In the wake of the gambling scandal that has shaken the National Basketball Association (NBA), the National Football League (NFL) Management Council has issued a strong reminder to all teams: there is zero tolerance for gambling violations within the league.
According to a memo obtained by USA TODAY Sports, the NFL urged executives, head coaches, and other personnel to remind players about the NFL Gambling Policy, emphasising that players are strictly prohibited from betting on NFL games or participating in any form of illegal gambling, whether sports-related or not. However, the new directive does not introduce additional rules.
The memo also warns players against any actions that could compromise the integrity of the game, such as attempting to fix a game, or sharing confidential, non-public information with outside parties. “These developments underscore the risks that all sports are facing in the current environment and serve as a reminder to adhere strictly to the NFL Gambling Policy,” the league wrote.
Although no one from the NFL has been implicated in the NBA’s recent gambling controversy, which has led to federal indictments involving an NBA coach, player, and former players, the timing of the memo signals the league’s proactive stance in safeguarding its reputation.
Financial and integrity risks highlighted
The memo reiterated that all players must report gambling debts exceeding $10,000, warning that large debts could make individuals “vulnerable to bad actors seeking to exploit them.” Players are also obligated to report any attempts by others to influence or fix games.
Earlier this season, the NFL issued a separate reminder clarifying that players are banned from participating in prediction markets such as Kalshi, Polymarket, and Crypto.com, and cannot invest in non-publicly traded companies offering prediction market platforms.
Speaking to reporters, Sabrina Perel, the league’s Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, confirmed that the NFL has updated its gambling policy education to explicitly cover prediction markets. Another memo dated 23 September, from Perel, stated that players interested in investing in publicly traded prediction market firms must first notify the league office before doing so.
Congress addresses NBA gambling scandal
Adressing the ongoing scandal that had shaken the league last week, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said, “There’s nothing more important to the league and its fans than the integrity of the competition.” Adding, “So I had a pit in my stomach. It was very upsetting.”
The scandal led to the arrests of Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier on federal gambling-related charges. Speaking ahead of the New York Knicks’ season opener against the Boston Celtics, the 63-year-old commissioner said he was “deeply disturbed” by the ongoing situation, which federal officials have linked to organised crime and Mafia-backed poker games.
As fallout from the scandal widens, members of the US Congress have requested that Silver brief lawmakers on the league’s handling of the matter and its broader relationship with the sports betting industry. The House Committee on Energy and Commerce said it aims to understand better the NBA’s betting partnerships and its internal safeguards against insider betting and game manipulation.
Cassidy Hubbarth interviewed NBA Commissioner Adam Silver during Celtics-Knicks on Prime. pic.twitter.com/KB42EssfpU
— NBA on Prime (@NBAonPrime) October 25, 2025
US federal authorities arrested nearly three dozen individuals on Thursday, 23 October, including Billups and Rozier, as part of a dual operation targeting organised crime and sports corruption. According to officials, Rozier allegedly conspired with associates to profit from bets placed on his own performances. He is accused of providing insider information and deliberately limiting his game time to affect betting outcomes.
Billups, meanwhile, faces charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering in connection with illegal underground poker games. Federal documents describe these games as being backed by members of several New York crime families, including the Bonanno, Gambino, and Genovese organisations.
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