More Education Needed to Keep NFL Betting Integrity Intact

• Indianapolis Colts cornerback Isaiah Rodgers Sr was found to be involved with online sports betting on the Colts.
• This is the sixth player in the last two months to be investigated by the NFL regarding sports betting.
• While the league claims to have educated players on their gambling rights, many are still unsure about certain policies.

INDIANAPOLIS – Indianapolis Colts cornerback Isaiah Rodgers Sr. became the center of an NFL investigation on Monday surrounding sports betting.

Despite taking full responsibility for his actions, Rodgers Sr. marks yet another NFL player found betting on sports within the last few weeks.

Though not under his name, a legal sports betting account was opened in association with Rodgers Sr. With roughly 100 bets placed, most were of “normal betting value” ($25-$50) though at least a grand was placed on one bet.

Players are contractually obligated to withhold from betting on the NFL as well as betting on sports in any NFL facility. However, these bets placed by Rodgers Sr. did involve the Colts.

With the NFL investigating the matter, the details are still being uncovered. But if found betting on the Colts to lose games, a banishment from the NFL could be the punishment.

Per the NFL’s gambling policy, the Commissioner decides the punishment on a case-by-case basis.

“Disciplinary action may include, without limitation, severe penalties up to and including a fine, termination of employment and/or banishment from the NFL for life.”

While this will settle the issue for Rodgers Sr., it opens up a much larger question moving forward.

What Has To Be Done To Change NFL Players From Betting?

It’s no surprise that players have found themselves in the middle of betting scandals. While originally opposed, the NFL’s view on sports betting has turned 180, especially with the sheer number of sports betting partnerships.

According to Sponsor United, DraftKings was second for having the most athletes and teams sponsored at 40. Only Bud Light (51) beat them out for 2022.

More than 25 teams have at least one legal sports betting deal in place as the partnerships have quadrupled from 2019-2022.

But DraftKings is only one of the many NFL sports betting and daily fantasy partnerships. Estimations have the benefit near Top Growing Category from sources like FanDuel, BetMGM and others.

Add in the brick and mortar sportsbooks in NFL stadiums or near them and the NFL’s acceptance of sports betting makes the former taboo culture out in the open.

Education Before Punishment

But some NFL players are still in the dark about what is right and wrong.

During the Jameson Williams ordeal, an anonymous player was quoted saying a problematic statement.

“People are betting during rivalry week — Florida is playing Florida State, Ohio State vs. Michigan — everyone is betting on that. Could all those guys get in trouble?”

Confirming bets happening across the league, the player continued saying “That’s bogus because straight up, that’s not talked about like that. That could have been any one of us,”

While the policy is clear in its words, another player in Nicholas Petit-Frere expressed the education around the policy isn’t.

“I’ll be honest with you: There wasn’t really a lot of teaching from the NFL and things like that,” said Petit-Frere. “I was actually one of the people who asked the most questions when it came to fantasy football and things like that. I just wanted to make sure I learned as much as I could.”

So, betting on NFL games is clearly out. But, players are also not allowed to use legal online sportsbooks while traveling or inside an NFL facility. This includes sports betting as well as daily fantasy sports and season long leagues where the prize is more than $250.

“I just feel like that’s something the NFL should kind of harbor a little bit more and understand these guys are making mistakes that they didn’t even know was a thing,” said Petit-Frere.

His coach Mike Vrabel agreed in part, taking the responsibility of educating players to the next level.

“I try to explain to them what the personal conduct policy is. What the gun policy is. What the gambling policy is. Sometimes we’re held to a higher standard based on what we do and who we do it for. It’s certainly something we try to talk to the players about and explain to them what their responsibility is.”

But once the education finishes, there needs to be a clear process for investigating and handing out punishments.

Connecting The Agencies

For the Rodgers Sr. case, only the NFL is in the middle of an investigation.

While Indiana is one of the states with legal sports betting that Rodgers gambled in, the Indiana Gaming Commission isn’t the lead agency in the matter.

“It involves violations of league policy, said IGC deputy director Jenny Reske. “We will, however, continue to review information as it emerges to see if it requires any regulatory action.”

But will the NFL look to the IGC for help?

A connection of all involved from gaming commissions, sportsbooks, and the league should be the focus to monitor NFL integrity.

Still, before any changes happen, David Highhill the general manager for NFL sports betting might want to revisit education.

“The education and training the players receive is different than what NFL/club staff receive, which is different than what officials get,” said Highhill. “We are very explicit in the training to explain that if you are involved with the NFL, you can never bet on the NFL. There should be no misunderstanding on the policies.”

Yet, it appears players are still misunderstanding.

News tags: BetMGM | David Highhill | DraftKings | FanDuel | Indianapolis Colts | Isaiah Rodgers Sr | Jameson Williams | Jenny Reske | Mike Vrabel | NFL | Nicholas Petit-Frere | Roger Goodell | Sponsor United