NFL's Strict Gambling Rules: What Players Can and Can't Do

The National Football League (NFL) has strict rules about gambling by insiders. These rules prevent players, coaches, and staff from placing a wager on the outcomes of NFL games. Several players, including C.J. Moore, Calvin Ridley, Quintez Cephus, and Shaka Toney, have been suspended indefinitely for betting on league games.

Additionally, players are prohibited from gambling from a team’s facility or when staying at a team hotel. Detroit Lions wide receivers Jameson Williams and Stanley Berryhill III were suspended for six games each for betting on sports while traveling with the team. The NFL also prohibits proxy betting, which involves asking someone to bet on your behalf while working for the league. Arizona Cardinals director of college scouting Ryan Gold was suspended for allegedly sharing sensitive information with a sports bettor.

Sportsbooks are off-limits during the regular season, and fantasy football is also prohibited for insiders. The NFL has explicitly prohibited insiders from engaging with platforms that mimic sports betting, including prediction markets. Penalties for breaching these rules can include permanent bans, temporary suspensions, and even criminal proceedings.