Until recently, sports betting was illegal in the United States. The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was repealed by the Supreme Court in 2018. The NFL was aware of the ruling, and was preparing to move cautiously into the world of gambling content.
In April of this year, the NFL announced it would begin to work with official sports-betting partners. These partners would be able to sell advertising and betting lines to fans. The NFL also added gambling content to its broadcasts. This included the addition of a betting line to the bottom of the screen and free-play games.
One of the league’s first official betting partners is PointsBet. PointsBet has an agreement with MLB, which gives it access to advertising on Tigers radio network. PointsBet is also an authorized MLB gaming operator. It has a special PointsBetting product. It allows wagerers to win or lose more on their bet depending on the score differential.
Another NFL partner is BetMGM. BetMGM is an official betting partner of the Arizona Cardinals. BetMGM’s sportsbook will be located outside the stadium and will not be part of the stadium itself. It will take bets year-round. In early 2022, Caesars Sportsbook will begin taking bets at its ticket windows and betting kiosks at Chase Field.
In mid-2017, the NFL began research into legalized sports betting markets. It found that the most illegal betting occurs on phones. It also found that fans didn’t like in-stadium betting kiosks. In order to make legal sports betting a reality, the NFL had to get the backing of 32 NFL team owners. The league also spoke with gaming operators, sports entities, and governing bodies.