‘Integrity Representatives’ are being used by the NFL to monitor suspicious betting activity

According to a report from ESPN, the NFL is using suspicious betting activity investigators inside stadiums to monitor integrity during games. This is a tactic the league has been using shortly since PASPA was overturned in 2018. Each team has one investigator report to the stadium that was assigned by the NFL. The NFL’s Vice President of Security Cathy Lanier gave some detail on what the investigators do. She told ESPN sources that they walk around the sidelines, press box, and other parts of the stadium looking for anything out of the ordinary or that could cause concern. While Lanier was able to give a brief description, there is no definition for what the league defines as “suspicious activity” and what they’ll be looking for in the 2024 season. The first game is Thursday, September 8, when the Chiefs host the Ravens.

The NFL is only trying to protect itself

In the past, the NFL held a strong stance against sports betting. However, commissioner Rodger Goodell has noted that the league has had to adapt to the times. They did not make that decision and the NFL has had to embrace it in the last five years. Right now, the league has official sports betting partnerships with FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, and Caesars. Additionally, the league has sportsmanship deals in place for several teams that are located in legally betting states. Cathay Lanier’s team is responsible for monitoring the betting market and looking for drastic line moves. That includes everything from point spreads to player props. The league receives information through its partnerships with integrity watchdog and geo-tracking technology firms like U.S Integrity and Genius Sports. 

There is a clear gambling policy in the NFL for players, coaches, and staff

In the last year, 10 players were suspended by the NFL for violating the policy. That includes betting on any sport within a team facility or hotel. Recently, the NFL has held mandated, in-person training sessions for their players. They highlighted not sharing information that could be used for betting or having another person place wagers with the players’ money. Additionally, players are prohibited from entering a sportsbook during the season and can’t partake in daily fantasy sports. Players who violate the gambling policy could face up to a one-year suspension. If the player is caught betting on their team, it could be a two-year suspension. A lifetime ban from the NFL could be issued if the player is trying to fix the outcome of a game