The National Football League maintains its position as America's most-watched sports league, driven by lucrative media rights and expanding commercial deals. However, partnerships with gambling operators and plans for more international games have prompted warnings from former league insiders about risks to game integrity and fan access.

The NFL lists Caesars Sportsbook as an official sports betting and casino partner, with DraftKings and FanDuel also serving as official sports betting partners. These agreements permit the use of NFL trademarks in promotions and integrate betting into league broadcasts and apps.[1][2]

Leigh Steinberg, a veteran NFL agent, described sports betting as an "existential threat" to football, citing potential scandals from leaked injury information or altered player performance that could undermine fan trust.[3]

The league scheduled eight international regular-season games for 2025 across Brazil, Germany, Ireland, Spain and the United Kingdom, up from previous years. Commissioner Roger Goodell has stated the aim is for every team to play one international game annually.[1][4]

Discussions continue on expanding the regular season to 18 games, which owners support but requires negotiation with the NFL Players Association in the next collective bargaining agreement. The union has stated its members have "no appetite" for additional games without corresponding benefits.[4][5]

Streaming platforms have entered NFL broadcasts, including Netflix's deal to air Christmas Day games in 2024, 2025 and 2026 for a reported $150 million in 2024 alone.[6]

Thanksgiving Day 2024 games averaged 42 million viewers across three matchups, surpassing prior records and highlighting sustained popularity.[7]

Sources

1. National Football League
   Official Sportsbooks Partners
   Accessed November 2024
   https://www.nfl.com/legal/sportsbooks/
2. ESPN
   NFL's gambling partnerships: What they mean for the league
   September 12, 2023
   https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/38294567/nfl-gambling-partnerships-caesars-draftkings-fanduel
3. OutKick
   Don't @ Me with Dan Dakich: Shawne Merriman, David Chao on NFL future
   Accessed November 2024
   https://www.outkick.com/show/dont-at-me-dan-dakich
4. National Football League
   NFL announces 2025 international games
   October 29, 2024
   https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-announces-2025-international-games-opponents-locations
5. Associated Press
   Goodell: NFL owners interested in 18-game regular season
   February 8, 2024
   https://apnews.com/article/nfl-super-bowl-goodell-18-games-3e7b5f1a2d4c9e8f7a6b5c4d3e2f1a0b