Are certain NFL prop bets more prone to corruption than others? If a recent decision by the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) to temporarily ban ten “harmful” props, at the behest of the NFL, is any indication – that may well be the case.
The ruling, which went into effect on October 24, was approved by IGB Administrator Marcus Fruchter. The newly prohibited bet categories focus on plays that can be mostly, or entirely, controlled by one player. Those categories include player injuries, fan safety, player misconduct, penalties, replay results, officiating assignments, first play of the game, roster or personnel decisions, player to miss a field goal or extra point try, First pass to be incomplete, and any other wager that is pre-determined or 100% determinable by one person in one play. Several of these categories have never been available in the US and several of them have already been banned by other states.
While there haven’t been reported cases of corruption on these types of plays, the NFL is being very proactive in making sure that these plays remain corruption-free. NFL Vice President, Public Policy and Government Affairs Jonathan Nabavi outlined the league’s thinking in a letter to the IGB saying, “Inherently objectionable bets represent markets or bets that are inherently derogatory, designed to be inflammatory or otherwise based on subject matter against public policy (e.g., player injuries, fan safety, misconduct). These markets often are not directly related to gamplay or can have a negative impact on the consumer and player involved.”
Prop bets, at both the college and professional level, have been under fire by professional sports leagues and gambling critics alike for some time now. The NBA is pushing for similar bans and it’s likely that prop bet options for players will shrink significantly in the near future.