On Tuesday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell explained that there is a significant difference between true lotteries and sports wagering.
That theory is soon to be put to the test in the court of public opinion.
Daniel Kaplan of SportsBusiness Journal reports that the league’s owners voted Tuesday to allow teams to align with state lotteries, which will result in team logos appearing on lottery tickets.
In our view, it’s a tricky proposition for the league. Though we agree that a fundamental difference exists between scratch-and-lose tickets and betting on the outcome of games, we think that a bunch of people might regard the league’s position as a tad hypocritical.
In the minds of many, gambling is gambling, regarding of whether it involves rubbing the edge of a coin over that metallic paint stuff or taking the Steelers and giving the points.
So look for the NFL to take some heat on this one, even as its teams tap into a new recession-proof revenue stream.