NFL's Goodell Puts Spin On NFL Company Line Regarding Gambling

It was the type of comment that one would expect to come out of a politicians mouth. It was not a politician in the broad sense of the word, however, that was making the statement. It was Commissioner Roger Goodell of the National Football League.

Goodell told Bob Glauber of Newsday that his league was not against gambling, just betting on his sport. Given that his owners have disregarded Goodell's previous statements that claimed the league is against gambling in general, there was not much more he could say to Glauber.

In a world where political spin is one of the main reasons that a middle ground is rarely found, Goodell tried to reach a middle ground with the gambling issue. His stance is simple, dangerous gambling is an acceptable form of revenue for our league, as long as football games are not involved.

"The lotteries are something that's become more and more involved as stadiums are getting built," Goodell told Newsday, "People are using lottery revenues to build stadiums and using lottery revenues for educational purposes. It's something that's become acceptable in our world."

A true statement from the commissioner, but what he failed to say is that sports betting has also become accepted in today's world. In England, people can bet freely on the outcome of soccer and tennis matches. In addition, they can openly bet on horses and other sporting events.

The Super Bowl is the most bet on sporting event in the world. Almost $100 million is wagered on the game annually. That would be evidence that NFL betting has become pretty acceptable in today's world.

Still, the NFL has to hold their high moral standing that Goodell claims does not exist. "We have not crossed over the line to casinos. We take a very strong view on trying to keep an arm's distance from them," said Goodell.

One of his speech writers should have informed him that casino gambling is becoming one of the most accepted forms of gambling in the US these days. Dozens of states have changed their gaming laws in order to allow for the construction of casinos. The money that is generated from these casinos is going to the same education systems that lottery revenue is headed.

There is no distinction between what types of gambling are, or are not, acceptable. It is gambling. Whether someone pays money to scratch a ticket at the hopes of winning money, or they bet on a football game and hope Tom Brady throws a touchdown pass in the last minute to cover a point spread.

It is all the same. people wagering their money on hope. However Goodell wants to spin it to make his owners still seem morally conscience is fine, but do not expect the people of the world to believe what he and his league are trying to sell.

June 2, 2009
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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