The National Football League has exploded in the sports betting world in recent years with partnerships with FanDuel, DraftKings and BetMGM. While they’re raking in dough and having a great time reminding everyone to throw some money on games, the league reminds its players, once again, to not do that.
The NFL released its “NFL Gambling Policy Education and Integrity Monitoring Efforts,” which includes six main rules for NFL players.
Let’s go over these six rules.
1. NEVER bet on the NFL
This one is a given. NFL players have faced harder consequences for betting on football moreso than any domestic violence or sexual assault case. Don’t gamble, says the NFL, but you literally can do anything else.
2. Do NOT have someone bet for you
Did you think that just because you’re not allowed to bet means that someone can bet for you? HA, wrong. We’re going back to the preschool days of the Honor System with players not having others bet for them – because of course they’re doing this.
3. Don’t gamble at your team facility/stadium while traveling for a road game, or staying at a team hotel
In other words, don’t bet anywhere, at anytime, with anyone, ever. You can watch the 20+ betting commercials on any given Sunday, but if you even think about betting – Good Luck, Babe!
4. Don’t share team “inside information”
This is the only rule that I think makes logical sense. You mess up the integrity of the game by allowing others to know insider information about a particular team or player. I pride the NFL on making this obvious statement known.
5. Do NOT enter a sportsbook during the NFL playing season
If you so much as breathe in the general direction of a sportsbook, you will be stoned in public at the NFL headquarters by Rodger Goodell himself.
6. Do NOT play daily fantasy football
Lastly, just because we covered our basis with betting, do not enjoy fantasy football either. You’re only there to make money for the NFL, not to spend it.
In addition to these six rules, the NFL also implemented club training and education for players and coaches in 2024, because saying “don’t bet” is not enough.
There will be in-personal education, a full gambling policy in the player manuals, education for player agents, signage in team facilities and an “Integrity of the Game” clause in all player contracts.
My question is, why is there so much detail going into a gambling policy, but the NFL does not have the same energy for other parts of the game? One of the biggest concerns among fans in recent years has been turf vs natural grass fields and how they can contribute to player injuries. There’s been rule changes to “make the game more exciting” but yet the NFL is starting to look like flag football with every passing season.
If the NFL players want to make a good showing at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, wouldn’t it be smart to prep them now for their competition? Making sure they don’t gamble does not sound like a big priority right now, at least in my opinion, and other fans would probably agree.
Don’t forget to subscribe to First & Jenn and never miss the NFL action all season long.
First & Jenn 
Leave a comment