Hard Rock Mobile App Reportedly at Center of Calvin Ridley Betting Scandal

Written by :

Alejandro Botticelli

Published on :

8 March, 2022

Hard Rock Mobile App Reportedly at Center of Calvin Ridley Betting Scandal

Senior NFL reporter for CBS Sports Jonathan Jones is reporting that the short-lived Hard Rock sports betting app may have been used in placing bets for Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley.

Suspended by the NFL

The NFL has suspended Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley after he allegedly placed wagers on games.

The National Football League released the following statement Monday:

“There is nothing more fundamental to the NFL’s success – and to the reputation of everyone associated with our league – than upholding the integrity of the game,” commissioner Roger Goodell wrote in a letter to Ridley notifying him of the suspension. “This is the responsibility of every player, coach, owner, game official, and anyone else employed in the league. Your actions put the integrity of the game at risk, threatened to damage public confidence in professional football, and potentially undermined the reputations of your fellow players throughout the NFL.

“For decades, gambling on NFL games has been considered among the most significant violations of league policy warranting the most substantial sanction. In your case, I acknowledge and commend you for your promptly reporting for an interview, and for admitting your actions.”

Ridley later laughed off the accusations via Twitter while also admitting to them.

"I know I was wrong But I’m getting 1 year lol"

I know I was wrong But I’m getting 1 year lol
— CALVIN RIDLEY (@CalvinRidley1) March 7, 2022

What You May Have Missed on Gambling911

Hard Rock App at Center?

Calvin Ridley got caught because he placed a legal mobile bet in Florida with Hard Rock. They notified Genius Sports, who oversees betting integrity for the NFL. Ridley placed 3, 5 and 8 game parlay bets that did include the Falcons, per source.
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) March 7, 2022

Jones claims that the Seminoles, who ran the Hard Rock app, notified Genius Sports. That firm oversees betting integrity in the NFL.

The Hard Rock app was only up a few weeks in Florida.

A federal judge rejected a gaming compact between the Seminoles and Florida that would have permitted the Seminole Tribe to offer online sports betting, effectively shutting down the app just weeks after going live.

The court ruled that the U.S. Interior Secretary’s August decision to allow the practice -- by approving a compact between the tribe and the state of Florida -- violated provisions of the Indian Gaming Regulation Act, which requires that bettors be physically located on tribal lands.

The case was brought by West Flagler Associates and Bonita-Fort Myers Corp., which own brick-and-mortar casinos in Florida.

“This decision does not foreclose other avenues for authorizing online sports betting in Florida,” Judge Dabney Friedrich wrote in the Nov. 22 order. “The State and the Tribe may agree to a new compact, with the Secretary’s approval, that allows online gaming solely on Indian lands. Alternatively, Florida citizens may authorize such betting across their State through a citizens’ initiative.”

Game Fixing Possible

FS1 analyst Emmanuel Acho would like to see NFL players having the ability to bet games, just as long as they wager on their team to win.

You should be allowed to bet on #NFL games as a player, the rule should be you can only bet on your team to win. #CalvinRidley pic.twitter.com/G4tyelHyFH
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) March 7, 2022

- Alejandro Botticelli, Gambling911.com