Leagues should get distance from gambling interests
EDITOR'S NOTE >> We're happy to welcome the return of the Tunneyside of Sports by legendary NFL official Jim Tunney, a Pebble Beach resident. Tunney's column will appear the first Monday of every month.
Upon further review … Perhaps you noticed during the 2022 NFL season that the NFL has gone into partnership with gambling organizations: namely FanDuel and SportsBook. This should never have happened. Yes, I realize that betting on sports events has been around forever. Surely, those gamblers were lurking in the bushes when Adam was tempted by Eve to take a bite out of that apple. “8 to 5 he will,” said one gambler. “I'll take that bet,” said another. “Gambling is addictive,” said one of the apostles. Well maybe not an apostle but someone has to help those addicted to gambling. The racetracks around our country (and around the world) have financially done well.
My family was connected to thoroughbred racing in California on the racing side for several decades. And yes, on a personal note, I have placed bets at racetracks. I love to watch thoroughbreds and, admittedly have gambled at the tables when staying at the casinos in Las Vegas. Going back a few years when I was an NFL official (1960-1991) the NFL issued an order that no active official would be permitted to be “in” Las Vegas during the NFL season. I appealed to Supervisor Art McNally to allow me to fulfill my speaking engagements in Vegas with the promise not to be in or around the casinos. He trusted me to abide by that promise. Gamblers love to talk with those involved in sports, so the Art McNally order made perfect sense.
And have you ever stopped and wondered where the money to build those beautiful hotels in Las Vegas comes from? If you're following along with me, that's right, it's from the winnings that the casinos garnered from gamblers' losses. The house, as the casinos are called, does not lose money in the long run. Today betting companies like Fan
Duel and Sports Book, just to name a few, are connected to sports leagues like the NFL and the NBA. How on God's green earth did we ever permit sports leagues to be in bed with gambling?
If you study the history of Las Vegas casinos, you'll find the names of Bugsy Siegal and groups of racketeers eager to build casinos. Gambling and gangsters have been associated since that apple-onthe-tree story. It has not been a pretty history. Today we have an NFL team (Raiders) and an NHL team (Golden Nights) living together in Las Vegas. Do you really think gamblers are unaware of this?
You will recall an NBA game official, Tim Donaghy was indicted for working with gamblers for his profit. The NFL, I am proud to proclaim, has never had an incident, and hopefully never will. But gambling in the same location frightens some. Gamblers seemingly have no boundaries.