It doesn't matter which two teams play. People will watch. In other words, the passions of nearly 4 of every ten viewers will be fueled by the prospect of profiting from the game. There are friendly wagers between friends. There are office pools.
Few people are immune from the allure of making in a bet.
Nothing else comes close. For a decade, he has been an outspoken critic of gambling on professional football. Under Taglibue's stewardship, the league office has implemented a series of harsh measures which not only discourages betting on NFL games, but penalizes legitimate businesses that openly support gambling activities. The truth of the matter is, Tagliabue is either terribly misinformed about the immense contributions gambling has made to the NFL's popularity, or simply chooses to ignore its powerful influence. More likely, he wants to reap the staggering revenues gambling brings to the game, but doesn't want to reciprocate by recognizing the real basis of the NFL's popularity.