NFL has introduced stricter rules, imposing harsh penalties on players who bet on their own teams.
In response to a series of sports betting controversies and player suspensions, the NFL has made significant revisions to its sports wagering rules, introducing stricter penalties for players who bet on their own teams. In a memo recently circulated by Commissioner Roger Goodell, it was outlined that a player wagering on their own team would face a minimum two-year suspension, while a player betting on any NFL game would be sidelined for at least one year.
Commissioner Goodell stated in the memo, “We periodically review the NFL Gambling Policy to ensure that it is responsive to changing circumstances and fully addresses our commitment to protect the integrity of the game. The revised gambling policy that we are issuing today provides that clarity and focus, and gives clear guidance to players about the consequences of violating the policy.”
Since the landmark 2018 Supreme Court ruling on the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), a number of players, along with at least one assistant coach and various league personnel, have faced suspensions for violating the NFL’s betting guidelines.
NFL Revised Betting Policy: Good News for Some Players
Some players have already faced penalties related to betting violations. For instance, Calvin Ridley, wide receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars and former member of the Atlanta Falcons, received a one-year suspension for betting on NFL games in 2021. Ridley placed these bets in Florida, taking advantage of a brief window during which tribal gaming giant Hard Rock International offered mobile sports wagering in the state. However, the pact between the state and Hard Rock was later vacated by a judge. While the Seminole Tribe continued to accept mobile bets during the legal battle, they ultimately withdrew the sportsbook app on December 4, 2021.
The revised NFL betting protocols offer some players a more favorable outlook, particularly those involved in infractions of the betting policy related to other sports while present at an NFL facility or traveling for games. Under these circumstances, the penalties are comparatively lighter: a two-game suspension for the first offense, six games for the second, and one year for the third.
This change could result in players like free agent Stanley Berryhill and Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams returning to action sooner than expected.
Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV), whose congressional district includes the Las Vegas Strip, commended the NFL’s updated betting guidelines. Earlier this year, she wrote a letter to major US sports leagues, urging greater transparency regarding betting rules.
“I’m glad that the NFL created a distinction between behavior that threatens the integrity of the game and legal wagering on other sports,” Titus remarked. “Penalties for game fixing and betting on one’s own league should be more serious than betting on other sports. Every sports league should remain focused on protecting the product on the field. Leagues should periodically review their policies, in consultation with players, to ensure that rules are understood and updated when necessary.”
Stay in the loop! Dive into the freshest updates and breaking news on online casino games and the gambling industry. Read more here.