Illinois has banned certain types of bets on NFL games at the league’s request, citing concerns that some bets are easily manipulated by individuals.
According to the Chicago Tribune, the Illinois Gaming Commission took this action at the NFL’s request.
Prohibited bets include the outcome of first plays, replays, whether a kicker will miss a field goal or extra point, and whether a quarterback’s first pass of a game will be incomplete. Beyond gameplay, betting was also prohibited on fan safety, player misconduct, penalties, officiating duties, and roster and personnel decisions.
This rule is designed to prohibit anything that could be considered “100% determined by one person in a single play.”
“Predetermined choices and actions that are under the control of individual players, coaches, and league officials are susceptible to abuse and manipulation,” Gaming Commission Administrator Marcus Fruchter wrote.
It’s part of the strange new world of sports gambling, and the league itself is concerned enough about the potential for game play to be manipulated that it’s asking the gaming commission not to allow such bets. In theory, if someone is manipulating the gameplay, they are doing so to rip off the sportsbook, and the sportsbook shouldn’t want to accept those bets anyway. But the league doesn’t want that to even be possible, nor does it want the perception to spread that teams or league officials may have had a financial stake in the outcome.
Illinois sports officials have warned that such bets could result in the loss of licenses.
