Why did the NFL dodge a lawmaker's inquiry about its betting policies?

Welcome to the Winner’s Circle, a weekly column by Bet For The Win senior writer Prince J. Grimes.

The NFL is asking Congress to crack down on illegal sports betting operators.

The request came in response to a letter from Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) in June asking about the NFL’s sports betting policies and procedures in the wake of recent player violations. Rather than answering her questions in full, the NFL used the inquiry as an opportunity to turn the focus elsewhere.

“We believe that additional attention and resources are needed from lawmakers and law-enforcement to address the illicit sports betting market, which still has the power of incumbency,” wrote NFL VP of public policy and government affairs Jonathan Nabavi in a letter obtained by ESPN.

“Illegal gaming operators do not offer the important consumer and security protections that legal sites do. They don’t use anti-money laundering protocols, identity and age verification, sports integrity monitoring processes, or financial and cyber security systems.”

Everything he said was correct, and yet, it was a dead giveaway of another motive for the NFL’s attack on illegal operators — because when has the league ever done something simply out of care for consumers?

In letter to Congresswoman Dina Titus, NFL asks for "federal engagement" to address the "illicit sports betting market, which still have the power of incumbency." pic.twitter.com/OkzLEjvUK3

— David Payne Purdum (@DavidPurdum) August 4, 2023

So, what other reasons would the NFL have to target the “illicit” betting market? My first guess goes back to the exact reason Titus spoke up in the first place: player and staff betting.

The system built around a legal betting market is the only reason so many people across sports have been busted in the last year, as Titus said in her letter. “When players get suspended and coaches get fired, that means the system is working,” she said.

However, that system can’t monitor and detect suspicious betting activity around illegal markets which, in turn, remain a viable alternative for people who want to bet on things they aren’t supposed to — just as they were prior to legalization in 2018. I’m sure the NFL would like that alternative eliminated before the league has a full-blown scandal on its hands, because if the recent suspensions prove anything, it’s that an appetite exists for betting within its ranks and some people are willing to skirt rules to do it.

That leads to the next potential reason the NFL could be deflecting from Titus’ initial inquiry. Have more players and staff been busted for betting than what’s been made public?

The league’s response to Titus failed to answer her question about how many players have violated the NFL’s betting policies since 2018 and what the punishments were. It seemed like a simple enough answer if what’s been announced is true — the number is up to 12 players based on FTW’s tracker. However, the league didn’t provide an answer, leading Titus to question if the NFL is hiding something.

If leagues like the @NFL don’t have anything to hide, they should be willing to disclose how many players and staff have violated their sports betting policies.
 
I’ve fought illegal gaming for years. Ducking the sports betting issue just won’t cut it.https://t.co/xSUsrft6Bp

— Dina Titus (@repdinatitus) August 5, 2023

“It’s very disappointing that the NFL has declined to answer our questions and instead pivoted to illegal sports betting generally in their response,” she said in response to the NFL’s letter. “It makes one wonder what they are trying to hide.”

This all comes before we even get to the money part of it, with the league being a partner of multiple U.S. sportsbooks that profit from the legalization of sports betting across the country.

We can all agree that more good can come from eliminating illegal betting market than bad, but the NFL’s motives for making that the focus might not be as straightforward as it seems.