NFL commissioner addresses gambling in league ahead of Las Vegas Super Bowl
Roger Goodell insists that maintaining the sport’s integrity is “critical” amid a host of betting breaches by players over the past two years
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has reiterated the league’s zero tolerance policy on players betting on games and added that integrity in the sport is crucial ahead of this weekend’s Super Bowl.
The league overhauled its punishment system last year amid several betting-related suspensions in the league.
Under the new system, any player found guilty of actual or attempted match-fixing will be handed a permanent suspension, while players found betting on games will be suspended for a minimum of one year – or two years if the game involves the player’s own team.
This season’s showpiece takes place in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sunday, between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, and Goodell made clear during a news conference the league’s main priority is maintaining the integrity of the game.
“The integrity of our game is critical,” he remarked. “And, so, we spend a lot of time focusing on that, educating, making sure that all of our personnel are aware of our gambling policies, in this case or any other policy that can affect the integrity of our game.
“So, ultimately, that’s our primary job. This week coming in here, we wanted to make sure – not just the two teams, but every other club would likely have representatives here – we wanted to make sure they understood it, our league staff and everyone else, so that they understood exactly what our policies were here.
“They all understand the importance of it. We clarified our policy earlier this year, and it was to put the importance for our players betting on NFL games or inside information or anything that would negatively impact the integrity of our game is absolutely off limits.”
Over the past two years, 10 NFL players have been suspended for varying lengths of time for breaching the league’s betting rules.
Most recently, now-NFL player Kayshon Boutte was arrested for placing 8,900 illegal wagers while playing in the NCAA for Louisiana State University (LSU), though no bets were found to have been placed while with the New England Patriots.