NFL commissioner Roger Goodell affirmed Friday that the league remains committed to opposing further legalization of sports gambling.
“As you know, we fought legalized gambling, sports gambling, for a long time, most recently here in New Jersey, and I would see our position in the same vein going forward,” Goodell said.
Goodell’s response stemmed from a question about the league’s support of fantasy football and distaste for sports betting.
“We don’t put fantasy football in that category at all,” Goodell said, referring to gambling.
Goodell relayed a story of a father and teenage daughter bonding over fantasy football and playing in the same league.
“Fantasy has a way of people engaging more with football, and they do it in a fun, friendly, in this case, a family manner,” Goodell said.
Sports betting is legal in four states, most notably Nevada. Just short of $99 million was legally wagered in Nevada on last year’s Super Bowl, according to the state’s gaming control board.