*By Justin Chermol* The owners at Buffalo Wild Wings may have found a way to boost the sales of chicken wings and beer during the upcoming football season by having a legal sports book in its restaurants. Jon Taffer, the host of "Bar Rescue" on Paramount Network, said the introduction of legal sports betting could save the food and beverage service industry ー and hike ever-plummeting NFL viewership. "The fringe fans that sort of like football will bet two dollars. Suddenly, they're involved," Taffer said Friday in an interview on Cheddar. "It's an opportunity to involve fans more, but also pull in fringe fans through what I am going to call nominal betting." Taffer, a consultant for struggling bars and restaurants, said younger fans are often more frugal and, generally speaking, choose to stay home. Overall, viewership of live sports is down. The NFL, which continually ranks as the most viewed sport in the United States, posted a [10 percent decline in viewership](https://www.si.com/tech-media/2018/01/04/nfl-tv-ratings-decline-ten-percent-colin-kaepernick-thursday-night-football) from the 2017 to 2018 season. Like restaurants, broadcast networks and sports leagues struggle to keep fans engaged. On Thursday, Buffalo Wild Wings, the largest sports-bar chain in the country, announced it's "actively exploring" sports betting in its restaurants. This move follows a Supreme Court decision that paved the way for states to adopt legal sports betting in May. Delaware, New Jersey, and Louisiana have already done so. Buffalo Wild Wings could become an accessible location for fans to eat, drink ー and bet ー in states that allow it. And just as people don't travel to Las Vegas for sports betting, Taffer, a Vegas-native said, "you don't just go to a sports-bar to watch the game, I go to be with my buddies. I go to hang together. I go because you have good food. I go to have a great time." For more on this story, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/sports-betting-to-the-rescue).

Share:
More In Culture
The Cost of Buying a Starter Home
Buying your first home can be challenging with rising interest rates and other costs. Cheddar News spoke with Amira Elgoneimy, a premiere agent with Redfin who caters to the New Brunswick, NJ area, and Daryl Fairweather, chief economist with Redfin, about the process involved in purchasing a residence in a competitive market.
Be Well: Labor Day Party on a Budget
Labor Day is right around the corner. Celebrity party planner Mikie Russo joined Cheddar News to provide tips on how to throw a jam on a tight budget.
Load More