An NFL Players $8 Million Gambling Loss

By Sam Batz

Despite the NFL’s stringent rules against any form of sports gambling, some players are skirting the rules, and paying dearly for their actions. The NFL already suspended five players this offseason for online sports betting, and now it’s being reported that another player has been caught red-handed with his hand in the proverbial cookie jar. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk reported that one NFL player lost a whopping $8 million gambling during last year’s NFL season. The player’s name was not disclosed, nor were the details of his gambling activities, but clearly the NFL’s gambling rules are being pushed to their limit. 

Back in April of this year, CBS Sports reported that these five players: Stanley Berryhill III, Jameson Williams, Quintez Cephus, C.J. Moore, and Shaka Toney, would be suspended for violating the NFL’s gambling policy. It’s never a good look when professional athletes are seen gambling on their own sport, and in order to uphold the integrity of the game, and the NFL strictly prohibits any form of gambling from its players on NFL games or on NFL properties. However, U.S. laws surrounding sports betting are rapidly changing, and the NFL is doing their best to adapt to the new landscape, but as gambling opportunities grow, so does the potential for violations. 

In May of 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court rolled back the Professional and Amateur Sports Protections Act (PASPA), a federal statute that restricted regulated sports betting. The NFL fought to stop the spread of sports betting, but changed their policy to reflect the Supreme Court’s ruling. NFL players are now allowed to bet on sports other than the NFL, and the league even partnered with some of the biggest sportsbooks in the country, such as: Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Regardless of the NFL’s opinions, sports betting is now largely accepted and legal, but only if done correctly. 

NFL Players, as long as they are not on team facilities, are allowed to gamble on sports outside the NFL. Any bets placed on any NFL activities, regardless of the amount, remains a violation of NFL policy and is often reciprocated with a severe penalty against those involved. Coaches, owners, players, trainers, officials, and other team employees are “prohibited from placing, soliciting, or facilitating any bet, whether directly or through a third party, on any NFL game, practice, or other league event”, and are liable for any violation of the rules. However, all those employed by the NFL are allowed to bet on other sports outside the NFL, with a restriction on placing bets from within league facilities. 

The mystery player in question, who apparently lost $8 million gambling, is not necessarily in violation of the NFL’s new sports betting policy. The New York Post reported that “the gambling losses could be attributed to the less conventional bets that people make” and that the players losses “could be referring to casino games, like slot machines, roulette, or blackjack”. The story did not specify if legal sports betting was the root cause of the massive losses, but it clearly shows there is a fervent appetite for gambling among some professional athletes. The NFL has fallen in line with other professional sports leagues by letting their players bet on sporting events outside their own, but there are still rules surrounding the controversial practice, and strict penalties for violations will be executed. 

Nothing is likely to come from the recent reports about the NFL player who lost $8 million gambling in a single season. The reason for his losses are a mystery, and are likely not in violation of the NFL’s new policy towards sports betting. But it’s a slippery slope, and the NFL has already shown they aren’t afraid to dish out punishments for those in violation of the leagues new standards. Players, coaches, and other team employees would be smart to avoid betting on the NFL all together, but unfortunately, this likely isn’t the last time we’ll hear of sports betting violations amongst professional athletes.