NFL
What are the NFL’s new betting rules for Super Bowl LVIII players?
As the 58th Super Bowl edges ever closer, the National Football League has clarified its stance by enforcing a strict betting policy for players
For a long time, the National Football League has tried to distance itself from Las Vegas due to the city’s historic connections with casinos and gambling. However, given that the Raiders and others are now playing their home games in the world’s gambling capital and Super Bowl LVIII is set to take place at Allegiant Stadium on 11 February, it’s evident that the NFL has chosen to somewhat embrace Sin City... and the hundreds of millions of dollars it generates.
That relatively new ‘relationship’ though, obviously doesn’t mean that players involved in the climax to the football season have the right to gamble during Super Bowl week. In fact, the league will implement an even stricter policy that applies only to the two franchises contending for the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
The new rule is simple: if you are a player and your team reaches the Super Bowl, you cannot engage in any gambling activities while in Las Vegas. Not just betting related to the game.
The NFL Super Bowl betting rules
Despite being in a city filled with casinos and slot machines, for almost a week players involved in the big game simply cannot wager their money like any other adult visiting Las Vegas. The restriction extends from live sports betting to games of chance such as blackjack and roulette. They are prohibited from betting on anything.
In the memo sent by the NFL to the teams, as revealed by Front Office Sports, the full restriction does not apply to the rest of the league’s players who might be in the city for Super Bowl LVIII, though they are not allowed to bet on the game either. They are also not permitted to visit any bookmaker unless it’s necessary to pass through to reach their destination, a common occurrence in the Nevada metropolis. Here’s what NFL commissioner Roger Goodell had to say in the aforementioned memo.
“We periodically review the NFL Gambling Policy to ensure that it is responsive to changing circumstances and fully addresses our commitment to protect the integrity of the game. The revised gambling policy that we are issuing today provides that clarity and focus, and gives clear guidance to players about the consequences of violating the policy.”
What punishment is there for NFL betting?
So, just to summarize, here’s the change spelled out as clearly as possible:
Normal Policy: NFL players are allowed to gamble in casinos and engage in sports betting, except on NFL games.
Super Bowl Policy: Players participating in the Super Bowl game are NOT allowed to gamble on anything while in Las Vegas.
According to the document outlining the new policy, a player who puts a bet involving his own team will be suspended for at least two years. Any bets placed on any NFL game will result in at least a one-year suspension. Betting on non-NFL sports while at a team facility or on team-related travel will now result in a two-game suspension for a first violation, six games for a second violation and at least one year for a third. That’s you warned.
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