A few years ago, the NFL’s position on legal sports betting was that it would threaten the integrity of the game. They feared that bettors might try to fix games or manipulate totals for gambling purposes. That may still happen, but the league has taken a big step toward accepting the reality of legalized sports betting by partnering with DraftKings, FanDuel and Caesars Sportsbook. They’ve even opened a sportsbook inside the Washington Redskins stadium, and the Bears are looking into putting one in Wrigley Field.
The NFL’s new stance on sports betting comes after a landmark Supreme Court decision that overturned PASPA in 2018. That decision opened the door to sports betting in all states, but a number of states are still struggling with how to regulate and tax the industry. Some are requiring official data, while others are allowing sportsbooks to grade bets without it.
Texas, for example, has no legal sportsbooks. The state has a complicated set of regulations that includes a gambling compact with tribal governments and a requirement that bettors use only licensed retail and online operators. The state is working to bring sports betting to its residents, but it’s unclear when that will happen. California, which has no legal sportsbooks, is on a much longer timeline because it requires a constitutional amendment and two-thirds support from both the House and Senate. It also needs to be approved by voters. Currently, lawmakers are trying to put two sports betting bills on the ballot this fall.