VanVleet: NBA’s Share of Sports-Betting Revenue Too Small to Justify Player Risk
vanvleet-says-nbas-share-of-sports-betting-revenue-too-small-to-justify-player-risk
Houston Rockets guard and National Basketball Players Association president Fred VanVleet said the money the NBA earns from legalized sports betting does not compensate for the dangers it creates for players.
Speaking to The New York Times, VanVleet estimated that gambling brings in “roughly one percent” of basketball-related income, which is split between the league and its players. “It’s not substantial enough to make it worth any of this—for us or for the league, quite frankly,” the 32-year-old guard said.
VanVleet was elected NBPA president last summer while rehabbing a torn ACL. Since taking office, he has made the rapid expansion of sports wagering one of his primary issues. “A nice little campfire makes you feel warm. But if it turns into a wildfire, that’s where we are right now,” he told the Times.
The union has already discussed possible adjustments, including removing certain player-specific prop bets. VanVleet also cited safety concerns after a viral video showed a bettor confronting Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler over a lost wager. “If Jimmy escalates that situation and somebody’s got a gun on him, that’s real,” he warned.
The NBA began partnering with betting operators after a 2018 U.S. Supreme Court decision cleared the way for nationwide sports gambling. VanVleet contends the modest financial return does not outweigh the potential fallout for athletes.
Source: Hoops Wire
