Last week, New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte was arrested in Louisiana on charges of computer fraud and prohibited gaming. Prosecutors allege that the former LSU star engaged in sports betting at the age of 20, using an alias to bypass the state’s minimum age requirement of 21.
In contrast to Louisiana’s laws, some states permit sports betting at the age of 18. The majority, however, align the minimum age for sports betting with the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984, setting it at 21. Age requirements, often reflecting a proxy for maturity, extend to various activities such as purchasing alcohol, playing casino games, and engaging in poker for money.
While some gaming experts caution against using 18 as the minimum age due to potential risks, certain states like Kentucky, Montana, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Wyoming have opted for this younger threshold. The District of Columbia and Puerto Rico also adhere to the age of 18.
The age of 18 is generally considered the age of majority in the United States, granting individuals legal adulthood. This age allows them to vote, sign contracts, apply for credit cards, play the lottery, and join the Armed Forces. Various states, like New Hampshire, have adopted 18 as the minimum age for gaming activities, including sports betting.
Charlie McIntyre, the executive director of the New Hampshire Lottery Commission, believes that limiting exposure to sports betting advertising is crucial, emphasizing its impact on college campuses. He contends that restricting such promotions on college campuses has a more significant influence than the legal age for sports betting.
Even if Boutte had engaged in legal sports betting in another state, he would still have violated NCAA rules, risking the forfeiture of his NCAA eligibility. NCAA regulations prohibit athletes, coaches, and athletic staff from participating in sports betting or providing information that could influence bets. Boutte, accused of placing over 8,900 bets, including on his own team and performance prop bets, faces potential penalties under NCAA rules.
Boutte’s situation is not unique, as a group of current and former athletes from Iowa and Iowa State is under investigation for underage sports betting. McIntyre believes that such incidents may only scratch the surface of a larger issue in college sports, with many players and personnel having access to valuable information.
Critical of the NCAA’s oversight, McIntyre argues that the organization lacks the resources to effectively monitor sports betting activities. He suggests that the NCAA failed to comprehend the scale of the problem when states began legalizing sports betting in 2018, in contrast to professional leagues that hired law enforcement to monitor such activities connected to players, coaches, and staff. As for Boutte, despite the legal issues, he remains on the Patriots roster, with the team acknowledging his cooperation with law enforcement. If convicted of computer fraud, Boutte, who turned 21 in May, could face a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
