XFL broadcasts to incorporate betting lines

Posted by Mike Florio on February 5, 2020, 10:20 AM EST
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After a locust-like hiatus, the XFL returns this weekend. And it’s fully embracing something that the NFL still regards in many ways as a plague.

Michael McCarthy of FrontOfficeSports.com reports that the on-screen score “bug” (it’s an industry term) for FOX and ABC/ESPN broadcasts of XFL games will include the betting line and the over-under.

“The over/under and point spread will be incorporated in our on-screen dashboard for XFL games,” ESPN senior V.P. of production Lee Fitting told McCarthy. “When it’s appropriate, our announcers will also have conversations around the spread and over/under.”

Six states have authorized legal wagering on XFL games: New Jersey, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Iowa, and Rhode Island. (In the other 44 states, there definitely will not be any illegal wagering on XFL games.)

The NFL continues to tread lightly when it comes to gambling, even though the league stands to earn billions from the various revenue possibilities and partnerships that sports betting brings to the table.

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11 responses to “XFL broadcasts to incorporate betting lines”

  1. I am not impressed so far. They want to show betting lines on the screen during games, but don’t want to take the time to have depth charts posted on their website to become familiar with their players? They need to do better.

  2. I’m glad they talk more about fantasy football, but the hardcore betting puts me off. The more they talk about it, the more suspect on-field calls and non-calls become. It’s a very slippery slope.

  3. Trust Vince to go where the big bucks are. He learned his lesson the last time around. Now, bring back Jim Ross to call games, alongside the Jerry Lawler.

  4. Too bad they cant make it an option, sports betting is a huge turn off for me so if its on the screen during the game I will not watch.

  5. It’s a very slippery slope.

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    I agree. The average XFL salary is around $55,000 for every player. If they continues to make this the base pay and they generate billions in betting revenue, you can predict what will eventually happen.

  6. Betting attracts customers when they know the sport and think they can win. Only true degenerates will be putting money on these games. It isn’t like we know anything about the team or who plays on them. I don’t see gambling as a great vehicle to promote this league.

    Now they want to use a small nerf ball that won’t help the QBs prepare for the real league.

  7. Fantasy football & gambling are are a huge part of the sport. To ignore it would just be stupid. Most people I see at sports bars during games are usually doing both.

  8. I can’t imagine being able to intelligently bet on these games, at least in the early days of the league. Largely unknown players, uncertainty of what exactly the offensive and defensive schemes are of the teams, no past matchups to look at, etc.

  11. I don’t give a damn about betting lines on a TV screen. Really what is the point, once the game starts nothing about it changes.

    What I do care about is that I get to go to a football game this weekend, sit 5 rows up from the field, and oly pay $20 a ticket!! I hope it works out, there is room for the XFL.

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