National Football League
The National Football League (NFL) has dropped its opposition to the Barney Frank's online gambling bill. The NFL has spoken out against previous legislation, which would have potentially allowed US gambling operators to offer sports betting. However, US Representative Pete King has amended the bill, which now states that operators cannot offer any form of sports betting, with the exception of wagers on pari-mutuel racing.
Heavy.com has reported on an e-mail received from Brian McCarthy, vice-president of communications at NFL. McCarthy told the sports website that King’s amendment “adequately addressed our specific concern”. The spokesperson also suggested that the NFL is “pleased with the outcome” of the legislation. The bill has now lost one of its strongest opponents, but as we reported earlier this month, it’s a race against time to pass the legislation.
The bill, along with attached legislation relating to online gambling, has to be approved by November; else it’s back to the drawing board for Frank and supporters of internet casinos. However, given that Congress is about to take a break for the next seven weeks, it’ll be difficult – to say the least – for the bill to be passed by both the House and Senate in time.
