“Everyone has known for years that there is a ton of money being made that’s not being enjoyed, frankly, by the people who are creating the games, both the owners and the players,” Roberts told ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike Show.
MORE: Wiggins says trade from Cavs was for best | Curry pays respects | PHOTOS: All-Star Game gallery
To that end, Roberts, the executive director of the National Basketball Players Association, said she is talking with NBA players about the possibility of expanding legalized gambling. She’s the second pro basketball executive to broach that possibility in recent months. In November, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver wrote an op-ed column in the New York Times calling for laws that would allow more states to legalize sports betting. Nevada is the only state now providing a full slate of sports wagers.
Although legalized gambling took in a record $3.9 billion in 2014, Silver says he’s seen estimates that up to $400 billion changes hands each year in illegal gambling in the U.S.
Silver’s stance on legalized sports wagers represents a complete turnaround from the league’s past stance. Given several infamous scandals in the past involving professional and collegiate sports and illegal gambling, pro sports leagues have been adamant in their opposition to legalized gambling. In fact, the NBA has opposed efforts to bring legalized sports books to New Jersey.
Roberts said she has not talked with Silver about the league’s thoughts on gambling and she said the NBPA has no official stance on the issue. But she feels the time is right to start the conversation with players.
“I know all the negatives that up to today have kept gambling outside of the realm of what is appropriate in terms of sports,” Roberts said . “But let’s not ignore the big elephant in the room. There’s a lot of money being made.”
