The National Football League (NFL) has moved cautiously into the world of gambling content. They’ve licensed video to sportsbooks internationally, added betting lines to their broadcasts, and offered gambling themes on simulcasts. But the league has yet to designate its official betting partners.
As the league moved towards legalized betting, it began to talk to governing bodies and gaming operators. They wanted to know what legislation was needed and what the pitfalls of legalized betting were. That’s where they found out that fans liked sportsbook apps.
It was also discovered that sportsbook-sponsored betting lounges and kiosks in stadiums were not popular. Fans hated having to walk from their seats to a betting booth. And the NFL was concerned about protecting its players from corruption.
After a series of meetings, the NFL concluded that a new set of laws was necessary. This time, they wanted to be sure that sportsbooks were covered and would not be able to price their bets without access to official league data.
With this in mind, the NFL agreed to a multi-year agreement with Caesars Entertainment, FanDuel, and DraftKings. These three companies will gain exclusive access to all of the NFL’s content. In return, they will receive the rights to sell six sportsbook commercials per game. During games, those commercials will appear on the bottom of the screen.
The NFL plans to generate $270 million in revenue this year. The league will begin to incorporate gambling content into its telecasts this fall. However, it’s not sure how much it will affect the main telecasts.
