Report: Industry turns whistleblower in NFL player-gambling case
NFL Players Association email reveals the role of sportsbooks in reporting in-app gambling by now-suspended NFL players
Player monitoring by US sportsbook operators and regulatory scrutiny from state regulators was instrumental in uncovering the recent NFL player betting scandal, reports in the US have claimed.
US news site NBC Sports published extracts of an email from the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) to player agents about the recent NFL governing body action in suspending five players for alleged gambling on NFL matches.
In the email, the NFLPA highlighted the involvement of sportsbook apps such as FanDuel in establishing and ultimately reporting the offences through their relationships with state regulators.
“During the NFL’s investigations we have learned that these apps (like FanDuel) are highly sensitive and very sophisticated at tracking, among other things, user location to be sure that the people using the app are not ‘prohibited gamblers’ and/or that the person using the app is in a location where they are allowed to place bets on the app,” the email states.
“We have confirmed that some states monitor/audit FanDuel and the other gambling apps to ensure that the companies are in compliance with state law.
“Further, the apps monitor gambler activity. It was as part of that monitoring that the NFL learned of the players using the apps at work and were in violation of NFL rules. At no time should players open or use any mobile gambling app while at work,” it concludes.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Quintez Cephus and fellow Lions safety player CJ Moore, as well as Washington Commanders defensive end Shaka Toney were all suspended until at least the conclusion of the 2023 NFL season.
Fellow Lions players Stanley Berryhill and Jameson Williams were also suspended by the league for similar offences and will miss the first six regular games of the 2023 season.
Despite being highlighted as a potential participant, FanDuel has not confirmed its involvement in reporting the breaches of NFL gambling regulations made by the players suspended.
Elsewhere, regulators in Ohio have suspended betting on college baseball games involving the University of Alabama following alleged suspicious wagering activity detected during Alabama’s game with Louisiana State University last week.
Ohio Casino Control Commission executive director Matthew T. Schuler issued a directive immediately banning any wagers on the team, with ESPN reporting that this directive came after a warning from Las Vegas-based integrity monitoring firm US Integrity.
The firm reportedly warned its sportsbook partners about the alleged suspicious betting, suggesting all bets be discontinued.
The University of Alabama baseball team will play Vandebilt University on Thursday.