Illinois Cracks Down on Bet Catalog After Request from NFL

Bettors in the Land of Lincoln will have fewer options for the rest of the NFL season.

The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) has suspended certain types of NFL wagers after the league requested it. Administrator Marcus Fruchter shared that the regulator has told sportsbooks to no longer offer bets the league describes as “objectionable.” The NFL hopes ending these wagers will help protect the integrity of the sport.

“I have determined that any wagering of the manner identified in the request poses a significant likelihood of serious risk to the integrity of the Illinois sports wagering industry,” Fruchter’s letter to retail and online sportsbooks in Illinois read. “Accordingly, I am suspending all such wagering in Illinois.”

The list of bets that the IGB has suspended include the following:

• Player injuries

• Penalties

• Officials working games

• Fan safety (i.e. streakers)

• Player misconduct

• First play of the Game

• Roster decisions

• Player to miss a field goal or extra point

• Plays where one player determines the outcome

The suspension of the above went into effect just before Week 8 of the NFL season began and is expected to remain in place indefinitely.

Will Other Leagues Follow Suit?

The NFL’s request for Illinois marks one of the most aggressive moves by a pro sports league to protect the integrity of its product. Each major US sports league has dealt with gambling scandals, but changes like the ones made by the NFL and IGB could help end those by eliminating bets in which fans, officials, or a single player can affect the outcome.

The question now is whether other leagues will follow the NFL’s approach. Given the messy Jontay Porter scandal that unfolded last season, it seems likely that at least the NBA will take similar action. However, time will tell how sportsbook operators respond to having bets eliminated from catalogs. If they choose to push back, it could lead to leagues looking for alternative solutions.