NFL seeks uniform standards on US sports gambling

The National Football League (NFL) is seeking a uniform set of rules for sports betting following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) of 1992.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell called on lawmakers to enact legislation that protects the players, coaches and fans and, at the same time, maintains public confidence in their games. He said sports betting should be governed by federal law and not by the state law.

In a nutshell, Goodell’s wish list to Congress include substantial consumer protections; intellectual property protection against those “who attempt to steal or misuse” their content; fans will have access to official, reliable league data; and to give law enforcers the resources and monitoring and enforcement tools against “bad actors.”

“There is no greater priority for me as the Commissioner of the National Football League than protecting the integrity of our sport,” Goodell said in a statement posted on the NFL website. “Our fans, our players and our coaches deserve to know that we are doing everything possible to ensure no improper influences affect how the game is played on the field.”