Betting on Citrus Bowl was halted by New Jersey regulators on Friday over the former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees’ involvement in the game between Purdue and LSU, Front Office Sports confirmed.
Brees signed to be an interim assistant coach for Purdue, his alma mater. Brees had been a brand ambassador for PointsBet — one of several approved gambling companies that operate in New Jersey — until last week.
The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (NJDGE) said in a statement to FOS that move “arose from its finding that an individual associated with the Purdue football team is not in compliance” with a state gambling statute.
The NJDGE did not specify Brees was the reason for action, but a betting industry source told FOS that Brees was that individual. ESPN was the first outlet to report New Jersey’s Citrus Bowl decision.
Beyond halting Citrus Bowl bets on Friday, the NJDGE said bets placed after December 15 — the same day Brees’ addition to Purdue’s staff was announced — “must be voided.”
A New Jersey statute forbids players, coaches or anyone who “holds a position of authority or influence sufficient to exert influence” over the outcome of a contest from having an ownership interest with a betting operator.
PointsBet did not respond to multiple message left by FOS seeking comment on Friday. PointsBet didn’t have the Citrus Bowl available to wager in at least two states as of Friday night.
PointsBet announced on Dec. 22 that it had ended its ambassador partnership agreement with Brees.
“Regulatory and legal compliance, responsible gaming practices, and the integrity of legal sports betting are top priorities for our organization, and this decision will allow us to uphold that commitment,” Points Bet said in a statement.
The source told FOS that New Jersey was concerned about the undisclosed equity stake Brees could still have with PointsBet.
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