Delaware to advise Governor Markell of its disapproval of his sports gambling plan. The league did not seem to be restrained by the fact it holds no games in either state, thereby contributing nothing to the states' economies, or suffering a threat in any way increased from presently legal Las Vegas sports booking.


NFL Continues to Lobby Against Internet Gambling Not Involving Sports Betting