A bombshell dropped into the sports world Thursday, when the FBI indicted 31 people connected to a gambling scandal involving the NBA. One of the league’s head coaches, Chauncey Billups of the Portland Trail Blazers, was arrested along with Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones.
Sports betting was long a bugaboo in professional sports but has been normalized since a landmark 2018 Supreme Court ruling, which allowed states to develop their own gambling laws. Several leagues, including the NFL, have partnered with betting sites like Caesars, DraftKings and FanDuel. Some sportsbooks are now permitted to advertise in conjunction with pro games.
The NFL, which steered clear of anything associated with Las Vegas for decades, permitted the Raiders to relocate there from Oakland in 2020 while softening its stance on gambling and integrating it into the league’s fabric. Still, it has long-standing gambling policies that have ensnared several players over the years.
Do NFL player contracts prohibit gambling?
Every player in the league signs a contract that includes an ‘integrity of game’ clause. It stipulates as follows, per the collective bargaining agreement:
‘Player recognizes the detriment to the League and professional football that would result from impairment of public confidence in the honest and orderly conduct of NFL games or the integrity and good character of NFL players. Player therefore acknowledges his awareness that if he accepts a bribe or agrees to throw or fix an NFL game; fails to promptly report a bribe offer or an attempt to throw or fix an NFL game; bets on an NFL game; knowingly associates with gamblers or gambling activity; uses or provides other players with stimulants or other drugs for the purpose of attempting to enhance on-field performance; or is guilty of any other form of conduct reasonably judged by the League Commissioner to be detrimental to the League or professional football, the Commissioner will have the right, but only after giving Player the opportunity for a hearing at which he may be represented by counsel of his choice, to fine Player in a reasonable amount; to suspend Player for a period certain or indefinitely; and/or to terminate this contract.’
The league’s operations website further details what players are forbidden to engage in:
DETAIL ON 2024 NFL GAMBLING POLICY: Six Main Rules for NFL Players
NEVER bet on the NFL: Includes other NFL events such as Draft, Combine, Pro Bowl, & NFL Honors
Don’t have someone bet for you: Do not ask family, friends, or others to place a bet for you
Don’t gamble (no bets on sports, casino or card games) at your team facility/stadium, while traveling for a road game, or staying at a team hotel.
Don’t share team ‘inside information’: Don’t share information that hasn’t been announced by team.
Don’t enter a sportsbook during the NFL playing season.
Don’t play daily fantasy football.
*Additional Rule Applicable ONLY to Coaches, Staff, and Personnel – Do NOT Bet on Any Sports!
NFL Mandated Training for all Players – Veterans and Rookies – in 2024
In-personGambling Policy education and training is now mandatory for all players. The education and training, prepared in collaboration with the NFL Players Association, reviews the rules and reinforces integrity provisions in the policy including the two key rules: Never bet on NFL games, and do not gamble (no sports bets, casino or card games) while with the team in ANY capacity (team facility, stadium, hotel/bus etc.).
Education and training is presented to the players – typically at the team facility – by a member of the NFL’s Compliance team, the team’s Head of Player Engagement (often a former player), or by other former NFL players using the ‘train the trainer’ approach (Example: Will Shields in Kansas City).
Club Training/Education for Players & Coaches in 2024
In-Person Education & Training Sessions: Content of sessions detailed above.
Full Gambling Policy Included in Player Manual: The full Gambling Policy is provided in the player manual that is distributed annually to all players. Players must sign and acknowledge they have received the manual and its policies.
2024 NFL Gambling Policy / Points of Emphasis: A specific document laying out the Gambling Policy and points of emphasis is distributed to all 32 Clubs to deliver to players.
Signage in Team Facilities: There is Gambling Policy signage in team facilities.
NFLPA: NFLPA has opportunities to further emphasize the Gambling Policy during visits to Clubs.
Education for Player Agents:Player agents have the opportunity to participate in Gambling Policy education training led by NFL Compliance officials.
“Integrity of the Game’ clause in all player contracts: Every NFL contract signed by players includes a standard “Integrity of the Game’ clause.
Integrity Monitoring Efforts in 2024
There is an NFL Integrity Representative (typically retired FBI/Executive level police officers) assigned to each team. Their role is the following:
Monitors for suspicious activity on site on gamedays and liaises with local law enforcement, regulators, and NFL security.
Supports investigations related to potential violations of the NFL Gambling Policy and other game integrity-related policies and procedures.
Serves as an additional resource to clubs & players for gambling or integrity-related questions/issues.
For every NFL game [and key NFL events; i.e. Draft] external third-party monitors (Genius Sports and IC360) review and alert odds, line movements, and betting activity that may indicate game manipulation or a leak of non-public information. Alerts are made in real-time; gameday, weekly, and season reports provided.
NFL Global Security Operations Center monitors insider threats and other real-time and historical trending that may indicate suspicious activity
Includes monitoring of threats made to players, coaches, officials or other personnel. The NFL has implemented a process to enable Leaguewide bans across all stadiums for individuals making criminal threats or acts towards these groups.
The NFL works with our sports betting partners to provide additional integrity monitoring.
League regularly engages with lawmakers, regulators, and law enforcement to promote the NFL Integrity and Compliance program, including regarding policy, education, investigations, and enforcement to promote information sharing and eliminate betting markets that are contrary to public policy or which present the greatest opportunity for manipulation.
Notable NFL players who have been suspended for gambling violations
Paul Hornung and Alex Karras: Stars at the time for the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions, respectively, they were both suspended for the 1963 season by Commissioner Pete Rozelle for gambling on league games and associating with unsavory figures. Hornung and Karras were reinstated for the 1964 season, and both were eventually elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame − though Karras’ induction occurred in 2020, eight years after his death.
Art Schlichter: The fourth overall pick of the 1982 draft by the former Baltimore Colts, the quarterback was suspended for the 1983 season by Rozelle after admittedly gambling on NFL games and other sports. Schlichter was reinstated for the 1984 season but didn’t play in the league again after 1985. Gambling also brought his Arena football career to a premature end, and he later served 10 years in prison for gambling-related crimes.
Calvin Ridley: A first-round pick of the Atlanta Falcons in 2018, he was suspended for the 2022 season by Commissioner Roger Goodell for gambling on NFL games, including Atlanta’s, for whom Ridley still worked at the time. He was reinstated in 2023 and now plays for the Tennessee Titans.
Jameson Williams: A first-round pick of the Detroit Lions in 2022, he was suspended along with three teammates (Stanley Berryhill, Quintez Cephus and C.J. Moore) in 2023. Williams violated the league’s gambling policy by betting on college football while at the Lions team hotel on a road trip. His suspension was eventually reduced from six games to four.
Isaiah Rodgers: He was suspended in 2023 (along with then-Indianapolis Colts teammates Rashod Berry and Demetrius Taylor) for gambling on the Colts, doing so at the team’s facility. The team released Rodgers shortly thereafter. He returned to the league in 2024 and won a Super Bowl ring with the Philadelphia Eagles before signing a two-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings earlier this year. Rodgers was the target of racial slurs last weekend following a poor performance against Philadelphia.