The Super Bowl is set for the gambling capital of the world — that is, unless you’re on the 49ers or Chiefs.
In Las Vegas, the NFL’s gambling restrictions apply to players, coaches and team personnel for both teams playing in the Super Bowl. All gambling, including casino games and most certainly sportsbooks, are off limits for the 49ers and Chiefs because they are in town on official business.
Normally, players are allowed to legally gamble on their own time on practically anything except the NFL. Players on other teams visiting Las Vegas for the Super Bowl are permitted to gamble legally, but are prohibited from betting on the NFL and from entering a sportsbook until after the Super Bowl. Eagles center Jason Kelce can sit at a Blackjack table at Caesars Palace; his brother, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, cannot.
The modified gambling policy was distributed to teams, players and the players’ union in a Sept. 29 league memo. With Super Bowl LVIII on Feb. 11 at Allegiant Stadium on the horizon, the Super Bowl stipulation is becoming relevant and league officials explained it to media members in a Tuesday video call.
Players have long been forbidden from betting while on team travel, so the rule isn’t unique to the Las Vegas host city. But the nature of the game and location, with scores of league personnel descending on Las Vegas for several days prior, makes for a potentially tenuous dynamic.
“The rules are no different for the participating teams, players and other personnel as they would be for any game,” said Jeff Miller, NFL executive vice president of communications, public affairs and policy. “When on business, there is no gambling, whether it be sports gambling or otherwise. And any player, coach, personnel, yours truly, who would be caught or identified gambling at a casino would be eligible for the disciplinary process. That would be addressed in the normal course of discipline as we would any player or any other personnel.”
Several…
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