NFL Sports Betting Investigation Expands Over Team Exec Allegedly Tipping Bettor

The investigation into whether a former NFL executive provided inside information regarding a team’s activities is widening, with state gaming regulators in Arizona and now Massachusetts reportedly probing the allegations.

In July, the NFL announced that Ryan Gold, a 13-year front office veteran of the Arizona Cardinals, had been suspended indefinitely for allegedly violating the league’s gambling policy.

Reports surfaced that Gold allegedly tipped off a sports bettor ahead of the April 2026 NFL Draft that the team would select Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love with the third pick. The scandal additionally includes claims that Gold himself placed parlay bets on NFL and college football games.

In response, the Arizona Department of Gaming opened an investigation into whether Gold violated its state sports betting regulations. This week, the matter expanded to a second state, Massachusetts, where state gaming regulators report suspicious betting activity involving the Cardinals.

Gold grew up in Massachusetts and won two state football titles before attending the University of Massachusetts. ESPN reports that Gold was an offensive undergraduate assistant for two years before he was hired to the Minutemen coaching staff in 2011.

Arizona and Massachusetts both have in-person and online sports betting.

Bad Bets

The NFL’s gambling policy prohibits all players, coaches, team personnel, referees, and anyone else directly involved in a game, including trainers and game-day stadium workers with field access, from betting on the NFL. The policy is even more stringent for non-player personnel, such as front-office executives and scouts, who are prohibited from all sports betting, while players may bet on non-NFL sports when not on team time.

Gold denies the sports betting allegations against him.

By the time the NFL Draft rolled around in April, Love was strongly expected to go third to Arizona, with sportsbooks listing the Fighting Irish star at 2/1 to become a Cardinal.

As for the parlay bets, Caspino claims Gold’s wife, Jennifer, placed the $10 wagers as part of a weekly betting group with friends.

Possible Penalties

The NFL’s gambling policy states that any covered member who is found to have provided inside information to help someone place a bet faces an indefinite suspension of at least one year.

Confidential information includes anything that isn’t publicly available, including internal knowledge about who a team might pick in the NFL Draft.