Can NFL Players Bet on NFL Games? A Look at the NFL’s Gambling Policy
NFL betting is more popular than ever. It’s something that fans love to do, especially when it’s a big game like the Bears vs Packers. The big question that fans have been asking for a while, though, is whether or not NFL players are also allowed to bet on NFL games. As you would expect, the NFL has a gambling policy in place, but not everyone is aware of how this affects player-betting activity.
Over recent years, the NFL gambling policy has undergone some big changes. As of 2024, here are some of the NFL player gambling rules that are in place:
NFL players CAN place bets on OTHER SPORTS using legal sportsbooks — but remaining NFL staff (such as coaches and officials) are not allowed to do this
If an NFL player wants to bet on another sport, this is ONLY ALLOWED when they’re at non-team or league facilities
NFL players CANNOT bet on their own team or any other NFL team
NFL players CANNOT exchange inside information or give out tips
NFL players CANNOT place third-party or proxy bets
If an NFL player is caught breaking the gambling rules (which has happened plenty of times in the past), then they will receive disciplinary action based on the specific offence. For example, if an NFL player bets on their own team, they face a ban from 1 to 2 years. Similarly, any insider tipping results in the minimum of a 1-year suspension. And if any player takes part in match-fixing, then they are permanently expelled from the NFL.
Recently, Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Isaiah Rodgers Sr. was indefinitely suspended by the NFL for placing NFL-related bets. ESPN reported that Rodgers placed over 100 bets, including wagers on his own team (as well as a $1,000 prop bet that he successfully won) on rushing yards by Colts running back Jonathan Taylor. Interestingly, Rodgers said these bets were placed on behalf of friends and family members.
"At the end of the day I knew the rules, I wasn't supposed to do it and I got to take what comes with it," — Isaiah Rodgers Sr.
Can NFL Fans Bet on Games?
Yes — any NFL fan above the legal gambling age can place bets on the NFL as well as other sports leagues. From casuals to die-hard NFL fans, millions of people do this every single season, which is why the NFL betting market is so huge.
If you want to know how to bet on the NFL, you need to use a legal and officially licensed sportsbook, such as one from Gamble USA. There are many different sportsbooks available to US bettors, so it’s simply a case of choosing the sportsbook that’s right for you. Providing you’re above the legal gambling age and have the funds to place bets with, then there’s no problem.
The Future of NFL Betting for Players
Many people in the industry believe that the existing NFL gambling policy is flawed, pointing to the fact that the rules are too stringent and it’s not fair on other NFL staff members (outside of NFL players) who aren’t allowed to place bets. Moving into the future, it’s highly likely that fresh policy changes will be made, which is something that the NFL remains open to.