NFL players are not allowed to bet on games during the season. This is in accordance with NFL rule book section 2.3, which covers gambling. However, players can visit casinos and wager on casino games during off-seasons. Players must inform the NFL security team if they have a gambling debt over $10,000. This way, the players are not blackmailed by a third party.
Betting on games is a major source of controversy in the NFL. Some players have been caught doing it, and it can get expensive for teams and fans. One player recently received a year-long suspension for betting on games while injured. Fortunately, Ridley did not place any bets against his team, but he did place some wagers while he was out of the game.
Even though the NFL prohibits gambling, there are several cases in which players have been punished for doing so. In 1963, the Green Bay Packers’ Paul Hornung and Detroit Lions’ Alex Karras were suspended from the league, while the Baltimore Colts’ Art Schlichter was convicted of fraud. However, Alex Karras is now in the NFL Hall of Fame.
There are numerous reasons why NFL players shouldn’t be allowed to gamble. Firstly, the integrity of the games is at stake when players place bets on games. The gambling industry does not want these players to influence the outcome of a game through insider knowledge. Second, betting on games could damage the credibility of the NFL.