NFL could allow casino advertising

"It's an interesting situation, because that's a great segment in which to develop relationships anyway," N.Y. Jets owner Woody Johnson said. “But it’s also a delicate situation because you’d want to be sensitive to the league’s existing policy on gambling.”

Separately, New York Giants co-owner John Mara told The Post, “We’d be willing to consider it.”

Casino advertising could put us$ 5 million a year in extra cash in the pockets of the Jets and Giants.

Commissioner Roger Goodell and the league are discussing the issue at their annual meeting in Palm Beach, Florida, this week. Sources said an agreement to alter current policy would be a drastic about-face for the NFL. For years, the NFL has been vehemently opposed to any tie-ins with the industry, fearing that it would be seen as promoting sports wagering.

In 2003, the league wouldn’t let the Las Vegas tourism campaign “What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas,” run during the Super Bowl. What’s more, the NFL reportedly wouldn’t even allow NBC to promote a show called “Las Vegas” during “Sunday Night Football.”

“It would be precedent-setting for sure,” said Frank Vuono, a partner at 16W Marketing. “The NFL has been adamant about integrity of the game.”

If the move wins approval, it would bring the NFL in line with two other major sports: The National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball already accept casino advertising.

Sports Business Daily first reported the NFL’s move, saying a vote could happen “as early as this week on allowing casinos to advertise in NFL stadiums, team publications and on club radio broadcasts.”

The report said a casino could not have a sports gaming book, however. “This could mean multiple seven figures per team,” said marketing executive Vuono. “It’s a category that hasn’t been pursued before. It could mean $2 million for some teams and $5 million for others.”

No doubt the NFL would put tight restrictions on how casinos would be allowed to market their products. It’s unlikely they would be able to use team logos, for instance.

While TV rights revenue is split evenly among NFL teams, local revenue is separate, and some teams have been at a disadvantage because they can’t pursue casinos’ advertisers for cash, even though some also double as hotel destinations.

“If they actually accept the casino ads, then the NFL is finally going to acknowledge [the league’s] popularity is based as much on the weekly gambling as it is on fantasy football,” said one senior sports insider.