If there was ever any question about whether or not professional sports leagues would benefit from legal sports betting, it was answered Wednesday.
According to a Neilson study commissioned by the American Gaming Association, the NFL stands to see a $2.3 billion increase in revenue from legalized sports betting. The study projects that the NFL will gain about $1.8 billion in revenue from increased fan engagement, and $573 million directly from sports betting.
American Gaming Association senior vice president of public affairs Sara Slane used phrases like “great upside for all stakeholders” and “massive economic” increases when describing how sports betting would impact the professional sports leagues during a conference call with media on Tuesday.
Legal Sports Betting Must Reach ‘Full Potential’ for NFL and Other Pro Leagues to See Benefits Described in Study.
Where will the money come from? According to the study results, the NFL will benefit the most from indirect means, including “increased consumption and engagement with the league and its contents/products.” In simpler terms, the NFL will get more viewers and sell more gear creating an increased revenue stream through media rights, sponsorship, merchandise and ticket sales. According to the study, the nearly $1.8 billion in new revenue represents a 13.4 increase for the league. The NFL will see the biggest increase in revenue from media rights, which spending is expected to increase by 17.9 percent.
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