The NFL said Friday it suspended an Arizona Cardinals executive indefinitely in connection with alleged violations of the league’s gambling rules, including wagering on its games, according to The Associated Press.
Cardinals personnel executive Ryan Gold was sanctioned after an NFL investigation purportedly found the staffer had provided non-public information tied to the team’s draft selections this year before they were announced. It’s also alleged he placed parlays on NFL and college games.
More about the NFL suspending Cardinals Director of College Scouting Ryan Gold indefinitely for violating the league’s gambling policy:https://t.co/xOL9eUYcl0
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 17, 2026
While Gold can appeal the suspension, the NFL has stringent rules regarding gambling. They include a blanket ban on betting on the league, having someone place bets on your behalf, and sharing “inside information.”
"The Gambling Policy, which is annually reviewed with all NFL personnel, strictly prohibits anyone in the NFL from participating in or facilitating any form of sports gambling, and from providing third parties non-public information," the league said in a statement. "Although there is no reason to believe the integrity of any NFL game was affected, the League takes any violation of the Gambling Policy with the utmost seriousness."
Like other professional leagues, the NFL has faced challenges policing gambling among players and staffers in the era of legalized U.S. sports betting.
However, the league noted before the 2025-26 season that while gambling-related suspensions had been issued in the past, none had been handed down for the previous season.
The NFL's 6 key gambling rules for players:
— Ryan Butler (@ButlerBets) August 25, 2025
- Never bet on the NFL
- Don’t have someone bet for you
- Don’t gamble at team facility/stadium or on road game trip
- Don’t share inside information
- Don’t enter a sportsbook during the NFL season
- Don’t play daily fantasy football
The league said the Cardinals cooperated with the investigation and that there was no indication of other team officials or players being involved in the alleged activity, according to the AP.
The Cardinals said they “fully” support the NFL’s decision and emphasized that the alleged activity involved a single employee.
"The NFL's policies and expectations for all employees are clear, comprehensive, and consistently communicated,” the team said in a statement.
