As the NFL gears up for this year’s Super Bowl in the heart of Las Vegas, the league’s dance with the gambling industry reveals a staggering shift from its historical stance just a decade ago. In 2018, the Supreme Court dismantled a federal law banning sports betting outside Nevada, a law once championed by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Fast forward to today, and the NFL is not only embracing sports betting but entangling itself in partnerships with betting companies worth nearly $1 billion over five years.

However, this rapid entanglement raises eyebrows due to the glaring contradictions it presents. The NFL is vigorously promoting and profiting from sports betting while simultaneously claiming to shield players, employees, and fans from its potential pitfalls.

Despite the league’s financial contributions to responsible gambling initiatives, its broadcasts are saturated with advertisements from sports betting companies. The cognitive dissonance is palpable, with Marc Edelman, a law professor at Baruch College, highlighting the apparent oversight in the NFL’s strategy.

The NFL attributes its evolving stance to the shifting legal landscape, asserting that collaboration with gambling operators fortifies the game’s integrity. Yet, concerns linger. American sports betting soared past $115 billion in 2023, with nearly 25 million more Americans engaging in sports betting than in 2018.

Dr. Marc Potenza from Yale’s Center of Excellence in Gambling Research warns of a “perfect storm” brewing, fueled by loosened regulations, mobile betting accessibility, relentless advertising, and the considerable time invested in sports by susceptible demographics, especially young men.

In response, the NFL has allocated substantial funds, a three-year, $6.2 million grant, to the National Council on Problem Gambling in 2021. Despite these efforts, the league’s punitive approach to gambling violations remains unyielding. While encouraging responsible gambling, the NFL strictly prohibits league and team personnel from betting on any sport, emphasizing its commitment to preserving the game’s integrity.

The tension between the NFL’s newfound alliance with the lucrative sports gambling industry and its obligation to protect against potential risks remains a compelling narrative, with the evolving landscape steering the course for the league’s future.