NFL Gambling suspensions

[Edonidd]

Should the NFL Rescind Jameson Williams' Suspension?

Can the NFL justifiably enforce rules that were not properly explained?

wbckfm.com

This is obviously more of a local story rather than a national one. But the more I see it being investigated and looked into the more shady this whole thing has become. Multiple Detroit Lions players and an even larger number of support staff and/or coaching staff have been caught and punished. Big punishments too, they aren't going light. And they aren't able to be appealed and not eligible to be lessened.

From my understanding, and I could be completely incorrect, Jameson Williams is suspended for betting on a March Madness thing on his mobile phone app from the team facility. Either the weight room or whatever. It was hot on NFL games. It was not with some Mafia bookie or something. It was an app for legal gambling in a sport he doesn't even play. It could quite possibly be an app that pays the NFL and advertises during games, because I see a ton of those. It could quite possibly be an app that has current or former players in their commercials and being endorsed by them.

Also many players have been interviewed and have commented that college football rivalry games ALWAYS have $ action on them in nearly every team. Many players have also stated that they know for a fact that they themselves or other players on the team have violated this rule in the past. They state that the particular part about non nfl betting from team facilities has been glossed over and not mentioned. So this rule isn't being enforced universally.

Also mentioned quite frequently in articles is that there are possibly additional waves of punishments coming, and everyone keeps mentioning that it's Indianapolis and Detriot again that are being further investigated, with additional suspensions expected.

But the craziest part of the whole thing? This wasn't a sting operation by the NFL. This wasn't them closely monitoring the teams, facilities or players. This was reported by the sportsbook apps that in the state of Michigan they are required by law to have location verification software installed. The companies themselves reported to the NFL and the NFL moved from there.

TLDR synopsis. Sports books have directly manipulated the NFL into interfering with individual teams rosters.

If we really wanted to protect the integrity of the game, we should probably be ok with NFL players betting on March Madness. We should probably not be OK with large sports books manipulating the whole league and unilaterally meddling with individual teams.

 

[Stakesarehigh]

I don't understand why an athlete couldn't gamble on other sports.

MJ very famously was a huge card player and gambled on basically everything

 

[fastforward]

meh. People don't generally want to know who or what sports stars are betting on, which from my experience is just as well.

 

[Fencer]

I could imagine athletes from different sports befriending each and other and exchanging inside information. So a flat-out prohibition on sports betting could make sense ... if it were actually and consistently enforced.

 

[DonMan]

here's some more info on the policy/suspensions:

Berryhill and Williams received six-game suspensions because they bet on non-NFL events, but according to the league, they did so at a league facility or while traveling with the team.

Inside the NFL's gambling policy, and why violations are increasing

Are more suspensions on the way? The NFL is investigating another potential wave of violations.

www.espn.com

and here is the written policy from last season, which probably hasn't changed this year:

Gambling in the Workplace or While Working: NFL Personnel shall not engage in any form of Gambling in any club or League facility or venue (e.g., practice facility, stadium, team hotel, Draft or other League or club event); on any League or club charter or other transport; while traveling on club or League business; or while making an endorsement or promotional appearance. For clarity, playing cards or other casino-type games is permitted as long as nothing of value is wagered.

https://nflpaweb.blob.core.windows.net/website/Departments/Player-Affairs/Gambling-Policy.pdf

 

[fightinfunbags]

Should the NFL Rescind Jameson Williams' Suspension?

Can the NFL justifiably enforce rules that were not properly explained?

wbckfm.com

This is obviously more of a local story rather than a national one. But the more I see it being investigated and looked into the more shady this whole thing has become. Multiple Detroit Lions players and an even larger number of support staff and/or coaching staff have been caught and punished. Big punishments too, they aren't going light. And they aren't able to be appealed and not eligible to be lessened.

From my understanding, and I could be completely incorrect, Jameson Williams is suspended for betting on a March Madness thing on his mobile phone app from the team facility. Either the weight room or whatever. It was hot on NFL games. It was not with some Mafia bookie or something. It was an app for legal gambling in a sport he doesn't even play. It could quite possibly be an app that pays the NFL and advertises during games, because I see a ton of those. It could quite possibly be an app that has current or former players in their commercials and being endorsed by them.

Also many players have been interviewed and have commented that college football rivalry games ALWAYS have $ action on them in nearly every team. Many players have also stated that they know for a fact that they themselves or other players on the team have violated this rule in the past. They state that the particular part about non nfl betting from team facilities has been glossed over and not mentioned. So this rule isn't being enforced universally.

Also mentioned quite frequently in articles is that there are possibly additional waves of punishments coming, and everyone keeps mentioning that it's Indianapolis and Detriot again that are being further investigated, with additional suspensions expected.

