NFLPA exec: 'There are serious consequences' to legalized sports betting

NFLPA vice president of business and legal affairs Casey Schwab stated that legalized sports betting could have immense ramifications concerning player privacy.

The U.S. Supreme Court voted 7-2 in May that the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act is unconstitutional, allowing states to offer legalized sports gambling on a state-by-state basis. Delaware and New Jersey offer legalized sports betting, while many other states may have the framework in place when the NFL season begins in September.

During a summer meeting conducted Friday by the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States, the NFLPA expressed their concern about how legalized sports betting would affect their players.

"There are serious consequences, particularly for the athletes," Schwab said, via ESPN's David Purdum. "Because of those consequences, the athlete's voice must be heard, particularly as we contemplate sports betting in the country."

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell asked Congress to provide and build uniform standards for state-sanctioned sports betting shortly after the Supreme Court announced their ruling. It appears that the NFL and NFLPA share uniform concerns about the rollout of legalized sports betting at this juncture, with the latter worried about how betting will enable fans to spew further vitriol toward players.

"It's the basic premise - the game ain't rigged," Schwab said. "Everyone's trying their hardest. From the athlete's perspective, it's slightly nuanced, and I would argue ... that the athlete's perspective is the most important."

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