Agree or disagree

[packer2012]

We all agree... don't we?...... that gambling has been by far the primary reason for the huge success of the NFL for a long, long time. Of course the league wants to ignore this..... but it is balls-on accurate.

Do you agree?..... and.... How much does fantasy football play into this now? The NFL seems to embrace this and even promote it on their in-game graphics and so forth.

 

[JustinCruise]

Disagree that gambling is the reason

The fact that the NFL is a sport that is better on tv than in person and fantasy football are the reasons for its booming success IMO

 

[packer2012]

Agree to disagree Justo. I understand your feelings though. The NFL has made huge efforts to cause people to feel the way you feel.

 

[scottcarter]

I agree with Justin

 

[slapshot]

NFL is boring that's why everyone watches the Red Zone channel

don't like Fantasy Football but the NFL knows it's the way to keep fans interested

 

[scottcarter]

NFL is fucking awesome. Any sports is better if you have some money riding on it. NHL is the best by far.

 

[akphidelt]

I disagree. I think gambling has a very small impact on the NFL being a huge success.

 

[Betallsports]

Those that think the NFL would be as Big as it is now if there was no Gambling, should get their Head checked.

 

[shdw01]

Of course gambling makes everything more popular. If we couldnt gamble on baseball and basketball then i wouldnt care about the regular season at all.

that being said, the nfl product is the best ny far. If all bookies died and there was no more gambling, nfl will still be the most popular sport by far

 

[TyBounce]

I agree packer , but i think the same thing could be said for any sport that has a lucrative tv deal. ... Imo NFL and NHL are the easiest sports to watch without a wager.

If i have a bet on the Temple/LaSalle cbb game , i'll watch it .... but if i dont have a bet on that game theres no chance in hell i would watch it. .... but i could watch any random Monday Night NFL game even if i dont have a bet.

 

[BostonBettor]

IMO, Gambling is a big ratings boost, but I think even more people play fantasy so that might be an even bigger factor. Regardless, the regular season NFL would likely have the highest ratings of the 4 major pro sports. I do find it ironic that the NFL is supposedly against betting on games, yet with the spread of daily fantasy they are essentially promoting a form of gambling.

 

[NickPappagiorgio]

Absolutely the NFL is as big as it is because of gambling. They dont mind Fantasy Football because its stats based and not point spread based so there is little chance that someone with shave pts/stats and so the "integrity of the game" is intact.

 

[Defying]

NFL doesn't need gambling to be successful. Does it make MORE successful, absolutely.

I think the biggest "Winner" of gambling is NCAA Football.. Their Wednesday, Thursday Night games I imagine has an exteremly large gambling audience, more so in terms of % of the people watching than anything else.

 

[scottcarter]

I would never watch any part of a regular season NBA game if I didn't have a bet on it. NHL and NFL I would no problem.

 

[PatsFan1283]

The NFLs rise in popularity over the last 10 years mirrors fantasy footballs rise in popularity to a tee.

The marketing #s back this up....Fantasy sports players watch 3x more NFL than avg fans, read/follow like 3-4x more print/video content during the week, etc

 

[HamGlaze]

Gambling makes the NFL a BIGGER success, Yes.

Why else would a game where you have one team up by enough points where the other team has no chance of coming back but yet the viewership and commercial sponsorship doesn't cease much. You have Over/Under bettors and bettors hoping or worried for a back door cover. Fantasy football comes into play as well. No doubt gambling has increased the success of the NFL exponentially.