There is no shortage of controversy concerning betting on sports in the United States. However, conversations are beginning to carry a new tune as professional sports leagues such as the NBA are beginning to experience an evolution of sorts on the concept of legal basketball betting. In fact, the NBA’s current Commissioner Adam Silver is leading the charge in a call for the expansion of legal and regulated sports betting in the United States. He has not only publicly called for such a change in legislation, he is also talking to the commissioners of the other pro leagues, including the NFL, MLB and NHL to share his views in hopes of bringing them over to his side of the debate.
Silver said in an exclusive interview with ESPN the Magazine that he will leave it up to the commissioners themselves to make any type of public statement on the matter. He did indicate that they were all open to becoming more informed on the topic and learning more about the effects that sports betting expansion would have on the industry.
Historically, all pro leagues and the NCAA have been staunchly opposed to sports betting expansion. There are many arguments that they have touted over the years to support their positions, but their recently formed partnerships with fantasy sports businesses have undeniably weakened their high horse position somewhat. As recently as 2012, each of the pro leagues stated that they believed sports betting would lead to corruption within their respective sports, and that it would turn their players into assets to be exploited for a quick buck. Either they have changed their minds on this point, or the ‘quick buck’ they can make in their fantasy sports partnerships overrode their moral high ground. Which is it? We’ll let you decide.
Adam Silver, NBA Commissioner is the voice of reason here, recognizing that the same benefits that fantasy sports is bringing to the leagues could be dramatically multiplied by including legalized sports betting expansion. Is it legal to bet on NBA basketball? Outside of fantasy sports, basketball fans in the US can only bet on NBA games legally from a brick and mortar location in Vegas, or they can bet on NBA games, players and teams online at licensed offshore sportsbooks that are USA friendly. There is also a significant amount of illegal sports betting taking place around the country through unlicensed, backstreet bookmaker operations.
Silver continues to point out that the public is already betting on the NBA and the other pro sports leagues. Legalizing the action would bring it out into the open where it could be regulated and monitored for safety and legality, and would benefit the leagues through increased fan participation and viewership. He points out that live in game betting would keep fans engaged through to the last buzzer, remarking that nobody watches basketball games as intensely as a fan who has money at stake.
Harmful or helpful? I guess it all depends on what you stand to gain, or lose. The position of those who are influential enough to really impact the legal landscape on this issue does seem to waver based on revenue potential. No judgment there, money makes the world go ‘round. However it does reveal the empty fortitude by which these guys have been opposing the option for decades based on moral ground.
