Boutte, a football player for Louisiana State University (LSU) and the New England Patriots, has been accused of illegally placing over 8,900 bets in his home state of Louisiana between April 2022 and May 2023, while he was underage according to the minimum legal age of 21 for sports betting in Louisiana.
Using an alias to bypass the legal age requirements, Boutte allegedly made at least 17 wagers on National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) football games, including six related to LSU football events.
After an investigation by the Louisiana State Police Gaming Enforcement Division, Boutte was arrested on 18 January on charges of computer fraud and underage gambling. Although he has been released from custody, further charges may follow as the investigation continues.
The NCAA has been advocating for increased protection for student-athletes from the potential harms of gambling and is urging states to update their laws and regulations to ensure the integrity of collegiate competitions.
The NFL, while not yet suspending Boutte for his pre-league betting activities, has previously suspended players for engaging in sports betting. Last year, several players received suspensions for violating league rules on gambling, with some being suspended indefinitely or until the end of the 2023 season.
The NFL gambling policy strictly prohibits any form of gambling within the league or club facilities and venues, including practice facilities.
