The NFL despatched a memo to crew officers on Thursday to re-emphasize the league's stance on what sorts of wagers are permitted with its sportsbook companions, particularly calling out sure prop bets, which have come beneath elevated scrutiny in current weeks following the federal indictments of MLB and NBA gamers.
Within the memo, the league says it has “actively engaged with each state lawmakers and regulators, in addition to with our sports activities betting companions, to restrict — and the place doable prohibited altogether — prop bets within the NFL.”
The memo breaks down these prohibited wager classes as these which might be inherently objectionable (i.e. participant accidents, fan misconduct), officiating-related (officiating assignments, penalties, and so forth.), determinable by one particular person in a single play (i.e. a quarterback's first move try and be incomplete), and pre-determined (occasions that may very well be decided earlier than a sport is performed).
Authorized sportsbooks in the USA typically haven't supplied these kinds of bets up to now anyway and it isn't anticipated that Thursday's memo will power any adjustments to their choices.
The memo particularly states that the league considers using prediction markets — corresponding to Kalshi and Polymarket — to be “prohibited playing exercise.” It additionally features a reminder of guidelines for NFL personnel beneath the league's playing coverage, in addition to the measures the league has taken to keep up the integrity of the sport because it pertains to sports activities betting.
The NFL has largely managed to keep away from integrity considerations. Whereas a member of the Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee Titans broad receiver Calvin Ridley was suspended for your complete 2022 season after he wager on video games in the course of the 2021 season, together with on his personal crew. Forward of the 2023 marketing campaign, a number of gamers, together with Detroit Lions receiver Jameson Williams, have been suspended for various lengths of time for their very own violations of the league's playing coverage.
Latest controversies in MLB and the NBA might have prompted the league to reaffirm its place on sure sorts of prop bets.
On Sunday, Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz have been charged by federal prosecutors with fraud, conspiracy and bribery stemming from an alleged scheme to rig particular person pitches for the good thing about bettors utilizing their insider data. Simply weeks prior, Miami Warmth guard Terry Rozier was federally charged in connection together with his alleged conspiracy to rig his performances in NBA video games in live performance with bettors.
NCAA president Charlie Baker lauded the move on X, saying, “Very glad to see the NFL take this situation on. The @NCAA has been working to place an finish prop [sic] bets for two years. They're integrity dangers and result in abusive conduct towards student-athletes.”
ESPN sports activities betting author David Purdum contributed to this piece.
