Editorial

Governor Chris Christie Calls Out NFL Over Gambling Hypocrisy

(REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton)

Matt Candler Contributor
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New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is not a fan of the NFL being against sports gambling.

“The hypocrisy is just so overwhelming” said Christie, discussing the National Football League’s stance on sports gambling in America on a preview of HBO’s “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.”

Christie was responding to the NFL’s opposition of his efforts to legalize sports betting at all New Jersey casinos and racetracks. But, thanks to Governor Christie, the debate has evolved from an isolated state proposal, to a potential sweeping change to federal law.

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to review the country’s current sports gambling laws in their upcoming term.

With the NFL’s Oakland Raiders planning to relocate to Las Vegas, along with the NHL’s Las Vegas Golden Knights already in town, Christie says the sports gambling debate should already be over. If league commissioners and owners are so afraid of the effects of gambling negatively impacting their game, why bring franchises to Las Vegas?

Christie said, “I mean that’s why they (professional sports leagues) no longer have moral high ground on this. They cannot make the integrity of the game argument anymore, because they have now gone to the sports gambling capital of America and put two of the four major sports now, having teams in that city. It’s over.”

He predicts that the NFL will eventually agree to negotiate with Congress, to ensure the best deal for itself. What Governor Christie failed to mention is the NFL’s almost obsessive push to promote fantasy football. The popularity explosion of fantasy football isn’t a result of people wanting office pool bragging rights. It’s about the money. Fantasy football is gambling.

Stay tuned to find out how the hypocrisy of the NFL continues to grow by the day.