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The NFL now has an official casino sponsor

Atlantic City Prepares For Partial Shutdown As City Runs Out Of Money

ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY - MARCH 29: An iconic statue adorns the front Caesars Atlantic City Hotel and Casino on March 29, 2016 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The Atlantic City municipality is due to run out of funds on April 8 and is facing insolvency and the possibility of bankruptcy. Many city workers, including members of the fire and police departments, have vowed to continue working without pay until funds are restored. The Jersey Shore gambling resort town has seen four casinos close in recent years, cutting its casino tax revenue in half. The financial crisis has pitted Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian against New Jersery Governor Chris Christie, who has refused to bail out Atlantic City with state funds. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

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There was a time when the NFL did everything in its power to distance itself from gambling. That time wasn’t too long ago, but it feels like the distant past.

Today the NFL took another step toward a full-on embrace of gambling by announcing that Caesars Entertainment Corporation is the league’s first ever official casino sponsor.

The sponsorship starts immediately, with this postseason, and will allow Caesars to use NFL trademarks to promote its casinos at events like the Super Bowl and NFL draft. Caesars will host events at the 2020 draft, which takes place in Las Vegas as part of the NFL’s full-on embrace of America’s gambling mecca, where the Raiders will begin to play next year.

Seven NFL teams -- the Falcons, Ravens, Bears, Colts, Saints, Raiders and Eagles -- already have relationships with Caesars. And now the league is getting in bed with the casino company as well.