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Is 2014 the year the US-facing sports world finally begins to embrace sports betting? It sure seems that way.
On Friday, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver declared that his league would welcome legalized sports betting as a means of driving more fan interest.
Then this week ESPN.com launched its new Betting Guide section that encompasses all things sports wagering.
“The new ESPN Chalk section is now live. Check out betting coverage for all your favorite sports”, ESPN.com proudly proclaims on its site.
That is a stark contrast from years past where companies like ESPN steered clear of mentioning sports betting in a positive light while maintaining an "odds" section within an inconspicuous portion of their website.
While much of the content can only be found via subscription, some articles are free.
One in particular features advise on the best OVER/UNDER bets for the upcoming NFL season.
Still, ESPN already appears to be toning things down just a bit. Their dropdown link from the NFL section is now called “Odds and Info” but was initially linked as “NFL Betting”. The section is also widely referencing the word “chalk”.
The move comes at a time when Fantasy Football is beginning to explode in popularity with radio ads flooding major metropolitan markets like New York.
