“They made what has been broken very clear — after the fact,” Detroit linebacker Alex Anzalone said.
The Chiefs’ territory straddles two states, with sports betting legal in Kansas yet illegal in Missouri. Team President Mark Donovan said every employee goes through training each year, including seasonal workers. “Where there is a lot of gray area is you’ve got BetMGM that is a sponsor for one of the teams,” Beachum said. “You’ve got DraftKings, who is paying players to do commercial spots, whether it be for hospitality or fighting, but those brands are still working with the NFL in many respects.”
Defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr., co-alternate NFLPA team rep for the New England Patriots, said it’s impossible to escape legalized sports betting. Beachum said he’s never been tempted to download a betting app. “But I’ve been very interested in the investment aspect of being able to invest in some of those franchises,” he said.“Nobody wants to be suspended without pay for a year,” said Pittsburgh center Mason Cole, who was among those who believes the league’s gambling policy always has been pretty clear. “Nobody is trying to do that, so I think it’s a pretty good deterrent.