rs536: duoji: pm 6000 wk 6

The placing of wagers on sports is the practice that is as old as the very concept of sports itself. It is a practice that has helped to increase the allure of sports and grabbed fan attention with a higher degree of intensity (Kilgore, 2018). However, organized sports betting is an issue that has become a major cause of concern in the modern sporting environment. An example of a major league plagued by betting associated corruption is FIFA. The global outfit has seen major officials including its chairman receive lifetime bans due to associations with corruption that is affiliated with organized betting. To this effect, the United States has been very reluctant on the legalization of sports betting.

The Supreme Court has recently legalized sports betting in the United States. Major sporting leagues such as the NBA are also warming up to the idea of sports betting. However, the NCAA has been especially vocal in its opposition to betting. Among the reasons given by the organization is the financial status of athletes at the college level. These athletes do not have as much money as professional athletes do. They are, therefore, susceptible to financial manipulation. The amount of money associated with sports betting is upwards of $150 billion on an annual basis. This money can be used to compromise college athletes that are in dire need of financial assistance.

The NCAA has noted that the legalization of sports betting is a major threat to the integrity of its games. The league prides itself in having honest competition in its games with the best team coming out victorious. However, sports betting leads to the creation of special interests in the outcome of each game. The financial backing of these special interests means that they can try to manipulate the outcome of these games and in the process influence the integrity of the league as a whole.

Despite the vocal opposition to sports gambling by some sports leagues these leagues actually stand to benefit from legalized gambling. They can benefit financially. The NBA has created mechanisms where it receives a percentage of funds from bets made on each of its games. This is a money-making strategy that enables the league to benefit directly from legalized gambling (Kilgore, 2018). It is also a trend that is likely to be more popular in the future as more sporting leagues realize the financial potential that exists in people legally betting on their games.

Sports leagues are likely to see an increased level of interest in their games. People who have placed bets on games are likely to watch the games on TV. This means that the ratings of these games will increase. The leagues will then be able to charge more money for advertisements during their games. The leagues are also likely to realize increased broadcasting rights due to the level of interest in their games. All these are prime examples of ways in which legalized sports gambling is likely to lead to an increase in the revenue streams of sports leagues (Kilgore, 2018). An example of a league that has benefited heavily from increased fan attention attributed to betting is FIFA with its games having some of the highest ratings globally.

Ill-intentioned gamblers have traditionally made a habit of targeting professional athletes. However, today these athletes are less susceptible to these gamblers. The fact that sports betting is likely to be monitored by the given sports leagues means that these gamblers cannot outrightly approach athletes and offer them money. This is a trend that is likely to be noticed very quickly by the associated league and stomped out. The level of legal regulation of sports betting means that athletes are basically out of the reach of unscrupulous gamblers.

 

References

Kilgore, A. (2018, May 14). For sports leagues, legalized sports betting offers new risks and massive rewards. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/for-sports-leagues-legalized-sports-betting-offers-new-risks-and-massive-rewards/2018/05/14/5ce4caf4-5790-11e8-858f-12becb4d6067_story.html?utm_term=.7c526d574245

Grade is: 4.5/10

These are not numbered. -2

You did not explain question 3. The athletes make too much money.