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“No-risk” is a term that gaming companies use to lure in potential customers. The Baltimore Ravens are perhaps trying to use it as a mantra as the NFL seeks to crack down on its players engaging in the exploding sports betting industry.
According to a report from Childs Walker of The Baltimore Sun, general manager Eric DeCosta addressed the team directly about the dangers of defying the NFL’s rules against gambling despite increased partnerships with gaming companies across the board. The Ravens, for example, are in the midst of the second year of a partnership with BetMGM.
There have been claims that the league has not made its rules over gambling entirely clear as sizable punishments loom for any violations. Ravens head coach Jim Harbaugh hopes that DeCosta’s personal conversation cleared up any confusion.
“It does concern you that it’s not always too clear,” Harbaugh said. “The clearest thing would be (to) just stay away from it, but guys are going to be on vacation, and they may play blackjack or whatever, there’s nothing wrong with that, if they do that.
“But it is very clear in terms of sports gambling, in terms of where you can be during the season, those kinds of things, and in terms of not betting on football, period, end of story. That’s pretty darn clear.”
The NFL has not been afraid to crack down on those who defy these regulations: former Atlanta Falcons receiver was suspended for the entire 2022-23 season due to betting during a leave of absence. Ridley has been reinstated upon a trade to the Jacksonville Jaguars but five more players were assessed suspension in April. That group was headlined by Detroit’s sophomore standout Jameson Williams, who was charged six games for betting on non-NFL events at a league facility.
For their part, prominent Ravens don’t believe that there will be an issue moving forward. Starters Marlon Humphrey and Ronnie Stanley didn’t appear to be concerned but nonetheless appreciated management clarifying any lingering quandaries.
“I don’t think it concerns me,” Stanley declared. “There might be a lack of clarity, but I don’t think so. Because of all the different rules between gambling, all the different sites, fantasy. I think guys, especially in the newer generation, probably get a little bit more confused about what they can and can’t do. But, I know the league and [NFLPA], they try to have these meetings to make sure that we have a full understanding of things that we can and can’t gamble on.”
“There’s a lot (that’s) been going on. But yes, coach did talk about that,” cornerback Marlon Humphrey said. “Coach and EDC talked about that in the meeting, so, hopefully, that’s the end of that.”
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
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