NBA Chief Adam Silver furthers advocacy of legalized sports betting

According to the NBA commissioner, he is sure that the other sports league commissioners have assigned people at their end to study the matter thoroughly. ESPN reports that in addition to the conversations with the pro league chiefs, Mr. Silver is actively pursuing means to advance his cause, including holding of private meetings with league lawyers in order to discuss the advantages and disadvantages.

The head of the NBA said that he leaves it to the other league commissioners to make their own decisions. However, the actions taken and comments given by the other professional sports organizations apparently do not coincide with the positive outlook conveyed by the NBA Commissioner. According to Purdum, the National Football League (NFL) remains adamant against the idea by declaring the league's continuing opposition to regulated sports betting.

The National Hockey League (NHL) on the other hand, did not respond to ESPN's numerous requests for comment regarding the discussions held with Mr. Silver. Seemingly consistent with Commissioner Bettman's previous announcements in a separate CNN interview, in which he conveyed the need to consider how younger generations will perceive sports, whether as a team-oriented competition or as a vehicle for gambling. He added that sports betting could possibly alter the atmosphere in the sports stadiums and arenas.

However, ESPN reports that sources, privy to the discussions during the meeting between the league commissioners, gained the impression that NHL is open to legalization. Major League Baseball (MLB), which currently is in a transition stage with a new commissioner, Rob Manfred, coming in, refused  ESPN's requests for a comment.

Still, hope springs eternal for Commissioner Silver, even if he does not have the support of the other leagues at the moment, because he is backed by the NBA owners; some of whom are also owners in the other sports leagues. Mr. Silvers believes that those sports club owners will eventually have a talk with the other league commissioners about the sports wagering issue. He believes that the NBA owners are comfortable with the fact that they are taking the lead, albeit mindful that the issue requires legislative action.

When asked about New Jersey's ongoing legal battles against the different pro-sports leagues including the NBA, the NBA commissioner explained that in his personal views, he advocates legalization on a federal level. Mr. Silver said that his greater concern is that having a mixture of different regulatory policies governing legalized sports betting in the country would only make it more difficult to keep track of the betting activities on their respective sport.