NFL Will Allow Broadcast Partners To Take Casino Ads This Season

The NFL will allow broadcasters to begin taking casino ads as early as next week's Falcons-Eagles kickoff game, NFL Chief Media & Business Officer Brian Rolapp told SBJ/SBD following a league media event Thursday afternoon. "What you will see is we will loosen gambling, non-sports gambling, restrictions for clubs and ... our broadcast partners," he said. "It will be done in a responsible way where it is not a free-for-all." Asked when the changes would occur, Rolapp replied, "This season." The league's business ventures committee this week agreed to open the team sponsorship category for casinos, but disallowed ads for sportsbooks at those casinos. While only four states have legalized and regulated sports gambling since the Supreme Court in May overturned the law that banned the activity in all but a handful of states, nearly all the major leagues are now moving to commercialize gambling. The NBA sold a leaguewide sponsorship to MGM earlier this month.