Nick Lahham | Getty Images
The league announced today that it has suspended five NFL players for violating the NFL’s gambling policy.
The policy prohibits anyone in the NFL from engaging in any type of gambling on the league’s facilities or venues, including practice facilities. The league said its review found no evidence of inside information being used.
The NFL added that no games were hacked as a result of gambling.
Three players — Quintez Cephus and CJ Moore of the Detroit Lions and Shaka Toney of the Washington Commanders — will be suspended indefinitely, at least through the end of the 2023 season, for betting on NFL games last season.
These players will be able to petition to be reinstated at the end of the season.
Two other Lions athletes—Stanley Berryhill and Jameson Williams—were suspended from playing in the first six regular season games. They will be able to participate in off-season and pre-season activities.
Quintez Cephus #87 of the Detroit Lions has the ball for the first time during the second quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at US Bank Stadium on October 10, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Elsa | Getty Images Sports | Getty Images
The NFL’s campaign comes as 33 states, including Michigan and Washington, D.C., have launched legal betting markets since a 2018 US Supreme Court case paved the way for states to introduce legal sports betting.
Earlier this week, the major professional leagues — the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, WNBA, NASCAR and MLS — announced they had joined forces with media companies NBCUniversal and Fox to form an alliance aimed at regulating sports betting advertising as it floods TV, the Internet and print media.
Shortly after the suspension was announced, the Detroit Lions said they had released Cephus and Moore. According to ESPN, the Lions learned of the NFL’s investigation “about a month ago.”
“We are disappointed with the decision-making demonstrated by Stanley and Jameson and will work with both players to ensure they understand the severity of these violations and clarify league rules moving forward,” said Brad Holmes, executive vice president and general manager of the Detroit Lions. in the current situation.
The captains said the team was aware of Tony’s comment. “We have cooperated fully with the NFL’s investigation since notification was received and support the league’s findings and actions,” the team said in a statement.
Shaka Tony #58 of the Washington Chiefs stands during the national anthem against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on November 20, 2022 in Houston, Texas.
Cooper Neil | Getty Images Sports | Getty Images
Tony’s suspension is the leaders’ latest blow. Last week, the district attorney said the leaders would pay $625,000 to settle allegations that the organization failed to return fan ticket deposits.
Former Columbia District Attorney Carl Racine, who sued the Leaders last year, alleged that since 1996 the football team had promised to return fans security deposits for premium seats, but instead seized and spent the money.
A spokesperson for the military commanders said in a statement that the team had not collected security deposits in over a decade and was “actively working to return any remaining deposits since 2014”.
Disclosure: NBCUniversal is the parent company of CNBC.