NBA places bet on future of gambling

More than ever, sport in the US is becoming intertwined with politics and societal behaviour, with the NFL especially blinded by the glare of public opinion.

It’s that oft-quoted moment from the film Casablanca which has become handy shorthand for the skewering of mock impertinence about the perils of betting.

Captain Renault swiftly pivots from the role of poacher to gatekeeper when the need arises, telling Rick that he’s “shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on” at the American’s popular establishment.