Could the NHL be looking to gain more popularity in the shadow industry of gambling? Publicly major sports is against legalized gambling as it will threaten the integrity of their games but it sells tickets and sports merchandise.
Quote:
According to the Nevada Gaming Commission, in 2011 $3.2 billion was wagered in sports bets in the state’s casinos. Of that amount, $1.34 billion or 41 percent was handled just for football. Outside of Nevada the numbers are much bigger. The National Gambling Impact Study Commission estimates that $380 billion is wagered a year on football through offshore accounts and illegal betting.
Gambling is a shadow industry that operates independently of the NFL but relies on football games to bankroll casinos and its gamblers. In turn, the NFL benefits from the intense fan interest that gambling helps to generate. Many fans have far more riding on this weekend’s game than regional pride.
“The NFL knows a meaningful part of their fan base is interested because they can bet on the games. And if they can’t they would be far less interested in getting tickets, going to games and buying merchandise,” says Finn.
|
http://www.thedailybeast.com/article...-business.html