Part 8/12:
Research, including the UTEP study, bolsters claims that certain teams, notably Kansas City, benefit from officiating bias, especially when betting interests are involved. The massive growth of legalized sports betting exacerbates concerns that outcomes may be intentionally influenced to protect betting markets and profits.
The league’s partnership with betting companies, combined with allegations of manipulated game outcomes, threatens to undermine the league’s credibility further. Such revelations could provoke legal challenges and a grave reputational crisis.