NFL wants data rights but is coy on expanding a Federal Framework

The governance of the NFL has called on Congress to install required mandatory directives/standards on US sports betting, which all industry stakeholders should adhere to.

Safeguarding the image and integrity of US professional sports, the NFL has revealed its desired US betting requirements, as Capitol Hill’s Judiciary Committee begins its examination of whether a ‘federal sports betting regulatory framework or guidelines are required’.

A statement submitted to the Judiciary Committee by NFL Communications and Public Affairs VP Jocelyn Moore advises Congress to enforce federal requirements on consumer age limits, the use of official pro-league data whilst limiting certain ‘prop-bet’ market types.

In its request, the NFL details that the mandatory use of pro-league syndicated data is needed to protect US sports integrity, by which governing sports leagues can provide the most accurate information and settle the majority of market disputes.

“Betting outcomes are increasingly determined on granular details like yardage gained, or the number of sacks by a defence, or strikes by a pitcher in baseball. Therefore, an essential component of consumer protection is a requirement that the information used to settle these wagers is correct and timely, something that can only come from official data provided by the sports leagues themselves.”

Advising Congress, the NFL states that pro-leagues have the capabilities to provider bookmakers with data resources needed, and that use of  ‘official data should become a standard enforcement across all regulated markets’.

Further to enforcing official data rights, the NFL details that pro-leagues should be able to restrict or limit markets/wagers offering prop-bet types or outcomes.

Prop-bets refer to wagers that ‘are not determined by the outcome or final score of the event’. In its research, the NFL has deemed that certain prop-bets could leave sports open to match-fixing or tampering, which would damage league reputations.

“Specifically, professional and amateur sports organizations should be able to restrict, limit, or exclude wagers that are not determined solely by the final score or outcome of the event if the sports organization reasonably determines that such restriction would significantly decrease the risk to contest integrity,” the NFL details to Congress.

“Examples of such wagers would include those based on performances of a single athlete or the actions of match officials and referees.”

Publishing the communication, Jocelyn Moore stated that to US media that the NFL’s concerns and suggestions, should not underline that the league supports a push for a federal sports betting regulatory framework.