The NFL Moves Towards Legal Sports Betting

The NFL has been one of the most vocal opponents to legal sports betting, with Commissioner Roger Goodell expressing concerns about maintaining the integrity of the league. The league has since changed its stance, investing in technology and partnering with sportsbooks and integrity firms to monitor bets and catch anyone violating the NFL’s gambling policy. The NFL’s new system gives it visibility of bets, where they are placed and who is placing them. The system is so comprehensive, for example, that when an NFL player logs in to a sportsbook while at the team facility, it will alert them and flag the bet.

Ohio was among the first states to move on legal sports betting after the Supreme Court ruling, with retail and online sportsbooks launching in November 2021. The state’s sportsbooks are operated by DraftKings, FanDuel and SugarHouse.

Connecticut rolled out its sportsbook in October 2021, with retail and online books. The state’s sportsbooks are run by DraftKings, FanDuel, SugarHouse and BetRivers.

A new entrant to the sports betting space, Fanatics, has expanded its online and mobile offering. The company bought US operations of PointsBet in 2022 to accelerate its expansion and is now available in 11 states. The company offers a wide range of betting options, including moneylines and props on popular events, such as how many touchdowns Patrick Mahomes will throw. In addition, fans can place bets on UFC and boxing PPV events and Fight Nights.