Let’s call a spade; “a spade”!

I’ve witnessed poor (criminal) politics, and it makes me sick! What’s even sicker is the fact that people “buy it”. Many people take the media reports as gospel, without questioning. I wish we could all read between the lines.

As you know, I’m outwardly against the “Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act”, and I’m looking forward to the day when this crap is overturned (for all the right reasons you’ve read here before).

So, I’m very much in support of Barney Franks and his tireless efforts to stop it! He has again introduced a bill that would DEFINE online gambling and legalize it. Yay!

Today, it was made apparent to me that the NFL is still fighting the Congressman and his bill. The NFL is the bill’s richest and most powerful opponent. The NFL!!!!

Why the NFL you ask? What does this bill have to do with the NFL? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It has NO effect on the NFL at all – as a matter of fact it explicitly excludes sports betting from legalization (and professional football is by far the most bet on sports in Las Vegas. About 25 percent of all Las Vegas sports bets are made on NFL teams, and college football accounts for another 20 percent, according to Kenny White, chief operating officer for Las Vegas Sports Consultants).

So, why is the NFL putting so much time, effort and money into defeating Barney Frank’s bill? I want you to read between the lines. Remember, it’s not to legalize betting on football because that’s excluded, it’s not to ensure the integrity of the game because it’s excluded, it’s not because the NFL objects to gambling (it has just signed an agreement with the state of Massachusetts to allow their Patriots to partner up with the state lottery).

So why is the NFL so adamantly opposed? They have even gone as far as setting up a political action committee and hire full time lobbyist Jeff Miller.

What is clear is that the NFL presents the most steadfast impasse to Frank’s bill. He may need to rely on his allies in the PPA and Harrah’s to combat the negative activities of those opposed to legal, regulated, taxed online gambling.

With my thanks to Joseph Ewens at:  http://www.flopturnriver.com/blogs/confused-nfl-pose-biggest-threat-to-online-poker-1473

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