Front Burner Sports betting: Golden age, or epidemic?
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Feb 7, 2025 Danny Funt, a Washington Post contributor and author of 'Everybody Loses,' delves into the booming sports betting landscape, especially around the Super Bowl. He discusses how betting has transformed from simple wagers to complex parlays, fueling excitement—and risks. Funt highlights how technology, notably smartphones, has revolutionized gambling, making it more accessible and addictive. He critically examines the mainstreaming of sports betting in media, raising ethical concerns over celebrity endorsements, and stresses the need for regulations to safeguard consumers.
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NFL's Stance on Gambling
- In 2013, the NFL prohibited employees from visiting Louisiana casinos during the Super Bowl due to its anti-gambling stance.
- Now, the Super Bowl stadium is named after a gambling company, highlighting the dramatic shift in the NFL's perspective.
Post-2018 Sports Betting Boom
- The 2018 Supreme Court decision allowed states to legalize sports betting, leading to rapid expansion across the US.
- This legalization triggered a ripple effect, with states observing their neighbors' tax revenue and following suit.
Types of Bets
- Sports betting has evolved beyond simply predicting game outcomes to include a vast array of micro-bets within the game.
- Parlays, where multiple bets are combined, have become a significant revenue driver for sportsbooks.