Sports betting has become exponentially more popular in recent years due to betting websites like Draft Kings and Fan Duel.
With it becoming so popular, it could begin to get legalized in many states, which would have an impact on players within the four major professional sports in the United States.
To begin preparing for the legalization of sports betting, representatives from the players’ union of the NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL have begun meeting to talk about what further action needs to be taken.
According to The MMBQ, NFLPA executive George Atallah says they have begun putting the infrastructure in place in these meetings:
“Yes, the sports unions have been discussing the issue, in particular around the integrity of our respective games,” NFLPA executive George Atallah said Thursday afternoon. “We’re collaborating on it. We might be open to changes that are coming because of (legalized sports gambling), but before we get to the revenue aspect of it, do we have the infrastructure in place to prevent any sort of shenanigans? That’s the issue.”
All major professional sports leagues have been against sports betting in recent years due to it possibly compromising the integrity of the game, but the NBA and MLB may be starting to embrace it as NBA commissioner Adam Silver called on Congress to create a federal framework to allow states to legalize sports betting.
If these leagues do decide to adopt new rules allowing sports betting to enter their respective sports, then it could mark a significant milestone in the history of American sports.