Roger Goodell issues statement on legalization of sports gambling

The NFL has already called upon Congress to find ways to regulate sports gambling now that the federal ban has been lifted, and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is echoing some of those concerns.

In a personal statement he released on Monday, Goodell outlined “four core principles” that he believes need to accompany the legalization of wagering on sports.

.@nflcommish statement on sports betting and the need for uniform standards pic.twitter.com/mri5KuJFf0

— Brian McCarthy (@NFLprguy) May 21, 2018

Goodell and the NFL have tried to distance themselves from gambling in order to assure fans they are committed to protecting the integrity of the game, but wagering on football games is something that has gone on for years. It’s already part of the NFL culture, though the Supreme Court ruling will result in it becoming more mainstream.

The NFL stands to profit greatly from the legalization of gambling, and Goodell knows that. There have been signs that the league has been preparing for the ruling for quite some time, so optics is the priority now more than anything.