The obvious place to start is the money, which is one of the central pillars to the sports betting industry, and a major factor in the push for legalization and regulation. One the surface the economic boon of taxation from sports betting will of course be great for the economy, but with dozens of betting sites all clamoring to be heard, the Patriots can be directly impacted through sponsorships, media exposure, and partnerships with these sportsbooks. And if you’ve ever been to a Pats game at Gillette, it’s fair to say a few million in sports betting revenue would be a nice investment to the stadium, with new sports lounges being a common addition with a name of a sportsbook on the door.
A second facet to the money discussion is the idea that many people still think is significant – players manipulating games for a payoff. Sure, this has been in the news and is always a concern, but the days of players throwing a game for a quick buck are likely gone for a number of reasons. First off football is one of the best examples of a team game, and a single player may not have the impact to really be able to ‘throw the game.’ Of course there are always key players, but with such intense media attention and statistical analysis it’s hard to get away with failing to perform at the level everyone knows you can. Also, players in the NFL are paid much more than they used to be when the idea of taking a bribe was common, so the risk vs. reward argument just isn’t as strong.
How does this change things for you?
Another reason sports betting could change the game and how you watch the Patriots is simply through how people can bet. There are dozens of different ways to wager, with categories like longest throw, when time-outs will be taken, and number of first downs. With sports betting a clearly beneficial investment, TV broadcasts and even announcements at stadiums may start to incorporate odds on the bottom of a screen, or ‘get a free bet with your burger’ offers for people in the stands. It’s not a huge change, but there may be a shift to analysts focussing on wagering more than actual play.
Overall the legalization of sports betting in the commonwealth probably won’t have a serious impact on the New England Patriots or your enjoyment of the weekly games, but it can certainly change some views on the sport as a whole, and what metrics are important. While most of the world dismissed the Patriots when they went down 28-3, fans held out hope and were rewarded with a win. This would clearly have been a ‘bad bet,’ but the hope and possibility for an unexpected comeback will always outweigh sports betting, and that shows there can be a healthy middle ground between betting and backing your team.