Professional athletes are known to spend big bucks on gambling, though one, in particular, took things too far, spending million in just one year.
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio broke the news that one NFL baller spent $8 million in 2022 but did not identify the player. During Tuesday’s episode of PFT Live, Chris Simms theorized that the league allows players to gamble legally on sports so that sportsbooks can continue benefitting from the major contracts of inexperienced players. As long as they don’t wager on the league in which they compete, the NFL allows its players to partake in sports betting.
Florio is questioning why the NFL is allowing players to bet on any sports. He is also curious to know how many other players are spending this much on betting. Caesars Entertainment, DraftKings, and FanDuel have significant partnerships with the NFL, so gambling has long been embedded within the football culture. Florio did not specify if the player lost money with illegal or legal betting. The unknown player could have been indulging in casinos, dog racing, or other means.
Other athletes have been accused of spending unimaginable amounts on gambling. Basketball legend Michael Jordan has been accused of having a gambling problem. MLB pro Alex Rodriguez has been questioned regarding how much he’s spent on bets in the past. Multiple NFL Detroit Lions players, including Jameson Williams, were suspended for placing bets on college football games while on the campus grounds. At one point, Indianapolis Colts cornerback Isaiah Rodgers was discovered placing NFL bets, some of which were on his own team.
No player has come forward to identify themselves as the $8 million gambler.