But the craziest part of the whole thing? This wasn't a sting operation by the NFL. This wasn't them closely monitoring the teams, facilities or players. This was reported by the sportsbook apps that in the state of Michigan they are required by law to have location verification software installed. The companies themselves reported to the NFL and the NFL moved from there.

TLDR synopsis. Sports books have directly manipulated the NFL into interfering with individual teams rosters.

If we really wanted to protect the integrity of the game, we should probably be ok with NFL players betting on March Madness. We should probably not be OK with large sports books manipulating the whole league and unilaterally meddling with individual teams.

It is ok for players to bet on March Madness. They just can’t log the bet from a team facility. All of us have rules with our employment we have to follow. Some are sound and exist for a reason while others may be arbitrary to us and we don’t see the need for the rule. It doesn’t matter though if it’s the company rule. This rule needs to exist because the NFL wants legal gambling to help drive attention and eyes to their game. But they have to dance the line of perception with impropriety and making sure that players aren’t involved in the gambling end. The easy answer is put in your bet before you leave the house to go to the team facility that day or when you return home. If you forget, oh well. You missed the chance to make that play. It’s not worth jeopardizing your career.

 

[Edonidd]

I agree that you have to have rules, and have to follow them. I haven't complained about the suspension itself for months. When Jameson Williams said he didn't know the rule and thought it was OK because he wasn't betting on the NFL or even football I thought it was a case of a mecfirst diva rookie thinking he could do whatever. When the Lions were the only team with multiple players, and the only team with multiple staffers caught doing this I thought it was a culture problem, or at least a compliance problem.

But when multiple players from multiple teams say they didn't know that part of the rule either it gets a little bit more of a grey area. And I think the fact that one sportsbook sponsors a stadium, and the owners just passed league bylaws that allow adding sportsbooks and on-site gambling at certain stadiums makes it fishy as hell that said sportsbooks are self reporting and it so disproportionately affected one team. Maybe it is the Lions are the only team dumb enough to not teach their players. As a long time Lions fan I've certainly seen them do spectacularly dumb things throughout the years. But I've also seen the Lions be disproportionately screwed over by the league over the years too, whether it be some curse or whatever. So maybe I'm just being sensitivs.

 

[fightinfunbags]

I agree that you have to have rules, and have to follow them. I haven't complained about the suspension itself for months. When Jameson Williams said he didn't know the rule and thought it was OK because he wasn't betting on the NFL or even football I thought it was a case of a mecfirst diva rookie thinking he could do whatever. When the Lions were the only team with multiple players, and the only team with multiple staffers caught doing this I thought it was a culture problem, or at least a compliance problem.

But when multiple players from multiple teams say they didn't know that part of the rule either it gets a little bit more of a grey area. And I think the fact that one sportsbook sponsors a stadium, and the owners just passed league bylaws that allow adding sportsbooks and on-site gambling at certain stadiums makes it fishy as hell that said sportsbooks are self reporting and it so disproportionately affected one team. Maybe it is the Lions are the only team dumb enough to not teach their players. As a long time Lions fan I've certainly seen them do spectacularly dumb things throughout the years. But I've also seen the Lions be disproportionately screwed over by the league over the years too, whether it be some curse or whatever. So maybe I'm just being sensitivs.

Didn’t you already mention that it’s state law that the online books have to report these things? That’s where the discrepancy lies. Legalized gambling is still very new and it’s been governed at the state level. I guess it sucks that the state of Michigan wrote their laws this way when they allowed for legalized gambling. Once something is brought to the attention of the league though, they have to act.

 

[shopson67]

I don't understand why an athlete couldn't gamble on other sports.

MJ very famously was a huge card player and gambled on basically everything

They can, just not from a league location. They can't gamble on other sports from the Lions clubhouse.

 

[Edonidd]

Didn’t you already mention that it’s state law that the online books have to report these things? That’s where the discrepancy lies. Legalized gambling is still very new and it’s been governed at the state level. I guess it sucks that the state of Michigan wrote their laws this way when they allowed for legalized gambling. Once something is brought to the attention of the league though, they have to act.

No, they have to ensure you are located in the state, and I believe have to authenticate your exact location. They chose to report to the NFL, although they may have some agreement with them since they're actually league partners and official apps approved by the NFL.

NFLPA advises agents that sports books are snitching on players who use gambling apps - ProFootballTalk

It’s been obvious that the NFL is catching players who gamble in violation of league policy not by any high-end sleuthing activities but by having the proof fall into its lap, thanks to one or more sports book partners.That seems to be exactly what’s happening.The NFL Players Association has...

profootballtalk.nbcsports.com